Home Made Toilet Soap

1896

The subscriber who requested a recipe for toilet soap will find the following excellent:

Boil together slowly, for one hour, two pounds of pure beef tallow, two of washing soda, one pound of salt and one ounce each of gum camphor, oil of bergamot and borax; stir it often; let it stand until cold, then warm it over, so that it will run easily, and turn into moulds dipped in cold water. Like all soaps, it improves with age.

An oatmeal soap that softens the skin may be economically made from bits of castile and glycerine soap, if these are allowed to accumulate when they get too small for toilet purposes. Make a saturated solution of pulverized borax and cut into it all the bits of soap, boiling until they are dissolved and the mixture as thick as cream; stir into the mass oatmeal enough to make a thick, but soft, paste, mingling with the meal a little sulphur and pulverized camphor, stir until it cools somewhat, but is still soft enough to pour into a mould or moulds. — New York Herald.


Women In Austrian Prisons

In Austria, a woman, no matter what she may do, is never regarded or treated quite as a criminal.

She may rob, burn, kill — set every law at defiance, in fact, and break all the commandments in turn — without a fear of ever being called upon to face the gallows. She is not even sent to an ordinary prison to do penance for her sins; the hardest fate that can befall her, indeed, is to be compelled to take up her abode for a time in a convent. There the treatment meted out to her is not so much justice seasoned with mercy as mercy seasoned, and none too well, with justice.

Even in official reports she is an "erring sister" — one who has, it is true, strayed from the narrow path, but quits involuntarily. — Cornhill Magazine.

As Straight Men See Him

1909

The Dead-Beat is Probably the Most Despised Creature That Walks the Earth

No man is wholly free from sin, but so many lesser evils are tolerated that a man should hesitate long before becoming a dead-beat.

Criminals are despised and abhorred, but to the dead-beat all that is coming, as well as the contempt of his fellow men. There is something at once so mean and so little in taking advantage of the confidence which comes with friendship that the hand of every man is turned against a dead-beat as soon as his reputation is well established.

The dead-beat may fondly imagine he is living easy and making money without work, and, of course, he takes no account of the confidence he violates and the hardships he inflicts on others. But, that aside, he really has a harder time than the man who is honest and fair. He is compelled to move a good deal, and peace of mind he knows not. Like other types of crooks, he doesn't prosper, and his finish is more unpleasant than the beginning. — Atchison Globe.


1900

Deadly Blunderbusses of Guatemala

Down in Guatemala the favorite weapon of the native bandits and desperadoes is a sawed-off muzzle-loading shotgun of the blunderbuss pattern, and when they run short of buckshot they sally out to the railroad and steal a few dozen seals, which are simply disks of soft lead about the size of quarters. Pounded into rough balls, they make projectiles by the side of which a Dumdum is an angel of mercy, and when one of their blunderbusses goes off it generally kills everything in sight except the man directly behind it.

Topsy, Best of Bloodhounds is Dead

Iowa, 1914

Topsy, one of the most valuable of the bloodhounds in the Shores & Strumpfer kennels, was found dead yesterday morning. She was in her kennel on the premises of Sheriff Shores. Her owners had refused $800 for her.

Saturday evening, when the dogs were fed, Topsy displayed no symptoms of illness. She ate her portion of the evening meal.

An autopsy yesterday showed that death had been caused by acute indigestion.

Topsy was seven years old and was trained by H. G. Strumpfer at Springfield, Ill. She was one of the best criminal trailers in the country, having made a large number of catches. She could trail a man or a horse. Her first work in Waterloo was running the trail of the men who tried to burglarize the safe of the Hudson bank a year ago last autumn.

Her last work was on New Year's day.

Topsy was almost human in her genius for man-trailing. She also was good-tempered and displayed an affectionate nature, which is not common with bloodhounds.

Sheriff Shores has several other man-trailers, but heavily feels the loss of Topsy.

—Waterloo Evening Courier, Waterloo, IA, Jan. 5, 1914, p. 2.

Faithful Dog Avenges a Policeman

1910

NEW YORK. — Patrolman Lawrence Cummins of the East One Hundred and Fourth street police station, on whose post the car barn gang has its headquarters, was beaten savagely by members of that band and was in the hospital for several weeks.

