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January 20, 1910

BRICKLAYERS BAR

MEAT ONE MONTH.

LOCAL UNION NO. 1 STARTS

BOYCOTT MOVEMENT IN

KANSAS CITY.

70 Cents an Hour Wage and

Can't Afford Meat at

Present Prices.

Kansas City bricklayers, hard-working but well paid, are the first here to take action toward boycotting meat, because of the prevailing high prices. At a meeting of the local union resolutions were adopted by a unanimous vote, to this effect:

"We, the members of the Bricklayers' local union No. 1 of Kansas City, hereby refuse to buy meat of any kind for thirty days."

The bricklayers' union has a membership of 138. There is another union in Kansas City, Mo., and also one in Kansas City, Kas. The other unions have been invited to join in the movement and action will be taken in a few days. The bricklayers of No. 1 union have extended an invitation to the organizations of other crafts to join in the movement.

David R. Morgan, business agent of No. 1 union, in discussing its action, said:

"We are prompted in adopting the resolution by a recent similar movement in Cleveland, O., which resulted in a material reduction of prevailing prices.

"We bricklayers work on a scale of 70 cents an hour. This is generally considered high pay, but when it is understood that we lose a great deal of time, our wages are brought to a normal workingman's standard.

"There are but few bricklayers in our union who feel that they can pay the present high price for meat. We have our own vernacular for certain meats. A 'bricklayer's turkey' is an ordinary undressed rabbit, fresh from the Kansas shortgrass, for which we pay 5 cents. A 'bricklayer's steak' is a small piece of liver. Even these meats are becoming so costly that we are willing to forbear their pleasures for thirty days.

"If the other crafts will join us in our movement, we believe the result will be the same as that attained in Cleveland, and that meat prices will be reduced within the reach of all."

Labels: food, laborer

September 27, 1909

BOY FLOATED SIX BLOCKS.

Miraculous Escape From Drowning

by Harry Palmer.

Harry Palmer, a nine year old Argentine boy, yesterday had almost a miraculous escape from death by drowning in the Kaw river near that city. while fishing with a number of companions near the foot of Olive street the boy dropped his pole into the water. In an effort to regain it he lost his balance and fell into the river. The current at this point is very swift and although the boy was unable to swim he was carried out into the middle of the river, while his frightened companions stood screaming on the bank. In his fall the boy had graspsed at his fishing pole and succeeded in catching the line. His struggles in the water wrapped this line again and again about his body.

The screams of the women and children who witnessed the accident, attracted the attention of Sam Taddler, a grocer's clerk, who lives at 230 Mulberry street, Argentine, and also George Brown, a laborer. These boys were standing near the river about two hundred yards below the Twelfth street bridge. As the boy was seen coming down the river, the rescuers threw off their clothes and sprang into the water. Taddler succeeded in reaching the boy, who was lying on his back and struggling with the current. He was carried to the bank and, almost unconscious, was removed to the home of his father, Dudley Palmer, an employe of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railroad, who lives at 225 South Olive street, Argentine. A physician was summoned and at a late hour last night the boy had apparently recovered from the effects of the accident. When asked how he managed to stay above the water, he answered:

"I just shut my eyes and mouth and kicked my feet and worked my elbows."

It is estimated that the boy was carried at least six blocks down the river from where he entered it.

Labels: accident, Argentine, children, fishing, Kaw river, laborer, laborers

July 10, 1909

DROWNS IN THE BLUE.

Current Too Swift for Charles

Knapp, a Sheffield Laborer.

While swimming in the Blue river yesterday afternoon below the Kansas City Southern bridge, Charles Knapp, a laborer for the Kansas City Bolt and Nut Company, was drowned. The body was quickly recovered.

Knapp was accompanied by E. J. Slaughter of 3006 East Twenty-fifth street, who was barely able to swim, and could render no assistance to the drowning man. Knapp climbed on a girder and dived out as far as possible. The current was swifter than he calculated and after a few struggles to get to the bridge he gave up and sank.

Slaughter telephoned the Sheffield police station but help arrived too late. The body was taken to Blackman & Carson's undertaking rooms in Shefffield by Deputy Coroner Harry Czarlinsky. Knapp's mother, Mrs. William Brown, lives near St. Clair on the Independence line.

Labels: Blue river, death, Dr Czarlinsky, drowning, laborer, sheffield, swimming, Twenty-fifth street, undertakers

April 15, 1909

MURDER AND SUICIDE

END SIEGE OF MONTHS.

ENRAGED ROSEDALE HUSBAND

KILLS WIFE AND HIMSELF.

Breaking Into Home in the Early

Morning, Frank Williams Slays

Sleeping Wife -- Shoots Him-

self Under Fire.

Although the members of the family of Frank Williams, a laborer, have been living at 65 Clinton street, Rosedale, Kas., in a state of siege of nearly three months, and have never during that time retired for the night without placing loaded revolvers beneath their pillows, Williams smashed in the door of his home at 4:40 o'clock yesterday morning, killed his wife, Addie Williams, as she lay sleeping, and committed suicide by sending a bullet into his own brains, after being fired upon by his stepson.

Because of brutal treatment of his stepchildren and his wife, Williams had often been arrested, and upon the last occasion his stepson, James Goodell, refused to allow him to return home. Mrs. Williams on February 11 brought suit for divorce, and from that time began to hear of threats by Williams to exterminate his family and commit suicide. He lived in a tent only a few rods from his home, and was often seen skulking around the house.

WIFE KILLED WHILE ASLEEP.

Mrs. Williams lived in a cottage of four rooms with her son, James Goodell, her daughter, Mrs. Emma Clute, her son-in-law, Oscar Clute, and a grandson, Johnnie Aldine, who is four years old. The pistols were kept under the pillows of three of the members of the household for use should the husband and stepfather attempt to carry out his threats.

