Whose Box is This?

New York, 1895

Early Monday morning Officer Ashmead saw an Italian on Washington street, Jamaica, carrying a large box. The man acted suspiciously and Ashmead followed him to the woods at the foot of the street, where the Italian broke open the box which was fastened with a padlock, and took from it an overcoat, pistol and some other articles. He started down the railroad track, but was arrested and taken back to the place where he had left the box, and Officer Ashmead made him carry it back to the Town Hall. He was locked up. He gave his name as Nicholas Espanol. The box is marked J. Jackson, Wantagh. The prisoner would not tell how he came by the box.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, April 19, 1895, p. 8.

No Reward Necessary

New York, 1895

District Attorney Noble has asked the board of Supervisors to offer a reward of $250 for the apprehension of an Italian who killed another Italian in a fight, and in doing so Mr. Noble violated the law by saying publicly that the fugitive had been indicted, a fact which the law commands shall be kept a secret until after the offender has been apprehended.

There is no necessity for offering a reward in this case. Legally the Supervisors have no such power, but the power has been assumed with public consent where the victim of the crime was a prominent citizen, as in the case of Samuel Jones, who was murdered by Jackson and Jarvis, and in the case of the murder of the Maybee women by Rugg.

If the Italian has left this country for some other the country that has lost him is to be congratulated. To find him within our jurisdiction would entail an additional expense of $1,000 to try him, with a possible verdict of manslaughter. There are plenty of criminals out on bail who should be tried, some of them guilty of offenses more harmful to society than the killing of a man, the Democratic bribe takers, for example. Mr. Noble had better fry the fish he has in hand rather than go fishing for more.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, April 12, 1895, p. 2.

An Alleged Horse Thief

New York, 1895

Max Reiss, alleged to be an old offender, was arraigned on Wednesday on a charge of stealing a horse and rig valued at $250 from Solomon Catlin, of Maspeth.

On Monday Reiss is alleged to have broken into Catlin's stable and committed the robbery. On Tuesday he sold the rig for $25.


Fire at Far Rockaway

Fire broke out in the residence of Mrs. C. Burns at Far Rockaway on Sunday, and the interior of the house was badly damaged. The flames started from an overheated stove.


Tried to Burn and Steal

An attempt was made Friday night to burn the house and out buildings of George. W. Wetterau at Hicksville. Night Watchman Keiser discovered piles of shavings, paper and rags saturated with kerosene, ignited near the buildings while on his rounds at 11 o'clock. He put out the fire and notified the owner. At about the same hour an attempt was made to rob the tin store of Freedman Bros.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, April 5, 1895, p. 1.

Six Months for Chasing Little Girls

New York, 1895

John Murphy of Long Island City, who chased little girls and who was arrested after a two mile chase by an excited mob, was sent to the county jail by Justice Duffy for six months.


Forest Fires Near Brentwood

A forest fire broke out on the farm of Dr. Wilson, at Brentwood. The flames raged furiously for a time and it looked as if a number of barns and houses would be destroyed. The people turned out and fought the fire.


A Sneak Thief Got There

A. Livingston Bogart's Jamaica amateur banjo orchestra had a rehearsal in Union Hall seminary Saturday night. Monday certain properties were mysteriously missing. A banjo, which had been loaned to Mr. Bogart by Mr. Alliger had disappeared, together with two clocks.


Pickle Factory Burned Down

The pickle factory belonging to A. Tiedman at West Deer park was burned on Thursday night. A gondola belonging to the Long Island railroad was also destroyed by the fire.


Looks Like Real Business

Henry A. Van Allen has the contract for furnishing the tires for the Long Island electric railroad, and on Saturday commenced delivering them along the line of the road, work upon which will shortly be commenced on South street.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, March 29, 1895, p. 8.

A Tussle with a Burglar

New York, 1895

Mrs. Dora Miller Proved Herself a Plucky Woman.

Early Sunday morning Mrs. Dora Miller, residing on Madison street, Queens, had an exciting time with a burglar, who had gained admittance to the house by cutting out a glass in one of the basement windows and removing the window fastening. Mrs. Miller was awakened by the noise the burglar made in trying to force open a door adjoining her bedroom. She got up, and, arming herself with a short club she kept near her bed, opened her room door. As she did so a man wearing a handkerchief tied over his face to conceal his features pushed his way into the room. She struck him over the head with the club and he grappled with her and threw her to the floor twice. Her son, a boy 12 years of age, went to her assistance. In the struggle the handkerchief was torn from the man's face and he proved to be a burly negro. The boy ran to a window and gave an alarm, which was responded to by Mr. Doty, a neighbor, and the negro, hearing foot-steps approaching, made good his escape. Mrs. Miller believes that it her son had not given the alarm the negro would have killed her.