The first request Cummins made to Capt. Corcoran when he reported again for duty was to be assigned to his old post. He said he wanted to show the toughs that he was not afraid of them and that they could not drive a policeman from his place of duty. Capt. Corcoran took the same view and sent Cummins back.

From the moment he resumed his work the gang annoyed Cummins, hut it was not until the other night that the roughs got a chance to "do him up" again. He found about a dozen of them on the street insulting women who passed.

"Move on," commanded Cummins. But a truck driver, 19 years old, hurled insults at the policeman. Cummins arrested him. The rest of the gang disappeared, Cummins started for the police station with his prisoner, but as they went along there was a call from a roof. The prisoner broke from Cummins and ran into a house. The gang had gone to a roof, torn away the chimney and waited for the policeman and his prisoner. When the signal was given and the prisoner had fled from the firing zone his friends hurled the chimney bricks down at Cummins. After three had struck him on the head he fell unconscious. Men who saw the attack ran to the station. Sgt. Higgins and eight bluecoats raced to the rescue of their comrade.

Twice a week a Dalmatian dog, Bessie, who belongs to truck company No. 26 on One Hundred and Fourteenth street, visits the East One Hundred and Fourth street station, and has a supper at the expense of John Ritter. That night she was there and she went with the rescue squad.

When the men entered the house from which the bricks had been hurled on Cummins the dog went with them. But while the sergeant and his men went to the roof Bessie stopped at the second floor.

Back in a dark corner of the tenement hallway she had caught sight of a man, and, instead of going further, she leaped for him. She got a good grip on his trousers and he could not beat her off. Five minutes afterward the policemen on their way back to the street after a fruitless search, heard a scuffle. They found Bessie still holding on to the man. He was the escaped prisoner.

A Traveling Man Does An Indecent Thing

Wisconsin, 1920

A Traveling Man Gets Into Trouble

Plymouth Review — A young lady, whose name we shall withhold because she was entirely innocent of the slightest wrong-doing, was accosted by a traveling man from Milwaukee, on the highway between this city and Greenbush one day last week.

She was driving towards her home while the Milwaukee traveling man was just ahead of her in an automobile. He stopped the machine and got out of it as if to make some adjustment. As she drove up, he asked the young lady whether she was going to Greenbush. Thinking that the question was impertinent she did not reply, when he stepped away from his auto and did an indecent thing.

At this the young lady turned her horse around and started back towards Plymouth. She stopped at a house and reported what had happened and a gentleman went in pursuit of the malefactor. The young lady accompanied him as she had taken the number of his auto. The auto was standing in front of the Stannard store at the village of Greenbush. While someone went after the young lady's father the traveling man drove to Glenbeulah. Here an officer got into the car with him and they came to Plymouth. The only justice of the peace was out of the city and the police justice has no jurisdiction over a criminal act committed outside the city. The parties went before some attorney and the traveling man paid a certain sum.

We have failed to state that the young lady was accosted twice by the traveling man.

If the story is true and there seems to be no reason to doubt it, the miscreant got off rather lightly. He is said to be a young man about twenty-five years of age, and his experience may be sufficient to deter him from repeating an act of that kind.

—The Sheboygan Press, Sheboygan, WI, Sept. 25, 1920, p. 4.

A Hardened Criminal Once, Now He Helps Reform Others

Davenport, Iowa, 1903

CONVICT TO PREACHER

HISTORY OF STANLEY FORREST, MISSIONARY.

A Hardened Criminal, He Was Arrested For the First Time In His Life Here In Davenport Fifteen Years Ago Today — Served Term In Ft. Madison — Gave Life to Fellow Convicts — Dying of Consumption.

Fifteen years ago today Stanley M. Forrest, one of the smoothest hotel swindlers that the criminal world has ever produced, was taken from his bed in the Harper house, in Rock Island and locked in the Rock Island jail until morning. In the morning he was brought to this city, given a preliminary hearing on the charge of obtaining money under false pretenses from the management of the St. James hotel. Although he stoutly protested his innocence he was convicted in the district court and sentenced to serve two and one-half years at hard labor in the penitentiary at Fort Madison.