Shortly before 5 o'clock yesterday morning James Goodell was awakened by the crash as Williams broke down the kitchen door with a battering ram. Realizing that it was his stepfather, bent upon a murderous mission, Goodell seized his revolver and rushed into his mother's room, which adjoined the kitchen. Before he was able to reach the room, Williams had fired twice, both bullets striking his wife in the forehead. Williams then ran into the kitchen and Goodell fired three shots at him, none taking effect.

The murderer then placed the pistol to his forehead and fired, the bullet splitting and making it appear as though he had been struck by two bullets. Clute and his wife, who occupied the front room, did not reach Mrs. Williams's side until after Williams had committed suicide. Mrs. Williams was killed instantly and probably was asleep when she was shot. The suicide lived for an hour after he shot himself but was unconscious until the end. The grandson was sleeping with hie grandmother and saw Williams fire the shots.

GRANDSON WITNESSED MURDER.

According to Goodell, not a word was spoken by any of the parties during the shooting. Afterwards the little grandson said he saw his grandfather shoot his grandmother. Last night Goodell said he had expected a killing for two months, but believed that it would be his stepfather who would be killed.

Mrs. Williams was 40 years old and her husband 51. They had been married nineteen years.

Coroner J. A.Davis of Kansas City, Kas., was notified soon after the shooting, and took charge of the bodies. He ordered them removed to the Gates undertaking establishment, where he will hold an autopsy this morning. In the afternoon an in quest will be held for the purpose of ascertaining all of the facts leading up to the tragedy.

"The fact that Williams's stepson, James Goodell, fired three s hots at him while he was retreating from the house," said Coroner Davis, "leaves some little doubt as to whether Williams fired the shot that ended his life or was killed by one of the three shots fired at him by Goodell. This will be easily determined at the post mortem examination, as one of the revolvers was of 38 and the other of 32-caliber."

After the bodies were removed from the Williams home, Dr. Davis locked the doors and took possession of the keys. It is probable the coroner's jury will visit the premises today. The surviving members of the Williams family spent the night at the home of neighbors. They were indignant over the coroner's action in locking up the house. Dr. Davis stated last night that he took possession of the premises because both heads of the household were dead, and he did not want any trouble to arise over the disposition of whatever property was there.

Labels: domestic violence, guns, Kansas City Kas, laborer, murder, Rosedale, Suicide

April 13, 1909

GREEK HAS AWAKENED

ONLY ONCE IN 35 DAYS.

LONG-DISTANCE SLEEPER PUZ-

ZLES HOSPITAL PHYSICIANS.

With Organs of Body Apparently in

Normal Condition, Every Ef-

fort to Arouse Carolmas

Has Failed.

GEORGE CAROLMAS, THE SOUND SLEEPER OF

THE GENERAL HOSPITAL.

Lying on a cot in the insane ward at the general hospital, George Carolmas, a subject of the king of Greece, has for thirty-five days been asleep without interruption except for one day last week. Before being removed from his rooming house, 15 West Fifth street, on March 12, he ha slept for four days.

Carolmas came to America from his home in Athens, about eight months ago. He worked on the railroad as a track layer after arriving in Missouri. Like most of the thrifty foreigners, Carolmas saved most of his wages and horded it for the proverbial rainy day. In some way which has not been satisfactorily explained he lost his little savings and brooded over his misfortune.

The Greeks who knew him were aware that Carolmas was brooding over his loss, but little attention was paid until March 8. That morning Carolmas failed to get up and go to work. His landlord knocked on the door of his room several times during the day to awaken him, but failed to receive any response. In the afternoon he entered the room and discovered that his roomer was sound asleep and that speaking to him or shaking him would not waken him. Becoming frightened the Greek landlord summoned Dr. George Ringel of the emergency hospital.

CONSCIOUS BUT ASLEEP.

Four days later Carolmas was sent to the general hospital for treatment. He was examined carefully by the staff at the general hospital and found to be conscious but asleep. As far as the physicians have been able to discover every organ in the patient's body is normal. His breathing is regular and his heart action is apparently good.

Food is given to the patient five or six times each day. Part of the time the nurses furnish him with nourishment by pouring a small quantity of broth or milk in his mouth and allowing him to swollow it naturally. At other times the patient does not swallow and a stomach pump is brought into use. His nourishment consists mainly of milk and eggs. Very little nourishment is necessary.

When taken to the hospital the Greek patient weighted about 170 pounds., but since then he has lost about ten pounds. He is evidently about 35 years old. On last Thursday Carolmas woke up, and from all appearances was over his sleeping spell. He walked around the corridors of his ward and the specialists believed he was recovering. However, he became tired after being awake for thirty hours, and went back to sleep.

While he was awake last week Carolmas gave evidence of being hysterical. He followed "Pete," the man in charge of the ward, around and continually kowtowed to him. He would get down on his knees and kiss the attendant's shoes. Then he spent a great deal of time in prayer, which would be followed by a spell of crying. If the physicians or attendants atteempted to talk to him, he would break down and weep.

EVEN BATH DOESN'T WAKE HIM.

The treatment being given to him is the best afforded by the hospital. Every day he is given a hot water bath, then an attendant gives him a thorough massage. Treatment with electricity is not possible as the hospital is not equipped for it. What the hospital physicians are endeavoring to do is to build up the man's nervous centers, but about all they can do with him is give him food and a tonic.

From examinations by the best specialists in the city it is believed that Carolmas is suffering from a shattering of the nervous centers. His condition is scientifically termed as stuperous melancholia. It could result from narcolepsy, kidney disease, softening of the brain or from the sleeping sickness common in Africa. A tumor on the brain might also cause such a condition.

As a tumor could be diagnosed and the physicians have failed to find any signs of one in the case of the Greek, that cause has been eliminated. They have also decided that he is not suffering from narcolepsy. On account of his hysteria while awake last week, and the meager information or history of his health before arriving at the general hospital, the physicians are positive that his nervous condition is responsible.

