Nebraska Newspapers

    OMAHA , NEBRASKA , OOTOBEE , 150.1-SUPPLEMEIS T.
JOSEPH EDCERTON AT THE BAR
1f6 NejlcotB a Mcagro Prnctlco in His Quest
for Office.
HE IMPOSED UPON A CLIENT ,
in > ARHlMnnt County Prosecutor
Jlc Defi'iids a Criminal In Viola
tion ol'llln Snared Oa til
of Olllce.
J. W Hdgcrton , Independent candidate for
tliomipreina court , located In South Oinnha
In the full of l.W. Previously hu had hvod
in S'romsburg ' , xvhero ho practiced law with
Indilffrcnt success , ilu routed quarters 111
Huuis block on tbo corner of Twenty-
felxtti nnd N streets. The town
Was 'lion under village organization.
Jt win bard work for lawyers to make a
living , and It xvas especially bard for a man
jvho lacked the magnetism nncl tbo ahlltty
\vhlch nrouso and command respect. Ho
formed a pnrtnoishlp with John Orlco , who
secured most of the business donn by the
firm Tno partnership , however did not
thrive Jt wns a one-sided affair.
Orlco did nearly all the work
And 3i > cnt nearly all the money. Ho bad
lost caste In Edgerton's eyes. It was ncccs-
arv for the latter to secure a moro reliable
ynubblng post to which to moor his bark
nnd found him In the proson of his present
partner.
Ono of the partner's duties Is now , as It
Tias been , to pav thu rent. About n year ago
the IInn movud to Omaha , where It 1 * still
located , although the urentor purt of that
tlmo has been spent by Kdgcrton traversing
the Mate and hanging around the legislature
ps one of the alleged leaders of the Inde
pendent party.
Kdgorton had been n republican but had
plwuys failed to secure n nominatlou from
that party. The party did not experience a
crying dcslro for Ills services and the great
barrister leaped the barriers and landed in
the Union Labor field. The law was not a
paying venture and ho accordingly loaned
around for n bertli which would give htm a
regular Income something vhich ho needed
Very badly.
ItcGot nn Oflloo.
South Omaha , at the tlrno was overrun
ttlth transients. Daily , numbers of these
would Do arrested. 1 ho town was too dis
tant from Omaha and duties of the
county nttoruov too onerous to enable him
to prosecute all the minor sin to cases
which originated In the former placo.
Kdgorton bethought him It would boa good
Idea to suggest the appointment of an assist
ant county attorney , whoso duty should bo
to prosecute stuto cases at South
Omaha. Thu appointment depend
ed upon the county conim'uslonqrs ,
U'ho latter were petitioned to appoint him ,
0. M Hunt , Captain Cockrell anil David An
derson yielding to Importuning , mada the re
quest. The prayer was granted and Kdger-
ton became nn employe of the county
Xindor n republican county attorney
fat the munificent salary of $50 per month.
Since that tlmo , Edirertou has boon moro
p'r loss before the people. Ho has done so ut
his own solicitation and it is the prevailing
Opinion of these who know him best
that ho has on divers occasions sold out the
people whom the county paid him to rcpro-
flent , This opinion would seem to And con
clusive attestation in the records of tbo jus
tice. the police nnd other courts into which
thu prosecution and thu handling of certain
bases carried him.
Thuro Is not so much to be said of nls ca-
jfoor ns an attorney In private practice as
jthcro Is of his conduct ns assistant public
prosecutor. This is perhaps because his pri
vate pi-actlco 1ms been so intliiitcslmal as to
t)6 ) almost unworthy of notice.
1'ou'rfctod tlio Feen.
jUThoro is one case of a private character
which is readily recalled and vouched for by
the gentleman who was the victim of Kdger-
ton'3 peculiar method of doing . busi-
pe 5. The former found it necessary
to foreclose on two houses nna lots which
ifroro being occupied by purchasers who had
peon long in default.
Kdgorton tuld his client that the foroelos-
pro would not cost much. In fact the
expenses would bo a tea of { in and the
pourt costs $0.70. The Inttor amount
was paid and foreclosure measures instituted.
But that , as alleged , is all that was douo.
No effort was made to push the case ,
find for a long time the default
ing purchasers hold possession of
the property. Ono of them , In fact ,
remained In the house for a year nnd then
Joft without paying a cent of rent for the
tlmu mentioned. That wns not all. When
the oxvnor of the property went to look in >
iho record * of thu foreclosure ) ho found that
Jho costs which ho had advanced to Kdgorton
bad not been paid. Ho was then com
pelled to pay them n second tlmo. But ntlast
/Recounts the would-be court
/ - supreme Justice
had not explained to what use ho hnd applied
the money which had boon given him to pay
{ ho costs of the suit.
DiniulBsuil n Murderous Primmer.
j Three years ago , during the holidays ,
Kdgorton still occupied the chair of assistant
county attorney.
Ono night there was a band of convivial
levellers in Oscar Hill's saloon on T wen ty-
ulxth street between N and O streets.
Among the party were Farmer Johnson ,
Ureter r'otcrsou and Fredorlckson.
About 10 o'clock these men started for
home. Their way lav over the hill * to the
soiuiiwest , Johnson's being on Twenty-third
street near Q street , Frederickson's homo
boinp In Urown park. The trio were walking
in Indian lite , Johnson in the lead.
A sharp scream and then a groan ns from
soiuo one in pain ranched Johnson's oars.Tho
latter WHS somowhixt In the load nnd hastily
turned and ran back to his companions ,
whom , at the distance , lie xvas unable to dis
tinguish In the darkness.
When ho reached the spot whciico the
lound Had proceeded , Johnson discovered
Peterson on thu ground groaning in agony ,
with Fredoriekson standing above and beatIng -
Ing htm.
Johnson endeavored to drive Frcdorlckson
$ xray , when the latter poiuioou upon him and
Vrtth a sharp knlfo slashed him on the nose ,
cnuMng nboiit half an Inch of that organ to
hang only by u very slight cartilage ,
Johnson then picked up a cana
which had fallen to the ground in the molco
'nmt with it xvas about to belabor Frederick-
en when the latter Hod.
Johnson helped Petersen to his fet and
both xvondod their xva.v to thu former's homo ,
Which was distant from thu scouo only about
two blocks.
„ U'hcio cauii discovered the extent of his
injuries , Joiuibon felt that ho was dlsllgurcd
lor life , nls nose being almost cut off mid two
linger * being badly slashed ,
. J'ctorson xvas bleeding terribly. Doctors
xvero summoned. Peterson's injuries
Vrero in the hoad. They consisted
Of a number of bruUus and a
wound which raised a section of scalp
M largo as a horsoshoo. The wounds were
grossed but for sometime 1'otersen lay Inn
precarious condition and Johnson xvas also
Incapacitated. The txvo parts of bis nose
Wore umnltod by meanis of Flitches.