Now, today, Stanley M. Forrest, his hair whitened through sorrows and sickness and his once powerful constitution shattered by consumption, is back in this city to close his work as a jail evangelist and a convict's friend, by addressing the inmates of the Rock Island and the Davenport jails in which he was incarcerated fifteen years ago. He feels that the disease from which he is suffering does not give him a great while longer to live, so what could be more fitting than that should close in his work in the city which saw the beginning of the end.

Interesting Life Story.

His life story is one of exceptional interest. It is the story of a life crowded with action. Forty-eight years ago Stanley M. Forrest was born in England. His parents were well-to-do and gave him an exceptionally thorough education. At the age of 23 he came this country, possessed in his own right of some little money. He traveled from one place to another until his money ran out and then started in to live by his wits. Fashionable hotels in large cities presented a target for his practices. His scheme of operations were above the plane of the ordinary criminal. His education and natural good breeding were brought to the aid of a resourceful mind and an ability at disguises and he was very successful, if the word be permitted. In the pursuit of his prey he traveled from one side of the country to the other, never operating in any but the largest and most popular hotels, securing a wide acquaintance with statesmen, jurists and prominent men of business. His affable manners and neat dress gave him easy passport to hotel lobby acquaintances. One single haul netted him $2,800, with never a finger of suspicion pointed at him or the necessity of any attempt at hiding. Then the crash came.

First Arrested Here.

A little over 15 years ago he drifted into this city and registered at the St. James. One day at dinner he checked his overcoat, as usual, and went in dinner. When he came out, according the story which he told last evening to a representative of the Republican, he presented his check at the wardrobe door, but an exhaustive search failed to disclose the garment. It was gone, but that did not trouble the buoyant spirit of Forrest, for he knew that the landlord was responsible for the garment and he was. The landlord advanced him money to purchase a garment to replace the one lost, and he purchased a new coat. That evening Forrest went to the Burtis opera house with a well known woman of the town. He was seen there by an attache of the St. James, who recognized his companion and followed them after the performance, across the river and to the Harper house. Having them safely located he communicated with the hotel and they secured Forrest's arrest, shortly after midnight on the morning of March 6th. He spent the balance of the night in the Rock Island jail and the next morning was brought to this city and lodged in jail.

Convicted and Sentenced.

The charge was that of obtaining money under false pretenses. Forrest waived preliminary examination for the circumstantial evidence was strongly against him. He procured an attorney and made a hard fight for freedom, but the evidence was strongly against him. The theory of the state was that Forrest, unnoticed by the attache of the hotel had gone to the wardrobe, procured his coat, hid it and then boldly presented the check, demanding either the overcoat or its cash equivalent. The result was a conviction, and Forrest stood to receive a long sentence in the penitentiary. But the judge had become impressed by his personality and the apparent frankness of his demeanor in telling his story and he sentenced him to two and one-half years at Fort Madison. The well dressed gentleman of the world donned the convict's stripes with a terrible spirit of revenge nestled down in his heart. As he worked through the sentence at Fort Madison it was with the one determination that, when he was released he would come back to Davenport and shoot the man who had sworn his freedom away. By exemplary behavior in the penitentiary he reduced his sentence eight months and at the end of one year and ten months he was set free.

Fall Was Fast.

But when he stepped from the institute, a free man, his naturally generous spirit again began to return, and instead of coming back to this city to execute his threat he went East. With the stain of the convict upon him he became more careless and bold in his operations and the result that it was not long until he was an inmate of the Ohio penitentiary, serving a year's sentence. He came to be regarded as a criminal whom officials might well fear for his shrewdness and ability at planning and executing affairs which baffled their powers of detection. He was exceptionally lucky, along with his cunning, and while his confederates were sometimes hauled up short he generally escaped, or if arrested for the crime would manage to find a loop hole of escape.

How He Came to Reform.

