Iowa Old Press

Davenport Daily Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
January 10, 1902  

Walked in Her Sleep

    What Cheer, Jan. 10 - Miss Lizzie Hutchinson, who resides in the country, is ill as the result of a walk which she took in her sleep. She arose during the night, put on her shoes and set out while in a somnambulistic state, for the home of her sister, ten miles distant. She was clad in her night gown and was found by a searching party the next morning over a mile from home. She was thoroughly chilled and may yet suffer severely for her walk.  

Chester Taylor is Convicted.

     Newton, Jan. 10 - Chester Tyler, the colored man who has been tried for the murder of Dr. B.M. Failor in September last, was convicted by the jury yesterday of murder in the first degree, the jury being out only four hours. The jury fixed the penalty at imprisonment for life at hard labor in the penitentiary. This has been the most interesting trial in this county for many years.  

Dropped Dead at Work.

     Iowa City, Jan. 10- News is received from North Liberty that Samuel Green, one of  the best known and most honored citizens of Johnson county, fell dead while at his work yesterday morning.

     He was engaged in hauling ice when death came to him. Mr. Green was not in good health and presumably his physical condition had something to do with his sudden death.

     Samuel Green went into the army from this county and served through the civil war in Company E., 28th Iowa Infantry. He was a member of Kirkwood Post, G.A.R., of this place.  

Farm Hand Stabs Himself.

     Brighton, Jan. 10- William Elliot, a farm hand, tried to commit suicide with a long bladed pocket knife. He drove the knife into his chest to a depth of four and a half inches. He refuses medical aid and may die. Elliot has a wife and two children in Hedrick, but has not been living with them for several years. He has been around off and on for the last six years and has twice been arrested, once for carrying concealed weapons and once for drunkenness.  

Sioux City's Opium Joints

     Sioux City, Jan. 10 - A strong effort is being made by the police to break up the hop joint in this city. The opium dens have been flourishing in the Soudan. Last night a complete layout was secured and confiscated and the proprietor of the joint given a jail sentence. A vigorous search will be inaugurated and the evil stamped out.  

Keokuk Girl's Horrible Death.

     Keokuk, Jan. 10 - Miss Belle Bane of this city was burned to death while visiting friends at Ironton, Mo., Sunday. Her clothing caught from an open grate and she was terribly burned before help could be offered.  

Discharges in Bankruptcy.

     Dubuque, Jan. 10 - Judge Shiras has ordered the following discharges in bankruptcy: James Q. Neville, Britt; Bennett Hayes, Clear Lake; Allen Dana, Britt; Brede T. Somers, Britt; Smidt & Schmeider, Le Mars; Wm. J. Beeks, Hagerty; Hans Niklai, Peter Neilson, Hartley; Almeda McKee, Rock Rapids; Ora Desart, Lester; Hans Neilson, Ida Grove; Fred Wright, Eldora; Wm. S. Carter, Parnell; Nellie J. McNamara, Prairieburg; Daniel Young, Manchester; Michael McLaughlin, Waterloo; Geo. L. Kline, Oelwein; John A. Tucker, Pin Oak; Mathias Sloomer, Oelwein; John Kirsch, Eagle center. The judge and his wife left for Florida today to spend several weeks.  

Joseph Beckardt Dead

     Ft. Madison, Jan. 10- Joseph Beckert, aged 70, a well-known pioneer, dropped dead here while returning from confession. Sister M. Rosela of the Notre Dame order of Chicago is one of his daughters.  

Ex-Senator Reynolds Dead.

     Centerville, Jan. 10 - Ex-State Senator Dr. E.M. Reynolds died this afternoon of old age and excessive work in his practice.  

Girl Burned Alive.

     Mt. Ayr, Jan. 10 - Delia Watts met a horrible death here Tuesday night by fire. She was literally roasted to death and died in great agony in half an hour after the accident.

     Miss Watts was a domestic in the employ of Samuel Spurrier and was engaged in doing some sewing. On the machine was a lamp which it was thought was overturned. This fact is not definitely known because the girl was so badly burned that she was unable to tell the origin of the blaze. Mrs. Spurrier and her two youngest daughters barely escaped, but were unhurt. She arose from her bed and carried her baby out of the house. The building was saved by the fire department.  

Badly Injured in Runaway

     Charles City, Jan. 10 - Charles Schilling, a farmer, lies at Emergency hospital, the victim of a serious accident. As he started for home yesterday his team became unmanageable and ran away, colliding with a big wagon, and Mr. Schilling was thrown to the ground unconscious. He was taken to the Emergency hospital, where it was found that his skull was fractured and an operation was necessary, which removed clot of blood from the brain, after which he regained consciousness. At present he is doing as well as could be expected.  