Keeling ran high agulnst FroderlcUson , al
though It xvus unknown what bud occasioned
iito assault. The trio xvoro apparently on
Kftoii terms when they loft thu saloon nnd
the liRht had not bean anticipated by Jjhn-
Don. Homo people bc-Hovcd that the at
tack WHS promodltated on PotoHon ,
though others differed fromthoui. Novorlho-
lt > js , the people demanded that tbu assailant
Ho prosecuted. Frcdcrlcksan was of course
arrested. and it was oxpcctod that Kdgertou
yrho , ns has been stated , xx as assistant county
attorney , would respect tbo wishes of the
jioople and prosecute the caso.
The preliminary hearing was haht before
( Tudgo Ueuthor , who xvai then presiding over
the pollca court.
Thn surpriie of the populace may bo
Imagined , there fore , when the reprosotitatlro
Of the rountv prosecutor , Kdf orlon , Instead of
appearing for the stale and indirectly In
favor of these who had bean cut , appeared in
behalf of the mnu who had done the cutting.
In other xvords , Instead of prosecuting ho
Mdud In defending thu bloody atsallanU Ho
was aided by hia partner , Urlco , mm both
Alii all they could to bavo their client no-
Quitted.
Ono theory advanced by the defense was
that thu assault xvas unpremeditated on the
tyrt of Frcdcrlcksen and that ho had simply
fcotfld In lolf-uofouio. It xvas ulso
ought to bo shown that Johnson's
$010 had bcun cut oft by a
tuiall cquurc , aud that
the A mo Instrument had nlned the circular
piece of scalp off Peterson's head.
Drs. Glasgow nnd Klrkpatrlck , however ,
were subpoenaed and testified that the
wounds In question could not have been
made by so blunt an Instrument and ono of
that peculiar shape.
Judge Uouthor thought the case xvas too
Important to bo docldod in his court and
held the accused to the next term of the
district court.
Worse Yet.
Several months later , Johnson called on
I rank Mooros , clerk of the district court ,
nnd asked xvhcn the case xvould bo called ,
and his surprise may bo imagined xvhon the
clerk Informed him tlmttho case ntmlnst
Frcdorlckson hnu boon dismissed I When
this announcement xvas made In South
Omaha , tha people bccnmo greatly Incensed.
They considered It , hoxvover , ns a method of
payment adopted by Kdsorton , xvho hnd
violated the loxv in defending nil assailant ,
and still further violated it by dismissing the
charge against him.
lint this fact might have been anticipated ,
because the day after the preliminary hearIng -
Ing , Orlco nnd Kdgcrton wont around South
Omaha nndcax'orlna to soil n mortgage which
Froderlckson had given them as security for
their claim against him for defending them
before Judge Houther.
Would "Work" tlio Church.
Mention has boon made of Edgorton's con
nection xvlth the South Omaha Methodist
Episcopal church.
Ho nns boon n prominent member of the
organization. With some of his official nets ,
hoxvovor , it may bo presumed that nil the
members of his society nro not familiar , nnd
one of these nets , which is vouched for by
competent witnesses , is described as follows' ;
Thrco years ago , South Omaha xvas a boomIng -
Ing toxvn. Money xvas plenty and real estate
ruled high.
Among these xvho desired to avail themselves -
solves of the reigning prices xvas tuo church
society in question/ oxviicd txvo lots on the
northeast corner of N nnd Txvonty-tblrd
otreets. On ono of these It had eroded n
primitive church. It aimed to dispose of
some of its realty and , xvlth the proceeds ,
grade the lot ami erect a more modern and
ornnto temple. The object xvns n laudable ono
and the society has bean successful In attain
ing It , though the mercenary schema xvhloh
Kdgorton devised has liad nothing to do with
the undertaking.
When the society decided to dUposo of Its
property or part of it , the sale xvas entrusted
to Kdgcrton. Ho approached a xvell known
real estate man of South Omaha arid asked
him how much the church lot , xvitli the
small building which was then upon it , was
worth.
The real estate man said ho thought ho
could got SJ.-100 for it.
This declaration caused Edgorton to open
bis eyes xvlth surprise nnd tosuiilo xvlth satis
faction.
"Do you xvant mo to sell the property I"
asked the agent. Kdgwton said that ho ( lid ,
most certtlnly.
"Well , said" the ugont , "If you xvish mb to
soil the property you must give mo xvrltten
authority. I don't xvant to bavo the trouolo
of hunting a purchnsnr , making a sale and
then find that the church xvon't sell or that
SOIUB other person has disposed of the prop
erty. "
Accordingly , Edgorton sat down and xvroto
this authorization :
"I hereby authomo to soil the lots
In the city of South Omaha , the same
being located at the northeast corner of N
ami Txvonty-third streets and owned by the
South Omaha ftlothodist Episcopal church.
[ Signed ] J.V. . ISuouuToy ,
Trustee. "
Thus far , everything appeared all right ,
but when tbo question of terms xx'us raised
Edgorton said :
"If you can got a customer for ? 2,400 you
buy the lots yourself for cither 51.400 or
$ l , < iOO and then you and 1 xvlll divide the dif
ference between us and give your purchase
price for tbo lots. "
The real estate ocont did not find a pur
chaser for the lots. If ho had both ho and
Edgorton xvould have divided from ? SOO to
$1,000 between them. 'I ho agent might per
haps have claimed a fair commission but what
amount soever of thosalexvcnt to Mr. Kdgor
ton would have been Just BO much out of the
church society , n circumstance concerning
winch ho proposed to keep his people in the
dark.
Edgorton is still a trustee of the South
Omaha Methodist Episcopal church.
Illecdfnu tlio Graders.
The .nost important of the onrllost public
improvements ever undertaken by the city
of South Omaha xvas thu grading of the
principal thoroughfares of that town.
Among those streets xvoro Twenty-fourth
from the north city limits to Q street. The
rnding on this thoroughfare xx-ns done un
der contract by P. Egan & Co. , xvho received
K5ai4.0l ; Prltchott , $2,0 : > 3.12 ! ; Daniel Cash ,
SVI52.13 ; Twenty-sixth street from Q to J. ,
U. It. Stewart , JO.IMIUW ; Twenty-fifth street
from Wvman to I , John Condon and Daniel
Cash , $31,003.00 ; N street from Twentieth to
Txvonty-sovonth , C. H. Prilchott , $3,0 . In
round figures , the cost of this improxemont
xvas considerably over fSu.OOO. The above
contract tlgnres represent only the cost of
tbo xvorli as assessed against the city. The
sntno amount xvas assessed against the pro
perty oxvnors. The expense xvas paid by
xvarrants Issued against the city nnd against
abutting property. The city's money cnmo
out of the general fund , In which it ha'd boon
placed some time previously.
The xvork had boon ordered by tbo oouncll
aud the ordering xvas not xvllhout some crlt'
iclsm.
