Pike County Democrat, Volume 25, Number 22, Petersburg, Pike County, 12 October 1894 — Page 3

<Ehf Sibe Countg Ijrmorrat M. McC. 8TOOP8, Editor sad Proprietor. PETERSBURG. - - - INDIANA. POKER JOE’S BLUFF. fie Won It, But the Sheriff Had . Him on a Show-Down.

The howling1 wind had sung its dismal song through the shorn limbs of the quaking-asp trees on the mountains during, the entire day, spent its force and died with the gathering of the dark clouds that ushered in the dreary night. With the hush- . ing of the wind a heavy fall of snow came on, threatening to blockade the roads and shut in theslittle mining camp from the outside world. The awful stillness of the night was depressing, but afforded relief from the terrors of the day. * The well-dressed gamblers and roughly-clad miners gathered in the barroom of the Lake City hotel, spoke in low tones over their cards and liquor, choosing their language in deference to the presence of the ladies of the house, who had fled in fear of the storm to seek that association with men, which, to the female mind in distress, is equivalent to protection. The ticking of the dirty-faced clock over the back bar, the rattle, of chips in the nervous Angers of the players, and the frequent clatter of the barkeeper's shoe heels on the uncovered floor as he served his patrons at the gambling table, were the only sounds that disturbed the quiet of the place. Maj. Downey, editor of the Lake City Register, and Clare Smith, high sheriff of the county, entertained the ladies with a discussion of the mysterious mufder of Mrs. Mary Josephus, committed in Denver on Sunday night. , discovered by the police on Tuesday night, and detailed in the daily papers of Wednesday morning, which were being read on Thursday night in several of the mining camps of the San Juan district. The interest in the crime, so far as the mining camps were concerned, was centered in the opinion expressed by the Denver papers that the murderer was the husband of the victim—a migratory gambler, whose residence might be in any of the dozen camps or towns of that district. The police, with expressions of contempt for the opinions of the reporters, maintained a contrary view and indulged in, theories without submitting any possible clew to a solution of the mystery. Sheriff Smith opened the discussion with the sweeping assertion that the Denver reporters possessed a keener perception of the motives and a clearer comprehension of the methods of criminals than the combined Denver polioe and detective departments, with all

tneir boasted reputation, were oapable of. It was a matter of surprise to the ladies that the major, being a newspaper man, should take issue with the sheriff on this proposition; but the major was no more a partisan of the city press than was the sheriff a believer in the infallibility of the police. “Then you agree with the reporters,” said the major, with a rising inflection of doubt, “that the incidents of the crime are strongly suggestive of the probability that it was committed by the woman's husband, who deserted her several years ago?” “I certainly do,” replied the sheriff, “and am convinced that the motive contemplated both revenge and robbery, while the method employed was the result of long and patient deliberation, which involved a knowledge of the woman’s habits and possessions that could not have been acquired by any other than her hushand, who, since deserting his wife and two children—one of whom was absent at the time of the murder—has no doubt been living within the state. That he is a resident of this section of the state is by no means improbable. Fo? instance, how many men are there” in this room whose real name and past history are known to you?” , The major admitted that there was only one of whom he could speak with any degree of assurance, and that one he was proud to say was himself. lie further admitted the possibility, if not the probability, that the murderer of Mrs. Mary Josephus might then be enjoying the shelter of the Lake City hotel or sweltering under the broiling aun of an Arizona desert, according to his preference for climate. The major, having failed of even the opportunity to impress the ladies with his proposed defense of the polioe theories—and inwardly agreeing with ’ the sheriff—retired to the faro-table and placed a two-bit piece on the high card, repeating the play until it had produced enough of its kind to enable * him to purchase a stack of white chips at the regular price of two dollars. Then the major sat down to the game, which he never indulged in with any other motive than whiling away the dreary winter nights. Sheriff Smith, having recently become possessed of an exceedingly large official fee, felt justified in indulging in the more expensive game of draw-poker. One of the younger ladies, having tired of the revolting details of the murder story, relinquished her paper to another,and, being less timid than her companions, ventured near the faro-table. She became so deeply interested in studying the game that her sentiment against gambling was considerably softened by the time that period of the play designated as “calling the turn” was reached. In her enthusiasm she leaned over one end of the “lay-out” mid placed a dollar on the king, drawing it toward the queem She thus indicated, as she saw other players do, the order in whioh she wps willing to wager her money the bottom cards in the deal-box would oome out. The other ladles, being duly shocked by the boldness of the novice, shrugged their timid shoulders and, hitching their chairs nearer to the big box

•tore, fastened their eyes more intently on their newspapers* Several of the players, who had entertained an opposite opinion of the position of the cards, suddenly shifted their bets to follow the venturesome young* woman, whom they accepted as their mascot. The turn was made during an almost breathless silence. The barkeeper paused in the center of the room with a tray full of refreshments. The rattle of chips ceased. The clock for once seemed to hold the monopoly of disturbance.