The causes which led to his reforming were as unique as his career has been. When he was in the penitentiary at Fort Madison a private secretary to the governor of the state used to appear pretty regularly at the penitentiary, that was before the day of the board of control, and make speeches to the convicts. In these it was his custom to praise them for the reformation which he saw being worked out and to tell them how dearly he loved an ex-convict and what he would do for them at any time that it would be in his power. He would generally end his little speech by giving them an invitation to come to see him at any time they were in need or wanted work or help. So it happened that about ten years ago Forrest, tired with continual evading the officers of the law, decided to try and lead an honest life. He drifted to Burlington. The first man he met that he knew was a cellmate of his at Fort Madison. His prison friends told him that he was on his way to see the redoubtable private secretary and Forrest joined him. They found the private secretary to be a very busy man, and after taking their names he turned to dismiss them. But Forrest's companion was insistent. He said he needed help. The secretary gave him a quarter, told him to eat supper and then help himself. The ex-convict took the secretary at his word and helped himself to the secretary's horse and buggy as soon as they reached the open air. The secretary never saw either article again. And Forrest went to Chicago to take his start at honest life.

Rise Was Rapid.

In the world of crime he had been what might be called a successful man. In the world of labor he was almost equally successful. When he arrived in Chicago he applied to the superintendent of the street cleaning department and asked for a position on the streets. He told his story from the beginning of his prison life and said that he wanted a chance. His education stood him in good stead and he was made foreman of a gang. Three months afterward his natural ability won for him the position of chief inspector of streets at a salary of $2,000 a year. He held this position for some time, and married while in it. All of his spare time he began to devote to the work of trying to make the prisoners in the jails of Chicago and neighboring cities better. He was remarkably successful in this line. When the time came that a cutting down in expenses of the street department of the city of Chicago eliminated the office which he held he turned his time more than ever to the new field which had opened up before him and continued to be successful. He entered the penitentiaries and the prisons and talked to the inmates as a comrade who had saw the brighter side to life. His arguments were of the convincing sort. When he met a man who, to his eye, and he is an expert judge of human nature, would be really benefited by a pardon, he immediately set himself to the effort of securing such a pardon, and often he was successful, for executives with the pardoning power came to regard Forrest as a man upon whose word they could depend.

Came to Davenport.

Five years ago, on the anniversary of his first day in prison, Forrest returned to Davenport and did a very considerable amount of work among the people of this city, especially in the jails, both here and in Rock Island. His teachings were productive of much good, and there is one man who will long remember him. One Monday morning, according to Forrest's statements, Mrs. Hill, the police matron, interested him in the case of Joel Bledsoe, at that time serving a sentence in the Rock Island jail for drunkenness. Forrest investigated the case, and as a result he secured Bledsoe's release by signing a personal bond for his future good behavior. Bledsoe was very grateful, and more so when a position was secured for him as janitor of the Y. M. C. A. building. The reform was permanent and effectual. Again three years ago Forrest came to this city and labored for a considerable length of time among the jail inmates.

Sorrows Heap Upon Him.

But the life of love which had been brightening the career of Forrest for seven years came to a sudden end two and one-half years ago, when he suddenly discovered that an ex-convict whom he had taken into his own home in Chicago to keep until a position could be found had proved ungrateful and betrayed the trust of the home. His wife and home gone, Forrest, a tinge of white added to his hair, began with renewed vigor his life-work with the criminal class. His efforts were meeting with greater success than ever, and he was gaining a country wide reputation, when, while at Springfield, Ill., he contracted, a severe cold which developed into the dread consumption. Since that time he has been traveling constantly, seeking health and working among the prisoners in various jails until, a wreck of his former self, with all hope of recovery gone, he has come to Davenport to make his last pleas to criminals and, perhaps, to die in the city of his first arrest and conviction. He will speak tomorrow forenoon at 10:30 o'clock in the Rock Island jail, and in the afternoon at 2:30 in the Scott county jail. Everyone interested in jail work is invited to be present. The local Y. M. C. A, will have charge of both meetings, which will be free, and they will furnish music for each meeting.

How He Works.