It xvas held to bo illotrnl for n number of
reasons. It xvas claimed to bo unnecessary ,
excessive nnd entirely too expensive , moro
especially as the law limited the amount
xvnich should bo expended , yearly in public
improvements.
Some of the leading property holders ,
while opposed to tbo extravagance , allowed
the xvork to go on until it seemed that city
and taxpayers allko xv9uld bo bank
rupted.
In the light of recent ox'onts there Is no
ono xvho xvill deny that the undertaking xvas
Illegal. Mayor Sloano , speaking on thu sub
ject n few days ago , said :
"Wo nil admit now the xvork xvas perhaps
not according to laxv. But then xvo were
young. Our people didn't exactly know xvhnt
the laxv wns or how to liva up to it. But the
city has been bonollttod , property has np-
picclated and the town loons a great deal
llko ono xvlth push and onor y. "
The xvorK progressed , nnd at length
opposition xvas encountered in
the shape of an Injunction ,
to restrain the city from paying the con
tractors for thu grading they had dono.
'I his Injunction occasioned the greatest
excitement In South Omaha. An indigna
tion mooting was held , nud it has slnco boon
assorted that the graders proposed to hang
some of the man xvho had sought the In
junction , It was argued that thu grading , if
illegal In quantity , had tlum boon almost
completed ; that thu graders hud done thatr
xvork nnd should bo paid for it , and finally
that iho city hud been bonulltod , ovou if the
bonotlt was an expensive ono.
The injunction xvas filed by Edgorton nnd
ono of the men ut whoio Instance the action
vtas taken , gave him $ ' . > .SO with xvblch to pay
for the filing. Edgorton xvas ulso given u
certain other sum to pay for the Issuing of
certain papers In the CASO.
When the Indignation mooting xvas bold ,
it had a porceptlblo effect ujwn some
of the men xvho had peti
tioned for the injunction. They
withdrew thotr nauios. 1'hOio who did not
nt first consent to the withdrawal of the suit
xvoro approached bv Edgerton so to do. Ho
claimed'thai thov bad gained their point In
having a certain understanding as regards
the manner in xvhich tlio xvork xvns to bo
paid for , ami that they could withdraw xvlth
credit to themselves. Ho promised to refund
tjioui the uionov they had already advanced
in tbo case , mid that ho xvould tuon bavo the
matter dismissed by the courts. To this
showing the petitioners made no objection.
In the meantime , however , KdKerton had
been among the graders and told them that
the Injunction had cost him u largo sum of
inonov and that U could not bo withdrawn
unless ho was reimbursed. Tbo fact of the
matter xvas that Edgorton had not incurred
one cent's expense und this story xvas calcu
lated to spur the men xvbo had already done
their xvork to get up n purse for Kdgorton
in order that tuey might secure their half
of the * U,000 in the work before bo got a
cent of it. If ho should now bo cut out of
part of It it xvould m ko a pauporof him. Ho
cannot afford to turn n deaf oar to Kilger-
ton'a Hlorv , no matter how untruthful it
may be. Neither could tha other cootruot-
ora. So they got together and abroad to pay
Kdgerloa tJAU to remove tha suit. In this
manner thu injunction xvas xvltndrawo.
breaking on this subject tbo other day , ono
of the contractor ! said :
"Yw , Kdgerton xva paid , I think , f.350 to
remove the suit , though I ain not ure as to
tbo uniouat. I don't know tow much I naid
toxvord It. John L. Miles , the banker , paid
my tlmro. "
"Why did John L. Mtlos pay your slmrol"
"Well , ho lock nil the xvarrants nnd it xvas
from tlmo to tlmo xvo received the money , because -
cause bo discounted Iho xvarrants. "
The hymn "Coronation" xv s xvrltton by
Oliver Holdon at Charleston , Mass. , nearly
100 years ago.
Mr. Spurgcon Is spending his parlod of
convalescence nt Eastbourne , on the coast of
Sussex , England.
The Indianapolis minister xvha has boon
predicting the end of the xvorld in ten years
has been nskod to roilgn his chargo. Indiana
people wish to postpone the hereafter ns long
ns possible.
According to statistics prepared by Uov.
Frank Kussoll , secretary of the Presbyterian
Sunday School association Of Now York ,
there are In the Sunday schools of the .vorld
t0OT3r/.t.j ! members , and moro than half of
these aroin the United State ) ,
The Moravians nro actively engaged in
mission xvnrk , having had In the Hold slnco
173:2 : about 2fiOO missionaries. At present they
hnvu 100 missionaries In active sorvico. Ac
cording to the Moravian manual there are
00,0. > 'J members of that church.
There nro about 3,200,000 Prosbytorlana in
Scotland. There nro lwO ( places of xvorshlp
In connection xvith tbo Church of Scotland ,
nnd 1,575 ID connection xvlth the Free nnd
United Presbyterian church In all : i,2i" , or
moro than ono church for each 1,000 of popu
lation ,
Noxv that the Ooorgln Episcopalians must
try ngaln to secure a bishop , It is thought
that Lr. Gnllor of Tennessee xvill nealn bo
chosen , though the Hov. Chnuncoy Williams
of Augusta is also much talked of. The
diocesan convention moots at Macon on
November 11.
The Episcopal bishop of Delaware took n
xvalk of UT5 miles , roughly clad and xvlth oo
insignia of his business about him. Some
people took him for the advance ugont of a
circus , others for n moonshine dutoctlvo ,
others thought him a crook , and some drove
him from their promises xvlth dogs. The
bishop thinks ho has found several things
out , chief among xvnich Is that a man isn't
necessarily bad if ho doesn't xvear good
clothes.
The first xvoman ordained in America xvns
a graduate of theology nt Oborlln forty years
ago. The statistics as to the full number of
women ministers nro somoxvhnt defective.
The Society of Friends has about I150 , the
Univcrsullsts about ai , the Disciples of
Christ 48. The Froo-Will Baptists , the
Primitive Methodists and the Protestant
Methodists have oraainod 'women on a small
scale. Among tbo Unitarians several xvomon
preachers have already become qutto
famous.
CO.Y.V Ultl.il.I Tl US.
Lot him bo dark as Ethlops are ,
The not impossible Ho ,
Or fair as Norseman from afar ,
This son of Destiny.
Lot him bo monstrous tall and spare ,
Who shall my heart control ,
Or even short and somewhat square ,
Ho yet shall own my soul.
But , O sweet Cupid I lot him bo "
No titled foreign man ,
But ono of our nobility
A straight American I
A "tough" tender The offer of a slugger's
hand in marriage.
A feature of the Portland ( Ore. ) oxposltion
xvas the raarnapo of txvo couples In the presence -
once of 12,000. Tie parties are popular overy-
xvhoro.
Saturday evening Eugene Hector of the
Chicago Tribune and Miss Alta McNorton of
Grcencastlo , hid. , xvero united in uiarrlago in
Chicago.
She You say that my consenting to marry
you has made you verv happy. Ho Yes.
