Peddler Recovers His Cash

1916

Identifies His Lost Roll by Odor of Onions.

NEW YORK — The much-maligned onion is a good friend to Simon Silverman of Brooklyn, who drives a fruit and vegetable wagon.

Simon missed $32 just after he had delivered his last load to a customer at Reid avenue and Kosciusko street. He told Patrolman Gleason that he thought George Boland had picked up the bills. Boland, who was standing near by, was searched and a roll of bills found on him.

"Are these yours?" asked the policeman.

"My money always smell of onions," replied Silverman.

Gleason took a whiff of the roll and when he had recovered said:

"They're yours, all right."

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Sept. 16, 1916, p. 7.

Prisoner Eats the Evidence

1916

Man Is Said to Have Swallowed Marked $10 Bill.

NEW YORK — Herman Horowitz, who said he was a delegate of the Painters' Union, was arrested by Detective Giery on a charge of extortion. On the way to the station it is alleged that Horowitz seized a marked ten dollar bill, which Giery was holding as evidence, and swallowed it.

The complainant against Horowitz, who is 30 years old and lives in Brooklyn, is Louis Wall, a boss painter. It is charged that Horowitz threatened to call a strike of painters employed by Wall unless Wall paid $10. Wall, it is said, told him to come back later.

Wall complained to the police and Detective Giery was assigned to the case. It is alleged Wall gave a marked $10 bill to Horowitz. Afterward, it is said, Giery arrested Horowitz and says that he found the bill in Horowitz's pocket.

As the detective and his prisoner were on the way to the police station, Horowitz engaged Giery in a fight and wrested the bill from the detective's hand. This done, Horowitz is said to have swallowed the evidence while the detective struggled to save it. Then Horowitz accompanied the detective to jail without further trouble.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Sept. 16, 1916, p. 7.

Will Leaves Working Girl $90,000 to Repay Debt of Kindness

1920

SAN FRANCISCO, Cal., Feb. 26. — Gentle, kindly ways — human sympathy and the power to radiate the joy of life — seldom bring their just returns on the money market.

But these precious qualities were recognized to the extent of $90,000 in the will of the late Lucien Guilbert, pioneer lumber man of Yreka, who died recently.

As a result, Miss Caroline O. Koester, chief clerk of the field division of the Federal General Land Office in this city, and her mother, Mrs. Katherine Koester of Alameda, are wealthy.

"The large legacy came as a great surprise to mother and myself," said Miss Koester, when seen at her Alameda home, following a decision of the Third District Court of Appeals, which awarded them the bulk of the Guilbert estate.

"We were kind to Mr. Guilbert's sister during her long illness at Yreka, and she always considered our home her home. We simply did what we considered our duty as friends, and had no idea that we were going to be so richly rewarded. Mr. Guilbert, of course, often spoke of our kindliness and real helpfulness to his sister, and seemed to appreciate it deeply."

"Shall I continue to work at the land office? Why, of course. I have always worked, and I don't see why this money should change my life in any way."

The Guilbert will was the subject of bitter contest, waged by the four children of Guilbert's half-brother, who were each left $500 bequests. They alleged that he was incapable of disposing of his property when the will was made. The half-brother, Louis B. Guilbert, of Manteca, was left $5,000.

Other bequests of the will included several $500 gifts to friends of Yreka, $250 to a church and $500 each to two other children of Mrs. Katherine Koester — Edward Koester, of McCloud, and Fred Koester, of the United States Army.

Dishwasher Runs Amuck With a Bread Knife

California, 1921

History states that the Battle of Thermopylae Pass in ancient days was not such an exciting affair, and if so, it faded into oblivion, alongside of the affair of late yesterday afternoon in which Denny Zanatos, proprietor of the restaurant on Main street above Third, known as Guidi's, did a Marathon down Main street to avoid the wild charge of a Greek dishwasher in the same restaurant, who took after the fleet restauranteur armed with a butcher knife.

The assailant began arguing with Zanatos over wages. Then the battle began, resulting in the knife wielder being arrested by the fire chief and is facing a charge of assault with intent to murder. It is claimed that the prisoner chased Zanatos about the Guidi restaurant a dozen times, not giving the fleeing Athenian a chance to open the door to make escape. Finally a waitress came to the man's rescue and when the door was opened he made one grand leap for the street and would have made Atlanta in her race of the Golden Apple look like a novice had he been her opponent on the mythical cinder path.

—Woodland Daily Democrat, Woodland, California, Dec. 17, 1921, p. 1.

Mate Took Food Sent to Lepers, Woman Charges

Oakland, California, 1921

Charging that her husband, Arthur Meyer, head gardener at the county hospital, insisted on eating choice foods reserved for the members of the leper colony and that when she refused to give him the delicacies he cursed her and called her a "crazy fool," Mrs. Cora Myers, former matron of the county hospital leper colony, today filed suit for divorce.

She alleges that shortly after their marriage last January 11, her husband insisted on eating the food provided for the lepers. She says that when she told him he could not take the edibles from these stricken people he abused her so severely that she was taken ill. She further charges that Myers then went to the superintendent of the hospital and caused her to be discharged by stating that she was a trouble maker.

Mrs. Meyers alleges that after she had been removed to a room in San Leandro her husband came to the place and raised such a row that she was forced to leave. She asks $75 a month alimony, attorney fees and costs of action, together with a restraining order preventing Meyer from disposing of his wages. The couple separated March 26, 1921.

—Oakland Tribune, Oakland, California, May 19, 1921, page 24.

Temperament Is a Costly Luxury for Misha Elman

1920

FAMOUS VIOLINIST, WHO BROKE CONTRACT TO PLAY HERE, FORCED TO PART WITH COIN

Misha Elman, "the Great Elman," by his own admission, has learned that an "artistic temperament" is a costly luxury, especially when he gives vent to it in Appleton. The famous violinist is out several hundred dollars because of his refusal to carry out his contract to appear in a concert at Lawrence Memorial chapel a few weeks ago, it was announced this morning. Dean F. V. Evans of Lawrence Conservatory yesterday received a check from Elman's lawyers in payment in full of the conservatory's claims against the artist. The conservatory was represented by Attorney J. P. Frank.

It will be remembered that Elman was to appear here in concert shortly after Max Rosin, boy violinist thrilled Appleton music lovers, but the Russian star was seized with a fit of temperament and refused to go on with the concert because music lovers had been invited to compare his music with that of Rosin. "Compare me, the great Elman, with Max Rosin, a mere boy, bah!" Elman is alleged to have said. He also was peeved because, he said, his concert was not advertised sufficiently.

His lawyers, however, apparently reached the conclusion that in this country "artistic temperament" cannot be accepted as an excuse for violation of contract. Their payment to Dean Evans completely vindicates the latter in his dealings with the artist. It is also possible that Misha Elman will exercise better control of his emotions hereafter.

--The Appleton Daily Post, Appleton, Wisconsin, January 6, 1920, page 5.

Note: His name is frequently spelled Mischa Elman in references to him online.