NEWSPAPERS: THE STATE HERALD, Holyoke, Phillips, Colorado: 10 Jan 1890, Vol. III - No. 19 http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/phillips/newspapers/sthld1890/90jan10.txt Donated by: Vicki Conklin August 04, 2002 =================================================================================== STATE HERALD, Holyoke, Phillips, Colorado T.D. Tipton, Editor 10 Jan 1890, Friday, Vol. III - No. 19 Page One LOCAL LORE Judge Glynn looks relieved since the abatement of the white cap trial. Mr. Robinson, our efficient clerk of the district court takes to his duties as readily as a duck to water. Major Tacke of the Advocate is rusticating at Champion Lakes this week. Look out for fish. Uncle Sam Nelson, our old Swede and soldier friend, was one of the grand jurymen during the term of district court. Uncle Sam still has his eye on the post office at this place. The Morrow Brothers were in town this week. They go to Yuma to build the new brick bank building of Reed Brothers at that place. They are both good boys and excellent workmen. We wish them success. The following residents of Phillips County are among the number who have added their names to the list of this paper: W.E. Johnson, John A. Buck, A.B. Fleming, M.A. Hoyt, George Jarvis, N.J. Peterson, M.L. Smith, John B. Chase, Christ Johnson, J.O. Spalding. Herzig is not afraid now. He goes and comes at his will. None to molest or make afraid. He probably got his stuff and feels happy. Honest Ab Fleming was not built that way. Ab is poor but honest. In the trial of the white cap cases it has brought out one deplorable fact, that is that both defendants and prosecutors and judge are frequenters of saloons. Here the HERALD wishes to offer a demur. It is to be hoped that they will become more familiar with the ten commandments. Brannon as a SPECIAL collector is a daisy. Jim Donovan says that the difference between a special collector and a general collector is that a general collector collects the accounts placed in his hands and sends the man the money, while the special collector collects the accounts and never returns a cent. The holy precincts of the Owl Club were disturbed by Attorney Garrigues, and under penalty of the law four of the best owls in the lodge were forced to give up to the cold chilly, unsympathetic world some of the most secret work of the order. Garrigues going so far as to try to force from the grand master the time of retirement. The grand old owl would not give it away. Stay there Gene. Everyone recognizes the fact, that the HERALD is run strictly in the interest of the whole people and not in the interest of a few cranks. No better evidence of the appreciation of its efforts, than the large subscription list and the amount of job work now crowding this office. We promise to make this the best and most reliable paper between Omaha and Denver. The new school house will be completed this week. County Clerk McPherson was confined to his bed the early part of the week with the La Grippe. DIED - Earnest D., infant son of Mr. and Mrs. G.W. Garland, of West Holyoke, at 2:15 p.m., Wednesday. Say Brannon! how about the accounts of McConnaughy placed in your hands for collection? The Grand Jury has been discharged and not a single bill was found, this proves that we are an orderly class of people, beyond all question. La Grippe has reached Holyoke and many of our citizens are confined to their homes suffering from this much dreaded disease. D.W. Reeves, Alex Meyers, Ol Calligan, attorneys August Munsinger and Quit Brown all of Yuma were attending court this week. Honest Ben Hoskins, our efficient county treasurer, has returned from Aye, Nebraska looking well and reports a pleasant visit at the home of his parents. Guiteau Herzig undertook to share the honors of assistant to the district attorney, with Brannon, on last Monday, and for a time it was difficult to tell which one was in the lead. The HERALD has been placed under obligations to A.E. McCrystal, of the Lamar News, for assistance rendered us in getting out the paper during the progress of the so-called white cap trial. Thomas Hardcastle attorney of Denver was in town last week taking depositions of P. Raymond, to be used in U.S. court in an important mining suit. We had the pleasure of meeting J.W. Christy of Denver, and court reporter for Judge Downer, he is a very pleasant gentleman and we are glad to know him. Mr. Hugh Hill, a prominent citizen of Champion, Nebraska was thrown from his wagon while en route home from Benkelman last week, causing instant death. Attorney Charles Allen of Sterling, one of the counsel for