News Items from The Kansas City Journal ~ Old News That's New to You from Vintage Kansas City.com

January 9, 1910

LIVED HERE FIFTY YEARS.

Mrs. Elizabeth Tobener, Widow of

Henry Tobener, Is Dead.

Mrs. Elizabeth Tobener, 73 years old, the widow of Henry Tobener, who operated a plug tobacco factory at Fifteenth street and Grand avenue for thirty three years, died late Friday night at her home, 2826 Woodland avenue, of acute pneumonia. She was born in Germany and had lived in Kansas City fifty years.

Mrs. Tobener is survived by four sons, Robert H., Frank W., William C. and Edward F. Tobener, and two daughters, Mrs. Dr. B. W. Lindberg and Mrs. Edward Oberholz. Burial will be in the family vault at Elmwood cemetery. The details of the funeral had not been made last night.

Labels: cemetery, death, immigrants, tobacco, Woodland avenue

December 20, 1909

MUST LIGHT CONVICTS' PIPES.

New Duty Imposed Upon Guards in

the Federal Prison.

TOPEKA, Dec. 19. -- Warden McClaughrey of the federal prison has gone Warden Codding of the state prison one better in the matter of reforms. He has issued an order requiring the guards to light the pipes of the convicts.

A few days ago some convicts almost set one of the prison barns afire in the federal prison. To prevent any accident of that kind Warden McClaughrey simply decided to take matches away from all the prisoners. In order not to disappoint them in their smoking, however, he has directed the guards to carry a small alcohol lamp to light the pipes of the prisoners.

The guards are kicking on the order, claiming it makes them the servants of the convicts, but the order will stand just the same. It is estimated that the prison will save $25 a month on matches by reason of the new order, but it will probably spend double that amount for fuel in the alcohol lamps.

Labels: penitentiary, tobacco, Topeka

December 14, 1909

JUDGE PORTERFIELD

RECOMMENDS COW-

HIDE FOR OBSTREP-

EROUS BOYS.

His Father Had Cowhide and

Was Not Afraid to Use It.

JUDGE PORTERFIELD OF THE JUVENILE COURT.

Judicial notice was taken yesterday for the first time of the cowhide, as an instrument of regeneration for obstreperous boys, when Judge E. E. Porterfiled of the juvenile court paid it the following tribute:

"If I ever amounted to anything, it's because my father kept a cowhide, and he was not afraid to use it."

This remark was occasioned by a mother's statement that she did not like to whip her children. John Morrisy of 815 East Eighth street, had been summoned into court on the complaint of the mother. She said that she could not control him.

"The only fault I have to find with him is that he does not get up in the morning," she said. "And when he drinks beer he swears at me and his grandmother so loud that he attracts the neighbors."

"Why don't you get the cowhide?" asked the judge.

"Oh, I never did believe in whipping my children."

"You make a mistake, madam. If there was ever a boy in this court who needed a cowhiding, it is your son. My suggestion to you is to get a long whip. If John doesn't get up in the morning, don't wait until he gets his clothes on. Pull him out of bed and thrash him on his bare skin. Like lots of other mothers, you have spoiled your boy by being too lenient."

John Morrisy was arrested the first time in December, 1908, and sentenced to the reform school. He was charged with cursing his mother. John agreed to sign the following pledge, on condition that the sentence would be suspended:

"I am going to get a job and I am going to keep it, give mother my money; am going to church, come in early at night; I am not going to drink whisky or beer; I will not swear any."

John broke that pledge last Thursday. He bought some beer in a livery barn. When he came home he abused his mother and cursed her. The boy was charged also with smoking cigarettes. This he admitted.

"Where did you get the papers?" asked the court.

"It's this way," explained the boy. "The merchants ain't allowed to sell or give them away. I went out to a drug store. I bought two packages of Dukes. When I told the man that the tobacco was no good without papers, he said it was against the law to give them to minors. Then he walked back of the prescription case.

"He looked at me, then at a box behind the counter, where he kept the papers. Of course, I got wise right away. I reached my hand in the box and got three packages."

"You won't smoke any more cigarettes," said Judge Porterfield, "if I don't send you to Booneville?"

"If I can't get the papers, I won't."

The question had to be repeated two or three times before the boy understood. He promised not to use tobacco in any form. If he does, Judge Porterfield ordered that he be taken immediately to reform school. John was taken to the boys' hotel. A job will be found for him, and if he lives up to his pledge, will not be ordered to the reform school.

