Wrong Meaning of Message

1915

Young Wife Makes Amusing Interpretation of Scripture in a Telegram From Girl Friend

They were speaking of the remarkable way in which telegraphic messages are occasionally interpreted, and this story was recalled by Governor- elect David I. Walsh of Massachusetts.

Some time ago the stork visited the home of a happy young couple in a New England town, and wishing to notify her girl chum who lived in a distant city, the mother sent the following telegram:

"For unto us a child is born. — Isaiah 9:6."

"Oh, John," exclaimed the girl chum to her husband on receiving the dispatch. "I have just got a telegram from Gladys and what do you think?"

"You have got me chucked out at first in the conundrum game," indulgently smiled John. "What's the answer?"

"Gladys has a baby boy!" enthusiastically responded little wifey. "His name is Isaiah and he weighs nine pounds and six ounces!" — Philadelphia Telegraph.

Woman Tickled, Then Flogs Innocent Man

New York, July 1914

Man Smiles When Feather of One Woman Brushes Another

The feather projecting from a woman's hat brushed across the neck of Mrs. Alice Tamraz, of 224 Somerville place, Yonkers, as she stood waiting for a street car in Getty square, Yonkers yesterday, and she wheeled around to see who had tickled her.

Peter Doyle of 42 Orchard street standing nearby, thrust one hand into his pocket, stroked his chin with the other and smiled. Mrs. Tamraz was sure the hand Doyle held in his pocket concealed a tickler, and that he was laughing at her discomfort.

So she raised her umbrella and flogged him until such a crowd surged around that Policeman Ryan had difficulty elbowing his way through and rescuing Doyle. The two made counter charges of assault against each other and went around to the station house.

There Doyle persuaded Mrs. Tamraz that a passing woman's feather tickled her neck, and that he had nothing to do with it. — New York Tribune.

"Dead Man" Greets Seekers For Body

1920

Explains Mystery That Saddened Neighbors

"You Will Find Me Dead" Inscription on Door Was Error, He Says

WILCOXIE, N. H. - Phil Magg of Baxter street is much alive. Phil says he is not dead, is not ready to die and he hopes that in the future his neighbors will use more discretion, and when they think he is dead to be sure of it before they make the announcement.

Magg lives alone. He works by the day and when he leaves his house he writes on a slate: "You will find me at John Smith's" or where he is working and hangs the slate on the outside of the door.

On a recent afternoon, Mrs. Joel Batterton went to the house to get Magg to beat a carpet for her. When she reached the door she saw the slate and read this inscription: "You will find me dead."

She Notified the Neighbors

Mrs. Batterton left the place in a hurry and stopped at every house in the street and notified the neighbors of her discovery. Soon the house was surrounded by people. Deputy Sheriff L. D. Frentz was notified of the discovery and hastened to the house.

The sheriff summoned Coroner Harry McGee. The men hastened to the place, read the writing on the slate and decided that Magg had committed suicide. They broke open the door of the kitchen, searched the house from cellar to garret but could not find the body. The coroner and sheriff secured a gang of men and started them out in all directions, searching for Magg.

The men searched through the woods for a radius of three miles of the village. Barns and other buildings were entered. They returned late at night, reporting that they had made no discovery.

Searched for His Body

The next morning the entire male population and a number of women joined in the search for Mr. Magg's body. All wells and cisterns in the village were examined, but they did not contain the body. Deep creek was dragged, but to no avail.

That afternoon newspapers announced that Mr. Magg had committed suicide. Then - -

The next morning Magg walked down Main street. He was approached by the Deputy Sheriff who informed him of the proceedings. Mr. Magg replied that he had read the account of his homicide in the newspapers while in Deadwood, a village near here. The Sheriff accompanied Magg to the house and showed him the slate.

Drops of Water Erased Slate?

Magg said he had written on the slate: "You will find me at Deadwood." Magg expressed the opinion that drops of water had fallen from the eaves of the house, had struck the words at and wood, erased them and made the notice read: "You will find me dead."

The villagers are divided in their opinion. A number of them believe that boys erased the words.

Magg said he went to Deadwood to visit his son, intending to remain a week, but that he decided he had better come home and show his neighbors that he is a very active dead man.

He says that hereafter he will write his absence notice on a sheet of paper, using pen and ink.