A representative of the Republican enjoyed a most interesting visit with Forrest last evening. He is a brilliant conversationalist to start with, and, added to this, his vast fund of experience makes him a most interesting person to listen to. He said: "I have probably been most fortunate in my chosen work, and I blame it to the fact that I know criminals, being a graduate myself; and I know how to approach them. The man who enters the jail and goes up to the prisoner, extends a hearty hand and exclaims, 'Ha, old fellow, glad to see you here,' isn't going to make a success of the work. One must know criminals and approach them in a way at which they can take no offense, yet understand your position. In my experience I have met many criminals and befriended many, and it is seldom that I have been mistaken. I remember once, in Maine, I secured a pardon for a convict in the Thomastown penitentiary in whom I had become interested. He was an Englishman named Bird, and was in for seven years for perjury. I took the pardon to him and found him in a most irritable mood. I drew him to one side and questioned him as to what he might do as soon as he was free, in case he were pardoned. He had recently been flogged for misbehavior, and remarked with an oath that the first thing he would do would be to kill the deputy warden. I took the pardon out before his eyes and tore it into little bits. I knew that that man could not safely be pardoned."

—Davenport Daily Republican, Davenport, Iowa, March 6, 1903, page 7.

List of Criminals Cleaned-Out, They're Headed for Prison

Iowa, 1903

EXODUS OF BAD CHARACTERS FROM DAVENPORT

Four Departed Yesterday and More Go Today — Pope Starts Sentence.

There was an exodus of bad characters from Davenport yesterday and while it was not planned or voluntary on the part of the exiles, yet it will probably not hurt the city much. Sheriff McArthur left yesterday morning for Fort Madison taking with him James Pope, sentenced to life imprisonment for the crime of rape committed on his 13-year-old daughter; and Fred Gross sentenced to two and one-half years at hard labor for receiving stolen property, he being implicated in the Gross case. W. D. Petersen accompanied the sheriff on the trip and they expect to return today.

Deputy Sheriff Eggers left yesterday morning for Anamosa, where he takes Daisy Lister and Gertie McDonald for terms of five years each in the woman's ward of the penitentiary. The women were convicted of robbery from Simon Myerson, a rag buyer. The Lister woman, on account of extenuating circumstances and a probable evidence that she was of better former character than her co-partner, was promised the assistance of the judge and county attorney if she showed at the end of year's time that her behavior at the penitentiary had been good, in securing parole.

This cleans out the list of criminals sentenced regularly during the last term of court. Young Frank Boswell, who made such an astonishing confession of the crimes that he had been guilty of, will be taken to Eldora either today or tomorrow to enter upon the service of his sentence in the state industrial school for boys situated there.

—Davenport Daily Republican, Davenport, Iowa, March 4, 1903, page 7.

Aphasia Victim Responds

1920

Serum Injected Into Spine of San Quentin Convict Causes Memory to Return.

SAN QUENTIN, Cal., Feb. 24.— "Robert Lockwood" serving a term for grand larceny at the prison here, has responded to treatment for aphasia and has recovered his memory, lost in 1917, Dr. Leo L. Stanley announced today.

"Lockwood's" real name is Fred Bruley. He formerly lived in Plattsburg, N. Y., and he has a wife and family in that state. His father's name is Peter Bruley. He now remembers boarding a train for Chicago, but can recall no details of what occurred after that.

Dr. Stanley injected serum into his spine and the memory returned soon after. Bruley's steady attitude of not trying to excuse his crimes convinced Dr. Stanley he was not trying to feign aphasia.

—The Evening State Journal and Lincoln Daily News, Lincoln, Nebraska, February 24, 1920, page 1.

Alleged Arch Swindler Makes Friends With Victims

MAYBRAY MAKES FRIENDS -- MANY BELIEVE IN HIM

Alleged Arch Swindler, Though in Jail, Makes Good Headway Toward Freedom

A lot of people have decided that J. C. Mabray, alleged king of the wrestlers swindling gang, is not the archangel of the devil he was painted when first arrested.

Mabray is still confined in the hospital ward of the county jail, and two of his best friends of late days have been Ham DeFord, chairman of the county board of supervisors, and a nameless man who was swindled by the Mabray gang, it is alleged, at Keokuk.

DeFord is not exactly an easy man to win over by the gift of speech, being of the Abraham Lincoln hardy, rough and ready order, but since a memorable day a couple of months ago, when he spent a forenoon in talk with the alleged swindler, he makes the most of every opportunity to talk with Mabray in jail, or rather, to allow Mabray to talk to him.