Labels: abuse, alcohol, boys hotel, children, Eighth street, Judge Porterfield, juvenile court, tobacco

November 22, 1909

WHOLE FAMILY SMOKED PIPES.

Father, Mother, Daughters, Sons,

Enjoy Weed at Union Depot.

"Smokin' tobacco never hurt us none," remarked William Bird of Southern Georgia, as he passed his tobacco pouch to his wife and she passed it to their two daughters and three sons, all of whom filled their pipes and started smoking. The party occupied a bench in the smoking wing of the Union depot yesterday afternoon. They were waiting for a train to take them to Southern Arizona, where they expected to engage in fruit growing.

Bird said that almost everyone, from the time they get old enough to walk, learns to smoke in his section of Georgia and that as a rule, the head of the household carries the tobacco pouch.

His oldest daughter is 15 years of age and his youngest boy 9, and all have smoked, he said, since they reached the age of six. They like clay pipes and these are smoked until the bit is worn off by contact with the teeth. One pipe he prizes very highly is almost black and is about 12 years old. He only smokes this pipe once a day.

Labels: tobacco, Union depot, visitors

November 20, 1909

POLICE QUIT TOBACCO HABIT.

Independence Force Follows Chief's

Lead -- Want to Grow Fat.

Since the Independence police have secured their new uniforms and caps, another reform has started and the police force has sworn off the use of tobacco.

Chief of Police Combs and Sergeant Price have grown thinner during the past few months. Chief Combs decided that tobacco was the cause of it and stopping its use would help his health.

Whatever the chief does, the other officers follow suit and all of them took the pledge to stop the use of the weed for a term of sixty days. If the uniforms fill out in the allotted time tobacco and its use will not be known on the Independence police force.

Labels: Independence, police, tobacco

November 6, 1909

CIGARETTES IN 10,000 LOTS.

That Is the Way Louis Curtiss,

Architect, Buys Them.

Louis Curtiss, the architect, is not the champion cigarette smoker of Kansas City, but there is a well grounded belief that he is the champion individual buyer. Asked as to the source of his cigarette supply yesterday, the architect said that he had made his order by a New York manufacturer and made his purchases in lots of 10,000.

"The thousand cigarettes," said Curtiss, "will last me ten months. That would indicated that I smoke a thousand cigarettes a month, but I don't. I give about 25 per cent of them away. I figure that I smoke twenty-five cigarettes each day.

"Hurt me? Not at all. That is the secret of having them made to order. My cigarettes are manufactured of the mildest tobacco on the market and are free from dope. There is nothing in them but pure tobacco. Years ago I used to smoke a readymade brand and frequently suffered from sore throat. Then I turned to the tailor-made article. Cheaper, too. These are as fine a cigarette as a man ever smoked, and they cost, in 10,000 lots, only $18 a thousand. That sounds dirt cheap to me."

Labels: architects, health, New York, tobacco

November 5, 1909

MAY DIVORCE JESSE JAMES.

Mrs. Stella S. James Files Suit --

Friends Think James May Re-

Enter the Tobacco Business.

JESSE JAMES.

Jesse James, lawyer, son of the famous bandit, and one of the best known men in Kansas City, was made defendant in a divorce suit filed yesterday by Stella J. James, who says they were married January 24, 1900.

Jesse and his wife were married while he was running a cigar store in the Junction building at Ninth and Main streets. It was not long after his celebrated trial in which he was acquitted of a charge of complicity in the Blue Cut train robbery. Jesse was one of the most talked of men in all the country in those days, and his cigar business prospered.

That he and his wife led a happy married life was the general opinion of their friends. In her petition, however, Mrs. James says that her husband has been getting homo late at night, and on these occasions has refused to tell his wife where he had been. The wife says that she is ill and under a doctor's care and without means of support. Their home is at 809 Elmwood avenue.

Friends of Jesse James have noted a change in his demeanor within the last few days. That he was troubled was apparent. Long ago he quit the cigar business, and for a time was the proprietor of a pawn shop. Then he began to study law, and after his graduation he began to practice in local courts and gave evidence of doing well. He devoted his attention largely to criminal business.

Only a few days ago Jesse confided to friends that he had decided to quit the law and intended to go on the road for the American Tobacco Company. It was Jesse's first intimation that he was not satisfied with the legal profession.

Jesse James was not at the Elmwood avenue address last night, and persons at the house said that Mrs. James was sick in bed and could not discuss the case.