You see xvhat a simple thing it takes to make
nio happy.
The marriage of Miss Bessie Webb , the
daughter of ( Jenor.il and Mrs. Alexander S.
Webb , to Mr. George Parsons , will bo ono of
the important of the November ceremonies
In Noxv Yorlc.
At the old-fashlonod. homelike rosldenco of
ox-O'overnor Bedlo , fronting on Van Vorst
park , Jersey City , on the evening of October
14 , Miss Althea Uandolph Bodlo and Mr.
Adolpho liusch xvoro married.
Ono of tbo attractions at the Ottumxva
( loxva ) coal palace a night or txvo ago xvas a
xveddlng. A marriage ceremony m a coal
palace xvould hoom to bo unpleasantly sug
gestive of coal bills not ono of the least of
the annoyances of domestic existence.
She You nio not half as interesting as I
thought you before xvo married. Ho And
you arc not half as beautiful ns I thought
you. She It's a good thing that neither of
us has money enough to live apart , Isn't ' it I
Ho Yes ; xvo ought to congratulate our
selves.
Novelists and poets xvlll have to rovlso
their rhapsodies on "tho leafy month of
Juno" as the season xvbon lovers build bow
ers und xvoo the hymeneal deity. The croxvn
that Juno has so long worn as the xvodding
month has boon transferred to autum'i-huod
October. The columns of the newspapers are
filled xvlth accounts of society events in which
n ring , txvo young people nnd a clergyman
are the predominating features.
A marrlngo and the death occurred in a
Somorvlllo ( Mass. ) homo on Tuesday last.
The groom xvus Mr. Louis P. Rollins of
Brooklyn , N. Y. , und his bride xvas Miss
Kato E. Norcross. She xvns on her death
bed at the time , and ten hours afterward she
xvns a corpse. Miss Norcross had boon sick
n xvocK xvlth pneumonia , and when it wns
known that she had not long live , her lover
xvas Mitnmonod by telegraph and reached her
bcdstdo that night , Wbon told that aho
could not recover , Miss Norcross Insisted
upon an Immediate marriage. A marriage
license was procured und as tbo church bolls
tolled the hour of 3 the brlof service xvas
ended , and the bonds xvero scaled xvhich
xvoro soon to bo broken. Then her xvtll was
draxvii , und , though she xvas growing xveakor
she signed U with n mind perfectly clear nnd
a hand which seemed to gain strength and
steadiness lor that .special purpose. The
xvill xvns xvitnessed by the clergyman , the
physician and nn attendant. It givoi the
most of her pwporty , reported to bo worth
not fur from S100.00J , to Mr. Uolllns. The
remainder goes to Charlston ( Mo. ) academy.
Tbo money gifts to Columbia college last
year amounted to $123,219.
Twenty-live thousand children are xvlthout
schoolroom m Now York city.
A law school has been opened in connec
tion xvtth tbo University of Pennsylvania.
The students of Louigh unlx'orslty have
passed resolutions recommending the dis
continuance of the cane-rushing practice.
J. Homer Wnde , Jr. , of Cleveland has
given land valued at f J5.000 , near the park
bearing his immo , to tbo xvomans' college of
the Western Kosorvo university.
The noxv Cornell library building , costing
800,000 , xvas dedicated last week. The library
has an endowment of 11)0,000. the revenue of
Which is used In purchasing books.
Sovnrnl of the professors of the depart
ments of history , mathematics , philosophy
nnd English literature nt the University of
California have decided to Introduce uni
versity oxtnslou locturiH In San KraticUco.
A scholarship of { . ' 00 is offered by tbo
Vnssar Students' Aid society to a student
xvbo passes without conditions all the re
quirements for admission to the freshman
class of V&ssnr college at the examination to
bo hold in Juno , ISO , ! . This scholarship , llko
that awarded by the society hut Juno , Is
oiler I'd ns a loan , nnd covers one-half of all
charges raadu by Vasnar collegn for ono
year's board and tuition. Examinations will
bo held it. Chicago , Denver , Cleveland , Cin
cinnati , St. Louis , Washington , Louisville ,
Detroit , Omaha , San Francisco , and If IIOCCH-
sary arrangements may bo made for examina
tions in other localities. Applications for
this scholarship must bo made before April
1 , IWJJ. _
A Itravn Woinun It HUH n Moll.
"Rod Mon" nttnokod the rosldcnco of
AVillimn Riulcoy on Stave Run , \V. Vn. ,
on n recent night nnd drugged Illokoy
from bed , threatening to whip him ,
Mrd. Rlokoy procured mi ux nud ctuno to
hoi * huBbnnd'u rcscuo , nnd wns doing
good xvorlc , when ono of ttio scoundrels
row tils revolver nnd fired , the Imll
goluy through tlio woman's xvriut. Tills
nooinud to infurliUo her , and alia fought
nil tlio harder , tlnally nutting tlio mob
to Hight. From the mood on tlio Hoer
and rend some of them must have boon
Bovoroly wounded. Several nrrosts have
boon made , but there xvaa not positive
evidence enough to convict the prison
ers.
A MOST DAMNABLE RECORD ,
Joseph Edgorton nt Stromsuurg Duped and
Sold Oat Hia Clients ,
HE PREYS UPON A DESTITUTE WIDOW ,
Ho Put Up n Job to Confidence ) nn
Honest Man Out of Ills Knrni
Ijnmls Un varnished
Knots. .
SinoMsnuno , Nob. , OoK ID. ( Spoclnl to
Tun BBE.J J. W. Edgorton , the itn'.ttpond-
ont aspirant for nsoat on" , 'ttio ' uonca of the
suprouio court , formerly lived in this village ,
and Us residents have tlio livlltst recollection
of bis career xvhllo here. Ho cnmo to
Stromsburg about ISS'J , d'hd remained about
five ycarc , Ho posed as a'jawyor , out in the
flvo years ho had only forty-three cases in
the district court. 'An examina
tion of the records reveals a' ' series of failures
and miscarriages that toll. ( an eloquent story
of this nmbltious lawyer's profossloud meth
ods and capacity.
It Is a fact xvhich members of the bar com
ment on as significant that IP ttilrty-nlno
civil actions , Mr. Edgorton xvas attorney for
the defendant in only six. Ho xvon only txvo
of thcso suits , and the plaintiff got Judgment
in ono. The other throe , for various reasons ,
xvoro dismissed.
People familiar xvlth his career hero explain -
plain this fact xvlth the intimation that ho
instigated a considerable number of the
actions In xvhich ho figured. Thu record of
the cases In which ho xvns attorney for the
plaintiff lends color to that inference.