A Keokuk man who was the victim of race horse swindlers, believed to belong to the Mabray gang, spent a day in the federal prisoner's cell, and when he came out told the jailers he was convinced Mabray had nothing to do with the swindling game.

"He's too nice a man," he asserverated. "I believe he's on the square."

And he went away with that belief firmly imbedded in his mind.

Another one of Mabray's victims, whose name is not public, is a wealthy banker in a small town near Omaha. He refuses to join in the prosecution of the alleged swindler. He lost $13,000 but he's ashamed of the transaction, and refuses to allow his name to be mixed with it. Federal authorities figure that there are dozens of such victims of the game who are taking the same attitude, too much ashamed of the game by which they were caught to attempt to recover their money.

Ready to Talk

Maybray's most noticeable characteristic is his readiness to talk on any subject, his ready gift of speech, and his seeming innocence of wrong motives. He is so eloquent on many subjects that federal sleuths may he could have made a fortune at any business as readily as he got away with the money of his "Mikes."

--The Des Moines News, Des Moines, Iowa, July 22, 1909, page 3.


From lengthier family news column, looking a hundred years ahead to Good Friday in 2016:

The birthday of Douglas, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Nelson, was celebrated today, Good Friday. Douglas was born April 21 on Good Friday. This year is the first time April 21 has fallen on Good Friday since his birth. Looking up the dates of the years to come, Mrs. Nelson finds that her son's birthday will not occur again on Good Friday until 2016.

"Bryan to Be in Storm Lake" read a headline in last week's Buena Vista Vidette. Well, guess it's all right. The darn lake ain't much good, anyway, and if the people want to turn it into a pickle factory it's none of our business. -- Estherville Democrat.

--The Evening Tribune, Albert Lea, Minnesota, April 19, 1916, page 15.

Comment: There seems to be a lot of confusion as to when Easter is. I googled it and you basically need a degree in advanced math to figure it out. But finally I found one site that appeared to know when the actual date is. They were right for this year, let's put it that way, and didn't have future Easters in May. Anyway, if they are correct, then Mrs. Nelson had it wrong about 2016. Although, if the sources were as confusing in 1916 as they are now, she no doubt thought she was right. And maybe she was, because it looks like some of the rules about this calculation have changed over time. I'm just glad I don't work for a calendar company as the guy in charge for getting this right on millions of dollars worth of calendars. They look at March, April, and even May and I've got five or six different Easters every year. I'm out of there and the entire Christian world is mad at me.

Gambling Raid, Arrests at Majestic Cigar Store

Des Moines, Iowa, 1909--

3 ARRESTED IN GAMBLING RAID

Police Descend On Pretty Game In Basement

In a raid last night in the basement of the Majestic cigar store and the arrest of three men, two of whom are well known gamblers, the police have broken what has been an eye sore to their department for many months.

The men arrested gave their names as Ira Stitzel, Joe DeRose and Max Frankle.

The police have known for some time that gambling was going on in the basement of the store but were unable to catch the men "with the goods."

The police claim that the place is being conducted for the purpose of getting actors' "rolls."

Joe DeRose was found in charge last night. He was required to put up $50 for his appearance in police court Monday morning. Stitzel and Frankle put up $15.

--The Des Moines News, Des Moines, Iowa, February 21, 1909, page 1.

Moonshiner's Remote Hideaway, Loot Discovered

Oxnard, California, 1922--

Henry Helmold Tells Finding Moonshiner's Santa Clara Shelter

Constable-elect Henry Helmond is already on the job, for yesterday he participated in the capture of a moonshiner's camp in the Santa Clara river bed, where a large amount of loot apparently stolen by the moonshiner, was found. Helmond said one never would have noticed the camp unless he had been shown the spot. It was surrounded by high blackberry bushes and other trees.

E. L. Gardner of Saticoy had been robbed Saturday and while trying to figure out who committed the robbery, he traced some footprints to the Santa Clara river bed, near the Saticoy bridge. He learned that someone had a camp in the river bed, somewhere, so decided to hunt for it. With Pete Donion, and Constable Helmold they searched for a long time. Undersheriff Sullivan also went with them. They searched for a long time among thickets of trees and blackberry bushes before Sullivan spotted the corner of a tent just above the top of a blackberry bush. He saw the small bit of tent after the party had been attracted to the scene by a strong smell of liquor.