Labels: attorney, cigars, Divorce, Elmwood avenue, James Gang, Jesse James Jr, Main streets, Ninth street, the Junction, tobacco

September 18, 1909

LID ON CIGARETTES

FOR CITY PRISONERS.

"MAKINGS" BARRED FROM THE

WORKHOUSE BY PAROLE BOARD.

No Longer May Favored Ones Have

Delicacies at Table, But Must

Masticate Prison Fare --

Guard Discharged.

The board of pardons and paroles took occasion yesterday to issue its first orders governing the future conduct of affairs at the workhouse. the new orders, or rules, were submitted by Secretary L. A. Halbert and approved by the board. They are taken from rules governing houses of correction in Chicago, Ill., Cleveland, O., Elmira, N. Y., and Boston, Mass.

"General order No. 1, section 1," reads" "At no time will cigarettes, cigarette tobacco or papers be permitted in the workhouse, and the smoking of these harmful things by both men and women prisoners must absolutely be prohibited."

Section 2 permits the men prisoners to have chewing and smoking tobacco, but pipes must be used.

Section 3 puts a ban on food, fruit and delicacies being sent in to prisoners by persons on the outside. that custom has been in vogue here ever since there was a workhouse, and the board is informed that this is the only city that permits it. Hardly a day passes that baskets or packages of food or fruit are not received for prisoners. Joseph Mackey is one prisoner who, it is said, does not know what workhouse "grub" tastes like. All his meals come from the outside.

PRISON FARE FOR ALL.

"Prisoners are not allowed to have food in their cells," explained President William Volker, "consequently it was placed on the dining table for them. It is not fair to have a few eating choice viands while the majority of prisoners have to look on. Prison fare is as good for one as another, and should be part of the punishment."

Secretary Halbert was for abolishing tobacco in any form. He never uses tobacco. Neither of the male members of the board are tobacco users but they, with Mrs. Kate Pierson, compromised on abolishing cigarettes. Prisoners will also be permitted to send out for candy, chewing gum and a small amount of fruit which they may have in their cells.

Hereafter prisoners will not be permitted to carry any money or jewelry into their cells with them. Deposits will be made with the clerk. If a prisoner sends out for any of the permitted "luxuries" he will have to give an order on the clerk for the amount and that will be charged against his account.

The board also is working on rules governing the conduct of guards and other employes at the workhouse. they have not been completed. A resolution discharging Joseph Etzel, a guard, was adopted. A prisoner complained that Etzel had abused him. This is the second time the board has dropped Etzel. The first order appeared to have no effect as he kept on working.

During the recent work house investigation Etzel was accused of attempting to intimidate a witness for the board. he was peremptorily ordered dropped. Why he retained his place no one on the board was able to explain. The ordinance giving the board charge of the workhouse gives it the right to hire and discharge guards. It was said yesterday that Etzel is "out for good" this time or the board will know the reason why. When Superintendent Cornelius Murphy informed Etzel that he had been discharged the guard went before the board.

SAYS "INFLUENCE" IS GOOD.

"I haven't done nothing to nobody or violated no rules here and I demand to know why I'm fired," he demanded.

"We don't think you have the proper influence in a place like this," Mr. Voelker informed him.

"My influence is as good as any of 'em," stated Etzel, proudly. "I have as good backing as the best."

"I am not speaking of political influence," replied the president. "We do not consider you a fit man for the place. I do not care to discuss this matter with you further."

Another guard, who was reported to have been involved in a romance with one of the girl prisoners, a sewing machine girl, was called in to explain. He denied being in love and insisted he had made no arrangements to pay the woman's fine. He was told to return to duty.

Five male prisoners and one woman were ordered paroled yesterday. Several applications were deferred until further investigation could be made.

The board made a rule that a prisoner could not receive visitors until they had been there fifteen days. After that the relatives may visit on Sundays only.

Labels: Chicago, food, New York, parole board, tobacco, workhouse

September 6, 1909

CUBA PROSPEROUS, HE SAYS.

Dr. Leni A. Beltran Says Present

Crops Will Be Best Ever.

Dr. Leni A. Beltran, a representative of the Cuban government, arrived at the Coates House yesterday and will be in Kansas City for a week. He will examine horses which have been purchased, subject to his approval, for the cavalry force for the island. Dr. Beltran is a native Cuban, but was educated in New York City.