A Mistake In the Food

Tuesday morning Herbert M. Reeve, of Northville, lost a horse valued at $250. The horse died from the effects of rough on rats. Reeve had sprinkled the poison on the beams of the barn; the horse reached up to eat some of the meal which was also scattered over the beams, and succeeded in obtaining enough poison to kill him.


Mrs. Talbot Gets a Divorce

Annie Talbot of Flushing, who sued for a divorce from her husband, William H. Talbot, has obtained judgment in her favor. She is to have alimony in the sum of $50 and the care of her three children. The decree was made by Justice Bartlett Saturday afternoon.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, March 22, 1895, p. 1.

Mrs. Schmidt Guilty of Bigamy

New York, 1895

Mrs. Eva K. Schmidt was convicted of bigamy in the court of sessions on Tuesday. She is 22 years old. She was married to William Schmidt in Brooklyn on November 20, 1892, deserted him in July, 1894, and went to live with Joseph Steffler, of No. 38 Howard avenue, East New York, to whom she was married in the following August. At this second marriage she gave the name of Eva K. Bagley.


Thinks She Was Enticed Away

Rose Collins, the 18 year old daughter of George L. Collins, of Astoria, has been missing from home since February 8. Mr. Collins has requested Supt. Byrnes to search for the girl, who, he believes has been enticed away by three Astoria young men.


Mail Train Derailed

The east bound Sag Harbor mail train, which runs as an express from Jamaica to Babylon, was thrown from the track at Lynbrook at 9.13 o'clock Wednesday morning. No one was injured.

The tender was torn from its trucks, as was also the forward section of the mail car. A broken frog point is believed to have been the cause of the accident.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, March 15, 1895, p. 8.

Went Gunning After the Negro

New York, 1895

Monday evening Cornelius Walker, colored, recently employed by Louis Pearsall at Rockaway Beach, perpetrated an outrageous assault on the eight year old daughter of Herman Schemeclk, an oysterman residing at Hammil's station. Two of the girl's brothers and her father went in search of Walker with shot guns, and as the fact became known the entire village was aroused. Tuesday evening Walker was arrested in Jamaica by Constable Ashmead. Last October Walker committed an assault upon the eight year old daughter of James Johnson, of South street, Jamaica. He was arraigned before Justice Hendrickson yesterday and pleaded guilty and was held for the grand jury.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, March 8, 1895, p. 8.

Abandoned a Girl Baby

New York, 1895

The police of Flushing are trying to locate the heartless mother of the infant that was left on the veranda of the Flushing hospital Sunday morning. The cries of the baby attracted the attention of the hospital authorities, who are now taking care of it. It was wrapped in a blanket and was about twenty-four hours old. It is a girl.


They Were Nice Looking Men

Two nice looking men drove into Amityville and put up at a hotel. Later in the day they sold the rig to a livery stable keeper, who soon after sold the horse to E. Bisch, who lives in Amityville. Saturday a detective and two men went to Amityville and claimed the horse. The animal had been stolen from Uriah Ellis of Brooklyn.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, March 8, 1895, p. 1.

Stole Wright's Turnout

New York, 1895

Theodore A. Wright and Theodore Corwin of Freeport drove to Hempstead Tuesday night to witness the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of Hempstead lodge, I. O. O. F. Wright put his horse and carriage in William Smith's shed. When they started to go home the rig was missing. There were two hostlers in attendance and neither saw the rig go out. Wright has heard nothing of the stolen property.


Suing For False Arrest

Mrs. Mary B. Houser of Great Neck has begun suit against Frederick Klinker for $1,000 damages for false arrest and malicious prosecution. The offense for which Mrs. Houser wants satisfaction took place in May of last year, when she was taken before Justice Morrell of Manhasset on complaint of Klinker, charged with malicious mischief in having destroyed the plaintiff's seed cabbage and sprinkled paris green over the grass in his grazing grounds. The justice discharged the woman.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, March 8, 1895, p. 1.

Thrashed by the Clerk

New York, 1895

Officers of Roslyn are looking for the members of the "Kettle Gang," who have recently entered a number of houses and committed petty thefts. The gang broke into the store of John F. Remsen and stole a barrel of cider and then walked into the butcher shop of A. Craft and threatened to clean out the place. They were set upon by a young clerk and thrashed.