Arming themselves with revolvers the party expected to engage in a hard gun battle, but when they came upon the tent no one was there. Possibly the moonshiner had heard them approaching and made a get-away.

Around the tent were found two barrels of mash, which were broken up. Many bottles of "jack-ass brandy" were found and several large five-gallon bottles of recently manufactured booze were found, and smashed. Much of it was thrown down a well the moonshiner had dug in the river bed.

Constable Helmold found a large lard pail. Taking off the lid he noticed what he thought was lard, but on closer observation, found it was cotton. Under the layer of cotton was found two gold watches, in cases. 12 other ladies' watches, a pearl necklace, a pair of dimaond earrings, some gold lockets and much jewelry. It is believed that the articles were stolen from places here. Three valises filled with clothes also were unearthed, besides two good overcoats, two guns, a revolver and some school books stolen from the El Rio school. In some of the books the name of Charles Grubb is written.

So far as is known, no trace of the moonshiner has been found. Men from the sheriff's office are making every effort to find a trace of the man or men who operated the place. That probably only one man was living there recently was shown by the presence of only one cot, covered with army blankets. The tent, cot and blankets had evidently been stolen from some store selling army goods.

--The Oxnard Daily Courier, Oxnard, California, November 28, 1922, page 1.

A Tire on the Road, Stop To Get It, Robbers in the Ditch!

Sheboygan, Wisconsin, 1921--

HOLDUP IS FOILED BY SPOTLIGHT

A spare automobile tire in the road, an old game resorted to by a certain class of bandits lured three young men from this city to stop to investigate last night, about three miles north of Sheboygan on the Lake Shore road and nearly cost them all the money they had. They were saved from the trap set for them, however, by the use of a spotlight on their car.

The young men who figured in the incident were Max and Gus Holman, members of the H. J. Holman & Sons overall company in this city, and Simon Leviton, a friend who was with them.

Saw Tire In Road

It was shortly after nine o'clock when the three, in the Nash sport car owned by Max Holman, were driving north on the Lake Shore road. As they arrived at a point three miles north of the city their attention was attracted to a tire lying alongside the road.

After passing the spot where the tire was seen they decided to stop and get it. They had passed it some several feet and backed the car up toward that point. Mr. Leviton, who was in the back seat, got out of the car and ran back to look for it. When he arrived at the place where he had seen the tire he did not see it, so he waited until the car got back to him. After it got there, they turned the spotlight on and discovered the tire had been moved farther away from the road and that it was attached to a rope.

Discovered It Was Bait

When they saw this they decided that It was only the bait of a holdup man and Mr. Leviton, the only one out of the car, ran and Jumped in and the driver, Max Holman, started the car off.

Led to Clump of Bushes

Mr. Holman stated this morning that the rope tied to the tire led to a clump of bushes a few feet from the road and that they knew someone was behind pulling it away from the road to draw whoever was attracted by it away far enough so that whoever was there would have had him in their power.

The spotlight was thrown on the spot where the tire lay only in an attempt to learn where it was, but Mr. Holman declared he believed it was the only thing that saved them from being robbed. As it happened, Mr. Leviton had a large amount of currency in his pockets.

It Is believed that when the spotlight was turned on it blinded the men who had planned the holdup so they could not see behind it and that it foiled their scheme.

Telephone For Sheriff

After arriving at Jack Johnson's roadhouse they stopped for a few minutes to telephone the sheriff's office. They said two men and a woman drove up in an automobile shortly after that and asked for a supply of gasoline. Max Holman declared one of the men was covered with mud and that he believed he was one of those who staged the tire episode and that the lady in the car was a blind to sidetrack any suspicion that may have been held toward them.

Sheriff Koehn received the call and immediately dispatched two of his deputies to that point to investigate. Mr. Holman said the three who were subject to the tire game waited at Johnson's for about 25 minutes, but that when representatives of the sheriff's office did not appear, they continued their journey.

--The Sheboygan Press, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, August 2, 1921, page 1.