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About Dakota County herald. (Dakota City, Neb.) 1891-1965 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 22, 1911)
TT""- ADVCNTUDCS oeVODLD'5 r'THE ERICAN! HOME BRADFORD v.By JLAsllVLo ""George Barton ? g ,i J mk&WmmfflS I H Kill ffffllf ' lll'IMlfiS?' Siffl U!fl A"Hlllj Jifil mjmt Bv ?. 1 i I i S r i f The Milk Punch Devenue Fraud- An Episode in the Life of James J. Brooks , once Chief of the United States Secret Service. COPYRIGHT IDII DY WO. CHAPMAN N THW summer of 18SG, In ternal Rovenuo Commis sioner Rolllna summoned James J. Brooks to Wash ington. Tho officers of tho government jvero grently perplexed. Congress had placed tho almost prohibitive tax of two dollars por gallon on whisky, and Immediately Illicit distilleries sprung up in all parts of tho country. Com missioner Rollins very much desired to break up tho Illegal traffic, and ho had selected Brooks as tho man for tho purpose. Tho Interview between tho two men was long and Important. "Brooks," said tho commlsisoner, "tho frauds connected with tho pro duction and removal of spirits aro be coming alarming. Great public dissatis faction has arisen from tho failure to collect this tax. Besides It is ruin ing discipline In tho service, and un less somo remedy la obtained, I fear further demoralization." "Aro tho conditions as bad as that?" "Worso! I have figures which chow that CO per cent, of tho whisky reported made and warehoused has been sold without paymont ofthorov onus, tax. Such oxtonslvo fraud Is not possible without the knowledge of responsible revenue officers. It Is exceedingly difficult for officers in Washington to detect collusion on the part of their subordinates in other places. Thceo frauds have not only robbod the national treasury, but havo corrupted many mon of heretofore ac knowledged Integrity. Men of capital but without conscience have some times been lound to be partners of those whom they havo put to tho front for bribery or perjury and tho perils of detection. Brooks, I want you to help me break up this business." V After outlining the general situation, tho pommlBRlnnor became specific in his statements and Informed tho detec tivo just what ho expected him to ac complish. That night Brooks departed on hla assignment, which wus to a little town near Cincinnati; and which, for tho purposes of this narrative, shall bo known as Meadboro. Ho woro no disguise. Ho never did. He was In the habit of sajlng humorously that his actual appearanco wa3 all tho dis guise he over needed. ( Tho man wno alighted from the train at Meadboro was a tall, com manding figure. Ho had a benevolent look which seemed to say: "I am at poaco with all the world." Only two parts of his organism could bo milu lo talk. His eyes bespoke Intelligence, and his lips expressed determination. Ho was about 40 years of ago, but hla wrilt'ns hair gavo him tho appearanco of being much older than that. Be fore ho had been In tho llttlo village long, It was whispered about that ho was a tract distributor and an agent for some charitable institution. He registered at tho only hotel In tho placo under an assumed name. It did not tako him long to get into conversa tion with the proprietor and so somo ot tho loungers about tho placo. Tho talk, after exhausting Itself on tho weather, and horses, and politics, aud church matters, finally turned on Meadboro and its inhabitants. Ho learned that John Davis wa3 probably tho most Important man in tho locality. He combined the busi ness of a distiller and a dairy man. Ho had 20 cows and a distillery,' and a farm of a hundred acres. Everything seemed to bo open and aoovo board, Davis apparently worked hard, and with a son and his hired men, did not seem to havo much sparo time on his, .hands. Brooks managed lo eouio In contact with Davis, but thoro was nothing about the personality of the man that gavo him any clue. Davis wore a look as though ho were constantly exhaust ed through lack of sleep. His coun tenanco did not give any Indication of tho operation of his mind. Ho was a man of few words. Ho had profor encGS, but no friendships. Tho dull horizon of his life seemed undisturbed savo