People of Carolmas's nationality are high strung and subject to nervous diseases. If crossed or thrown into any excitement the Greek people are said to go off on a tangent and become nervous wrecks.

HAPPENED HERE BEFORE.

More than two years ago a man was picked up on the street who was believed by pedestrians to be unconscious. He was removed to the general hospital, where it was found that he was really asleep. He continued sleeping for 42 days, being sustained that long by forced feeding, and then died.

Dr. St. Elmo Sanders, former city physician, said yesterday that whenever a patient suffering from a continuous sleep had to be nourished by force chances of recovery were not good.

The man found on the streets two years ago finally slept so profoundly that if he was placed in a chair he would not move a muscle. His legs could be bent and the patient would not move them.

Dr. John Puntin, a specialist of nervous diseases, said that he had had a great many patients who slept for long periods. Most of them, however, would have short intervals of wakefulness. The disease is not necessarily fatal, he said. The physicians who have examined Carolmas believe he will recover, but will not say how much longer he might sleep. All of the physicians and specialists in Kansas City are greatly interested in the case.

Labels: doctors, emergency hospital, Fifth street, general hospital, immigrants, laborer, rooming house

September 29, 1908

NO BIRD HOUSE FOR ZOO.

Upper House Wants Street Sweepers'

Pay Raised First.

The upper house of the council last night defeated an ordinance appropriating $25,000 from funds unappropriated for the building of a bird house for a zoo at Swope park. Aldermen W. C. Culbertson and Isaac Taylor led the opposition tot he measure, their particular complaint being that it is wrong for the city to spend money providing pleasure for the rich and not provide funds to raise the pay of street sweepers from $1.75 to $2 a day.

"This ordinance reminds me of the man who cannot pay his grocery and doctor bills, but can afford to buy and wear diamonds," said Alderman Culbertson.

"Also," interrupted Taylor, who is a tailor, "like the man who lets his tailor's bill go unpaid and buys diamonds -- and that's where I am the sufferer. I love the birds and monkeys, but I love my fellow man who pushes the broom the best."

"Culbertson made a flowery speech here two weeks ago about his love for the street sweeper, and he promised to introduce an ordinance advancing the laborer's pay, but I have failed to see anything of it. Words count something but acts count more."

"I'll introduce the ordinance before this house adjourns tonight," retaliated Culbertson.

"Do it. I'll vote for it," promised Eaton.

The park board has accepted the lowest bid for the construction of the first building for the zoo in Swope park. The bid is about $23,000 and the board is to furnish the stone for foundations.

Labels: animals, Kansas City council, Kansas City Zoo, laborer, Park board, Swope park

August 15, 1908

IS CHILD LABOR LAW

BEING VIOLATED HERE?

STATE FACTORY INSPECTOR TO

MAKE RIGID INVESTIGATION.

Hears Report Children Are Being

Unlawfully Employed in Stores,

Factories and Other Places -- De-

nied by Local Inspectors.

Is there illegal child labor in Kansas City? J. W. Sikes, state factory inspector, is going to find out. A letter was received at his office in St. Louis several days ago saying that there were boys under the age of 16 years working in Kansas City without a permit from the inspector. Under the law no child under the age of 14 is allowed to work in any factory, store, shop, mine or place of amusement or place where intoxicating liquors are sold, nor may any child over 14 and under 16 years do such wok without a permit from a local factory inspector.

In answer to the letter, M. Sikes came to Kansas City and brought with him Traveling Inspector James L. McQuie, who will remain here for at least a month to see if there is any truth in the report that underage children are working at the forbidden occupations.

"There is not a single child in Kansas City who is violating the law in this respect," said William Hicks, the local factory inspector. "I have issued about 200 permits to boys and girls under 14, permitting them to work this summer. About half of them were issued to girls, most of whom wished to be cash girls in department stores. The demand for children to work in the factories has ceased in this state because of the law which forbids the employment of children for more than nine hours a day. The factories wish to have a ten-hour day, so they are ceasing to employ children.

A fine of from $10 to $100 can be imposed upon any employer who has a child under the legal age working in his factory or workshop without a permit, and which can only be given in case the labor of a child is necessary for the support of the family. Mr. Hicks says that this law also proved a detriment to the factory owners.

"I think the letter describing the bad condition of child labor in Kansas City was written by some one who was dissatisfied with the workings of our office," said Mr. Hicks. "Several days ago a woman came in here and wanted to make trouble because she said a neighbor's boy was a messenger for the Western Union without having a permit, and I would not allow her son to work. Both boys were under 16. I afterwards found that he had a permit. I think it is she who wrote the letter to St. Louis."

Labels: children, laborer, visitors

July 19, 1908

IN MEMORY OF BENITO JUAREZ.

Mexican Laborers Rememer Date of

Peasant Liberator's Death.

Yesterday was an anniversary of the death of Benito Juarez, Mexican patriot and president, and was observed by several hundred Mexicans in Armourdale and Argentine. In the Santa Fe railway yards at 6 o'clock last evening fifty male voices recruited from the box car houses of the laborers sang the national anthem of the Southern republic and individual prayers asked peace and rest for the soul of the departed liberator.

"He was one of Mexico's greatest citizens as well as one of her most valiant soldiers," said Jose Perez, a foreman who was once a student in a military academy in Mexico, and led in the impromptu exercises in Argentine last night. "Diaz is the organizer, but Juarez made the organization possible by striking off the hand of the tyrant and freeing the people.

"They were born of full blooded Indian parents and symbolize the soil which was meant to be free, but Europe would gladly claimt them both," said Perez.

Labels: Argentine, Armourdale, immigrants, laborer, Mexico, railroad

May 15, 1908

HE SAYS POLICE BEAT

HIM WITHOUT CAUSE.

Another Charge of Brutality Against

Central Station Officers -- Case

May Be Investigated.