"The strides Cuba is making will surprise the world," he declared yesterday afternoon. "Cuba will have the biggest sugar and tobacco crops of its history this year. Tobacco, which was plentiful and of good quality last year, will be much better and more plentiful this year. This year we believe will be the most prosperous the island has had."

Labels: Coates house, New York, tobacco, visitors

June 23, 1909

HERE TO PROMOTE

CUBAN RECIPROCITY.

CUBAN MINISTER IS TOURING

WESTERN STATES.

Only a matter of Freight Rates and

Facilities, He Says, Prevents

Cheaper Fruit and

Tobacco.

In the interest of Cuba, and to promote Cuban reciprocity sentiment in the West, General Carlos Garcia Velez, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to the United States from Cuba, will make an extensive tour of the Western states, visiting all of the larger cities and the various chambers of commerce.

General Garcia said yesterday at the Hotel Baltimore that his principal object was to get in touch with the merchants and manufacturers of the West, and to interest them in Cuba and her possibilities, and by increasing business, to strengthen the already friendly relations between Cuba and this country.

"We want better freight conditions and facilities," said he. "It is our belief that we can reach the Western states with as great facilities as we now enjoy in the East, that it will be for the mutual benefit of both countries. For instance, we raise one of the largest crops of pineapples of any country in the world. Our pineapples are ready for the market at times when other producers cannot get them to ship. If we could get the rates there is no reason in the world why Cuban pineapples could not sell in Western markets for as low a price as 3 cents a piece.

REDUCING COSTS.

"Then there are our tobacco and cigars. I had trouble today in finding some of the best grades of our cigars in Kansas City. In New York it is easy to find them

"Statistics show that in the United States there is used annually 1,600,000 tons of sugar. I do not know that there is a refinery in this section of the country. But there is need of one. Cuba will produce 1,400,000 tons of cane sugar this year. We need but a small portion of this amount for our own consumption. Sugar in the United States could be sold cheaper if we had the transportation facilities necessary in the west. It is the same with other products of our country.

"Most of our products are marketable when the season is over. We could ship new potatoes when there was not a new potato to be found in the United States, unless in the extreme southwest. Bananas are plentiful with us when they are scarce and dear in this country.

General Garcia is the eldest son of General Calixto Garcia, to whom was written the famous "message." He was his father's chief of staff, has been a minister to Mexico and since his graduation from an American college has been attached to the consular and diplomatic service of his country.

His brother is Justo Garcia Velez, is the present secretary of state of Cuba. The general will remain in Kansas City several days.

Labels: cigars, food, Hotel Baltimore, tobacco, visitors

May 21, 1909

TO ARREST DEPUTY SHERIFF.

County Constable Had Warrant for
Tobacco Law Violation.

William Milor, a constable from Justice of the Peace John White's court at Merriam, Johnson county, Kas., walked into the sheriff's office in Kansas City, Kas., yesterday morning and served a warrant on Deputy Sheriff C. Q. Lukins, charging him with having given a cigar to a minor in Merriam last Tuesday. Under the anti-cigarette and tobacco law passed at the last Kansas legislature, to give or sell a minor tobacco constitutes a misdemeanor.

Under Sheriff Joseph Brady, Deputy Sheriff Lukins and other members of Sheriff Al Becker's force enjoyed a good laugh at the expense of the country constable. The warrant was of the John Doe variety and was worthless inasmuch as a justice of the peace of one county cannot issue a warrant and have his constable serve it upon a resident of another county. Deputy Sheriff Lukins says he has not been in Johnson county for several years.

The rural constable, however, felt sure that Mr. Lukins was none other than the John Doe wanted by Justice White, and he said he would return for his man after he secures a legal warrant.

Labels: Johnson county, Kansas City Kas, Sheriff Becker, tobacco

January 16, 1909

SAYS CUBA NEEDS WATCHING.

So Do South American Republics,

Thinks Havana Tobacco Raiser.

Besides Cuba, the United States has several spoiled children among the South American republics which always will give it more or less trouble, is the opinion of Martin Miller, a tobacco raiser and exporter who is at the Kupper hotel. Mr. Miller's home is in Havana, Cuba, but he has traveled extensively in South American countries and understands the manners and customs of the people there.