the defendants in the white cap case, was taken ill on last Monday while attending the trial necessitating his going to his room. The Knights of Pythias held a social at their hall Thursday evening. Dancing and social card playing were the order of the evening. P.C. Westover furnished the music. The lodge is in a flourishing condition. Albert Gilroy is attending district court as petit juror. Elder Gilroy is one of the solid men of Phillips County. Everyone respects him and all know that when the elder speaks it is for the common good of all. No better man in the county than Albert Gilroy. Our genial and whole-souled friend H.E. Tedman of Sterling is attending court this week. Ted as he is known by all is our kind of people and we are always glad to welcome him to our town. Judge S.S. Downer opened District Court this week and is grinding out the cases with fearful rapidity. We recognize in Judge D. although a young man, one of the best jurists in the State, and we will never regret that we cast our vote for such an able and just judge. The jury in the white cap case failed to bring a verdict. The jury on first ballot were for discharging all but two, then the dead lock commenced and the final and last ballot stood seven for acquittal and five for conviction. Two car loads of corn were shipped to Holyoke in care of M. Francis, our county commissioner by the B. & M. free of charge, and will be sold at 15 cents a bushel the actual cost of the corn at Wallace. This is for those who failed to raise a crop last year, and will be a great help to our people. The News says that the editor of the HERALD belongs to the white caps body, soul and breeches and he should be arrested, and that he knows something about it. Brother Williams, I know some of the white caps are innocent, just as I know you are an old hypocrite and a fault-finder. There are times when the insignificance of an accuser is lost in the magnitude of the accusation. The attempts of old Flop-over Williams to stain the character or injure the reputation of such men as Ben and Bob Hoskins by connecting them with the white cap raiders only show how rotten and corrupt the old villain is. Ever ready to strike the hand that feeds him is characteristic of the debased old cuss. Our people already recognize him as a person who would sell his mothers womb for tripe and his birthright for a mess of pottage. Clean up your home stable old man and come again. WHITE CAP TRIAL! More Interesting Testimony. The HERALD'S Special Stenographer Takes The Testimony The Remainder of Herzig's Testimony It was on account of the whole thing that I gave it away. Did not give it away until arrested. The district attorney said he would not prosecute me if I would give it away. Did not want to be the first man to give it away. Lots of fellows told me it had been given away. Gave it away to get rid of such a crew. Thought of keeping Kelsey in the saloon, but I was afraid he might make a noise and give it away, and keep me from getting out of town. Did not know who was in the whipping crowd. Witherbee said about half the town was into it. Was at Woodson's about 20 minutes; don't know where was next; went from one saloon to another the whole evening. Could not say how long was there; we shook dice and pulled fingers; seen Kelsey next on the other side of street in a saloon. Don't know what he was doing there. After leaving restaurant don't know that I seen Kelsey again for two hours; not until I seen him with Brannon. Stayed in saloon with Kelsey and Brannon about half an hour; went next to the butcher shop. The man was in there cutting meat and the deputy sheriff was there. Walsh's saloon is were I met Brannon and Kelsey. Was excited that night and could not get drunk. I drink when it does not cost me much. have no money to spend for liquors. Had a pretty good shot the last two Saturday's that I was in town. Was down here in a contest case since the election; but was not drunk. Kelsey wanted a drink and I went in with him and paid for his drink, but did not take any myself; when I deal with a man I ask him before my money is gone if he will trust me. Do not remember having any trouble about credit in Lewis' saloon. Generally drink beer, sometimes whisky. Do not remember what Kelsey treated me to late that night. After all that happened that night a man would have to have a head on him like a bushel basket. Said to Lew Witherbee that if he said he paid me five dollars a day he lied and I would go and make out a "ritaree" for him. It was after 11 o'clock when I went into Clark's store. Drank after that. Lew Witherbee and Gus Scheunemann