Geoge Horter, a laborer living at 408 Main street, was fined $500 in police court yesterday after Charles Winters, another laborer, had identified him as being one of two men who "strong armed" him at Third and Grand avenue about midnight and took $14 away from him.

Horter said he knew F. H. Ream of the Helping Hand who would testify to his good character. He also said that he could prove an alibi. Mr. Ream, who was in court, got the case continued until today when he expects to produce evidence that will clear Horter. Horter says he was knocked down by the police when arrested and was again slugged at the sergent's desk. Sensational testimony is expected to develop in the case. Horter had but $1.37 when arrested.

"I will prove that Horter was with W. F. Chappell, George Schaeffer and John Ward from 6 p. m. until seven minutes of 1 o'clock," said Mr. Ream. "Walter Corner, the day clerk at 408 Main, was with all of them from 11 p. m. until the latter time. The man who was robbed, while he positively identified Horter in court, I will prove was drunk when he had Horter arrested and and was unable to identify anybody. I will also prove that he said he was robbed by two negroes, not white men. He told the police that he lost $11, and in court said it was $14.

"I have known Horter since February 22. He is a quiet, inoffensive boy and has worked for several responsible families here, all of whom made good reports about him. Horter tells me that he was slugged twice by the police -- for what I don't know. He said he was knocked down by a patrolman when arrested. He knows that policeman's name. He also says he was knocked nearly unconscious at the sergeant's desk. He does not know the officer's name, but will point him out if he is in court. If the officer is not I intend to find out who slugged this boy and for what. That will not be an end to the matter, either."

Labels: Central station, Helping Hand, laborer, police, violence

May 13, 1908

BROKE HER HAND ON HIS FACE.

Mrs. Ridings Resented an Insult to

Her 9-Year-Old Child.

Robert Eades, a laborer for the Holmes Construction Company, was fined $50 in police court yesterday for insulting 9-year-old Ethel Ridings in front of a rooming house at 9 West Fifth street Monday night. Mrs. Clara Ridings, the little girl's mother, appeared in court with her right hand in a sling.

"When Ethel told me what he had done," she said, "I slugged him one, so hard that I broke my hand. I didn't mind that, for I certainly socked him a good one."

Eades's face showed the result of Mrs. Riding's blow. His cheek was dislocated where she landed. He was arrested soon after. Eades denied that he had said anything to the child.

Labels: children, laborer, police court, violence

April 5, 1908

THEY'RE SLOW INVESTIGATORS.

Police Show Charactaristic Speed in

the Case of Harry Ryan.

Martin Kelly, the laborer taken from an airtight refrigerator car in the Hannibal yards last Monday afternoon, was yesterday removed from the emergency to the general hospital. He had received a blow on the left side of the head which caused him to suffer from aphasia, or loss of memory. He improved somewhat at first, but yesterday seemed almost unable to talk again. He has no idea how he came in the car or how he was injured.

Harry Ryan, a young man taken from the car at the same time, is still being held by the police "for investigation." The law gives the police the right to hold a prisoner twenty hours for investigation. At 2:30 today Ryan will have been held 120 hours without a charge placed against him.

Labels: general hospital, laborer, police, railroad

April 2, 1908

SUDDEN DEATH OF TWO MEN.

One Is an Unknown Laborer, the

Other a Negro.

An unknown man, apparently about 65 years old, died yesterday afternoon shortly after 4 o'clock while cleaning a yard at Ninth street and Ann avenue, Kansas City, Kas. He had been employed to clean up the lawn and was busily engaged at his work when he suddnely staggered and fell. The police authorities were immediately notified, but before a physician could reach him he was dead. His death is attributed to heart disease. His identity is not known by the local authorities. It was ascertained alst night that he had been stopping at the Helping Hand institute in Kansas City, Mo., for some time past and had been doing odd jobs of yard cleaning for residents of this city.

Henry Smith, a negro, living at Indian Springs, just west of Kansas City, Kas., dropped dead yesterday while walking along the Reidy road. He had been suffering from tuberculosis for several years and his sudden death is attributed to hemmorrage of the lungs. When he left hsi home a few hours prior to his death he was feeling as well as usual, but was stricken suddenly and died before any of the people residing in the neighborhood could reach him.

Labels: death, Helping Hand, Kansas City Kas, laborer, Reidy road

March 30, 1908

OUT OF WORK, TOOK POISON.

Jacob Kohn, Sick and Discouraged,

Ends Life With Acid.

A man, believed to be Jacob Kohn, committed suicide in room fourteen at the Plaza hotel, Missouri avenue and Delaware street, Saturday night, and the body was found at 9 o'clock yesterday morning by Sara Ridgeway, the housekeeper. Coroner George B. Thompson says that during his term of office no other Jew has taken his own life in Kansas city and that the crime is almost unknown among men of Jewish belief

Kohn, in a farewell note, directed that the Jewish Society of Kansas City take charge of his remains. The society will bury the body, but it cannot be laid in a Jewish cemetery.

Kohn's farewell note, which he wrote just before drinking carbolic acid, as the pencil left on the table bears witness, reads:

"To whom it may concern -- This is my second attempt at suicide. I
think I shall succeed this time. I am in poor health, am unable to get
work and have no friends and no money. Give my body to the Jewish
Society. -- Jake Kohn."

Mrs. Ridgeway says that Kohn came to the hotel Saturday night late and registered as John Johnson. She had never seen him before. He paid for his room. Shortly before 9 o'clock yesterday morning when a maid was unable to get into the room to tidy it, Mrs. Ridgeway, who was called in, was informed from a man who had spent the night in room 15 adjoining, that he had heard the man in room 14 groaning and rolling around during the night. Upon that statement Mrs. Ridgeway called the police, who forced the door and found the body.

Coroner Thompson was notified and sent the body to Freeman and Marshall's morgue. Not a penny was found in the clothes. There was nothing to identify the man, excepting the signature on the note. In the pocket were cards from business houses and factories in many Kansas and Oklahoma towns. Kohn was evidently a laborer and had been in these towns looking for employment.