by occasional streaks of tact In "business matters. One of the loungers 1n tho hotel credited him with having onco brought about a corner In pork on a limited scale. Another iudlcatod that ho had onco mixed fine white meal with his lard. These things did not seem very Important In them aolvos, and yet they were traits of character which made it possiblo to be 3lovo tho charge that ho had habitual ly withheld from taxation nearly threo fourths of his yield of whisky. Brooks contrived to visit his farm on vnrious occasions. Ho went through tho dairy, examined the live stock and managed to get a peep into tho distil lery. Ho arranged his visits so that one day ho wont In tho morning, an other in tho afternoon, and still an other In tho dusk of ovening, hut ho wan novor ablo lo And anything out of the way. From tlmo to time whisky -was sent out In casks, but it was al wayB properly gauged and the govern ment appeared to bo receiving its tax. '. Among other persons with whom tho detective becamo acquainted was n queer old character named Ezra Wal lace. Ho was a Scotch Presbyterian, and was tho bexton of tho village church. Ho was an Intensely religious man and hungered for discussion of theological subjects. Brooks accommodated him nioro than onco, and It was not long 'bolero he found himself among tho HLJy bonrdera of Ezra Wallace hMmblo homo. The old man would have cheer fully lodged and fed him for noth ing for tho snko of rollgious controver sies on which ho lived, and thrived, and had his being. One night the two mon needed a book to verify some disputed point. It happened to bo In tho church library. Brooks volun teered to go after It. Tho sexton hand ed him tho key and he wont to tho church and obtained tho book, but ho conveniently forgot to return tho key. Some tlmo after midnight he quiet ly hurried to the church, and using tho purloined key, made his way Into the edifice. It was qulto dark and tho place was unfamiliar, but ho managed to gropo along until ho reached tho stairway leading to the choir loft. From thence ho climbed to the dingy attic at' tho base of the church Bteeple. He crawled up by easy stages until ho reached the bel fry. A rustling nolso startled him. This was followed by another and then ctlll another. lie realized that tho rats were scampering from tLelr ac customed haunts. The fluttering of wings near the top of the structure rci minded him that ho had disturbed tho bats. It was still qulto dark, and he began to feel qulto chilly, but doter malned to remain in tho belfry until daylight. He never realized before how slow ly It is possiblo 'for minutes to pass by, but his long vigil finally came to an end. Daylight appeared and the detectivo brought forth a powerful lei escopo. With tho aid of this instru ment he was enabled to got n splendid view of the surrounding country. In tact, ho could see everything quite clearly within a radius of a mile or more. Good housewives at work In their gardens, faimers driving their wagons to market, and men working In tho fields, wore all to bo seen with wonderful clearness. Presently his curiosity was satisfied and ho climbed down from his lofty perch and quietly retraced his stepB. Ho went to his boarding houso and ato breakfast with a heartiness that made the cook tell him that ho had the appetlto of a horso. While he was at tho table, Ezra Wnllaco camo In. The sexton spoke to him very coldly. Brooks became alarmed. Ho did not dcslro tho 111 will of tho old man, and, above all, did not wish to havo his plans go astray, so ho tried to con ciliate him, "Good morning, Ezra! you're looking fine this morning." "That's the way all respectable folk3 should look," wbb tho gruff ro Joinder. "Suro," responded tho dotectlve.who did not qulto grasp the meaning of the sexton's romark. Tho latter eyed him coldly for a mo ment and then said in nn accusing voico: "I may havo my faults, but I've never stayed out all night in my llfo.'1 tho detectivo gavo a terrific snoczo. "if you'had boon In your warm bed last night," said Ezra, now making his accusation direct, "you probably wouldn't havo had that cold." "Oh, that's all right," was tho cheer ful reply. "It is not all