Iowa
Old Press
Jackson Sentinel
Maquoketa, Jackson co. Iowa
June 23, 1870
CARDIFF GIANT EXHIBITED IN MAQUOKETA
The Strawberry Festival was held in Taubman’s Hall last
Friday evening for the benefit of the Universalist Sabbath School
and was one of the pleasantest gatherings it has been one’s
good fortune to attend. The hall was very tastefully decorated
with pictures, flowers and evergreens, and was universally
admired. The “Cardiff Giant” which had been imported
expressly for the occasion, attracted a great degree of
attention, and was visited by crowds of curiosity seekers during
the evening. Of course there was a big cake with a ring in it to
be drawn by somebody, and the lucky somebody happened to be Miss
Rhoda Stewart. The strawberries and cream were delicious, and so
we appreciated that not one was left to tell the tale. The
Masonic Hall and Gilruth & Madden’s law office were
generously opened for the reception rooms. Financially the
Festival was a success, netting something over fifty dollars.
TERRIBLE OUTRAGE
Villainy and crime seems to be fearfully on the increase all over
the country. We can scarcely look over a paper without finding an
account of a crime committed. There seems to be a growing
indisposition to work-a desire to live well by praying on the
honest fruits of others. We have a few of this class in our
midst, fortunately very few. Public sentiment refuses to
countenance such men, and a loafer and bummer is now looked upon
as a criminal, and in truth he is little better, for there is but
one short step between loaferism and crime.
For the past week or ten days a chap by the name of F. Lea, who
has been perambulating our streets and whose only occupation
seemed to have been that of living at the expense of those whom
he dared to attack. Last night he made an assault upon a young
lady who was walking up Main Street. He was seized by the lady’s
escort and after a severe struggle was strangled to death. We
presume the verdict of the coroner’s jury will be “justifiable
homicide.” The excitement is not so intense as it was. No
arrests have yet been made.
[transcribed by K.W., April 2011]