The king-queen had won. A shout of approbation of the girl's judgment broke upon the stillness of the room, affording Mr. Brick Geary, the genial red-haired dealer, an opportunity to remark to the man in the Jook-out chair—without being overheard by others—that women faroplayers were always a“*hoodoo” to his game. The young woman who, by her bold play, had created a sensation among the faro players and shocked her female companions, regretted her performance, and, feeling a hot flush creeping across her temples, hastily arose and moved to the door. Through the glass of the upper half of the door she could see the soft snow falling gently to the earth. She pressed her burning forehead against the cool glass, and, seeking to shutout of hearing any furthur murmurs of approval from the men or chance words of disapproval from her friends, placed the palms of her hands to her ears. In doing this she cast a shadow on the glass, thus aiding her exterior view. The men at the faro bank had resumed their play. The rattle of chips and the ticking of the elook» echoed through the room; the barkeeper clattered about; the routine of the place was resumed. The unhappy young woman stood like a statue of penance, the curved lines of her handsome figure marked in strong, dark outline against the door. She was of artistic mold—tall, lithe and graceful, erect and silent—a model for a sculptor. Instantly a score of eyes were turned upon her as if by some common instirict; each person so attracted had felt the inspiration of her presence and discovered the artistic beauty of her pose. Almost simultaneously the company was startled by a scream, half of pity, half of terror. The woman shrank back and, without turning her face from the door or uttering another sound, pointed with the straightened forefinger of her left hand toward the glass, while her right hand covered her eyes, as if she would shut out some unwelcome sight. She stood there speechless while the men opened the door and lifted the half-frozen and unconscious form of a girl, some seventeen years of .age, into the room. The quiet barroom was instantly the scene of most pathetic excitement. Rough hands guided by tender hearts placed the wayfarer on an improvised bed of coats and shawls that was aranged hastily on a pool-table, while the ladies, with a keen sense of the re

quirements, bent their energies to restoring the girl to consciousness and physical comfort. They were soon rewarded by a sensible expression of appreciation of their kind offices. Interest in the stranger, who was still too weak to account for her presence there and had fallen into a deep sleep, had taken such firm hold on the men that the faro bank was deserted and the poker game was twice interrupted. This interruption was due to the apparently careless playing of Sheriff Smith, whose official eye had been distracted from the game by the appearance of a peculiar pallor on the face of Poker Joe since the features of the strange girl had been exposed to the view of the persons present. The sheriff was evidently permitting his mind an indulgence in something quits foreign to the game of poker. The fact that, while Poker Joe’s face had assumed such an unnatural hue, his hand was as steady as a clock, gave the sheriff still more uneasiness. Mr. Brick Geary, finding his occupation at dealing faro gone, had turned over his deal-box, transferred the bank roll to his pocket, and, after satisfying himself by careful scrutiny of the sleepiteg girl's face that she was not on his list of acquaintances, walked over to the poker table, and, in accordance with the ethics of that game, asked the privilege of “sitting in.” Poker Joe, with an effort at such vulgar sarcasm as is indulged in by men of his class, suggested that, as there were already five “parties” ih the game, Mr. Geary might perha'ps be contented with playing Sheriff Smith’s hand until that gentleman should have time to recover from a fit of nervousness that had overtaken him. “Clare seems more interested in that maverick girl than in this game of draw,” he added with a sneer, as the sheriff, acting upon the gambler’s suggestion, arose to relinquish his seat to the faro dealer, This last remark gave the sheriff a desired opportunity to test his suspicions. “You have my permission,” he said, ooOlly. “to keep your mouth shut now until I call on you to say something.” Poker Joe pushed back his chair angrily, turned his cards down with his left hand, and dropped his right to the waistband of his trousers, freon which protruded the handle of a sixshooter, and spat his cigar to the floor. With that bullying air for which he was noted, he said: “1 don’t know whether that calls to be official or unofficial; but I’ll bet you three to one you don’t win it—either way. You hear me!” The sheriff stood facing him, and without expressing on his face the shadow of his thoughts, replied calmly: “I’m inclined to the opinion, Joe, that it’ll be an official call when I make it, but there’s no rush. Keep your seat far the present, and don’t get nervous—and don’t try to run any bluffs.” The gambler arose, white with rage, and shaking the long, slender index finger of his left hand under the nose of the sheriff, while his right hand rested