were in the store when I went in. Hoskins came in in about ten minutes. He spoke to me. He went out first; I left and caught up with him; I said I am playing drunk; Ben Hoskins said that's all right, was only playing drunk, had trouble with Gus Scheunemann. He hired my hired man and I got mad about it. I did not go to Hoskins store to see him about it; don't know that I called him names; told Hoskins that he should tell Scheunemann to leave my man alone; voted against Hoskins because he kept Scheunemann. I was told to be at Hoskins store at 11 o'clock. I did not think how bad things were that night; thought I had to stay with them fellows; they must have had a guard over me that night I had been through the whole night with them; was afraid of a guard being over me; they did not say I had to go along; they said I must keep my mouth shut; have seen a guard over me for the past week and a half; It is a different guard, its from the court. Did not notice any guard that night, I did not go that night of my own free will; played drunk; would have kept away from them if Cheadle had not sent me out there. While talking here for one hour this afternoon I had no chance to say I played drunk that evening. I played drunk in both saloons. The postmaster was in one saloon and Gus Temple was there, playing cards; played drunk the entire evening. I was not so drunk that I did not know what I was doing; was not doing this to play detective. I played drunk so that the town people might not suspicion anything. I knew that taking the cap and mask made me a white cap. Had done nothing up to this time. I went to Clark's store, knocked and went in because I had to stay with them fellows or I might be strung up on a telegraph pole. Had done nothing until I got the cap; was doing it for a criminal purpose but had to stay with them; I don't think I went to the side of Walsh's saloon and vomited that night; went from Clark's store to Witherbee's shop for fun and to get more instructions; had to show them that I would stay with them. Lee and Lou Witherbee was there and the deputy sheriff was watching out of the window for Kelsey to go home. Lou Witherbee was cutting eye holes in the cloth for masks; they gave me the cap to reverse the back to the front and cut eye holes in the same and wear it. Lou Witherbee took 3 or 4 capes from Clark's. Have talked with the state's attorney several times about the case; he told me not to tell any lies. When I took the cap they thought I was going to cut eye holes in it; do not know what Lou Witherbee did with the caps. Several of the fellows had the caps down over their faces; there were five or six there with me; two men stood with Kelsey and the driver made nine or ten. It was moonlight and I went up within 20 rods of them; could see them from here to the depot, it was a bright moonlight night. They stood there about one minute after I came up. A wagon came up behind me, I did not notice it until I was talking with the fellows; the wagon was coming from town; they all jumped into the wagon; I got into it and we drove up to where Kelsey was. Wilson took me out afterwards where the whipping was done; went to look for the bottle I threw away; did not go as detective; just wanted to show the bottle so that they could see where it came from. The bottle was given me half way between town and where the whipping took place and I drank; did not go out to where the whipping was done; went out with Kelsey but was not there at the whipping; only thing I heard Kelsey say was "don't boys I can get in the wagon" when he was being whipped he said "don't boys I am an old soldier, don't kill me;" have talked with Kelsey since I was arrested; Kelsey spoke loud that night; they were whipping Bennett when I went out; seen a whip in the wagon and Lou Witherbee had that one, he was thrashing the mules with it, was a blacksnake whip that I seen in the wagon; was not close enough to count how many men was there when Kelsey was whipped, was 200 ft. away; did not take interest enough to count them. There was about twelve men there. Seven went out with me and four or five in the other wagon. Bennett and Kelsey would make 14 that were there; they stood around there in every way; could not tell that I seen Kelsey whipped; seen one man brought out of the wagon and layed flat on the ground that was all I seen; did not see the lash of the whip catch on the wheel of the wagon when the man nearest the wagon was being whipped; could not tell how near the man was to the wagon. He was one or two rods from the wagon and the whip could not catch; when we came back after