right," rotorted tho box ton, "nnd I'll thank you to glvo mo bank that ky," Brooks handed it to him with somo misgivings. "What aro you going to do?" nsked tho dotectlve. "I don't know yet," was tho reply. "I'll find out first whether anythlng's been taken out of tho church. After that I'll decldo what to do." It took Brooks nearly an hour to pacify tho old man, nnd in convincing htm that nlthough ho was traveling under an assumed name, and spent tho night In' tho stcoplo of the church, ho wns engaged In n legitimate business, and assured him that In a short tlmo ho would explain It all to his satis faction. Tho day after his night in tho church steeple, Brooks was very busy. Ho telegraphed to Cincinnati soveral timos, and during tho nftornoon and evoning it was noticed that several strangers alighted from tho way train that stopped at Meadboro. Tho detec tive was very stilt from his exposuro, but ho managed to conceal his dis comfort in the thought of tho impor tant work that lay boforo him. Ho was up at daylight tho following morning. Ho stationed himself in tho road that led from tho Davis farm to the station. Tho two-horse team that was in tho habit of hauling the milk to the train was duo at six o'clock. It rumbled along just at tho hour. Davis, himself, occupied a placo on the scat beside the driver. Tho detectivo stood near a turn In tho road. Behind him, concealed in u clump of bushes, were two nblo-bodled assistants. As tho team reached that point Brooks steppod In front of tho horses. "Good morning, Mr. Davis how aro you feeling this morning?" "None of your business," was tho rough rejoinder. "Get out of tha way and let theso horses pass." "You're not very pollto this morn ing." "I'm In a hurry, and I've got no time to wnsto on you." "Then you'll have to tako the time." Davis' answer was characteristic of tho man. Ho cracked his whip and s'tarted tho horses, But tho detectivo moved with nmazlng quickness nnd coolness. He pulled his pistol and pointed It at tho farmer's head. "Halt!" ho cried. At tho same moment his two assist ants rushed from tV-alr places of con cealment. "You seo," said Brooks, pleasantly, "It's threo against two. You might as well glvo up." "But I don't understand," replied Davis, who did look dazed. "What's the meaning of thl3 performance?" "It can bo explained in a fow words, "said the detective. "I'm arep reEentatlvo ot tho Uuitod States gov ernment, and I chargo you with main taining an illicit distrlllery," "But I pay tho government tax." "On a small part of your product only. You've been cheating Undo Sam for a long while." Davis laughod dryly. "That's easy to cay, but you can't provo it." "Yes I cau." "How?" "Hero and now. That wagon's full At this psychological moment cmmi& MUDWH ". ' w " J' r?j k. i sr -x. " r n Hv 1 fcnh WNtdKEr of whisky on Which you have not paid a cent of tax." Davis' lips curled with scorn. "I thought you didn't know what you were talking about. We havo 20 enns of milk in tho wagon and It's consigned to tho Harvey Milk com pany or Cincinnati. Isn't that true, Sara?" Tho driver of tho wagon, bolng thus npppalf( to, nodded a sloopy head. "Yes. str," ho said, "thnt'B w true as gospel." Brooks climbed up on tho hub of tho front wheel nnd looked at tho wagon. "If you havo milk bore," ho said, "lot's see it." "Yes," said the other detective, joc ularly, "I'll tnko a quart." "But It's fastened for shipping." "Open It," said Brooks. "Open that can on tho end." The man did as ho was bade, and suro enough It contained nothing but puro milk. j. "Any other you'd like to seo?" nskod Davis triumphantly. "Yes open tho cannon tho other end." That was openod nnd that, like tho other, yielded only Aldomoy milk. "Now," Eald Brooks, "let mo seo tho contents of the can In tho middle. "Oh," exclaimed Davis, "this la carrying a joke too far." Tho can was opened, however, and it was found to contain high proof whisky. Every one of tho other 17 cans woro filled with distilled spirits. Davis wub arrested, tried and convict ed, and tho far-reaching conspiracy of defrauding tho government defeated. Brooks was highly complimented by Commissioner Rollins, and shortly aft erwards was nsslgncd to