Evening star., 1945-07-08
Fifty Years Ago
Many washingtonians were acquain

uedtu was reported IN Inc
Bob Strong Star for July l, 1895. But
Dies those who knew him best
were persons who met
him in his professional capacity-as
hangman at the District Jail. For %
years his business in the world was
that of assisting people to leave it at
the end of rope. AS maker of nooses
he was so expert that not a
single mishap occurred" He took part
in the execution of Charles Guiteau,
the assassin of President Garfield, and
1t is recorded that he was cursed by
him just before the trap was sprung.
Other murderers, however, were less
difhcult to please. Mr.. Strong, his
obituary article explained, usually was
"on more than good terms" with his
subjects. They found him "jovial" and
good /"
The Post ONCE Department at mid
night on Sunday, June 30, 1895, dis
continued the
ConeeIins Machines use of rented
Cancelled" canceling ma
chimes leased to
the Government by two manufacturing
concerns-Hey g. Dolphin of New York
and the American Postal Machine Co.
Of the same city. 1t acted on the theory
that it had been paying more rent
for the machines than they cost to
build. The first-named agent received
s400 year for each of 100 facilities; the
other 5000 a year for each of 100 Ap-
proximately 5000 month, therefore.
was being expended for the privilege
OF poStmarking letters at the rate of
$4,000 an hour. Returning to the old
system of hand-canceling admittedly
would involve an Increase in the labor
OF postal clerks, but the department
for the moment was not discussing that
angle of the problem. Instead, 1t was
experimenting" with a new canceling
machine-the Berry-in local postal
stations. The Star for July 2, 1895, was
not too optimistic about results.
The formal celebration of Independ-
ence Day in Washington half century
ago was featured by
WoshIngton's meeting at the foot of
Descendont the Washington Mon
ument in which men,
bers of the Sons of the Revolution and
the. Sons of the American Revolution
participated. A parade to the grounds
included the Washington Light Infantry
Corps, "a battalion of about 80 men,
wearing their familiar uniforms of blue
coats, white trousers and bearskin
snakos,' and the full Marine Band,
ordered out by the Secretary of the
Navy" The account of the proceedings
in The Star of July 4. 1895, announced
that: CLOSING up the procession was
an open carriage containing the vener-
able George Washington Ball, the near
est living descendant of Gen. WASH
ington," who was too feeble to walk
with his comrades, but :. too patriotic
to stay away"
A cable report from Dublin to The
Star for July S, 1895, told how Michael
Cleary of Ballyvad-
Verdict on lea near Clonmel
Witch Burner was convicted of
manslaughter for
burning and otherwise ill-treating" his
wife Bridget on March IA, last" The
dead woman was afflicted with nervous
ness and bronchitis. Her husband ac-
cused her Of being bewitched. After
swallowing "a nauseous decoction 50
for the purpose of exercising the evil
spirit" she was held over fire
until she declared that she was
not Cleary's wife" Her confession"
having been obtained, the unfortunate |
Mrs. Cleary then was knocked down by |
her husband, stripped Of her clothing, |
covered with parafin and burned to |
death In the presence of her relatives |
Yes, the verdict was guilty of man
slaughter"
- xx
Few latter-day graduates of the fa-
nous institution of higher learning at
Palo Alto, Calf, may
Mrs. Stonfords be expected to be
Predicoment familiar with the
drama incident to its
establishment. They know the outlines
of the story OF the founding Of their
alma mater. but that is all. A brief
dispatch from San Francisco, pub
lished In The star on July >. 1895,