The School War in Woodsburgh

The agitation of the proposition to establish a union free district school in Woodsburgh is likely to result in several slander suits. At the meeting held on Saturday night to vote on the question the citizens called each other forgers, liars and thieves.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, March 1, 1895, p. 1.

Sold Another Man's Wagon

New York, 1895

Charles Ruland of Islip was sent to the county jail for sixty days by Justice Griffith Saturday, for appropriating to his own use a wagon belonging to Abrew Bros. Ruland borrowed the wagon and drove across the island. Getting short of cash he sold the wagon.


Boyling's Wife is Missing

Letter Carrier Robert H. Boyling, of Long Island City, on Monday. asked the police to help him find his wife, Kate, who he said had deserted him and his four little children, the youngest only seven months old. Boyling said his wife had been missing since February 14.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, March 1, 1895, p. 1.

Forged Dr. Bates' Name

New York, 1895

George Carl, colored, of Hempstead, who is Dr. Bates' coachman, has been arrested for forging the doctor's name to a check for $25. Mrs. Silberg sold Carl $9 worth of clothes, accepted the check, and gave him $16 in change.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, Feb. 1, 1895, p. 12.

Bandits Slay Mine Boss; Get $11,000

1916

FIVE HUNDRED WORKERS HUNT OUTLAW PAIR.

Pay Roll Carrier's Car Is Halted and Official Shot Without Warning — Driver Unhurt.

MARTINS FERRY, Ohio — Police and specially employed detectives are still out searching for the two masked bandits who shot and killed Lee Rankin, superintendent of the Youghiogheny & Ohio Coal Company, and escaped with $11,000 which Rankin was carrying to the mine to pay the employes.

Rankin was on his way back from the bank at Martins Ferry in a taxicab driven by Paul Pickens. At a lonely spot in the road two masked and armed men emerged from the bushes and without giving the two men in the taxicab a chance for their lives, began to shoot. Pickens threw up his hands and was spared.

The robbers quickly seized the money from a suitcase and disappeared. Rankin was hurried to a hospital by Pickens, but died without regaining consciousness. In Rankin's pockets was found $1,000 that the bandits overlooked.

Rankin was popular with the miners, most of whom are foreigners, and a posse of 500 men was formed as soon as the news of the robbery reached the mines. Armed with rifles and revolvers, these men hastened out to scour the country, declaring they would kill the murderers on sight.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Sept. 16, 1916, p. 5.

Small Lads Confess Murder

1916

Brothers, Aged 11 and 12, Rob and Shoot a Teacher.

BOISE, Idaho. — Lynn and Harold Lovelace, brothers 11 and 12 years old, have confessed to authorities at Twin Falls, Idaho, that they murdered F. Thomas Hamill, a teacher from Carson, Nev., whose body was found at his ranch recently. The lads, first taken into custody as runaways, were found in possession of Hamill's horse and wagon, pocketbook, provisions and eight guns and a revolver. Both have admitted the killing, which occurred when Hamill surprised them robbing his cabin.

He ordered them away, but they retreated into the house and covered him with his own guns. He parleyed and asked for food, and after they came out Lynn stood guard over him while Harold entered the cabin to get him some bread. Hamill grabbed the younger boy, and Harold then shot him in the head.

The boys then left in the wagon and drove 120 miles over a trackless country in six days, camping out at night. They were headed for Lebanon, Oregon, where they say a grandfather lives. The elder boy is moody and shows no regret, but the younger cries now and then and says he is sorry.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Sept. 16, 1916, p. 5.

Sweating Gold Coins

1899

This Trick of Swindling is Easily Performed

Sweating a coin is merely robbing it of a portion of its legal weight without in any manner altering its appearance. Manifestly gold coins alone would hardly appeal to the sweater, for silver would hardly pay for the trouble. In countries where paper money in employed, sweating has taken no root. Also in countries like England, where the largest gold coin is a sovereign, the practice would hardly become epidemic.

On the Pacific slope at one time the nefarious business assumed such proportions that the government found it necessary to pass measures against coin sweating, but even then the manifest injustice of arresting a person for merely "passing" such a coin, such person being almost certainly quite innocent, appealed to legislators to such an extent that the law was made only to affect the actual manipulator of the unlawful process. The consequence of this has been that the authorities have had the greatest difficulty in securing convictions against the malefactors, who have debased no end of coins.

The process of robbing a coin of a part of its metal is simple. The goldpiece is merely immersed, or suspended, in aqua regia, a mixture of nitric and hydrochloric acids, which attacks the metal at once. The manipulator keeps the piece in the bottle only a short time, for a few minutes suffice for the mixture to absorb and hold in solution as much as a dollar's worth of the gold from a $20 piece. The coin is then washed in water and polished with whiting, as otherwise its surface would betray the ordeal through which it had been passed, showing "pockmarks" in great variety.