Sudden Death at Keota

     Keota, Jan. 10 - Mrs. Delia C. Hamilton, wife of Ralph Hamilton, one of our druggists, died on Saturday of hemorrhage of the lungs. She was nearly 28 years old. The deceased had  been in poor health for two or three years but was not considered dangerously ill, as she was able to go up and around and even able to go down town very recently.

Davenport Daily Republican
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
January 12, 1902  

Killed by Blast Explosion

     Fort Dodge, Jan. 11 - James Burgess was killed and two companions injured by the premature explosion of a blast in the mines of Webster County Coal and Land company at Le High. Burgess' body was badly mangled, but the others were not seriously injured.  

Held on Murder Charge

     Des Moines, Jan. 11-  William Smith and Morris Shea have been bound over to the grand jury by Justice Duncan to answer for the murder of Charles Johnson of East Des Moines, who was killed in a saloon brawl on Christmas eve. John Coyle and Jim Lally were acquitted by the magistrate of any participation in the affair which ended in murder and they were dismissed, their bonds being released and they exonerated from any complicity in the case. The evidence in the case against Smith and Shea, as taken down in shorthand by F.C. Walrath at the preliminary examination before Justice Duncan will be transcribed and presented to the grand jury, which will investigate and then either indict or ignore the charges against the pair.  

Out of Death's Jaws.

     West Union, Jan. 11 - The old saying, "while there's life there's hope," has never been more completely verified than in the case of Hon. L.L. Ainsworth of this city, who a week ago was at the point of death. The physicians had given him up to die. Every indication pointed to that end. He had passed into unconsciousness. Respiration was barely discernible. The pulse was the faintest of flutters. Suddenly, unexpectedly, he rallied. He now seems on the road to recovery, although the physicians do not consider him entirely out of danger. He is confident in the conviction that he will get well. Should no developments now unforseen arise he will probably do so. In such event he will have the experience not given to many of reading several pleasing obituaries of himself. Certain enterprising newspapers in this section, accepting the statement that he could live only a few hours, "scooped" their contemporaries by announcing his death. The announcement of his favorable condition will be received with much satisfaction throughout the state.  

Boom at Cambridge.

     Cambridge, Jan. 11 - Mr. Shaw of Iowa Falls has been in the city looking after the new railroad. The report is that said company has secured the old grade formerly owned by the Duluth and New Orleans railroad company, north and south of Cambridge. Mr. Shaw has gone down to Elkhart to pick out a location for a station and town site- so surmised.

     Cambridge's boom has already commenced, even before the new road is here. A large hotel is to be erected by our popular hotel and restaurant man, C.H. Haronson. The ground is secured and work will commence soon. A flouring mill is also to be erected in Cambridge this coming spring by a Mr. Garlock and partner from Maxwell. A new and third agricultural store building is now being erected and near completion by L.D. Woods, formerly of Tyner, Ia. So the good work goes on. Also a rural mail route will commence February 1st. Frank Scott is the lucky man to get the late contract.  

Alleged Shortage of Former Officer.

     Creston, Jan. 11 - An investigation conducted by a committee of experts appointed by the board of supervisors into the books of Charles Emerson, ex-county superindendent of schools, resulted in a report from the experts that there was a shortage of nearly $300. This charge was made during the last campaign when Emerson was a candidate for the legislature from this county, and was strenuously denied.  

Iowans For Hall of Fame.

     Des Moines, Jan. 11- The following Iowa notable men have been suggested as worthy of a place in the Hall of Fame at the World's fair in St. Louis in 1903:

     James Harlan, James W. Grimes, Samuel J. Kirkwood, suggested by Leslie M. Shaw, governor.

     Samuel J. Kirkwood and Justice Miller, suggested by Hon. J.P. Conner, member of Congress.

     W.B. Allison and S.J. Kirkwood, suggested by Hon. J.N.W. Rumple, member of congress.

     W.B. Allison and D.B. Henderson, suggested by Hon. Gilbert N. Haugen, member of congress.

     James W. Grimes and James Haglan, suggested by Hon. Walter I. Smith, member of congress.

     James W. Grimes and General Samuel A. Rice, suggested by Hon. John F. Lacey, member of congress.

     James Harlan and James Grimes, suggested by George E. MacLean, president Iowa State university.

     James Harlan, James W. Grimes, George W. Jones, suggested by William E. King, president Cornell college.

     James Harlan and Samuel Kirkwood, suggested by H.M. Remley, judge Eighteenth Judicial district.

     James Harlan and Samuel Kirkwood, suggested by Charles Eldred Shelton, president Simpson college.

     Samuel Kirkwood, suggested by E.P. Bartlett, secretary Iowa Baptist state convention.

     James W. Grimes and Samuel Kirkwood, suggested by William Atchison.