Labels: Coroner Thompson, hotels, Jews, laborer, oklahoma, poison, race, Suicide, undertakers

March 28, 1908

WILL THEIR PAY BE RAISED?

Question City Employes Are Asking

Mayor Beardsley.

"If a public utilities commission will raise the salaries of private utility corporations, as is being asserted by political orators, I hope the same commission will have the power to do likewise to underpaid employes of the city," said W. H. Applegate, emoployed as a laborer at the Turkey creek water pumping station, yesterday.

"I have lived in Kansas City for forty years," he continued, "and have been employed as laborer for a number of years at Turkey creek water pumping station at $1.75 a day. This was the salary paid in 1891, and has never been raised, although the cost of living has advanced 40 per cent.

"Some months ago, with a delegation of laborers from the pumping station, we appealed to the board of public works for a slight increase in pay, but were refused. George Hoffmann, president of the board, said to us: "Boys, you have got an easy job and 365 days to work."

Labels: employment, laborer, Mayor Beardsley, public works, Utilities

March 20, 1908

JURY CHOSEN IN

THE MORASH CASE.

ELLA MILLER'S TESTIMONY WILL BE

Prosecutor, in Statement to Jury,

Says the Accused Woman Had

No Cause, Other Than

Fear, to Fly.

The preliminary statements of the prosecution in the case of Mrs. Sarah Morasch, held for the murder of Ruth Miller, were made yesterday by County Attorney Joseph Taggart, beginning at once after the jury was sworn in precisely at 3 o'clock.

The process of impaneling had been tedious, covering the greater part of two days, and the spirit of battle was constantly evident in the minuteness of the examination of each prospective juror. By 2 o'clock the defense, which had six challenges left from the day before yesterday, had used these up. As the six challenges allowed the state under the laws of Kansas were exhausted Wednesday afternoon, the last challenge of the defense left the selection of jurors largely to the option of the court, and in fifteen more minutes Z. Bellamy filled the one vacant chair on the jury platform. The jury, as it stands, follows:

John Bruns, farmer, Piper.
D. C. Roberts, haberdasher, 1961 North Fifth street.
J. Murry, baker, Eleventh street and Minnesota avenue.
A. C. Hartman, laborer, 1943 North Third street.
E. H. Baker, merchant, 47 South Valley street.
Charles V. Sass, farmer, Bethel.
R. A. Alleman, grocer, 1032 North Sixteenth street.
B. H. Hoppe, engineer, R. F. D. No. 4.
J. M. Smithcarpenter, 2300 North Ninth street.
A. T. Delameter, baker, 727 Central.
Z. Bellamy, dairyman, Bethel.

All through the impaneling of the jury Mrs. Morasch sat between her counsel, Daniel Maher and Judge E. H. Wooley. She has seldom smiled. The lines about her mouth, always marked, have grown deeper with the worry of the past three weeks.

When County Attorney Taggart took the floor to deliver the usual preliminary statement on the part of the state, the prisoner smiled feebly, drew down the corners of her mouth and bent forward in her seat as if to catch every word spoken against her. From the beginning to end of the statement she did not once relax from this posture.

Prosecutor Taggart, in introducing the stand of the state in the case, began with the incident, two months ago, when the prisoner took a child from the Hughes maternity home and claimed it as her own. He reviewed facts which brought Mrs. Morasch before the juvenile court on a charge of mistreating the child, stating that the state would attempt to show she had not then sufficient cause to fly the city in fear of the law. When he represented that the prisoner had chaimed to have given birth to the Hughes child, which was 6 weeks old when she obtained it from the institution, Mrs. Morasch laughed and whispered something to counsel, who nodded reassuringly.

Labels: children, County Attorney Taggart, courtroom, Death of Ruth Miller, laborer, murder

March 1, 1908

KINDLY HOLD-UP MEN, THESE.

They Wouldn't Take Michael Doo-

dy's 15 Cents.

Michael Doody, a laborer of 904 Riverview avenue, of Kansas City, Kas., was held up by two men between Mill and Ninth streets on Riverview avenue at 12 o'clock last night. The two men stopped Doody on his way home. One of them drew a revolver and demanded his money. Doody produced, but it was only 15 cents and the generous holdup men wouldn't take that. Instead, they marched Doody to his door, and made him go inside. All of which he was more than glad to do. After he was sure that the holdup men had escaped he notified the police of his experience.

Labels: crime, Kansas City Kas, laborer

February 19, 1908

AMBULANCES RACE FOR

A "DEAD" MAN.

Floater Taken From River

Turns Out to Be Alive.

A real "live" floater caused a neck and neck race along the river front yesterday afternoon between the emergency hospital ambulance and an undertaker's "dead wagon." The race attracted a great deal of attention and caused no end of excitement in the North End. The ambulance is painted gray and the dead wagon, of course, was black. It brought to mind the famous race between the "bob-tailed horse and the gray", but this time the "gray ambulance" won by a hame string.

The cause of the race was John Reich, 45 years old, a laborer of 1011 Cherry street. Reich was taken out of the river for dead. The emergency hospital was notified. Secretary Ebert called Coroner Thompson and the coroner detailed an undertaker to get the "dead man."

In about 20 minutes the telephone at the emergency rang again, and a trembling voice said, "Say feller, that floater ain't no floater 'tall. He's come to. That is, he's turned over onct. Better send the avalance and a doctor 'stead 'o the coroner."

It was then that the ambulance was dispatched and it was too late to call off the undertaker. That was the reason both vehicles met on the way to the river. The first one noticed of the other's presence. They were neck and neck on the river's sands and were "going some" to the east.

Undertakers have been known to race before and it may have been that this one thought a rival was after the body. The driver of the police amulance took up the race in a spirit of fun.

First one would forge ahead, then the other would come up fast and pass at a gallop. The police had the better team, however as it does nothing but run, and the driver was sport enough to win only by a hame string, when he could easily have outdistanced the dead wagon.