firmly on the handle of his six-shoot-er. said angrily: “I demand that whatever accusation yon choose to make against me shall be made directly. I'll have none of your insinuations!” It would have been very embarrassing for the sheriff to have been obliged to explain his suspicions at that minute. lie had by some power of intuition connected Poker Joe with the strange girl, and immediately upon forming this suspicion his impressionable mind reverted to the Denver tragedy. It would have taxed the skill of an intellectual acrobat to reason, upon the mere suspicion of Poker Joe's relation to the girl, that he was in any manner connected with the murder. But Sheriff Smith was not reasoning; he was merely aeting upon the impression that there was something unusual affecting the gambler. And this suspicion of an unusual affection of Poker Joe’s mind impressed the sheriff with the notion that the gambler was guilty of some crime or misdemeanor. He was about to express this opinion, but he was happily prevented, not by the belligerent attitude of Poker Joe, but through the more exciting incident of the arrival at that moment of Miles, the pony mail and expressman, from Silverton. Badly frozen and exhausted almost beyond the power of speech, he dropped ihto the most convenient chair and feebly demanded a drink of whisky. After drinking the liquor, he roused a little and stared vacantly about the room, until his eyes rested upon the poor waif lying on the pool-table. “Praise God!” he exclaimed, and relapsed into a mental condition so annoying to those who stood about eager for some knowledge of the girl, which they felt he possessed, that the barkeeper suggested another drink, which Miles accepted without the slightest acknowledgment of the courtesy. By and by he was sufficiently aroused to be able to swallow a third dram of whisky and relate a thrilling tale of his trip from Silverton with the girl. He told now he had lost the poor child within a mile of Lake City, and afterward found her horse, and then pushed on through the storm to get aid in searching for her. After submitting to a round of abuse by the company for undertaking to conduct the girl across the mountains in the face of the storm, which, they declared, must have been more severe at the Silverton end of the road, Miles begged permission to explain. It was reluctantly granted.

1 he gal got a telegram from Den* ▼er to come home right away,” he said, “ 'nd’s th’ Silverton branch o’ th’ Rio Grande is blockaded at Durango, her aunt, what th’ gal wus visitin’ at Silverton, begged me so hard to fetch her over here ’nd send her out by stage to th’ station on th' main line ’at I couldn’t refuse, nohow. Ye see,” he faltered, glancing pityingly at the sleeping girl, “ye see, the gal’s moth* er’s uead—murdered Sunday night!” A murmur of sympathy was ex* pressed by the listeners. The sheriff turned his eager eyes upon the face of Poker Joe, who had returned to his seat at the poker-table. He had been apparently deaf to the story told by Miles, and though his face still bore a death-like hue, he proceeded with his card playing as coolly as if nothing unusual had occurred. Sheriff Smith was puzzled. He would have staked his life on the accuracy of his suspicion, but there was not the shadow of real evidence upon which to base a reason for placing the man under arrest. Thefe were incriminating circumstances, however, which, since the identity of the girl was made known, had imbedded the suspicion deeper and deeper into the mind of the sheriff; Poker Joe’s arrival in town that evening, his display of large amounts of money occasioned by his heavy loss at cards, his agitation caused by the presence of the girl, and his excitement and anger at the words of the sheriff. But there was one thing absolutely requisite to the welding of these links of circumstances into a chain of evidence. It would be a disastrous venture for the sheriff if he should fail. He turned toward the pool table just as the barkeeper, who was industriously engaged | behind the bar rubbing the glasses, looked up, and, for the first time, realized the significance of the sheriff’s j reoent remarks to Poker Joe. The shock he received from this gleam of intelligence eaused him to drop a thin glass to the floor. The ringing of the broken glass startled the entire company from the reverie into which they had fallen. The sleeping girl awoke, sprang to a sitting posture on the pool I table, and with a frightened look, as if she had awakened from some terrible dream, turned suddenly toward Poker Joe. She uttered a shriek of recognition and fell back on the table, hiding her face. The gambler arose instantly. He clutched at his belt nervously, and staggering to the door passed out. Maj. Downey, who by this time had fully realized and comprehended the sheriff's suspicions, approached him and whispered: “Quick, Clare, or he will escape!” “Wait,” said the sheriff, calmly, laying a hand on the major’s arm. “It may not be strictly legal, but it will be better for the girl. Wait.” Then bending an ear toward the open door as if in anticipation, he motioned the excited persons surrounding him to maintain