The process is continued with other coins until the acid is "saturated," when it will absorb no more of the metal. The coins are exchanged for silver or other currency, as only an expert could detect the small subtraction in weight, and the silver is then re-exchanged for more gold, upon which the operator performs his little game in due course. It is only necessary for the villain to boil down his acid to complete evaporation, when the residue in the kettle will be found in the shape of a gleaming button of pure gold, varying in size according to the amount of acid and the charge it carries in solution.

In San Francisco the government secret agents have waged a long and bitter war with sweaters. They have captured many who were guilty enough in all conscience, but against whom no conviction could be obtained for lack of evidence, and they have placed others beyond all worldly temptation for various terms of years.

One of the lone kings of this nefarious business, who finally was obliged to sojourn for a rest in the penitentiary at San Quentin, was named Goodrich. He was an exceedingly modest and retiring man. He occupied an ordinary dwelling and conducted his operations on the roof. After many long weeks of vigil on the part of government detectives he was taken into custody, not redhanded, but at least black fingered by the acid. His apparatus was found most cleverly concealed behind movable bricks in the chimney on top of his house. At the time of his capture a small bottle of greenish fluid was found, and this, upon being carefully reduced in fumes, yielded up a button worth fully $10. A few coins were discovered in the man's pockets and also in his residence. These, to all appearances, were honest coins. Under the microscope they were found to be fairly cross hatched with tiny lines, which had been produced by the process of polishing to remove the traces where the acid had eaten away the metal.

Insidious as this acid thieving may appear, it might be regarded as crude by those who are acquainted with the "tricks that are vain" exercised by the "heathen Chinee." John Chinaman is numerous in California. He gets his long hands on many a golden disk, and with great reluctance does he ever relinquish his grip, He has never learned the "art" of sweating the coins with acid, but he accomplishes his purpose in his characteristically patient manner. He simply places many coins together in a buckskin bag and then proceeds to shake and toss and otherwise agitate that receptacle by the hour or by the week until he has worn off by abrasion $10 or $20 worth of fine dust of gold. The coins wear one another. They present the appearance when at length they emerge from the sack of having been regularly abraded by pocket to pocket circulation, and therefore to all intents and purposes nothing illegal has been done. As a matter of fact, no Chinese has ever been apprehended or put on trial for this work. It is doubtful if the authorities have ever taken cognizance of the practice. Only a few people ever realized what the sly Celestials were at when witnessing the hourly agitation of the coins. It is of course unlawful to bore a hole through a gold coin or to perform any other mutilation, but Mr. Chinaman cannot be said to mutilate the money he wears out so artfully, and therefore he pursues his course serene and unmolested.

There have been clever rogues from time to time who employ a slender tool with which to "gut" a coin. Their method is to make a small incision in the edge of a coin and then patiently dig out the inside, after which they refill the hollow space with baser metal. "High art" like this has become almost obsolete, for the acid business has frequently proved safer and less difficult of performance. Laws will multiply and detectives will wax more and more like Sherlock Holmes, but the makers and administrators of penal regulations will be obliged to arise early in the morning to prevent for all time the effort of man to accumulate his "pile" for "nothing."

A Solomon and Hypnotism

1900

A story is told in Collier's Weekly of a judge who lately had the hypnotic plea raised before him by a burglar. The prisoner claimed that he did not know that he was "burgling," that he did it automatically and unconsciously, under the direction of a hypnotist.

The judge said he would give him the full benefit of the law, and also of his hypnotic misfortune. He therefore sentenced the man to five years' penal servitude, but told him he could, if he chose, send for the hypnotist and have himself made unconscious for the entire term of his imprisonment.

"The same power," said the judge, "which enabled you to commit burglary and not know it ought also to enable you to suffer imprisonment with hard labor and not be aware of it. At any rate, this is the best I can do for you."

Call On Spirits to Help Convict Negro

1921

(Special to Post-Crescent)

Des Moines, Iowa. — A voice from the spirit world is being used to help forge the chain of evidence against Tom Lewis, negro, charged with assaulting and murdering 23-year-old Sara Barbara Thorsdale, Des Moines school teacher.

Miss Thorsdale's body was found in a clump of bushes alongside the lonely road she took in walking from her school to the street car. Lewis, who lived in a shack nearby, was traced by bloodhounds. He denies all knowledge of the crime.