Mr. Edgorton xvas such attorney in thirty-
three suits. Ho xvon a clean victory in honest -
est , open contest In two ot them. In otio of
those his client got judgment for $117.75. In
five divorce cases defaults xvoro taken , nnd
in thrco ethers divorces were granted at the
plain tin's cost. Nine suits xvoro dismissed
nt plaintiff's cost and sovcn xvoro dismissed
by agreement or stipulation. Two xvero
stricken from the docket nnd ono dismissed
on motion of Ihp defendant. There xvoro
txvo decrees agulnst defendant by stipulation ,
nnd ono suit for $10,000 xvas settled bv Edger
ton for $100 xvlthout thu knowledge of his
client.
During his five years in Polk county Mr.
Edgorton xvas engaged Infourcrlmlnul cases ,
twice for plalntllf and txvlco for defendant.
Onu lliuii ; ami tlio Other iri tlio Pen.
In the former , both of minor Importance.
the defendants pleaded guilty and xvero fined
in nominal sums. Ono of the clients defended
by Edgorton xvas hung nud the other xvas
sent to the penitentiary.
Numerous stories are in circulation hero
reflecting upon Mr. Edgorton's professional
conduct nnd personal honor , nnd they nro
vouched for by responsible persons xvho ex
press a ready xvilllngnoss to back their state
ments xvith affidavits. Ono of the first of
Mr. Edgerton's undertakings after landing
In Stromsburg xvns the drafting of a number
of village ordinances. It is allcced that ho
omitted to provide these legal "dont's" with
penalties , nnd tno people xvho knoxv him at
tribute the omission to his ignor
ance. At any rate It made him
the laughing-stock of the community , nnd
the humor of the thing is not yet exhausted.
Villainous lictr.iyal oCCHcnty.
Txvo cases In xvhich Mr. Edgorton betrayed
his clients xvlll servo to show xvhat manuor
of man nnd laxvyer ho xvas. In ono instance
he acted ns the nttornoy for W. A. Fruxvloy in
the purchase of a tract of land from Samuel
Huthorford. Edgerton made out the deed
and tool : liuthorford's ' acknoxvlodgomont.
The buyer paid the prlco agreed on nud put
tbo deed on record. A few months later
Rutherford made a second deed to the same
propertx' , this time transferring it to Thomas
Uuthor/ord. Tbo latter immediately mort
gaged the land for f-00 in favor of Edgorton.
When Mr. Fraxvloy learned of this remarkable -
able transaction ho interviewed Samuel Ruth
erford , xvho pleaded the bany act , snylnjj that
ho xvas under ago at the time of giving the
lirat deed , but had rqachcdi his" majority bo4
fore signing the second ? ? The young man
xvas arrested on a charge o | obtaining money
under false pretenses ana put under $1,000
bonds.
Rutherford at once began bogging for a
settlement. Fraxvloy had surmised that
Edgorton xvas at the bottom of the affair ,
nnd ho xvas convinced xvno'u the latter ap
peared ns the young man's , attorney. Bo-
lloving that the lawyer bad , raado a dupe of
Rutherford for the sake of , nn attorney's foe ,
the prosecutor ngrrcd to settle the case.
Thomas Rutherford g.xvo. him a quit claim
deed to the property and Edgorton released
his mortgage .
This is the case os Fraxvley know it nt
tbu time , but Horace Putman throws n
strong side light on the lawyer's
scheme. After the deal betxveon Samuel
Rutherford and Fraxvloy .xvas made , Edger
ton xvcnt to Mr. Putman aud said ho had a
deed from Thomas Rutherford to Putman for
this same piece of land , tla wanted Putman
to take the deed and put It on record. Mr.
Putmnn naturally xvas surprised that n val
uable property should bo transferred to him
xvlthout consideration nnd xvlth no previous
negotiation or understanding. The thing
looked bad on the face of It , nnd ho demanded
nn explanation. Edgorton's statement was
not satisfactory. Mr. Putman became satis
fied that it xvns n scheme to boat sotno ono
out of the land , and ho declined to bo a party
to tha trickery , although Edgorton assured
him ho "could get the land. " Tnero can bo
no mistake about this , for Mr. Putman saxv
the deed and road it.
Duped a Poor AVI ( low.
In nnothor Instance a poor widow xvas the
victim of Edgorton's duplicity. After con-
fidernblo begging on bis part ho xvas em
ployed by Mrs. Knapar Johnson in n suit
against an Osccola saloonkeeper named Cole
for $10,000 damages. It xvas alleged that
Cole had sold liquor to the plaintiff's hus
band nnd that xvhllo under the Influence of
said liquor ho was fro/on to death.
Mrs. Johnson nud Edgorton entered Into n
contract by which tlio lattnr bound himself
to prosecute the case on a contingent fee of
one-half nnd to pay all expenses. It xvas
nlso ngrood that neither should settle or dis
miss tbo case xvlthout the consent of the
other. Several months later , however , Ed-
Burton settled the case and dismissed the
notion , nud that , too , xvlthout the knowledge
or consent of his client. Hosuid he had re
ceived $100 in settlement.
When Mrs. Johnson xvn't notified of this
action and called nt his office , Edgerton put
In a claim for 15 for expenses and Insisted
that It should bo deducted from the f 100 be
fore making n division , He said ho had paid
A. .1. Saxvyor of Lincoln * ! . " > for preparing
the petition and ho reckoned the expenses of
his trip to Lincoln at ? 10. Tlio contract xvas
produced , nnd after much parleying Edgor-
ton paid his client $30 , loss the court costs.
Mrs. Johnson xvns not only a xvidoxv In poor
circumstances nt that tlmo , but hud four
small children dependent upon her for sup
port.
port.At
At the ttmo of this mooting there rrora
iresont , besides tbo nttornoy nnd hU client ,
I'eterJ. Anderson , N. 1 * . Mor.son and C. A.
Johnson. Edgortou first proposed giving the
xvidow about t' > . When she refused to ac
cept so amnll an amount ho called Mr.
Monaon Into bis private ollico , and
iirnoa the latter to betray the xvldoxv's Inter
ests by udvlslng her to accept Edgorton's
tender. Mr. Monson bed befriended Mrs.
Johnson , nnd spurned the contemptible prop
osition. During these negotiations the law-
ycr made a great display of temper nnd used
irofano nnd vulgar language in the lady's
i res on co. He even xvont so far us to order
Sir. Johnson , her brothor-in-laxv , to leave
.ho office.
Oiontlomon acquainted xvlth the facts of
lohnson's death and familiar xvith legal pro
ceedings think the xvidoxv bad a very strong
case against the liquor sollur , and they ox *
pressed great surprise that thu suit should
lave been settled for * o pitiful n sum.
These stories are not more hoarjay. Many
of the atatomouU may b 'vorlUod by tbo
mbllc records , and the otuers will bo gladly
lubsUntialod by some of thojldait aud uoit
known citizom. * T
SO3IK A'OfKfr"
fr" T
As Colonel William H , Morrison's term of
service on tbo interstate Commerce Commls *
elon expire * in December , tha president xvlll
icon tioud to make three appointments to that
joard , ! , . ,
Governor Bolos of I&xra is a broad
shouldered man of 04 yoani , "He has a ruduy ,
smooth shaven face , a heariy manner and a
pleasing voice. HP is a native nf the state of
Now York , and llko the regulation poor boy
in search of fortune started west with only
a few cents in bis pocket.