suence. The snow had eeased failing1. The outer atmosphere was cold and still. The moon ventured out from behind a shifting cloud and cast its glimmering light upon the shroud of snow. The clear, keen ring of a pistol shot broke the mental tension of the listeners, who nodded significantly to each other. The girl on the cot started nervously and drew the covering more closely about her head and face. “Poker Joe wins his bluff,” Sheriff Smith remarked, quietly; “but I had him on a dead square show-down.”—* Lewis Henry Eddy, in San Franoisco Argonaut *, .

THE REPUBLICAN RAISE. Tariff instead ©t the fforktaf If ‘ man’s Wages. •- McKinley, the logical candidate of the republican party for the presidency, says that there are two ways of checking importations—one by imposing a full or prohibitive tariff and the other by lowering wages. i_Then it ought to be found that a full or prohibitive tariff increases wages both in the special lines of protected industry and generally throughout the country. McKinley made a tariff and the result was lowered wages in the most fully protected lines and a tendency downward in all wage-earn-ing occupations. How is this? . , It ought also to be instantaneously apparent that wages are first increased in the particular line where the prohibitive duty is levied and subsequently increased from industry to industry until everybody is getting good 'wages. But instead of being so instantaneously apparent that the intelligent workingman can see the swell of increase starting from the particular point and lifting the level of the wholo country, it is never apparent at all, and the workingman must take McKinley’s word for the btlessings that attend a prohibitive rate. In 1893 the republican platform demanded duties equal to the difference in wages between the United States and countries which might send goods here. ^ Democrats at once promised that they would not propose a tariff in this congress which would not give duties to that amount. Not that they agreed to any connection between a tariff and wages, but that they had no desire to at once radically reduce duties to the extent a literal compliance with the republican platform would require. To fit a tariff to the republican platform it would be necessary to figure out the cost of each protected article. For instance, the tariff maker must find out how much the manufacturers here and abroad pay for the labor employed

Ui ILD FACTS. for the Calamity Howlers to Swallow. There is instruction in the record of failures for the last nine months as compared with the corresponding' period in previous years. The whole number this year, according to Bradstreet's record, was 9,351, with actual assets to the amount of $59,707,031 and liabilities to the amount of $110,674,349. During the corresponding period last year the number was 11,140, with assets of $937,373,331 and liabilities of $327,275,109. It appears, therefore, that while the number this year is still largev the liabilities are not much more than one-third as great as they were last year. The decrease this year is not remarkable, as the comparison is made with the period last year which included the panic months. A comparison with the same period of 1891, when the country was in the high tide of prosperity under the McKinley law, according to the republican oracles, is more instructive. Then the number of failures was 8.866, with $71,811,330 assets and $138,811,610 liabilities. The number was only 366 greater this year, while the liabilities were actually $38,136,576 less, andAhe proportion of assets to liabilities was 3 per cent, greater. This is a cold fact that the calamity Bbwlers will take good care to ignore. A comparison of this year with last by quarters will be not less instructive. Following is a statement of the number of failures and the amount of liabilities by quarters for the two years 1894 and 1893:

FAILURES. ]t&4. u&3. 1st quarter.. 3.969 3,003 2d quarter.. .2,559 3.1 TO 3d quarter.. .2,723 4.901

LXAB1UTIKS. 1894. 1893. W9.085.088 $38,424.1*4 33.470.261 131,438.0.-8 28.119.505 158.414.887

me comparison snows mat coin me number of failures and the amount of liabilities were greater during the first quarter of this year, after the panic, than they were during the first quarter of last year, before the panic. It also

THEIR “MEW” LINE OF FALL GOODS.