Philadelphia, whoro ho won now laurola In ferreting out and convicting those who wero cheating Undo Sam ot his legal dues. Waltlno for an Opinion. "Now Rastus," roared tho major, "what is the use? Don't you know that I know you aro lying?" "Yassuh," replied RastuB, "but yo see, Marso Henry, I kind o' thought I'd like to bab yo' opinion on de sub ject befo' I decided dat I was lyln' fo sho' mnhself. Now dat yo' says I ia, Marso Henry, I Jest reg'larly knows I Is, vili." Harper's Weekly. if REVIVAL OF FAMOUS FAIR Students In Paris Parade on Anni versary of tho Lendlt, Celebration of Centuries Ago. Amorlcan Btudonts must envy their Europoan brothors tho excuses for getting up celebrations nnd anniver saries. Tho students of tho univer sity of Tarls this year determined to revive the famous fair ot tho Lendlt. From tho twelfth contury to tho Blxteonth, this annual fair, hold In tho plain of St. Dents, was tho occasion of much festivity. Tho official con nection with tho university wna that the wholo fctudont body, headed by tho faculty and tho rector, wont In procession to buy enough parchment to last for tho year. t It was hardly poHBlblo to carry out tho festival exactly, but at tho close of tho collego year, ono Saturday ovo nlng, heralds, nccompaniod by torch bearers and trumpotors, went through tho Latin quarter announcing tho com ing pageant. And next afternoon a fnu t nut lo procession titnrtod from tho Pantheon. ; First camo a sqund ot archers and mounted trumpeters, then tho herald of tho city on foot Behind him ap peared the rector of the university, with a mounted mnn carrying his ban nor, tho provost of tho parchment sellers, professors and members of tho faculty in their robes. Then camo a merry column follow ing tho "King of tho Basocho," who was mountod on a donkoy and accom panied by his clowns. This column consisted of tho students of tho four nations Franco, Anjou, PIcnrdy and Normandy, each with its band ot music. While tho only object of tho pngoant was fun, It wna correctly costumed, tho frescoes of tho Sorbonno furnlBh ins all tho Information neoded. Tho participants and tho crowds ot spoo tators enjoyed It so much that it may bo made an annual affair. Dean of London Bar 100 Years Old. A Gordon Hako, tho dean of the London bar, celebrated his ono hun dredth birthday recently at his homo at Brighton. Mr. Hako Is a master of flvo langungos Greok, Latin, French, Italian and SpanlBh and reads Hor ace, Virgil and Montaigne. Ho attributes his long and healthy life toplonty of riding ho had for years a favorite horso named Daisy and to walking and to abstemious liv ing. Ho has never cared much for modern varieties of dresa. Tho Rev. T. G. Hake tells a good story of hlR father's rough and roady toilet. Dr. Charles Hanson onco callod on him at his chambers and aBked per mission to put on his barrister's wig and gown. "Now," ho said, "lend me a looking glass." Ho was handed a iH7or tho nearest approach to a mirror possessed by hla friend. Law Notes Belonged to Father. Every ono know Jonathan Skinflint as a millionaire, with tho exception, bo It appeared, of Skinflint htmBolf. Ho invariably woro the shabbiest of clothes and Is reported to havo dined ono day on a couple of peas and a grapo akin. Ono day an old friend endeavored to persuade tho mlaor to dress better. "1 am surprised," ho said, "that you should lot yourself becomo so shab by." "But I am not shabby," expostulated Skinflint "Oh, yes, you aro," replied tho friend. "Rcmerabor your fnthor. He was always neatly, oven elegantly, droBsod. Ills clothes wero very hand some." Skinflint gavo utternnco to a boarty laugh. "Why," ho shouted trlum phantly, "those clothes I'vo got on wero fathor'sl" Ideas, Vacation Bromldlums. "I don't caro anything about It, you know, but tho womon folk lnslat on It" "No, I don't expect to hovo a good tlmo. I'll feel worso tired out when I camo back than when I went away." "It'a such a boro, don't you know this thing of having to pack up and go gadding all over tho country un der tho pretext you need a rost" "Tho misery of it is that you can't get good c off oo nnywhoro." "And, besides, it alwayB rains when I go on my vacation." "You never