Ton years ago Bernard Forst xva a clorl
in n men's furnishing goods store In Bradford
Pa. Ho dabbled in oil speculation , gave him
self up to it , throxv nsldo his logltlmato basl
ness nnd Is today a millionaire. Forst is ono
of the owners of tha "McDonald gusher , '
which produces , It is said , $4,500 worth of ol
a day.
Webster Flanagan , xvho groxv famous by
asking ono simple little question , and Is noxv
the collector of the port of El Paso , is n smnl
man of llorid face , blue eyes and brown hair.
Ho Is an excellent lawyer , a shrewd business
man nnd possessed of vary engaging manners
Ills father xvas a republican senator frou
Texas.
Charles H. Allen , the republican candldnto
for governor of Massachusetts , Is n young
man xvho nttects ovc-glasscs nnd drcssoi In
thu height of fashion. Ho Is n favorite h
society. His business is that of a lumbar
dealer.
President Dill , In Jail for wrecking the
deai-Uold , PH. , bank , xvas formerly i
preacher , but ho loft the ministry to go into
financial matters on his marrying n wealth )
xvoman. Ho should have stuck to his text.
Pornell , if ono may believe the Boston
Globe correspondent , loxcd nnd sought In
morrlago a Providence girl twenty years ngo ,
but her stern father , a millionaire by the
xvny , xvould not approve of the mutch , n ? the
suitor xvas xvlthout n culling. The Irishman's
nffccllon xvus reciprocated nnd the .separation
brought sorrow to txvo hearts.
Secretary lilalnc Is very proud of the suc
cess achieved by his oldest son , Emmons ,
xvho has Just benn appointed assistant to the
president of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad ,
xvltb general charge of the western depart
ment of the road. Secretary lilalno bus never
recovered from the shock of his son Walker's
death , but his pride noxv outers in his oldest
son.
Rubonstoin , the composer , Is a man of strik
ing appearance. Ho has n masslvo head ,
broad brain , nnd heavy hnlr , In xvhlcn there
is not n single gray thread , despite bis ago
O'J years. As a good feeder ho has foxv su -
poriors. HospeaUs English iluentl.V , and is
ulxvays happy to meet Americans.
Osman Pasha , the hero of Plovnn , has been
located as n sealer in the Kitchen of thu sul-
tnu of Turkey. His peculiar business is to
seal nil the dishes for the sultan's table as
soon as they nro prepared , and thus , secure
against poison , they nrt carried Into iho royal
dining room and tbo seals broken only in the
sultan's presence.
Dr. Hayes Aguew of Philadelphia und Dr.
Robert Hey burn of Washington uro the only
txvo physicians surviving of the notable staff
of medical men who tiled to save Uarllold's
lifo. Dr. Royburn took voluminous notes of
the case und is preparing to publish them.
General Booth , the Salvation nriny com
mander , whose authority extends over 1,000-
000 .soldiers , is n loose Jointed aud rather awk
ward man of medium height. Ho Is angular
nnd narrow chested , out the possessor , never
theless , of great physical vigor. His eyes are
dark and piercing , aud an iron gray board
falls in profiuion over his chest. His bauds
nro largo and remind the observer of the typi
cal horny hands of the son of toll. General
Booth is uoxv 03 years old , nnd for forty
years ho has boon preaching the gospel. Ho
is a man of great earnestness and force , and
seems entirely devoid of shntn aud preten
tiousness.
g
Kecohei" at Seventeen.
My first mooting xvith Henry Ward
Beoohor xvas in the early part of May ,
1830. Ho xvas a classmate of a brother
of mine , in Amherst college , and very
close friends. The txvo xvoro just o ut of
their freshman year when , together
witli another college classmate , they
walked from Amhorcit to my father's
house at xvcst Sutton for their spring
x'nuation , xvrites Mrs. Henry Ward
Beocher in .tho first paper on "Mr.
Beeuhor as I Know Him , " in
the October Ladies' Homo Journ
al. At that time young Boochor
xvns not quite 17 years old ,
bi t so young and boyish xvns his aj > -
pearance that no ono xvould have thought
him moro than 15 an ngo xvlien boys are
usually axvkwnrd and painfully bashful.
For that reason my family feared xvo
might not bo able to entertain or mnko
the young man comfortable. But awk-
xvard ho nox'or xvas , and his roguish
mouth , his laughing , merry eyes , his
quaint humor , and his quick repartee
soon dispelled all such anxiety.
Before the first evening ho spent at
our lioubo liad passed , none of the family
felt him to bo a stranger.
My father xvas absent with some of his
patients xvhon the young men arrived ,
but returned in the evening xvhon all
xvoro laughing heartily at some story
Henry had just told. Father stood in
the doorway tall , dignified and some-
xvhat stern , at such a tumult. When
axvaro of his presence , my brother at
once introduced his classmates.
Little by little the same subtle inllu-
oncos xvhich had pervaded the xvholo
evening's enjoyment stole over father's
face , and long before it xvas time to re
tire , they xvoro tolling mirth-prox-oking
stories as cheerfully as if they xvore
boys together.
When at length the "good nights"
xvero exchanged I loft father aim
mother by the lire I made some prepa
rations for breakfast.
As 1 returned to the room father xvas
saying :
"Well , ho is smartl He'll make his
mark in tlio xvorld if ho lives. "
"Who , father ? " I asked.
"Why , that young Boochor. "
Such xvas Henry Ward Beechor xvhen
I first saw him ; and , truth to tell , ho
xvas not remarkable for his beauty.
IIoxvIIellliiHtratud Ills Position.
Ho settled back in his easy chair , put
his feet on a foot rest , lit a cigar , and
for llx'o minutes let tlio smoke curl up
around his head. lie xvas a picture of
comfort , says the Chicago Tribune.
Then his \vifo interrupted his medita
tions.
"George , you'ro getting lazy , she said.
lie shook his hoad.
"But xvhon xvo xvoro engaged , " she
persisted , "you xvoro as notivo as any
man I over saw. Why , you were al
ways getting up excursions , nnd you
xvoro the lifo of every party. '
Ho pulled out a little xvhilT of smolco
and nodded his acqulosconco.
' What's the mattery" she asked.
Ho took another pulT at his oigar nnd
hon said :
"Ever BOO n man try to catch n train ? "
"Why , yos8ho replied in surprise.
"Ever see ono rush on to tlio station
platform just ns the train seemed al
most gone1
"Certainty I havo. "
"Got a pretty lively move on him ,
didn't hoV"
"Why , yes ; ho ran tlio entire length
of the platform as fast as ho could. But ,
Gc-orgo "
"Yes ho it. Ho "
, just barely caught .