"Uncle Sam will get in the habit of being a good spanker before many years," Mr. Miller said yesterday. "Cuba is once more enjoying home rule, but the United States government will have to keep a close watch down there to maintain the proper condition of affairs. But Cuba is tame compared with some of the South American republics. It will not only be necessary for the United States to point a warning finger at Cuba to keep it straight, but it will have to get a hickory stick to go after some of the South American republics. The South American controversies always will be a vexing question to the United States.

Labels: Kupper hotel, tobacco, visitors

January 9, 1909

CAN GROW TOBACCO HERE.

Jackson and Cass Counties' Farmers

Experiment With Weed.

LEE'S SUMMIT, MO., Jan 8 -- G. W. Simmons, who lives near Raymore, Mo., and who recently returned from Kentucky as representative of the Harrisonville Commercial Club to investigate and procure practical help for the raising of tobacco, is in Lee's Summit today. Mr. Simmons says there is no doubt but what the soil of Jackson and Cass counties is properly tilled for the growing of tobacco, and this year he will endeavor to have several of the farmers in the different localities of Cass county plant as much as three acres each of the product.

Jackson county will also be given a trial at this new culture by George Shawhan of Weston, Mo., on his farm near Lone Jack. Mr. Shawhan will plant fifty acres, while his son-in-law, James Rowland, will have fifteen acres. A tobacco company has recently offered inducements to the farmers in these localities in order to get them started in this new venture.

Labels: farmers, Harrisonville, Lee's Summit, Lone Jack, tobacco, Weston

September 13, 1908

TOOK POTASH AND A CIGARETTE.

But Neither Harmed Harry Jacobs,

Cook, With a Poison Record.

An ambulance call was received at the Walnut street police station last night about 10:30, on a report that a man had tried to commit suicide by poisoning himself. When the ambulance arrived the patient, Harry Jacobs, a cook, living at 1508 Olive street, was found on the front porch smoking a cigarette. He did not deny that he had taken potash, but seemed to have completely recovered.

"You ought to remember me," he said to the surgeon, Dr. Warren T.Thornton, "you pumped a dose of carbolic acid out of me a month ago."

He did not give any reason for the attempt.

Labels: doctors, Olive street, poison, Suicide, tobacco, Walnut street police station

August 22, 1908

THEATER PATRONS MAY SMOKE.

Ordinance Permitting 'Smoky House'

Passes Both Houses.

In the lower house of the council last night Alderman Michael O'Hearn introduced an ordinance permitting the smoking of cigars, cigarettes and pipes in theaters or public halls having regularly established smoking rooms and three exits. The ordinance passed both houses.

Labels: cigars, Kansas City council, theater, tobacco

July 8, 1908

POLICE WHO DRINK ON DUTY.

They Must Stop or Chief Ahern Will

Know the Reason Why.

Every sergeant of police in Kansas City will appear at police headquarters today at 1 o'clock in pursuance to an order to that effect issued yesterday by Chief of Police Daniel Ahern. The chief said that complaints had reached him of late relative to patrolmen drinking and smoking on their boats or while on duty.

"The police manual," the chief said "absolutely forbids a patrolman to drink intoxicating liquor or to smoke while in uniform, whether on duty or not. The sergeants have become lax in their discipline and it is a fact that the policemen of Kansas City drink and smoke while on duty and in uniform. The practice must stop and the sergeants will be held responsible."

Chief Ahern will also remind the sergeants that the police manual exacts that the patrolmen are to present a neat appearance and that they are not to use their clubs except in extreme cases.

Labels: alcohol, Police Chief Ahern, police headquarters, tobacco

June 8, 1908

TOBACCO WAS SAWDUST.

Police Make Discovery After Guard-

ing Supply for a Year.

"This tobacco was found at Missouri avenue and Walnut street night of August 9, 1907, by Fred Myers, 816 Bank street. BAILEY, Desk.

The foregoing was written on a tag which has now for nearly a year been tied to a dozen sacks of smoking tobacco in the possession of Captain Frank F. Snow, property clerk at police headquarters. That is, everybody thought the sacks contained smoking tobacco.

A man at the station had no smoking tobacco. He wanted a pipe full so badly that he tried to borrow one from all hands about the place. All were just out.

"There is to be an 'old hoss' sole of uncalled for and confiscated property pretty soon," an officer suggested. "See Captain Snow and he may fix you out with tobacco."

"Sure," said the good-natured captain. "Here is a lot that I have had for nearly a year. It was found on the street and has never been called for. Take a sack."