Bennett, Kelsey was on his knees with a blanket over him and two men with him. Can swear that Kelsey was whipped, could not see how he layed; if I known that I had to tell this story would have counted the men. Did not see two men out there. Heard Bennett growl and they must have whipped him. Did not see Bennett out there only heard his growl. Where the whipping was done was from one to two rods from the wagon. Guess it was Bennett's voice I heard in the wagon down near the Sawyer house some fifteen minutes before the whipping. I stated on direct examination that it was Bennett who moaned while he was being whipped. I knew it was him from the sound of his voice. Could not tell whether the man was standing up or laying down. Could not see him. Could see the motion of the whip and seen one man on the ground. They were ready to whip the men when I got there. Lee Witherbee came toward me to see who I was and another man came up and said everything was all right and the whipping commenced. If there was any second whipping done there it was done where the first whipping was done. Lee Witherbee stood by me while the whipping was going on and had nothing to do with the whipping. Six men came to town with me and four or five got into the wagon and drove away. Did not see any other horse there than my own. Was standing there during the whipping. Heard the rattle of the wagon when they took Bennett away going out. I was at the depot talking to Gus Scheunemann. My horse was tied to the wagon at Lew Witherbee's. Got my horse and rode out after the wagon. Followed by the sound of the wagon. One of the men took a rag off his face when he came back. He had a black cap. My cap was gray. It is hard to tell colors at night. Walked with the men about one mile coming back to town. Lou Witherbee had on a slicker. Lee Witherbee had on a grey coat. One big fellow had on a duster and one fellow had on a red coat and another had on a coat like this turned inside out. I came back with the men who came for Bennett. The man with the slicker, Lou Witherbee was there. The slicker was buttoned over the breast. It was a yellow slicker. He had a dark cap on I could not tell its color. It was Lee Witherbee who had on the slicker. I am mistaken if I said Lou, it was Lee Witherbee who had on the slicker. Lou Witherbee had on a grey overcoat. Did not see his under coat. I think his coat was buttoned. Lou Witherbee had a hat on I think. I was not drunk at 12 o'clock that night. I ran toward the B. & M. road because I had seen all I wanted to. Met Gus Scheunemann at the depot, he was one of the men and I thought he was there as a guard. It was a moonlight night but don't think you could see a house for half a mile. Did not want to go home. I wanted to see what they were going to do with those fellows. Never beat my wife in my life, that is a lie. I was one of three men who were caught out on the Prairie last winter, two of those men were frozen to death. Stambaugh was one of the men. Did not drive Mrs. Stambaugh out of the country or have anything to do with her leaving. Never slandered her. Was not one of the party who sent her word to leave the country. Did not see Spahr out there; did not know he was into it. Lou Witherbee told me the deputy clerk was into it. From the way Spahr spoke to me in his office I thought he knew something about it. He told me to keep my mouth shut, that the district attorney had two detectives in town. Have seen Payne several times but did not know until after I was arrested that he was yard master. He took off his mask out here and it was a dark rag. A little small fellow had a cap down on his neck. Do not know that I seen Swan Nelson out there or in here. I did not say on direct examination that Nelson went after Lee Witherbee's pistol. I cannot tell the difference between a Norwegian and a Swede, or a Dane and a Swede. The language these two men talked as they went after Witherbee's pistol was neither German or English. I think it was Swede. Do not know whether Nelson is a Dane or not. I know Mr. Donovan. Was in his office the day I was arrested. Did tell Mr. Donovan that on the night in question I went down the street and found my horse by Shriners and went home and that went home and got home by 12 o'clock it was a story which I told him. I knew then that he was going to defend. Temple came out to my place after me about 8 o'clock in the morning. Did not know that I was ever arrested. Did state to the Witherbee brothers that I was so drunk I did not know what I was doing. Told the same thing to lots of people. Gave the whipping away after I was told that Cheadle