Lying on the bank, blue and cold, was Reich. When the undertaker's man saw the "floater" squirm and kick, he said things in "dead languages," reversed his team and slowly drove back home.

Reich was taken to the emergency hospital, where he was pumped out and artificial respiration used to get his lungs into working order. He was put to bed amid a bevy of hot water bottles and bags. In a couple of hours the "dead one" was in a condition to talk.

Reich recalled taking a drink a place down near the Winner piers. After that he said that he just "passed on" He did not know where he got into the water, how he got there, how long he was in, who got him out or where he was taken out.

"All I know is that I can't swim no more than a rock, and I got the derndest coldest duckin' a man ever got -- at least that I ever got. When I get out of this I'm goin' down there to look that ground -- or water -- over."

While Reich appears to be recuperating rapidly, Dr. W. L. Gist, who resuscitated him at the emergency hospital, said that the great danger now was pneumonia.

Labels: Cherry street, Coroner Thompson, Dr. Gist, emergency hospital, laborer, Missouri river, races, telephone, undertakers

February 3, 1908

FROZEN STIFF IN HIS CHAIR.

Neighbors Found the Body of George

Ordway, a Suicide.

Completely frozen, the body of George Ordway was found in a chair in a sitting posture in his home, 2308 Main street, yesterday morning. Some of his neighbors had called to see him, knowing that he had been in ill health and was somewhat desopndent over the death fo his wife which occurred three weeks ago.

Upon entering the room they found the body and a bottle, which had contained laudanum, upon a table at its side. The police found a note Ordway had left for the coroner, containing several names of persons whom he desired to be notified of his death.

Ordway was 75 years old and had been employed as a laborer on a rock crusher at Twenty-fifth street and Grand avenue. He has no relatives in the city. The coroner said that he had probably been dead for twenty-four hours as it would have taken the body that long to have become completely frozen.

Labels: Grand avenue, laborer, Main street, Seniors, Suicide, Twenty-fifth street

January 28, 1908

CRUSHED BY WAGON WHEELS.

Miguel Condino, 5 Years Old, Killed

While at Play in the Street.

Miguel Condino, 5 years old, was killed in Missouri avenue near Gillis street yesterday afternoon by being run down by a candy wagon. He was knocked down by the horses, the front wheels passed over his neck and the rear wheels had to be lifted from his crushed skull. The boy, a son of Dominick Condino, a laborer, lived at 725 Missouri avenue.

The wagon which crushed the child belonged to the Brown-Gibbons Candy Company, jobbers, 547 Walnut street, and was driven by W. H. Brown, senior member of the firm. Brown, who lives at 305 Walrond avenue, wept bitterly after the accident. After the boy had been taken into his home nearby Brown drove immediately to police headquarters and surrendered. He was released on his own recognizance.

"I was driving west on Missouri avenue at an ordinary gait," Brown said in his statement to police. "As I cleared an alley between Gillis and Harrison streets, four or five small boys scampered out to the south right in front of my team. I was not driving fast. I never drive fast through that district, as there are always children in the streets. I called, 'Look out there,' to the boys and one of them -- the little fellow who was killed -- turned and ran directly into my near horse. He was knocked down. To show that I was not driving very fast, I stopped my team by the time the rear wheels caught the boy. I have a little child of my own and the accident was a great shock to me. I did all I could to prevent it."

An inquest will probably be held.

Labels: accident, children, death, Gillis street, Harrison street, laborer, Missouri avenue, Walnut Street, Walrond avenue

January 23, 1908

SWINDLER BEATS

MANY LABORERS.

COLLECTS A DOLLAR FROM EACH

AS A GUARANTEE.

Promising Work at Clay Center,

Kas., at Good Wages -- Some

of Them Gave Their

Last Dollar.

After waiting in the Union station for more than three hours last night for the appearance of a new employer, more than forty laborers and masons discovered that they had been cleverly swindled out of about $40 in cash. The matter was reported to the police.

A party of Italian laborers also waited at the station last night for a new employer to take them out on a train and he, too, failed to put in an appearance.

Advertisments were placed in several saloons in the downtown districts a few days ago for fifty laborers to go to Clay Center, Kas., to work in excavating and wall building for a new telephone exchange, and also some city work. Applicants were told to apply to the Missouri saloon, 803 Delaware street yesterday. When the purported agent appeared there were at least 200 laborers in front of the saloon looking for work. Each man was required to deposit $1 to guarantee that the laborers would appear at the Union depot at 5 o'clock last night, ready to take a Rock Island train for Clay Center. They were told they would get the $1 back when they had worked a week, and also that the agent would pay their railroad fare.

About forty men went to the Union station last night as directed. The new employer did not appear and about 7 o'clock they returned to the Missouri saloon in search of him, but he could not be found. A. P. T. Wilson, Jr., proprietor of the Missouri saloon, telephoned to the sheriff at Clay Center last night and was informed that there was no work of any kind there that would require the shipment of any laborers from Kansas City, and the work described by the agent was not in process, or contemplated. The laborers had been promised 20 cents an hour and the stonemasons 45 cents an hour. All of the men who gave him the money were out of work and many of them gave their last dollar in hope of securing employment. Many of the men have families and are in poor circumstances.

Labels: con artist, employment, laborer, saloon, Union depot

January 4, 1908

GREEK LABORER LOSES A LEG.

Anoynostopoulos to Be

Amputated.

Alexios Anoynostopoulos, a Greek laborer, fell off a Burlington work train in the Murray yards in Clay county shortly after 5 o'clock last evening, the wheels passing over his right leg. He was brought to the emergency hospital, and then was taken to the German hospital. There hs leg will be amputated at the knee. He is 29 years old, and lives at 609 Bluff street.

Labels: Bluff street, emergency hospital, German hospital, immigrants, laborer, railroad

December 21, 1907

HE WAS DETERMINED TO DIE.

