Injured Man's Mind Blank

1916

May Never Be Able to Tell of Wife's Slaying.

MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin. — The mystery of the murder of Mrs. Julia Demin may have been locked in the bruised, incurably injured brain of her husband, Louis Demin, whose skull was fractured when she was killed, supposedly by a burglar.

Demin is recovering from his physical wounds in the city hospital, but all efforts to get him in a condition to describe the events of the fatal night have failed.

It is now feared that when Mrs. Demin was killed her husband was so badly injured about the head that he will never recover his mental strength.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Sept. 16, 1916, p. 3.

Ask Aid For Removal of Turks' Slave Marks

1920

Armenian Girl Captives Are Disgraced by Tattooed Faces

PRINCETON, N. J., Jan. 1. — Many Armenian women and girls who were stolen by Turks, Kurds and Tartars were tattooed by their abductors on their cheeks and foreheads. These unhappy women must bear the signs of their disgrace to their graves unless a scientific method of removing the tattoo marks is furnished.

Dr. Wilfred M. Post, of Princeton, N. J., returned recently from Asia Minor, where he served with the Near East Relief. He says many of the women were driven into rivers to drown, the most beautiful girls were reserved for Turkish harems, from which some escaped and some were rescued.

The officials of the Near East Relief have asked physicians who specialize in affections of the skin to inform them of a safe way of removing tattoo marks. Several prominent scientists have offered their services, among them Dr. George H. Washburn of Harvard, who served in the Medical corps of the United States Army.


Weight Straightens His Neck

1920

Then Sight Is Restored to Youth Injured at Football

NORMAN, Okla., Jan. 1. — John H. Merkle, a student in the University of Oklahoma, is rapidly recovering from injury received in a football game here, which dislocated his cervical vertebra and temporarily blinded him, by carrying a 10-pound weight around his neck. Merkle's vision returned as soon as his neck became straightened by the weight. Merkle, who is now in a Shawnee hospital, lives at Maud, Oklahoma.

Cleared by a Thumb

1910

The guilt or innocence of an army veterinary surgeon, accused by a soldier of assault at Pontivy, France, rested on the question whether or not the accused man sucked his thumb after the soldier had accidentally inflicted a slight wound.

While M. Berland, the veterinary surgeon, was performing an operation on a horse's leg at the barracks of the Second cavalry regiment at Pontivy, a trooper who was holding down the horse inadvertently scratched M. Berland's hand, in consequence of the horse moving suddenly. The surgeon examined the scratch, and then administered a sound box on the ear to the soldier, who received the punishment in silence, but later complained to an officer.

The court-martial spent considerable time in ascertaining whether the choleric surgeon struck the trooper suddenly, without reflection, as a person might do after having a corn trodden on, or whether the blow was given deliberately, after Mr. Berland had time to reflect. On learning that M. Berland did not stop to suck the wounded thumb before boxing the trooper's ear, the court decided that the blow was not premeditated and he was acquitted.

New Earthquake Theory

1910

Areas of earthquake and volcanic activity are traveling westward about twenty-five miles a year, according to the investigation of H. Wehner, a German physicist. He accounts for this by the novel theory that the earth's solid crust encloses a thin layer of liquid, within which is a solid nucleus rotating about the same axis as the outer shell, and in the same direction, but with a slightly less velocity, the lagging behind causing the nucleus to make a revolution to the west in the crust in about 952 years.

It is assumed that earthquake and volcanic disturbances result when projecting or active spots on the nucleus are moved under weak portions of the crust. From reports by ships during the last 60 years it is calculated that the active spots of the Atlantic are nearly all collected at the present time under the region between 35 and 41 degrees west longitude and one degree north and one degree south latitude, and that this area off the northeastern coast of South America may be regarded as a danger zone.


Grecian Nose Worth £1,000

Mlle. Boucheraud, a fascinating Parisian actress, once had a perfect Grecian nose. Now it is slightly concave in its lower part, and she is claiming in the law courts £1,000 from M. Lang, who was the direct cause of the alteration. M. Lang considered that Mlle. Boucheraud did not reserve her fascination for himself, and in the course of a lovers' quarrel struck her heavily on the face.

Fish Bites Girl's Finger

1915

She Lands Prize Pickerel but Loses the Digit

MONTICELLO, N. Y., Dec. 16. — Miss Kittie Evans of Jersey caught one of the largest pickerels of the season here, but she is now minus one of her fingers as the result of her prize catch.

Miss Evans with her arm bared to the shoulder, reached down under the log to dislodge the hook, which had caught on the log. An instant later she fell back screaming into the boat, and when she drew her arm from the water a large pickerel came flopping into the boat. When Miss Evans attempted to loosen the hook, the large pickerel, which apparently must have been under the log, "struck" at the live minnow and also seized Miss Evans' finger.

The young lady was taken in an automobile to a physician's office at Centerville. The fish's teeth had so badly mangled her finger that the doctor found it necessary to amputate the injured member. The pickerel's weight was four pounds and three ounces.