and the yard master had given the thing away. Made up my mind after the whipping that this was not the right kind of a crew for this country. Did not know how bad this thing was although I seen it. Would not come on the stand and swear to a lie for no man. Told Mr. Donovan that I would have my wife come in and swear to a lie for me but did not intend to have her here. All that time I was just playing drunk and telling lies. Know that some one had given it away before I did, for how did they hit all them fellows. Harry Moore got me to make my straight affidavit. The State's attorney said he would protect me and then I told my story. My school district is three miles East and West and three miles North and South. Have been in Walsh's back and forth since I have under arrest. Was there I believe the day after Christmas. If Wilson was the guard over me he went in there with me. Stood and talked with Wilson "All over." Did not tell Wilson I was drunk the night of the whipping and that Garagues had scared me into this story. Don't think anyone was in the card room. Could not swear that anyone was in the card room in Walsh's while I was in the bar room. RE-DIRECT I did not see the State's attorney after I was arrested. Was turned loose without bond. Had a conversation with Wilson and then with Harry Moore. Harry Moore got me to go to the District attorney. Harry Moore told me the names of the parties who was in this scrape and I went to the district attorney and asked leave to make a confession. Do not remember talking to Wilson by the card room in Walshe's saloon on the day after Christmas. I left Lewis' saloon on the night of the whipping after drinking with Cheadle by the front door. L.S. Vierson sworn and testified as follows. Live in Holyoke, Am an engineer. Payne is yard master. Swan Nelson is an engineer. On December 7th Nelson would have gone out at six o'clock on regular trip. I seen him in the afternoon in Lewis' saloon about five o'clock. Lou Witherbee came in and called him outside. We were playing pool. Passenger train arrives at 1:46 central time. The train was 55 minutes late. I left the round house with the engine at 2 o'clock, reached the depot about 2:05 tank hose bursted at about 2:25 o'clock. About one minute after the hose bursted I seen Nelson at the engine. He was in his night clothes. I did not see Payne, I heard him talking but did not see him. Seen Nelson on the platform in the afternoon about six o'clock. He did not go out on his trip. Will Eaton is Nelson's fireman. CROSS EXAMINATION I do not play pool often. There was nothing suspicious in Witherbee coming in Lewis' and calling Nelson aside. Know nothing of the guilt or innocence of the defendants. Ben Marvin sworn and testified as follows: Live in Holyoke; am train dispatcher; am acquainted with Nelson and Payne; Nelson is an engineer on B. & M. I remember the occasion of two men being whipped on December 7th or 8th. On December 7th Nelson should have gone out on train 154 at 6 p.m.; Nelson asked leave to send a man out in his place; it was after 5 p.m.; he made the request that he be allowed to send Mr. Clark out in his place. CROSS EXAMINATION Know nothing about the guilt. Robert Ballance being sworn testified as follows: Am foreman of the locomotive department of the B. & M. at Holyoke; the message Marvin alludes to was sent to me; the telephone rang and Marvin said can you let Nelson off this afternoon and put a man in his place; it was near 5:30 and he should have gone at 6 p.m.; engineers wishing to lay off should give time enough, at least 1 1/2 hours but there is no rule to be governed by. CROSS EXAMINATION Sometimes engineers do not get down to their engines in time to go out; I told Nelson he could go and Clark could go out, Clark was within six feet of me at the time. A.D. Clark was then sworn and testified as follows: Am engineer on B. & M. On the evening of December 7th last, I took out Nelson's engine; received notice to go at 5:20 and left at 6 p.m. W.K. Eaton is his fireman. On coming up on 53 the next night I heard of the white cap business from Eaton; he got it from parties on an engine that had just left Holyoke. Robert B. Huckleberry next testified. Am a switchman in Holyoke yard; George Payne is yard master; I know Nelson. The yard master's shanty is north and between depot and eating house, about two rods from track; it has two rooms in it; front room is a sitting room; the rear one for bedroom; in going into the bedroom you must pass through the front room; on the night of December 7th Payne was changing engines; he had done that work right along. I did this