Man Thought to Be Charles Corbett

Killed by Sightseeing Car.

A man believed to be Charles Corbett, a railroad laborer from Rossville Station, Ill., was run down and instantly killed by a "Seeing Kansas City" car at Eighth and Delaware streets about 3:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon. There were a dozen or more witnesses to the man's death. It is said Corbett was under the influence of liquor.

Harry Criner, 707 Washington street, and William Houser, who gave his address as the Santa Fe cutting house, were standing waiting for a car when Corbett started across the tracks. "Houser grabbed hold of the man," said Criner, "and eh jerked away from him. Just then, seeing the car approaching, I stepped forward and the man was so intent on crossing that he struck me across the nose for trying to interfere with him."

There was nothing in the dead man's pockets but what appeared to be a laborer's transfer from Rossville Junction, Ill., on the Chicago & Eastern Illinois railroad, to some other point. The name of Charles Corbett is on that. The same name appears in several places in a small account book he had. Not a cent of money, not even a pocket knife, was found.

The dead man probably was 30 years old, five feet seven or eight inches tall, and weighed about 135 or 140 pounds. He had dark hair, blue eyes, fair complexion and smooth face. He wore a blue flannel shirt, blue overalls and black trousers.

The records at police headquarters show that twice this week a man by the name of Charles Corbett was held for safe keeping. Both times he had been drinking heavily and once went into the station himself claiming that he was being followed. From the description given them of the dead man the police are sure that it is the same one.

Fritz Braden, conductor, and Lowry Burke, motorman, of the car, were arrested by Sergeant James Hogan and Patrolman John T. Rogers. At headquarters they refused to make a statement to Captain Whitsett and were sent to the county prosecutor. They were released after their names had been taken. They promised to be on hand when wanted.

Labels: Captain Whitsett, Delaware street, Eighth street, laborer, police, railroad, Seeing Kansas City, streetcar, Suicide, Washington street

December 16, 1907

THEY'RE SLEEPING ON CHAIRS.

Laborers Out of Employment Pack

the Helping Hand.

"There are more people in the North End than ever before at this season," said E. T. Brigham, superintendent of the Helping Hand Institute, last night. Mr. Brigham was racking his ingenuity to find a means of crowding three men into places where there was but room for two, and that crowded. He had just converted three chairs into a temporary bed for a man fresh from the rock pile, and was pausing to explain why the place was so crowded.

"You see, it's the financial situation plus cold weather," he continued. "Most of our guests will not dare the rigors of our system, which requires a man to saw cordwood or break rocks for a bed, as long as the weather will permit sleeping outside, or there are good jobs waiting for them. The financial stringency has thrown many men out of employment. Particularly is this true of railroad laborers. And so they come to us for beds. We are so crowded we have to let many sleep upon chairs or the floor."

"Then, too, demands for men through our employment bureau have fallen off 50 per cent since last month, while demands for positions have increased 100 per cent. Singularly enough, we have men looking for jobs with checks issued by their last employers they cannot get cashed."

Labels: employment, Helping Hand, laborer, North end

August 17, 1907

UNDER SPELL OF EVIL EYE.

The Improbable Manner in Which

Wells Says He Was Hurt.

Henry Wells, a laborer, residing at Twenty-fifth and Oak streets, was taken to the emergency hospital last night by a friend suffering from a broken nose. When asked how he received his injury Wells explained:

"As I come out of a saloon a man looked at me."

As far as Wells could recall the man did not strike him and he had not engaged in a row of any kind. A strange man simply looked at him, and he rushed off for treatment at the emergency hospital. Wells went home after receiving surgical attention.

Labels: emergency hospital, laborer, Oak street, saloon, Twenty-fifth street

August 5, 1907

CARBOLIC ACID KILLS.

DRANK IN THE DARK BY

BECKETT FOR WHISKEY.

Second Man Who Took Swallow of

the Poison Will Recover -- Dead

Man Leaves a Widow and

Seven Children.

Two pint bottles of the same shape, one containing whisky and the other carbolic acid, caused the death of James F. Beckett in Sheffield early yesterday morning. The bottle of whisky was put into a wagon bed which also contained a bottle formerly used for whisky filled with carbolic acid. John Eveland, another laborer, who put the whisky into the wagon bed, also drank of the acid, but he will recover.

John Thomas gave a dancing party Saturday night at his home in Sheffield. About forty men and women were present, and at midnight the dancers decided to continue the party indefinitely until morning.

Beckett had been invited, and after he arrived he was prevailed upon to furnish the music. He sat in the parlor, and from 8 o'clock until midnight played waltzes and two-steps, and occasionally a tune for the Virginia reel, with scarcely a rest, while the tireless dancers encored him again and again.

About 11 o'clock Eveland, who lives only two blocks from Thomas' house, heard the music and the laughter of the young men and women, and decided to see what was going on. I had been drinking a little," said Eveland yesterday, "and I had a pint bottle of whisky, about half full, in my hip pocket. Thomas invited me to come in and dance. I didn't want to take the liquor with me on account of the women. So I slipped out to the shed back of the house and put the bottle in the bed of a wagon. Then I went in and danced until about midnight.

"When the decided to keep on dancing for an hour or two more, Beckett, who was one of my friends, said he was tired. I told him about the whiskey I had put in the shed, and asked him to go have a drink to brace himself up. We took John Burris, one of the other men with us, and all went out to the shed.

"When we got out there it was dark, and I reached into the wagon bed and got out what I supposed to be the bottle I had put there. It was a regular pint whisky bottle, and seemed to be about half full. I had some trouble getting the cork out. While I was trying to draw it, the women were calling for Beckett to play for another dance.

" 'Hurry up,' cried Beckett. 'I've got to get back to the house. '

" 'Give me the bottle,' said Burris. 'I'll get the cork out with my knife.'