moot nay hut selfish peo ple at a summer resort" Til bo mighty glad when lt'a owr.M Mr. William A. Hartford will iW3wor jucstlons nnd bIvo udvlco FREE OF COST on all subjocto pertaining to tho lubject of bulldlnjr, for tho roadors of this paper. On account of hla wldo oxporlnnco as Kdltor, Author nnd Manufacturer, bo Is, without doubt, tho highest authority on all tlicso subjects. AddroM all inqiilrlcn to WUH-rt A Kadfen!. No. 172 West Jackson boulovard, ChlcnKO, III., nnd only enclose two-cent stamp for reply. Real cstato dealers and Bpeculatlvo bulldora In tho largor cities nnd sub urban towna havo long realized that every dollar spent In making more at tractive tho interior of the houses that they offer will comp back ton-fold In tho Increased Belling prlco that enn bo obtalnod or the larger rcntnl that can bo nsked. This la aomothtng which tho homo builder who has but a limited amount to Invest, or tho bultdcr In tho Bmnllor towns, does not always realize. In deed, it really paya hotter in tho end to cut down tho Biro of tho houso ir it should becomo necessary to econo mize, rather than to omit any features which add to tho selling vnluo of tho property. Ono may say that ho ia building n houso for hlmBelf, that ho haa no In tention of selling, but expects to llvo in tho houso for tno rost of hla Hfo and enn do without tho frills If only tho houso ia big enough to nccoramo dato tho actunl needa. What, there fore, la tho neccBslty ot conalderlng selling or rentnl valuo? There is an old and very truo proverb that "man proposes, but God disposes;" and though a man may bo building a homo, circumstances may In tlmo nrlso that make tho salo or renting of the houso imporulivo, and every fenluro that uddH lo Us Helling or rental vnluo will bo doubly appre ciated. Death may make It Uecessnr to sell tho houso In order to BotUo tho estate. Business reasons that cannot bo foreseen ofton compel a man much ngninst his Inclinations to movo to Bomo distant part of tho country; and I havo found out by personnl experi ence that thoro 1b nothing more un Batisfactpry as an investment than mi " BmKfmmmmm?l5f:B m9mmmmmmmmWt9mMtwmBS JmWm """ i kftTr JLn Karl BSRmmmWmWmmtmOmmmmmmwWBtttmWtmMmtmW - UfMhJM ( SmmmamWmmmm9nmmmmmmemmffmmmS "" mwPKM9mm a itm rWmmWWmmwRjmmmwFt'' m ifljfl mmt JHBImHv -""t'T' real cstato which Ib bo far away that tho ownor cannot Boo for hlmsolf whether repalra asked for by tho ten ant aro really needed or not, hut must ho compelled to depend upon tho word of the real cstato agent, whoso Inter ests seem often to bo rather with tho tonnnfc than with tho landlord. At bucIi a time, tho owner realizes that anything which by catching tho oyo and tho fancy of tho proapcctlvo pur chaacr makes a houso sell moro readi ly Is something decidedly to his ad vantage. Tho man who la compelled to bor row money In order to build his house usually endeavors to keep tho Bum that ho borrows down to tho lowest possiblo notch, and will cut down wherover ho can in order to accom plish this object But it ia possiblo to carry this pruning too far. To tho man unfamiliar with the coat or build ing, tho thlnga which appear to bo most oxpenslvo aro thoso Horns ot in terior finish nnd docoratlon which add POBCH T03 In Kitchen Dining Rm. H uwer tas.---.-s.' LIVING Pm Vts wwrxi"' OBCH IrWW First Floor rian tho touch of elegance and refinement to the house. For tho sako of saving from one to flvo hundred dollars and often nenrer tho former flguro than the. latter ho will omit such Horns na fireplaces, mantola, built-in china closets, or attractive utalr finish. Ho thinks, perhaps, that after tho mortgngo haa been paid off ho will add these features that ho haa omit ted; but ho forgeta that It will coat very much moro to add them later than to put thorn In at tho tlmo ot building; to say nothing ot tho fact that thoso thlnga which wo put off un til another time aro very apt to bo left undone It would bo far wlaor to cut down in Bomo ot tho hidden features that ho may regard na essential, rather than to omit thoso which show upon tho Btirfaco and which inako tho differ ence between n box-llko barracks and a homo. When you stop to flguro tho matter out, tho