work on the morning of the eighth. I went to the switch shanty on the morning of the eighth about quarter of one. Seen Payne when 153 came in. About 7 or 9 o'clock he asked me to change engines for him as he was going out hunting. The train I was to change came in, when on time; at 1:46. I came down and changed the engines at Payne's request. Reached the yard near quarter to one o'clock. I went down to the shanty where there was a good fire. I layed down on the bench and fell asleep. Woke up about two o'clock and Payne was there; he was dressed; he said he had been in a game of high five and stayed later than he had intended to. He went in the other room and I changed the engines. I seen Nelson that morning about ten minutes after I seen Payne. He was dressed and I think had a hat on his head. He remained in the office and then went in the next room and undressed. Nelson was in the room about ten minutes when the pipe on the engine exploded. Will not say that I did not see Nelson around the depot that night. CROSS EXAMINATION Changing the engines is my work. Mr. Payne did the work as an accommodation. Payne said he was going hunting. I was not in the back room that night; do not know who was in there; cannot say what happened between the time I reached the depot and 2 o'clock, as I was asleep. All the conversation I had with Payne that night was about the game of high-five. George Riddle was there shortly after that time, I know nothing about the guilt or innocence of these men. Herbert L. Donovan was next put on the stand and testified as follows: Am engineer on B. & M. Was on train 153 and engine 149. Arrived here at 8 minutes past nine o'clock. Seen Nelson in Witherbee's butcher shop that night about 9:15 p.m. In passing the meat market I seen Nelson and went in there to talk with him. CROSS EXAMINATION I know it was a suspicious thing in me being in Witherbee's that night. Did not cut eye holes in cloth or see Nelson do it. He said nothing about Kelsey or Bennett. Nelson said he layed off because he had a bad cold. I could not say that he had been drinking. He did have a bad cold. Will K. Eaton testified as follows: Am fireman on B. & M. Have been fireman since March 8, 1888; have fired for Swan C. Nelson since November 8, 1888. Remember firing for Clark on the night of December 7. Nelson did not go out that night. Had no talk with Nelson about his not going out; first heard of the whipping of these men at Lisbon from the fireman on 146. D.A. Gaddy testified as follows: Am a fireman on B. & M. freight; came in December 7, a little after 9 p.m. CROSS EXAMINATION Am one of the men who formed the circle in Witherbee's meat market that night, but have not been arrested yet. Harry Wentz was sworn and testified as follows. Am the janitor at the depot. I remember hearing, on the morning of the 8th of December, of the whipping of the men; was at the Sawyer house on the morning of December 8 and heard the cry of murder; ran to the corner of Varney's store and seen a team going out toward the elevator; the team was going at a pretty good gait; it was running. Heard nothing but the rattle of the wagon. CROSS EXAMINATION Heard the cry of murder once and cries like a person in pain; was talking with a lady going away on the train when I heard the cry of murder. Did not say anything about the cry of murder because I thought they were baging a drunkard and taking him home; seen one man on the street running. REDIRECT EXAMINATION William Bylander, or "Antelope Bill" was the man I seen running. A.D. Clark was re-called and testified as follows" Returned to Holyoke from the run I made on Sunday night; Seen Nelson next day and he asked me how 116 was and said he wished he had gone out on the run for they had gotten him into the white cap business. George Riddle testified as follows: Am fireman on the B. & M. On December 7 I went out on 151 passenger going east; do not know whether it was Saturday or Sunday when I went out. Slept at Inter Ocean hotel the night I went out. After I was called I sat in my room for some time. Cannot give the time when I left my room, supposed it was quarter to two o'clock. The tank hose blew off my engine after I got down to it. The train came in within 15 minutes after the hose blew off. The train left in 10 or 12 minutes after it arrived while the engine was at the round house. I remained at the switch house; seen Nelson in a few moments after the accident coming around the engine in his night clothes. I saw Nelson about 10 or 15 minutes before the explosion. He had on a light hat and the same kind of clothes he wears Continued on