"Burris pulled the cork, and raised the bottle to his lips to take a drink, when they called Beckett from the house again, and Beckett grabbed the bottle quickly. He took two long swallows. Then he ran back to the house, and Burris went with him, without waiting for a drink. I then drank a little, and put the bottle back into the wagon."

Eveland says it was about twenty minutes later before the acid pained him, so that he knew he had been poisoned. Beckett, who continued playing for the dancers after taking the acid, began to feel ill about the same time Eveland did.

Dr. R. Callaghan was sent for, and treated both men. Beckett died about 1:30 o'clock. The whisky which Eveland had drunk before he came to the dance saved his life. The reason Beckett did not feel the effect of the aid sooner is believed also to be due to whisky before he went to the shed. The whisky is thought to have counteracted the effects of the acid to a certain extent.

Thomas said yesterday that he always keeps acid in the shed for use as a disinfectant. He keeps horses and hogs there. The bottle was plainly labeled. Had the men struck a match they could not have made the mistake.

James F. Beckett was 39 years old. He lived at 410 Denver avenue, and leaves a widow and seven little children, the youngest being only two months old. The body was taken to Blackman's undertaking rooms in Sheffield, and a coroner's inquest will be held this morning.

Labels: alcohol, amusement, dancing, death, Denver, Denver avenue, doctors, laborer, sheffield, undertakers

August 2, 1907

PLUNGES IN HIS SLEEP.

Laborer Walks Out of Second

Story Window of Hotel.

Walking in his sleep, O. P. Olson, a laborer, plunged out of a second story window of a hotel at 10-12 West Fifth street shortly before 2 o'clock this morning. He landed on his head and shoulder. Many bones were broken. The surgeons say there is little hope for the recovery of Olson. He is 35 years old.

Labels: accident, Fifth street, hotels, laborer

July 26, 1907

FINDS CORPSE SITTING UP.

Laborer Shoots Himself Leaning

Against Freight House.

W. C. Hopke, on his way to work at the Interstate Ice Company at 5 o'clock yesterday morning, found the body of a dead man sitting upright against the north side of the Kansas City Southern freight house at Second and Wyandotte streets. The police ambulance was summoned and Dr. Ford B. Rogers found that the man had evidently shot himself. A bullet from a 45-caliber Colt's revolver had entered the right temple, come out at the left temple and imbedded itself in a wooden timber at the dead man's side. The revover was still clutched in the right hand.

Coroner George B. Thompson sent the body to Stine's morgue, where it has remained so far unidentified.

The dead man, who has the appearance of having been a laborer above the common class, appears to be between 47 and 50 years old. He is six feet tall and weighs probably 200 pounds. His complexion is dark, his hair and mustache and eyes are brown and the head is bald. He had only four teeth remaining in the upper jaw. He wore a blue shirt and dark clothes.

Labels: Coroner Thompson, ice, Kansas City Southern, laborer, Second street, Suicide, undertakers, Wyandotte street

May 6, 1907

FOUND DEAD IN A SHED.

Patrick Pendergast, Cousin of the

Alderman, Dies Suddenly.

The body of Patrick Pendergast, a laborer, 35 years old, was found by a neighbor in a shed in the rear of his home, 616 Southwest boulevard, yesterday forenoon. The deceased was a cousin of Alderman Pendergast. The coroner was summoned. Death was due to natural causes.

The man was unmarried and had lived in Kansas City all of his life. A sister, mrs. Margaret Holmes, of Chicago, will come to Kansas City today to take charge of the body.

Labels: death, James Pendergast, laborer, Southwest boulevard

April 12, 1907

CITY WINS "GLASS EYE" SUIT.

Laborer Washed Optic in Water

Impregnated With Dynamite.

John McCann became an employe of the city in 1902 as a member of the water works department. He had at the time only one good eye, the sight of the other having been destroyed and instead of a seeing pupil he had a glass substitute. After working hours one day he discovered, by the aid of a looking glass and the sight of his good eye, that his artificial eye was covered with dirt and he took it out of the socket and gave it a thorough washing in a bucket of water, which it was learned later had been used to wash off several sticks of dynamite. Following this act on the part of Mr. McCann, his other eye became blind and he filed suit against the city for $25,000, alleging that the dynamite washed in the bucket poisoned the water and thus caused the loss of his second eye.

After a trial lasting the entire day Judge McCune, in whose division of the circuit court the case was heard, instructed the jury to return a verdict in favor of the city. He held that the city was not responsible for the water in which its employes washed their glass eyes. The case has been in the courts for several years, the city in the last trial being represented by Charles Bush, assistant city counselor.

Labels: circuit court, Judge McCune, laborer, Lawsuit, visual impairment

April 4, 1907

WAS IT A MURDER?

Body of Unknown Man Found at

Third and Main.

George Walls, 18 years old, 506 East Fifth street, was in the saloon of Mike Lasalla, 300 Main street, at 1 o'clock this morning with Joseph Rose, the bartender. Walls stepped outside as Rose was locking up the place. When he reached the sidewalk he heard a brick strike the pavement and break. At the same time, he noticed the body of a man lying just north of the saloon on Third street. He says he saw no one else. The dead man's forehead had been crushed. A pile of bricks was nearby on the street.

The two men reported their find at police headquarters and the body was taken to the emergency hospital. It is evidently that of a laborer, perhaps a miner, for a circular describing miners tools was found in a pocket. There were no means of identification. In the man's pockets, besides this circular, were a cheap watch and a card reading "Oklahoma saloon, southwest corner of Seventeenth and Walnut."

The body is that of a man of about 30 years. He wore a suit of dark clothing that had seen service, blue overalls, blue shirt, both new, and new underwear. He was 5 feet 11 inches in height, weight about 185 pounds.

The coroner took charge of the body.

Labels: death, emergency hospital, Fifth street, hospitals, laborer, Main street, murder, police headquarters, saloon, Seventeenth street, Third street, Walnut Street