     Theodore S. Parvin and John H. Gear, suggested by E.H. Thayer, editor Morning Age, Clinton, Ia.

     James W. Grimes and Samuel Kirkwood, suggested by J.L. Waite, editor Burlington Hawkeye.

     George W. Jones and Senator Dodge, suggested by J.K. Herron, editor Boone County Democrat.

     Samuel Kirkwood, suggested by Iowa State Register, Clarkson Bros., editors.

     James Harlan and Samuel Kirkwood, suggested by the Danville News, Simeon Beardsley, editor.  

Davenport Daily Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
January 28, 1902

NEWS OF THE STATE

A Fatal Joke
Waterloo, Ia., Jan. 28 – Because of what they intended to be a joke, two young men of this city may have to answer to the charge of murder. Roy Pine, the small son of a teamster fell on the ice while skating on the river January 14, and died several days later without having regained consciousness. It now appears that he was tripped by two boys who held a string close to the ice into which the unfortunate lad skated backward. It is also said that the boys have been indulging in this kind of malicious sport and that hard falls have been experienced by skaters because of it.

Tries Another Kind of Lottery.
Fort Dodge, Iowa, Jan. 28 – The marriage of James Harkin, the popular accountant at the Central general offices, to Miss Lena Kane, occurred at the home of the bride at Scranton, Iowa. Mr. Harkin bears the distinction of having the good fortune last summer to secure one of the choice land claims in the land lottery in Oklahoma and the streak of luck that was with him at that time seems to have been with him in the selection of a wife as he has drawn a prize in the person of the charming young lady whom he has just led to the altar. He was presented with a valuable set of solid silver knives and forks with pearl handles as a mark of esteem by his fellow associates in the office.

An Ancient Map.
Waterloo, Iowa, Jan. 28 – Attorney E.E. Wilson has in his possession a curiosity, being a map of Iowa bearing the date of 1852. Not a foot of railroad is shown to have existed and the names of some of the counties of the northwest section have been radically changed. The cities of the state marked as prominent at that time are Dubuque, Keokuk, Fort Madison, Burlington. Woodbury county appears on the map as “Wabhaw.” Linn county is marked “Buncombe,” and Webster appears as “Yell” and Hamilton as “Risley.” None of the counties were organized or inhabited in the northwest section but were merely laid out and names given them.

Skipped With Employer’s Money.
Fertile, Iowa, Jan. 28 – A trusted hired man working for Billy Slater, north of town, was sent to Joice with a load of timothy seed to store in the elevator. But instead of storing the seed he sold it, pocketed the proceeds and decamped for parts unknown.

Aged Indian Married.
Sioux City, Jan. 28 – George Fox, aged 64, and Edna Longchase, aged 56, two Omaha Indians, were married in the court room of Justice F.L. Ferris in the Iowa building. Justice Ferris performing the unique ceremony while the withered bride swayed dizzily back and forth, as she responded to the vows as interpreted by her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Nellie Solomon. The stately, sturdy-looking groom was much agitated at the condition of the bride, and it looked for a time as if the wedding would have to be postponed.

Wife Beater in Jail.
Clinton, Jan. 28 – The Clinton county grand jury has indicted Bernard McGovern, charging him with assault to commit murder. His wife is the complaining witness. According to evidence before grand jury, McGovern came to Clinton about a month ago, became intoxicated an went to his home in the country a few miles west of the city and made a vicious assault on his wife. He broke three of her ribs, pulled out a large amount of her hair, seriously bruised her body in a number of places and then threw her into a creek. She was confined to the hospital here for three weeks and for a few days. It was thought she would not recover. McGovern was arrested, but his wife refused to prosecute him. He was then charged with intoxication by the chief of police and was sentenced to thirty days in the county jail. It is now understood Mrs. McGovern will appear against her husband.

Northwestern Settles.
Moorehead, Jan. 28 – Frank Adams, who was injured about a month ago in a railroad accident at Missouri Valley had to undergo a second amputation of his leg and is in a very critical condition. He is still in the hospital at Council Bluffs. The Chicago & Northwestern has settled with him, giving him $5,600 and a pass on the road for one year and pay all expenses.

Young Woman Disappears.
Dubuque, Jan. 28 – Miss Dora Deitzel, residing at the St. Francis industrial home, and who came from Kieler, Wis., has mysteriously disappeared. The last seen of her was last week on Monday when she left the home to attend early mass.

Didn’t Understand Gas.
LeMars, Jan. 28 – B.C. Custer, a young man from Moville, was found unconscious in his room at the Union hotel. He either blew out the gas or neglected to turn it off properly. It is thought it was an accident. The man is in a precarious condition.

Submitted by C.J.L., January  2005 & January 2007