The spirit voice is that of the slain girl, transmitted through Mrs. E. C. Head, a Des Moines medium, to Mrs. Gladys Conway, Miss Thorsdale's dearest chum.

The chum, skeptically but hopefully, applied to Mrs. Head after Lewis protested his innocence. She says she heard the voice of Miss Thorsdale clearly, that it told her a negro and two white men were responsible, and that it explained the crime in this way:

"I was walking casually along, and when I reached the thicket a hand was stretched out and caught me. Another hand went over my mouth. That was 4:40 in the afternoon, but my spirit did not leave my body until the next day. I was taken to a cabin and kept there. Early the following morning they took my body to the river to throw it into the water, but the men were afraid. There were two men. Another knew, but did not help."

Names of the two white men have been turned over to officials, who say they will be arrested.

Sheriff W. E. Robb plans to use both Mrs. Conway and Mrs. Head as witnesses.

—Appleton Post-Crescent, Appleton, WI, July 25, 1921, p. 6.

Young Bride in Jail Warns Girls of Drug

1915

Tells of Ended Romance and Fight Against Morphine

And so, this story of the tragic ending of a happy romance and a forlorn fight against the use of drugs, is a story with a moral.

LOS ANGELES, Cal., Dec. 16. — A little wanderer in the gray land of drugs tossed and turned on a cot in a cell at the matron's department of the city jail.

"Never take the first dose," she sobbed. "It's grip is terrible."

She was Mrs. James Dellarocca, 19 years old, and a bride of but three months.

In a separate cell on the floor below was her husband, facing a charge of forgery.

But even in the torment of her soul, that "little wanderer" sobbed that her next fight against the use of morphine would be a successful one, and with tears rolling down her cheeks told the story of her life in the clutches of drug habit.

How She Started

"When did I start?" she sobbed. "Oh, that is the worst part of the story. It was a woman who started me — a woman who said she was my friend. That was about four months ago. I knew that she was 'queer' — that is, she was a drug user.

"One day I was very sick. I had been ill for several weeks. I was suffering terribly. Then this woman came to me and told me she could relieve my suffering. I knew what she meant and I refused.

"She kept right after me. I was in agony. She said I could take it once and then not again. Finally I gave in. The pain was numbed.

"Oh, it's the same old story from then on. I could not stop.

"I was compelled to increase the dose every day. Inside of a few weeks I was taking a grain and a half.

She Meets Jimmy

"Then I met Jimmy" — Dellarocca — "it was love at first sight. I loved him. He asked me to marry him. I was foolish and told him yes. He did not know I was taking morphine. I decided it was best to tell him before we were married and I did so — two days before.

"I remember he put his arm around me and said, 'Never mind, little girl, you and I will fight it out together, you'll be all right in a little while.'

"We were married and we started to fight. We begun saving our money so that I could be cured. I could not stop, tho. I would take a little each day. But we fought hard and we smiled as we fought, because we were going to win.

"Then his business went broke. Our money went fast. He could not bear to see me in agony without morphine. He would buy it altho it hurt him to do it and give it to me.

"I became worse. The fight seemed hopeless. I was taking 2 grains three or four times a day. Then we were arrested.

"I am glad I have been arrested. I will have another chance to fight morphine. They tell me I can be cured and I am going to try, oh, so hard, for Jimmy's sake and my sake.

"Oh, tell girls never to touch drugs. Tell them to run from it. Tell them to stop their ears every time it is mentioned. Please do, 'cause it may do some good."

The "little wanderer" declared that her husband was innocent of the charge of the forgery of counter signatures to nine $100 checks.

"I will stay by him until the end," she sobbed as she turned her face to the wall.

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.

Lily-White Record is Lost to County

1920

Along Comes Burglar and Spills the Precious Beans

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri — The record of St. Clair County as a lily-white community has at last been broken. For seven years the residents of St. Clair, with a population of 17,000, boasted that not a single prisoner at the State penitentiary had been sent from the county. They pointed out their lack of representation in the institution was not due to laxity in the enforcement of the law, but to the law-abiding character of its citizens. Then along came Ivy Schuby.

Ivy forced an entrance into a dwelling and helped himself to the contents. It was burglary.

"Two years," said the judge.

And St. Clair County is no longer without representation.


Bitten by Ex-Prince's Dog

WIERENGEN, Holland. — A huge mastiff which the former Crown Prince Frederick William has adopted as a pet and which accompanies him on his daily strolls through this village, has been made the subject of an official complaint to the village council. Schoolmaster de Ruyter charged that the dog bit him, and wanted it declared a nuisance, but the petition apparently was tabled.