"But ho caught it ? "
"Of course 'ho did. But , George ,
you'ro straying "
"Did ho keep right on running ? " interrupted -
torruptod George.
"Certainly not. Ho settled doxvn in a
seat nnd made himself as comfortable as
possible ; got a palm loaf fan , nnd five
minutes latgr boomed perfectly con
tented nnd happy. "
"Well ? "
"Well , xvhat of it ? "
"Do you expect ino to keep on run
ning ? "
Time ISO Ohjrot.
"By gottlng your ticket over our line , "
urged the. traveling passenger agent of
the X. , Y , nnd2. railway , "you will aavo
sixteen hours1 time on the trip. "
"On the A. , B. and C. route , ' ' said the
agent of the rival line , "you got 207
miles moro riding for thu name money , "
The agriculturalist from Huwcreok
bought Ills ticket ever the A. , B. and C ,
route.
Drake's MuKiulnw ! A good liar is bolter
company than & truthful luuu with HO Imped *
liuent lu his apoucu.
AS TO MR. KDOKKTOA-J
Joseph W. Kdgorton 11 rat became
known In Nobrnaku fourteen years ngo
ns a pttotit well borer In Furnns county.
Becoming tired of boring holes in the
earth ho spent n brief time in nn attor
ney's ofllco and blossomed out with a ,
copy of the statutes , nn abundance of as
surance nnd a tin sign as n lawyer.
A short time afterward he was dis
covered as a republican ollico seeker in
1'ollc county xvith an ollico in Strom-
burg. Failing in hia ambition there in
the republican ranks ho became a rabid
anti-monopolist.
Six or seven years ngo ho drifted to
Soutli Omaha and between real estate
speculations and a sala.-y of $50 a month
as city attorney ho managed to eke out
an existence. The city council which
olcctod him xvas democratic and Edger
ton hnd by this time again cnangod his
politics. As city attorney aud solicitor
for a city council xvhich plastered the
young city with mortgages , his record
xvas discreditable if not corrupt. Ho
helped a disgracefully incompetent and
corrupt city government to hide from
public vioxv some of the ugliest jobsox-or
perpetrated by a municipal administra
tion in this state.
After dropping out of ills job in Soutli
Omaha ho became a union labor candi
date for something or another and then
went back to the democracy to take a
position ns assistant to the democratic
county attorney in criminal cases aris
ing in South Omaha.
In duo time ho joined Iho Independ
ents and ills vaulting umultloii xvas
gratified by a nomination for the office
of attorney general. Tin xvas no moro fit
to become attorney general than ho is to
bo a cardinal. Ho ran behind his ticket
ovoryxvhoro , nnd especially at homo ,
where ho wns host known. Ho could not
carry South Omaha for justice of tlio
peace. In face of a clear majority of
over ; ! ,000 for George II. Hastings ho
united with the defeated prohibitionists
in a baseless contest xvhich cost the tax
payers of Nebraska ever SI 1,000 , plunged
the stale into turmoil and contention.
Ho signed and approved the contest
papers in xvhich the county in which ho
lives xvas malgnod and slandorod. Ho
know ho had no right xvhatovor to the
office and no shoxv of claim to it but
there xvas a chance to disfranchise his
own people to iiis personal advantage
and ho seized upon it xvlth that avidity
for xvhich ho is noted xvhon an ofllco and
a salary are sighted however dimly.
The next tiling that comes to him is a
fat job in the lobby at the legislature.
Ho remained on deck at the capital dur
ing the long session and ho is credited
with some very sly manipulations of
stockyards bills nnd other measures.
Paul Vandorvoort was there for the
telegraph and telephone monopolies.
Ho and Edgorton became bosom friends
nnu Paul is now stumping the state for
him ,
Tlio next turn in the xvhool of this pol
itical xvoathor cock pointed him toward
the state capital as the independent
candidate for justice of the supreme
court. Ho has never hnd practice enough
to make either u rpputatlon as a laxvyor
or a lix'ing. Ho it not in his office txvo
liours a xvook. Ho is scarnolv known at
tlio district bar. Ho has never hold a
judicial office. Ho does not possess a
single qualification for a judicial posl-
Aoii. His election would debase our su-
iromo court and disgrace the stulo.
Tliis is the unvarnished truth.
OKTTIXO THKIIl iiKS Ol'KK.
The people of Nebraska are beginning
.o see tlio true character of Mr. Joseph
Mgorton , candidate of the independent
mrty for tibsociato juslico of the su-
n'omo court. They are carefully mcas-
iring the mental and moral proportions
of that individual and investigating
iis qualifications in the light of
vliat ho has accomplished during a
dozen years as a member of tlio
ogal profession. This is nil that
s required to insure the overwhelming
defeat of this impudent aspirant for the
lighost judicial position in Nebraska.
! t is only necessary for any intelligent
md fair-minded man to examine the
record of Edgorlon to bo convinced of
iis utter unlltness to occupy any ju
dicial ofllco-to say nothing of a seat on
ho biiprcmo bench. That record is ono
of unbroken failure , furnishing ovi-
lonco of intellectual inferiority and
aclc of both practical and professional
[ unifications that xvould make his pres
ent pretensions altogether ludicrous if
hey xx'oro not seriously backed by a
onsidorablo party. Tlio simple Irujh
egarding this presumptuous aspirant
or a supreme judgcship is , that ho
cnoxvs almost nothing of laxv , that his
general acquirements are meagre , and
, liat ho is wholly xvithout the
udicial faculty. Edgorton is merely
i very conijnonplaco momborof the class
of lawyers known to the profession as
'shysters , " a term that touches the but-
on of depreciatory characterization.
As the people learn moro of Mr. Ed-
rorton his chuncoa of election groxv loss ,
. 'hero can bo no doubt that he is stoad-
ly losing ground. Tlio hope of his sup-
) urtors that ho xvill receive a targe part
f thu democratic vote in cor-
ain to bo disappointed. A inn-
orlty of the democratic voters
if Nebraska are intelligent men xvho
uivo as strong dosirn to maintain the
haractorof the supreme court ns any
thor citizens , nnd thousands of them
will sacrifice a possible imrtisan advnn-
ago rather than vote to place on the
upreino bench an utterly unfit and un-
vorthy man. There are undoubtedly
oino democrats xvho xvlll not allow
hunibolvcs to be inUuoncod by
ny higher sentiment than IIOH-
llity to the republican party ,
> ut there is excellent reason to believe
hat the number of such xvlll bo found to
bo very much smaller than the Inde
pendent Bupportors of Mr. Edgorton ox-
> cct. It is also a very safe prediction
hat Edgorton xvill fall a good deal short
f getting the full vote of the Indopond-
nt party. Ho failed to got it last year ,
vhon ho xvaa not BO xvell known
a ho is noxv , and acquaintance
with him und his record is
atul to vote making. It U to uo pro-
umed that there nro men In
hat party , nnd the number is por-
mps not Hinall , who have too
much independence und self-respect ,
aud too high u regard for the judiciary
of the stnto , to permit themselves to ho
xvhippod into the support of n man
whoso election to the silpromo bench
would subject Nebraska to the rldlculo
and contempt of the country , and could
by no possibility result to the ndvnntngo
of any interest. Tlioro nro Inlol-
llgcnt men in the Independent ranka
xvho must see that the most serious in
jury that could bo done their organiza
tion xvould bo to elect to the highest
court in the state a man so conspicuously
unlit ns Joseph Edgorlon.