"Goodbye" to Doctor Costs Polly a Leg

1920

Door Nips It Off and Now Bird Must Wear a Peg

JEFFERSONVILLE, N.Y. — Dr. Cyril Mydole of this village has a parrot. The doctor bought the bird when she was a year old and gave her the real parrot name, Polly. Polly displayed much intelligence from the day he purchased her and in a few months developed startling vocabulary "cuss" words. Today the parrot is using her profanity freely and the doctor says she is justified.

Polly has been allowed the freedom of the physician's office. She would follow the doctor to his office door and bid him goodbye. On a recent afternoon the doctor started to leave his office. Just as he closed the door he heard a scream. He looked around and found Polly's leg had been caught in the door. Upon examination he found that the leg was so badly mangled that he amputated it at the second joint.

Polly is now forced to stand on her right leg. She says it is "damn hard luck," and hurls invectives at the doctor. As soon as Polly's injured leg heals the doctor will provide her with a peg leg.


Washboard Salary Halts Honeymoon

ST. LOUIS, Missouri — "On his salary she would have to use the washboard for a piano," said George W. Windmuller, in discussing the suit filed in the Circuit Court by his daughter, Mrs. Georgia Chembra, 16 years old, to annul her marriage to Albert L. Chembra.

She was married to Chembra by a justice of the peace in Clayton Jan. 28 last. He is 20 years old. After the ceremony she returned to her father's home, and he to that of his mother. When the girl's father learned of the marriage through the newspapers he refused to allow Chembra to see his bride.

Mrs. Chembra in her suit says her husband misrepresented his financial condition and his earning capacity.

Her Yawn Dislocates Jaw, Girl's Note Says

1920

Doctor Puts Painful Member Back Into Place

SAN FRANCISCO — Miss Rose Egan entered the Park Emergency Hospital and handed Dr. C. Silberman a note.

The doctor glanced at the young woman and smiled, without opening the note, the same as women are supposed to feel a letter before opening it in an effort to determine the identity of the sender.

But Miss Rose Egan did not smile. In fact, her face wore a pained expression.

So Dr. Silberman concluded he had better see what the note said.

"I have dislocated my jaw by yawning," it read.

"Will you be seated?" the doctor asked politely. Then he manipulated Miss Egan's jaw and in a moment it was back in place and the pained look had left her face.

"Just before breakfast," she explained, "I sat down to read the paper. I yawned. Something seemed to snap, and my jaw hurt. I tried rubbing it, but that made it worse."

"'Tis a pretty note," Dr. Silberman ruminated afterward. "But, for her sake, I hope she won't yawn so strenuously again."

Here and There — Miss Fairy Straley's School Closed

Pennsylvania, 1921

Miss Fairy Straley's school, Midway, closed on Tuesday. A summer school will be opened in Midway schoolhouse on Monday by Miss Ioma Yake to be conducted for the next eight weeks.

A .22 cartridge in a pipeful of tobacco exploded as Chas. Kappes was smoking in the Eagle's home, Gettysburg, on Tuesday night, shattering the pipe. The bullet just missed the head of Wm. Tipton, Jr., who was seated nearby.

When A. E. Walker, aged 42, of East Berlin R. D., was arrested by Patrolman Stayman for disregarding the traffic signal Saturday afternoon, he explained, not as an excuse at all, that altho he is the father of nine children and is a truck farmer, he clean forgot all about the traffic regulations. Chief Craver discharged him with a reprimand, declaring that a man with nine children, and who has nerve enough to buy an automobile, too, ought to have some consideration.

A service for the benefit of the starving Chinese will be held in Maple Grove chapel, near Abbottstown on Saturday evening. The Rev. Paul Glatfelter and William H. Menges, of Menges Mills, will be the speakers. A silver offering will be lifted.

George W. Rudisill, about 65 years old, a well-known farmer of near Glenville, was injured in a horrible manner Friday morning, and later in the day had his right arm removed at the West Side sanatorium, York. His arm was caught and shredded in a grain separator, which he was operating at the time of the accident.

—New Oxford Item, New Oxford, Pennsylvania, April 7, 1921.

Hoodoo Too Much For Columbus Girl

1910

Shoots Herself After Dining at Table With Thirteen

Columbus, Ohio, Nov. 25 — Miss Mary Hollenback, 18, if she recovers from a bullet wound in her left breast, will probably have more respect for the hoodoo number 13. The Hollenback family held a housewarming at their home on the North Side. Members of the immediate family were present and when the time for dinner came it was found there were 13 present. Mary was the last to seat herself at the table. "I don't care if there are 13 here," said Mary. "I can't believe in luck anyway."

Shortly after the conclusion of the meal Miss Hollenback, while examining a revolver belonging to her brother, accidentally pulled the trigger, the bullet hit a corset stay, was deflected and entered her left breast, inflicting a serious but not necessarily fatal wound.

—The Mansfield News, Mansfield, Ohio, Nov. 25, 1910, p. 2.