The citizen was grateful, and filled his pipe Those who were watching him noted the peculiar color of the tobacco. It was almost pure white. But the citizen did not notice it. He was talking as he stuffed the"weed" into the pipe. Then a burning match was applied to the well-filled pipe. As the citizen "tasted" his tongue and looked curiously at his pipe the fumes of burning wood filled the little room where he sat. Then he reopened his gift sack of tobacco.

"Sawdust, by heck," he exclaimed as all laughed at what they thought of the good joke Captain Snow had played on his friend. The man hurried in to tell the captain that he "bit" all right and that it was a "peach of a joke."

Captain Snow became interested. "Sawdust?" he said. "You are leaking language through your Merry Widow. I'll just show you that you are off."

When the captain examined the sack and was convinced that it was pure, unadulterated sawdust he brought out the other eleven sacks. One by one they were found to contain nothing but sawdust.

"Well, I'll be dinged; say, what do you think of that? Here I have been guarding that alleged tobacco for nearly a year waiting for an owner to put in appearance."

Some eagle-eyed individual then discovered that not a sack had a government stamp on it. Further inspection and this was found plainly printed on the back of each sack: "This package contains sawdust. To be used in window display."

Labels: Missouri avenue, police, police headquarters, tobacco, Walnut Street

May 27, 1908

WHEN WALLACE IS GOVERNOR.

The "Blue Law" Candidate Will Lift

the Lid on Sunday Smokes.

ST. LOUIS, MO., May 26. -- (Special.) Judge William H. Wallace of Kansas City, a Democrat aspirant for governor, said here today:

"I am neither Sabbatarian nor a political prohibitionist. I am a temperance Democrat. I neither smoke nor partake of intoxicants or coffee. While I am a Presbyterian elder, I do not believe it is a sin to use tobacco, and if I am made governor, I will recommend that the Sunday laws be amended so that there may be no inhibition on tobacco.

"At Kansas City I have enforced the law as I found it, and have put the Sunday closing lid on cigar stores, as well as saloons."

Labels: cigars, Judge Wallace, politics, St Louis, tobacco

April 19, 1908

HE BEGAN SMOKING AT 5.

But This Boy Didn't Take a Chew

Until He Was 6.

When Harry Kersey, a runaway boy from Quincy, Ill., was brought to the detention home yesterday afternoon and admitted to being 16 years old, Superintendent J. K. Ellwood looked him over and said:

"You look like 12 to me. Why didn't you take off a few days and spend it in growing?"

"Too busy," replied Harry.

Ellwood then chanced to glance at the boy's fingers and, seeing cigarette stains, remarked:

"No wonder you didn't grow. You have been smoking."

"That hadn't nothin' to do with it," retorted the midget. "I never smoked a cigarette until I was 5 years old and never chewed until I was 6."

Labels: children, detention home, tobacco, visitors

April 14, 1908

JEWELED BOX

HELD CIGARETTES.

DINERS IN HOTEL BALTIMORE

CAFE GIVEN A SHOCK.

WOMAN BREAKS

HOUSE RULES.

SMOKE WREATHS THAT CHECK

BUZZ OF CONVERSATION.

Waiters, in Panic, Appeal to House

Detective, and He Tells Inof-

fensive Citizen That Wife

Mustn't Smoke There.

A faultlessly dressed couple occupied seats at a table in the main dining room of the Hotel Baltimore cafe last night. It was plain to be seen that they were English.

The dining room was well filled with men and women. The orchestra was playing a piece in waltz time. Jewels gleamed beneath the many lights.

Suddenly the buzz of conversation died away. All eyes in the dining room became centered upon the table where sat the English man and English woman.

With graceful ease the woman had extracted a cork-tipped cigarette from an exquisitely jeweled case and lifted it to her lips with dainty fingers. A moment more and a thin wreath of smoke curled above her head and -- Kansas City received its first touch of the Continent and the Orient.

What to do?

The whites of the eyes of the waiters grew larger, whispered words passed over the adjoining tables and the orchestra played on.

The waiter at the table where sat the English hurried to the side of the head waiter. Everybody except the man and the woman watched the conference of waiters. The cause of the commotion apparently saw nothing of what was transpiring about them. The head waiter hurried to the lobby. He conferred with the house detective.

"Sure," said the detective. "I'll fix that."

The head waiter returned to the dining room. He looked as though he had just received a liberal tip. The diners eagerly awaited the outcome.