Fourth Page Page Four Continued From First Page. now. I seen Payne in the switch shanty 10 or 15 minutes before the engine came out; had no conversation with Payne, but I heard him say he had been playing high-five. I asked Huckleberry what in the hell he was doing up at that time of the night and he said Payne was going a hunting and was afraid of over-sleeping himself CROSS EXAMINATION I got to the shanty between 5 minutes to 2 and 15 minutes after 2 and I stayed in the front room until I went out on my engine. James Kutler was the next to testify. Am a farmer; know George Place; know Ed Sparks when I see him; he was with these men at Mr. McPherson's barn. Sparks had been arrested that day; some of the boys asked if they were not going to keep him and he said no, they had $2,000 bonds. Heard Sparks say that Kelsey did not show much grit, but Bennett did; that Bennett kicked three of the caps off. Have seen Sparks two or three months but did not know him. I was on the hay outside. Do not know whether Sparks was telling what he knew or what he had heard. I cannot say what Place said. George Place then testified: Mr. Butler and myself were mowing away the hay and Sparks came and assisted us. Sparks had been under arrest; do not know whether he had been discharged or not. I heard Sparks say that they had been arrested and he gave $2,000 bonds. He said Bennett did the fighting but that Kelsey did not fight. CROSS EXAMINATION I do nothing; am 20 years old; come from Nebraska here. I used to work for McPherson; Sparks took my place; McPherson told me to go there as Sparks had been arrested. I had known Sparks two or three weeks; he did not say he was out in this whipping case. He did not say he had a mask on; he said Kelsey layed still; I am out of a job at the present time; I do not know why I quit McPherson the first time; McPherson had loaned a blanket at Hines' stable and it was afterward found in my possession; I told McPherson that I did not have the blanket (that was before I got the blanket) and afterwards it was found in my fathers house where I had left it. William Dickerson testified as follows: Am 23 years old; am brakeman on B. & M. road; heard of the whipping on the morning of the 8th of December in front of Witherbee's. Seen some of the defendants in Lewis' saloon on December 7, between 10 and 12; seen Nelson, Payne, Sparks, Lew Witherbee and Lee Witherbee. Nelson was playing high-five. Lew Witherbee was whispering to some parties; could not say who he was whispering with; they left about 12:15. Seen Nelson and Lee Witherbee go out. Continued next week. FRENCHMAN VALLEY Winter has began in good interest, and the hunters are busy with the rabbit. We have a literary in school district No. 57 every Tuesday evening. Our young folks, when they start to a dance, are bound to get there if there are any two by fours in the country. Mr. Hamilton has a new house and New Years he invited in his neighbors to take dinner with them. We had a jolly time, and a bountiful dinner. Long live Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton with many happy returns of the day. Mr. Westenburg has his new house finished in fine style. Those that don't like sod houses better go and see it. If we had such a house, we would feel as though we were in the 7th heaven. -- HOMESTEADER PRAIRIE DALE Another year has passed into eternity, and the people of Prairie Dale all upright and on their pins. Mr. F.J. Lazarus placed a Star Wind Engine on his tower New Years day and W.A.P. Scull and wife gave a grand dinner, among the guests were M.F. Clark and wife, Elroy Broughton and wife, D. Lazarus and wife, C.O. Lazarus, F.P. Lazarus, Miss Kate Fletcher, Mr. Epperson G. Johnson, J. Johnson and Eddie Lazarus. The table was well spread with good things and the party enjoyed themselves hugely. Mr. F.P. Lazarus and son returned to Silver Plume Thursday morning after a short visit among friends in this vicinity. John and Fred Johnson returned home from Nebraska Thursday night. They brought Mr. Epperson's team and a three year old Hambletonion mare, which is a fine one. Mr. S.A. Vaughn has been quite sick for the past few days, but we are glad to hear that he is better. Miss Rubie Scull is quite sick with the Scarlet Rash. The question for debate at our Literary Friday night was: - Resolved that the Negro has more reason to complain than the Indian. -- WOODLE =================================================== Contributed for use by the USGenWeb Archive Project (http://www.usgenweb.org) and by the COGenWeb Archive Project USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access.