two or threo hundred dollars nddltlonnl which a man will havo to borrow In order to include thoso items which will make hla home attractlvo will at moat add eighteen to twenty dollars a year to the inter eat charges which he will have to jmy, while they, will add fully a thoa- EDITOR V ' snnd dollars to tho prlco ho can real lzo for tho houso, or flvo dollars a month perhnpH more to tho amount of rent ho could get for it Attractlvo wall papora, while adding: much to tho selling valuo of tho houso: (hot l rwitw1 an a rwl ARtato nnoctl. latlon, especially when chosen with a goor tanto nnd artistic feeling that Is now possible to command ovon with; tho low-cost papers can bo bettor left! for tho futuro than nny other Itenti which tho homo builder needs to con sider. Wall paper must bo renewed) every fow years at best, nnd tho paper-' hangers aro no more objectionable toi have about tho house than tho acrub-i women that aecm to bo an Inevitable Second Floor Flan part ot tho spring and fall houi cleaning. Gas or electric Xeaturea are another Item that can, if neceassary, be poatJ poned till Borne tlmo In tho future, provided the house ia piped or wired, for them, because there is no need for oxpcnelvo or disturbing mechanical work in placing them in position; but It is tho poorest kind ot economy to omit tho necessary piping or wiring according to tho custom in tho locality; or both In thoso towna whoro both gna nnd electricity aro Installed. But thoso features which aro built Into the houao and which form an es sential pari of tho construction or tho. flnlsh should novor bo put off until a r moro convenient season, because the mechanical dlfllculty and tho cxpenson 'of adding them later will prevent' tncra rroni over being put in. Tho Boat nt tho bottom ot tho Btalra nnd whichr forms a part of tho paneling should bo built at tho samo tlmo tho stalrsi are, and made nn casentlal feature of the design; and tho samo thing la truo of tho built-in china closet in tho din ing room. The design Illustrated hero, is nn, excellent example of the Bmall houso' equipped with all tho attractlvo little features that aro so much appreciated, by tho housewlfo and in such demand by those who aro looking to purchase a home, yet, at the same time, do not cost very much when provided for in tho original plan nnd put in at the same tlmo tho rest of the work is. dono. - .. . - . A desirable feature of this design, la tho arrangement of tho stair hall! separated from tho rooms of the first floor. This la tho way it should be, lna case it la over desired to rent a room, since the rooms on the second floor are directly accessible from tho front: entrance without disturbing anyone on tho first floor. Tho economy of this design may be seen from tho fact that tho houBo haa boon built as illustrated, using all first-class matorlala, for $2,500. The width ot the house ia 2H feet, tha length 25 feet C Inches. There are thruo rooms on the first floor and two rooms on tho second floor, beside bathroom, largo clothes closets, etc Tho exterior appearance ot this house' la attractive and up-to-date. Did Horse Seek Death? Can a horse commit aulcldo? Thti theory la brought forward through a singular affair at Brlghouae, England. About a week ago a horse fell into a pond In tho vicinity ot the Brighouse cricket field, and it was got out aftor two hours ot strenuous exertion A day or two lator tho horso found its way to tho samo pond, and this tlmo met with Its death. Brlghouso pcoplo are asking If tho horso went thoro purposely. Does Away With Poslnn. Tho latest crazo among the Berlin smart sot Is having ono's portrait sketched or painted whtlo asleep. The crazo was started by an Austrian aristocrat, Countess Czlvlck, who, ao-t cording to a current story, tell asleepi whllo waiting in tho atollor ot a well known painter. Tho painter found, tho countesa so charming ns she slum bered that ho drer her in that condi tion. Tho portrait was a great sue-. COBS. Keeping the Balance Evan. Nine tlmea out ot ten tha wo-ma who ia worth htr weight In goM mar-j rlea a raaa wko iaa't wortb. bis watcati in scrap ire i Yj v vlj , I BedRm V 4 "TTl 1 & -l r 1 s, ' "I mJ ,Y j'' ,1 :&