Iowa Old Press

Davenport Daily Republican
Davenport, Scott,Iowa
Jan 2, 1903

GENERAL NEWS OF IOWA

Archbishop Keane Defeated
Sioux City, Jan. 1 - Archbishop Keane of Dubuque has been defeated in the famous suit brought by C.J. Sherman and John 
Hanfeldt of Williams, Iowa, to recover $2,430 which the plaintiff subscribed to help build the church at Williams. Judge 
Dyer held they were entitled to recover this amount with interest. The plaintiffs made their subscriptions conditional upon 
a dual language-speaking priest being sent to Williams. They contend the church did not keep its part of the contract, and 
the court upheld the claim. The case is likely to be appealed.


Sudden Death of John Johnson
Marshalltown, Jan. 1 - While sitting in a chair at his boarding house John Johnson suddenly dropped dead. It is 
believed that his death may have been due to a blow on the head, which was struck by Albert Walker with a pick while the two 
men were working on the Northwestern road as section men. Johnson was attacked by Walker November 5 with a pick and was 
quite badly injured. At the time, however, it was thought his injuries were only temporary. He never returned to work, 
however, and while he did not get much worse, he did not improve rapidly. On the night of November 6, in the same house 
where Johnson died, Walker attacked his landlady, Mrs. Olson, with the intention of murdering her. The woman struggled with 
the man and secured the revolver with which he had threatened her, only to find Walker had another weapon. Walker fired a 
number of shots, but failed to kill the woman. Walker was placed in jail, where he admitted his intention to kill Mrs. Olson 
and her two children. Now Johnson's sudden death may result in a charge of murder. A postmortem examination will be held in 
all probability to ascertain the cause of death.

Has Many Centenarians.
Clinton, Jan. 1 - The discovery here of a colored woman 102 years of age brings to light the fact that previous to the 
death of William Zimmer a year ago Clinton county had three centenarians within its borders, the third being Mrs. Caroline 
Moore, who died at Charlotte about a month ago. The latest centenarian to attract attention is the colored woman, whose name 
is Mrs. Bugg. Thirty years ago Bugg died and since then his widow has lived with a daughter.

Charged with Theft.
Clinton, Jan. 1 - Frank Pierson, of Delmar, this county, and John Connors, of Sioux City, have been arrested, charged 
with having broken into the residence of Dr. E.C. McMeel and the Davis general store at Delmar. They secured valuables to 
the amount of the young men, and their room was $200, it is alleged. Suspicion pointed to searched and the articles found. 
They were brought to this city and arraigned before Justice Buckley and were bound over to the next grand jury.

Reception in Sewer.
Waterloo, Jan. 1 - Mayor P.J. Martin is planning a novel feature for the members of the Iowa league of Municipalities. 
It is no less than a reception in the massive Dry Run sewer. The sewer is said to be the greatest feat of drainage 
engineering ever attempted in Iowa. When completed it will be over one-half mile long and twelve feet in diameter, built of 
concrete.

Gets the Limit.
Rockwell City, Jan. 1 - Thomas J. Rennick, of Jolley, who was arrested and placed in jail about three weeks ago for 
incest, on complaint of his daughter, and whose trial has been in progress for several days, was found guilty by the jury, 
the evidence being overwhelmingly against him. He was sentenced by Judge Elwood to the penitentiary at Anamosa for a term of 
ten years, the full limit of the law. The sentence meets with the hearty approval of the public.

Suicide at Leon.
Leon, Jan. 1 - Tom Koger, aged 38 years, committed suicide at his residence south of Leon, shooting himself through the 
head with a 32-calibre revolver. Death was instantaneous. He went into a room, lay down on the bed and shot himself, the 
bullet entering the head about an inch in front of the right ear. No motive for the deed is known to exist. Koger leaves a 
wife and six children. He was a well respected and industrious citizen, until recently employed in Swift & Co's packing 
house.