Lover Fell From Tree, Washing Machine Company President

Cincinnati, 1903

LOVER FELL FROM TREE

Andrew Smith Driven to Sore Straits by Teasing.

CINCINNATI, March 2 — The ambulance of F. & W. Siefke was sent to Groesbeck, Ohio, at an early hour this morning for the purpose of removing an injured man to the City Hospital. The request for the ambulance came from the postmaster of that village.

According to meager information received by Mr. Siefke the injured man is Andrew J. Smith, who is the President of the "Latest Invention Triple Action Washing Machine Company," at 812 Elm street. Mr. Smith was violently in love with a young woman, and that as a result of his courtship he was subjected to the jibes of his associates. This affected Mr. Smith greatly. Last evening, in his wanderings, he climbed a tree, lost his balance and fell, sustaining internal injuries. Now the jokers are sorry.

—The Daily Republican-News, Hamilton, Ohio, March 2, 1903, page 1.

Comment: It'd be terrible to wake up and see this about yourself in the paper. Plus, the report could be a bit mangled up, since there doesn't seem to be any obvious connection between the jibes and his climbing the tree and falling out. That the jokers are sorry is probably an unwarranted conclusion of the reporter, since it all happened at an early hour just this morning.

Note: I made a change. The name of the company in the original article had the word "Sriple" that probably should be "Triple," going with Action a lot more. And isn't that a great old-fashioned name from those days of inventions and progress, "Latest Invention Triple Action Washing Machine Company." Thinking about it, it doesn't sound right yet, but, we must let it go...

Boy Hurt By Dynamite Cap Recovering

Debruce, New York, 1913

HARRY LOWE, AGED 5, IS IN GOOD HANDS

Harry Lowe, a five year old child from Debruce, Sullivan county, who was brought to Thrall Hospital about two months ago, after a part of his left hand had been blown off by dynamite cap, has so nearly recovered that he is able to be up and about the hospital and outside, and has firmly established himself as a prime favorite with the hospital staff and nurses, and with all with whom he comes in contact.

The case was a particularly sad one, and one which has enlisted the aid of various charitable persons and organizations in this city. The lad was playing in the yard at his home in Debruce, when he was handed a dynamite cap by a man who is said to have been intoxicated at the time. Not knowing or realizing what he held, the little fellow touched off the cap with a match, with the result that the third and fourth fingers and a part of the left hand were blown off. He was brought to this city the next day, and has since been at Thrall Hospital under the care of Dr. T. D. Mills.

Since his injury, his parents have separated, his father, Cyrus Lowe, residing at Debruce, while his mother is believed to reside at Cooley, Sullivan county.

—Orange County Times-Press, Middletown, New York, November 14, 1913, page 1.

Injured Boy Puts Ear In His Pocket

1920

Appears at Hospital and Surgeon Sews It in Place

NEW ORLEANS, La. — Dr. Jerome Landry, house surgeon, Charity hospital, unwrapped from a piece of newspaper the right ear of Sidney Whiteside, 16 years old, and within a few minutes had sewed the ear back onto the boy's head.

The boy showed no bad effects from the operation, and Dr. Landry expected the grafting of the ear to be a success.

Sidney was struck by an automobile while taking a ride on the side of a street car in Gretna, the police say. The ear was torn from his head, but he had it in his pocket when he arrived at his home.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, March 27, 1920, page 10.

Marlin Perkins Bitten by Poisonous Snake

1929

TRY TO SAVE SNAKE KEEPER

Reptile House Curator Is Bitten By African Viper

ST. LOUIS, Jan. 1 -- (UP) -- Physicians hoped today blood transfusion would save the life of Marlin Perkins, 24, curator of the reptile house at the St. Louis zoo who was bitten by a poisonous snake.

They said Perkins would have died almost instantly yesterday had not an assistant at the zoo dangered his own life by promptly sucking the venom from the wound.

The snake was a gaboon viper, one of the most poisonous of West African snakes.

--The Ogden Standard-Examiner, Ogden City, Utah, January 1, 1929, page 1.

Comment: This is the exact same Marlin Perkins later famous for hosting Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom on TV.

Strenuous Yawning Dislocates Her Jaw

South Dakota, 1909--

A Badly Crippled Woman

Watertown, S. D., Aug. 7 -- Mrs. August Zamow, wife of a farmer residing near Grover, in Codington county, ten miles southwest of this city, met with the unusual accident yesterday morning of sustaining the dislocation of her jaw through an extraordinarily strenuous yawn.

--Weekly State Spirit and Dakota Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, August 19, 1909, page 8.



City Brief – Keeping Drinks Cool With Hail

Sheriff Huntley went to Bonilla Saturday morning, near which place he has a farm, but no crops, since July 30th. On Sunday, August 1st, he was in that neighborhood and called on a friend. After entering his friend's home he asked for a cool drink, and was told there was some ice cold pop in the house. The sheriff said that would do, and going to the refrigerator he was shown pop bottles lying in a bed of hail stones. "That's the kind of ice we have up here," remarked his friend.

--Weekly State Spirit and Dakota Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, August 19, 1909, page 8.