They were not kept long in suspense. Soon the form of the house detective loomed large in the doorway. He really looked the imposing majesty of the law as he crossed the threshold. The head waiter moved his head to one side. The detective veered his course in that direction. Then he did the most detective like thing imaginable. He walked up to a well-known private citizen of American extraction who, with his wife, had just finished a light meal and said:

"I wish you wouldn't let your wife smoke in here. It's against the house rules."

Did the private citizen laugh? Indeed he did not. He didn't even smile over the detective's blunder. What he said was direct and to the point, and when he had finished saying it the house sleuth apologized and cast his eagle eye over the dining room for the real offender. Then he made the same request of the Englishman that he made of the professional man. There was a hearty:

"All right -- very sorry -- we didn't know it was against the rules."

And that ended it. The lights still shone brightly, diamonds glistened, the orchestra passed from adante doloroso to allegro furioso.

The Englishman was Mr. C. Murray, secretary of the colonial office, London, and the lady was his wife.

"It was embarrassing," said Mr. Murray afterwards. "We didn't intend to break any of the house rules and when the man came to me and asked my wife to desist she did so at once. I asked the man if it was against the law of your country for a lady to smoke in a dining room. He said it was not, but that it was against the house rules."

Secretary Murray said it was the custom for ladies to smoke in public dining rooms in London and nothing was thought of it. This is his first visit to America.

Secretary Murray said his wife is prominently connected in England, but declined to divulge her name before her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Murray have been traveling through Mexico.

"We have been over your city," said the secretary, "and I consider it a well laid out city, capable of great extension and a very progressive metropolis, but," he added, "you have not progressed to the point where ladies are allowed the freedom that they are in the old country."

Mr. and Mrs. Murray will depart for Chicago this evening.

Labels: Chicago, detectives, England, Hotel Baltimore, hotels, jewelry, restaurants, tobacco, visitors, women

July 19, 1907

CIGARETTES HIS CURSE.

MOTHER'S REASON FOR SON'S

SECOND SUICIDE ATTEMPT.

Young Man Who Falls on Street

From Strychnine Poisoning Talks

of a Love Affair --

Will Recover.

A young man was seen walking unsteadily along in the vicinity of Twenty-second street and Dunham avenue shortly after 1 o'clock yesterday afternoon. Presently he stopped, drew rigid and fell in a convulsion. People who called the ambulance from the Walnut Street station thought possibly it was heat prostration, but Dr. George Dagg, ambulance surgeon, diagnosed the case as one of strychnine poisoning. The man was taken at once to the general hospital, where followed several other convulsions indicitive of strychnine poisoning.

It was learned there that the young man's name was Benjamin Rowland, formerly a bill clerk in the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railway. He lives with his widowed mother at 2045 North Valley street, Kansas City, Kas. It was stated at the hospital late last night that Rowland would recover.

During a conscious period at the hospital yesterday, Rowland intimated that a love affair had caused him to attempt his life.

While calling at the home of Miss Hettie Fredericks, 18 years old, Sixteenth street and the Paseo, last spring, young Rowland attempted suicide by drinking laudanum. He had gone there in the afternoon to make a call. No one was home but Miss Connie Fredericks, an older sister. Rowland said he was going to the bathroom for a drink. After being there some time he called Miss Connie to the door of the parlor and, holding a glass of dark liquid high in the air, said, "Good-bye to all. Here goes." It was later discovered that he had taken laudanum.

She called in the janitress and the latter telephoned for a doctor. After working with Rowland for an hour or more, he was left in good condition, and was later taken home.

A stranger called at his home of the widowed mother, 2045 North Valley street, Kansas City, Kas., soon after the occurrence yesterday and told Mrs. Rowland of the son's second attempt. She went at once to the emergency hospital in the city hall, as she heard he had been taken there. When his employer was called up at the C. M. & St. P. freight office, Fourteenth and Liberty streets, Mrs. Rowland learned for the first time that her son had quit his job there a week ago. What he had been doing meantime she did not know.

"If he lives through this," she said, "I intend to take steps to have him restrained. He has smoked cigarettes until he is a complete nervous wreck. He smokes them all day and then smokes them during the night. I have begged and pleaded with him about it, but it does no good. I think cigarettes are a greater curse to the younger generation of boys than whiskey and should be placed under restrictions just as stringent. I shall place him in some sanitarium if he lives through this attempt."

Labels: doctors, Kansas City Kas, Paseo, railroad, romance, Sixteenth street, Suicide, tobacco, Twenty-second street, Walnut Street