Beller Bound Over.
Cedar Rapids, Jan. 1 - At Vinton today Dr. O.B. Beller waived his preliminary examination and was held to the grand 
jury under bonds of $1,000. He was arrested for threatening to kill his former fiance and is suspected of having placed 
dynamite in her home for the purpose of blowing her up. Miss Hill, the complaining witness, was recently married to a 
Colorado dentist, which precipitated the crisis. Since his arrest Beller has suddenly married the girl who gave the 
testimony which led to his arrest and it is supposed he did so to prevent her, as his wife, from testifying against him.

Two Saloons Stopped.
Waterloo, Jan. 1 - A decree of the court has made it necessary for two Waterloo saloonkeepers to go out of business. 
These are John Guy and Jake Dunnwald, whose places of business are on Commercial street. They ceased liquor selling today at 
the stroke of ten, and can not re-enter the business anywhere in the Tenth judicial district within a year at least. The 
cases of the state vs. John Guy and the state vs. Jake Dunnwald have been on the court docket for some time. The defendants 
are charged with conducting drinking places without properly conforming to the strict provisions of the Martin mulct law.

State Kills Diseased Horses.
Spririt Lake, Jan. 1 - Under the direction of State Veterinary Koto and Deputy Austin two of the best horses belonging 
to G.M. Miller were killed to prevent the spread of glanders, with which his eight horses are infected. The other six will 
be tested and treated to see if they can be saved, but some of them at least will eventually have to be killed. This is a 
pretty tough blow to Miller, but he is not the kind to get discouraged. He bought a new team and is hustling goods at his 
usual gait.

The Teapot Exploded.
Chariton, Jan. 1 - Mrs. J.F. Hendrickson, a widow, who resides on a farm near the junction, nothwest of town, met with 
a most painful accident. She was preparing some sassafras tea for the noon meal in a syrup tricket on which the lid fits air 
tight. She attempted to remove the lid with her hand, but had to procure a knife which she inserted under the lid, prying it 
up, when the tricket exploded, striking her in the face, scalding her eyes and face so badly that she will lose the sight of 
one eye entirely. The other one is badly injured and fears are entertained that she will lose it. Dr. T.P. Stanton was 
called as soon as the accident occurred and rendered the necessary medical assistance, so at this time she is getting along 
nicely, although her wounds are quite painful. It is to be hoped that it will not prove as serious as thought, for she and 
her little daughter live alone and make their living off the small farm.

IOWA IN BRIEF.
- Pat Lamb, knowns as "Pid" Lamb, was found dead in his apartments east of the hotel at Rock Rapids at noon. Death resulted 
from heart trouble.
- Brooks and Phillips, the Albert City murderers, have been taken back to Storm Lake from Anamosa, and their second trial 
for the murder of Marshal Sundblad will be called in the January term of court.
- The inquest in the case of John and Nellie Duffy, who were killed at the railroad crossings at Bayard, decided that the 
railroad company was to blame in not giving proper signals.
-Alec Barr, a prominent farmer living near Gilman, met with a compound fracture of the jaw while leading a fractious horse. 
It was found necessary by the physicians to bore holes through his jaw and fastend the broken parts together with wires.
- Mrs. T.O. Morgan, widow of the late T.O. Morgan, died at Hamburg. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan left an estate valued at $350,000 to 
be divided among eight heirs.
- A.F. Manz, a farmer residing west of Le Mars, has a freak on his place which is a great object of curiousity to his 
neighbors. It is a five-legged colt, which is frisky and healthy.
- Diedrich Barchers, a farmer living north of Le Mars, brought hs 3-year-old boy to town in a hurry. The child had swalloed 
a button hook three inches long. Dr. Mamman by means of X-rays located the foreign substance in the child's stomach.



Davenport Daily Republican
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
January 4, 1903

GENERAL NEWS OF IOWA

Paymaster Robbed.
Bussey, Jan. 3 - W.P. Sullivan, paymaster of the Bussey coal mine, was held up by three robbers early today and robbed 
of $1,800. After the robbers obtained the money Sullivan secured a shotgun and shot one of the men, who was captured. The 
other two escaped with the money.