The campaign of education ns to the
true olmriictor and qualifications of Ed
gorton will go on. His record , almost
barren though it is , will bo
kept before jniblic attention. There
i * no present duly of greater
Importance than this. And it can bo
confidently asserted that the moro
thorough the inspection of Edgorton
the smaller ho will appear. Of all
blunders that hove boon made by the
promoters of now political movemuuts
during tlio last year or two his nomina
tion as a candidate for the supreme
bench was the greatest.
Ol-TK'K Sr.KKKK EtiiuTO.V ) : and Lobbyist -
byist Vandorvoort are axvakonlng no en
thusiasm. As bosom friends they
xvorkcd the legislature far moro suecosn-
fully than they are now working the
people. Legislators are moro easily
bamboozled than the people xvho elect
thorn.
AT.UKUTM. POST is above suspicion as
citizen , lawyer and judge. The opposi
tion press has sough * , in vain for a Haw
In his record. Ho is gaining strength
ovcry day because the moro his career
is investigated the clearer becomes the
truth that ho xvill bo a credit to Ne
braska's highest judicial tribunal.
VANDKUVOOUT and Edgorton xvoro
bosom friends in the lobby of a legis
lature which appropriated half a million
moro than its most extravagant prede
cessor. They are bosom friends on tlio
stump today and . .hoy nro engaged in
the sumo bamboozling business on u
larger scale.
Shooting Story Wliiuli Took the Cako.
"I had an experience near Clioboygan
last week xvnich I xvould not go through
again for several hundred dollars. "
"What was It ? " Sbkod the crowd.
"I xvas out in the xvoods xvitli a couple
of friends shooting. You know that the
game is not HO plenty around that re
gion as it once was , and in default of
deer or bear or other game xvhlch xvas
worth the killinc" , xvo put in the after
noon shooting at a mark. A Hinall
piece of paper piuncu to a tree about as
far nway'iiB from hero to Fort Btrcot xvns
the mark. One of my companions car
ried a binull rillu , and it xvas Inn turn
lirat. 1 xvas standing about txvolvo foot
fiom him. Just as he raised tlio rille tn
his shoulder 1 turned my face to him.
Ho pulled the trigger , and as tlio report
of the rillo rang out 1 felt a sharp blow
on 1113' car. I clapped my hand to my
ear in an instant and lot out a yell xvhich
xvould have done credit to a Comanche
Indian. Both of my companions com
menced to laugh at mo. Thov thought
I xvaa jumping at the report of the rillo.
But 1 assured them it xvas no laughing
matter and that the bullet liad hit me
on the oar ,
" 'Nonsense ! ' they all exclaimed in
ono breath.
"Nonsense or not , gentlemen , I know
that bullet hit mo on Iho ear , ' replied I ,
and as I did no I took my hand down ,
expecting that they would find tlio oar
all blood. The only thing they could
boo out of the way , however , xvas a dark
red mark , but that was enough of a
surprise for thorn. At my instancuth oy
searched in tlio leaves at my foot for
the bullet , rtnd sure enough they
found it. Wo then examined the trco
and found that the bullet had' hit a hard
knot , leaving a small dent and re
bounded to xvlicro i stood. You'd bet
tor believe I got right out of tlio woods
and next time you catch mo in the vi
cinity of a rillo you can bend mo to a
lunatic asylum. Why , if my face had
been turned toxvard the tree I would
have got it right in the eye. "
"Do you mean to say that that mark
xvas a block anda half away from you ? "
required ono of the auditors.
"It was fullv that : "
"And that that bullet rebounded all
that distance and hit you in the car ? "
"I do. "
"Whew ! It's no xvondor you can boll
real estate.
Ono of the listeners to the restaurant
man's story was a certain interior de
corator whoso xvork is to bo BOOH in a
largo number of homes ovcrv day.
Tvo got a story that boats that , "
broke in lie.
"Well , out with it , " said the real o.s-
tate ngont.
Tlio decorator bcirun deliberately.
" 1 with once shot in the back "
"You don't Miy ? " wild the real estate
ngont.
'Perhaps you'd like to bo again. "
And the oiitlro aggregation , with the
exception of the nowHp'ipor reporter ,
dropped into a cool basement and sam
pled the buttermilk.
How .IcMiriiiillslH Aid Justice.
October Century : Another instance
to illustrate this brunch of the Mibjoot
preucntod itself in Secretary BrNtoxv'H
able and crushing campaign against tlio
gigantic xvostorn xvhiskoy ring. Fortu
nately , just before ho undertook it. hu
discovered that the cipher of tlio department -
partmont had boon betrayed to members
of this ring. It XVIIH Impossible to fix
tlio ru&poiiHlblllty , and thin uncertainty
caused both uneasiness and perplexity.
Tlio remedy devised was to limit the
knowledge of what xvas intended , an dot
all preliminary movomo ts. to the sec-
retarv himself nnd his solicitor ,
Mijor Bluford Wilson. It xvaa
further ngrood that the dis-
p-UchoH of the department- nnd
from St. Louis should pans lit an arbi
trary cipher prepared and hold by two
jniirnalibU , one in NVashlngton and the
other In Ml. Louis , and that no copy of
that cipher should bo furnitihcd to tiny
ono , not even to the secretary or the
solicitor. And so It came to pass that
nil orders and directions which xvoro
given liy the Treasury department In
regard to preparation ! * for tuirprislnglhu
xvhinkoy ring at Its xvorlc , and all Information
mation received by it from S } . . unite up
to thu moment that thu government wuu
ready to make seizures , were first Bent
to ttio journalists for translation and
traiibmlbsion in their clplior. As a re
sult , a ring of immense proportions and
inlluonco wan broken , millions wore recovered -
covered by the government , and other
millions * nvcd. Later in the case guilty
men escaped because n president and
cabinet officials did not obBorvo confi
dence in regard to vital points of the
government evidence.
Jnwolon * ' O rculur : 1'onplnjay Vounu .
Noodle linn a Inrxu bump of t-urliulty.
1'nnFoiib.v Never imlluod It.
I'oiiplnjny Hut liu IIUR. Ihouuh. Pump tlm
KO liu lionvhl a nlclinl clock cii.irantoim for a
yunr , but It runlly run accurately for two
'T'lrnionUjr-Whalnf that ? . . .
royiilnjuy Wull. ho lutd to break tlio oluok
to places lu .ii'O what wit * the mutter with IU