Teacher Brings Suit.
Fort Dodge, Jan. 3 - Miss Lucy Taft, a school teacher of Fort Dodge, filed a petition in a suit for $10,000 damages 
against R.A. Schroeder, one of the prominent merchants of this city. The suit is on two separate counts for $5,000 each. The 
plaintiff alleges that while she was in Schroeder's store, she was accused of larceny by the defendant, who said that she 
had stolen goods from the store. This the plaintiff denies, and askes $5,000 damages for injury to her good name and 
character. She also sues for $5,000 damges for alleged injury done her person by defendant. The suit has caused a sensation 
here on account of the prominence of both parties.

Plucky Girl Catches Thief.
Des Moines, Jan. 3 - Miss Nellie Jay, of 1324 East Des Moines street, employed in the book store of M.H. Hartung & Co., 
418 East Sixth street, by her coolness and bravery, this morning captured a book thief as he was leaving the store with 
"With Winnie of Venice" and Dumas' "Chicot, the Jester", under his coat. She seized the burglar by the coat tails and made 
him lay down the books, then beckoning to Al. Shope and a companion out on the sidewalk to hold the would-be robber, she ran 
to the telephone and called the police. A few minutes later Officer Hedricks arrived and the man was taken to the bastile.
He gave his name as W.H. Thompson and said that he lived at 1220 East Court avenue. Last Saturday Miss Jay says she saw 
him in the store and when he was gone she missed several books, among them being Maries Corelli's "Murder of Delicia" and 
Irving Bachelor's "D'ri and I."
The man was also seen to take the books by Bessie Walters of 1348 Grand avenue.

A Stay for Hayworth
Fort Dodge, Jan. 3.- Nathan Hayworth, the Fort Dodge boy confined in a Utah prison under sentence of death, has 
received a stay of execution, and his case will be heard in the supreme court. The information was received by the boy's 
father, J.R. Hayworth, of this city, from Attorney Webber, who is defending Nathan Hayworth. The case is expected to come up 
in the June session. The appeal was granted on new evidence collected in behalf of the defense. Hayworth's case is now 
considered strong, and with the new evidence, if a new trial is granted, prospects for a verdict of acquittal are favorable. 
The claim that Hayworth's confession was forced is strengthened by the testimony of a young woman who overheard a 
conversation between the prison officials and Hayworth in the latter's cell. The young woman was confined to the prison on a 
charge resulting from a saloon crusade conducted by her.

Charges Against Postmaster.
Packwood, Jan. 3 - The postoffice inspector was at Abingdon to examine the condition of affairs connected with the 
postmaster. Charges of opening and reading letters were preferred by parties against Postmaster Ed. Best. Also graver 
offenses, it is alleged, were committed by him. Mrs. Jennie Snider, who was assistant postmaster at one time, testified to 
the inspector in the presence of witnesses, that she saw Mr. Best open three letters; that she read them, but had no part in 
opening them. The case will be tried in the January term of court. It is hoped that Mr. Best, who has heretofore borne an 
unblemished reputation, may clear himself.

Held Up and Robbed.
Mason City, Jan. 3 - Tom Duffy, the agent at Portland for the Milwaukee road, was held up by two masked robbers and 
robbed of $165 and his watch. This depot was robbed only two weeks ago for $35 from the express company and a quantity of 
valuable merchandise.

Leaves Fortune to Poor.
Waterloo, Jan. 3 - The will of John Fagan, a wealthy Blackhawk farmer, on file here, bequeaths his entire estate of 
$14,000 to the poor of Waterloo. He left the money in trust with Father Cooney, pastor of St. Joseph's Catholic church, to 
be distributed at his discretion.

Iowa in Brief.
- The Rev. W.A. Hobbs, pastor of the Congregational church in Traer, was stricken with apoplexy and lies in a critical 
condition. The physicians give little hopes for recovery. Mr. Hobbs came to Iowa three years ago from New York.
- The saloons of J.J. Dunnawald and J.M. Guy at Waterloo, who were compelled to close their doors at 10:00 Jan. 1 because of 
failure to comply with the mulct law, have been transferred to D. Brittain and Wm. Ewald & Co., and will continue without 
interruption.
- Lewis Williams, a homeless negro just from the Southland, is in Ellsworth hospital in Iowa Falls and will have to undergo 
the amputation of portions of his toes and fingers as a result of exposure during the recent severe cold weather in this 
section. Williams is a young man a little past twenty and up to last week was at work for Mrs. DeFreize, west of Alden.
- Whisky has claimed another victim. Charles Scala of Clutier was found dead in his home. With some companions he had been 
drinking heavily for some time. The companions left him in the morning alone. Later a farmer passed and saw him in the yard 
acting like a crazy man,and, being afraid, passed on. Later Scala was found dead in the house. He had lived at Clutier three 
years. His wife, who lives at Chicago, has been summoned by telegraph.

Davenport Daily Republican
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
January 8, 1903  

GENERAL NEWS OF IOWA  

Iowa Woman's Strange Power

     Waterloo, Jan. 7 - Mrs. M.L. Southwick, living at the corner of Lincoln and Center streets, is gradually finding herself beseiged by sick persons who desire that she cure them by the laying on of hands. She possesses some peculiar power over disease which she attributes to magnetism and which she discovered by accident and has by constant study developed to good use. She is a lady of more than ordinary intelligence, and freely confesses that the power comes from some source which she is unwilling to call divine inspiration, although she says she is guided entirely by instinct in effecting her cures. She formerly lived in Waverly, and it was there five years ago that she discovered her power when she cured Mrs. Herman Miller of that place of a serious throat affliction by the laying on of hands to the affected part. She has lived here about a year and during this period has cured many people of different diseases. She says when she is in the presence of a sick person she experiences a peculiar sensation in her hands and fingers and can not resist the inclination to place her hands upon the afflicted person, which invariably brings relief to the sufferer. So successful has she been that her friends and those whom she has cured have urged her to rent an office and enter the profession as a magnetic healer. For her services she has so far made no charge, as she says the gift was freely given to her and she feels that she dare not accept money from its distribution to comfort others. She has more success treating children than old person, and several remarkable cures in her immediate neighborhood are attributed to her skill. In once case she treated a parient under who she had failed to conquer the disease. He acknowledged the improved condition of the patient after several treatments and there has been no return of the trouble.  

Oldest Convict Dead

     Anamosa, Jan. 7 - Wm. Dilley, Iowa's oldest convict in point of time served, is dead. He passed away at the Anamosa penitentiary. The machinery of the old frame simply refused to longer carry the load of affliction. Dilley looked much older than he really was. He was gray and stooped like an octogenarian. In reality he has spent just half of his life behind prison bars. Dilley's crime was wife murder and committed at a time before capital punishment had become a recognized method of atonement in Iowa. He was doing a life sentence from Johnson county, where he was convicted in January, 1877. He had served 26 years. Dilley's number was 239. The highest register number today is 4.967, and thus has he witnessed the admission and departure by death, parole and completed sentence of 4,000 men. Dilley has assisted in the construction of every building that has been erected in the pentitentiary in the last quarter of a century and this means that he has a hand in practically every piece of architecture taht now adorns the state property, for the walls and all the handsome buildings that now grace the property have supplanted the former wooden stockade and the temporary structures in use at the time of his incarceration.  

Iowa in Brief.

- Mrs. Henry Hudson of Algona is dead because of a ruptured blood vessel of the brain.

- A.R. Kuller, postmaster of Dysart, was married Christmas night to Miss Flora Powellson, a milliner of that town. The wedding was kept a secret until this week.

- Louis Zalzovcky, a well known character of Marshalltown, died this week. He had been a resident of the city 20 years and was a carpenter and joiner by trade.

- Rev. G.A. Bryant, the Jesup pastor who created such a furor last summer is back in Waterloo. It is believed that he wishes to effect a reconciliation with his wife, who has remained true to him in spite of his absence.

- Waterloo police are after Mr. and Mrs. "Dr." Lawrence, clairvoyants, who have been making that town, on a charge of obtaining money under false pretenses. Nick Ternes, a farmer, is alleged to have been swindled out of $150 which he left with the Lawrences so that they might have a dream and secure Ternes a wife.

Submitted by: C.J.L.