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THE NOISY HIGH TARIFF CURBSTONE FAKIRS ARE TRYING TO DO BUSINESS AT THE OLD STAND.^Chicago Herald.

in making1 a ton of iron, a yard of dress goods and a set of table china. He would find ont that the American manufacturer pays less than the English and a great deal less than the Spanish or Italian. Hence, to reduce duties to meet the republican platform’s demand would be to abolish them altogether. Ot course, the republicans did not intend to demand free trade, but to construe their platform according to the known facts of manufacturing production would be to liberate trade, absolutely and finally. Both the republican platform of 1803 and the logical republican candidate for 1800 hare either lied to the American people or have exposed a singular ignorance of facts. The second supposition is a true one in McKinley’s case. He is probably the most ignorant man that ever led on an economic issue in any country. He gave himself over early to commonplace generalizations and has done no more in his later career. If he knew what he was talking about his speeches would be wretched and ghastly examples of falsehood. But he does not know. lie prates and prates and prates. He never debates a definite proposition and never yet even proposed to encounter an economist. The intelligent workingman can unhorse this prater by asking him: ‘“You had a chance to raise wages, and why did you only raise the tariff?”—St Louis Republic

Ubtr Suffer*. And how long- will the country permit manufacturers paying high dividends to themselves out of tariff taxes imposed upon consumers to reduce their labor to the lowest starvation point? The time is close at hand when the general government will follow its taxes levied for the benefit of labor as it follows all other taxes levied upon the people and enforce the application of those taxes for the purpose for which they are levied. In other words, if manufacturers will not pay to labor the tariff taxes levied upon their products distinctly for the benefit of labor, it is the plain duty of congress to repeal those taxes and make the products free.. The people of the nation will assent to taxes legitimately levied and applied to the benefit of labor, but they will not assent to the perversion of such taxes from labor to enrich the manufacturers.—Philadelphia Times. -It will no longer do to tell the people who read the newspapers and do their own thinking that the fear of tariff revision caused the panic and hard times. The tariff has been revised and business has begun to improve. To deny that the hard times resulted from republican legislation is rendered difficult when hard times begin to disappear as soon as republican legislation begins to be undone.— Louisville Courier-Journal.

shows that both failures and liabilities for the second and third quarters this year were decidedly less than for the corresponding- quarters last year. There was no panic during- the first quarter of 189$, and yet the number of failures and the amount of liabilities were both greater than during either the second or the third quarter of tho present year. In other words, there hare been less business disasters in the same length of time since the 1st of April this year than there were dur ing the first quarter of 1893, when, according to the protection philosophers, the country was still on the mountain top of prosperity, where it had been plaeed by the McKinley act. The comparison shows that the panic had nearly spent its force by the beginning of the present year and that since the first quarter of the year failures have not been more than ordinarily numerous or disastrous. This is another fact which the calamity howlers will keep out of sight as much as possible. It is a fact which, with many others, demonstrates that under a democratic administration and policy the country has been recovering from the disastrous effects of the republican panio of 1893.—Chicago Herald.

POINTS AND OPINIONS. -McKinley is delivering1 the same old speech—a man and a speech with one idea.—Chicago Herald. -McKinley demands full protection. Protection got loaded in 1890. Better let it stay sober a few years.— St Louis Republic. --“Elect us to congress,” say the republicans. ''We can’t do any harm because the senate and the president won’t let us.” Such is the platform of the grand old party this year.— Louisville Courier-Journal. -The republicans in their platform denounce the income tax as a I .“tax upon prosperity.” Are we to infer that if that party comes into power in the state it will levy the taxes upon adversity and look to the pOorhouses, insane asylums, orphanages and the like for the revenues?—N. Y. World. -Gov. McKinley is denouncing the democratic party for repealing the Sherman silver1. law. When Grover Cleveland gave it as his “solemn” option that the Sherman law should be repealed Gov. McKinley gave it as his “solemn” opinion that the president was right. Gov. McKinley ought to keep a scrapbook—if he knows how.— Chicago Times. -It will not be in the least surprising if, long before the autumn of 1896, republican orators and republican organs should be found eagerly protesting that the tariff of 1894 must not be disturbed, practically claiming the credit of its adoption, and solemnly declaring, in the old, old fashion, that those wicked democrats are dangerous and must qot be permitted to hold power.—Boston Globe

..-■■■...J rBOFBSSXONAX. CARDS. tTkIMS, M- Dw Physician and Surgeon, PETERSBURG, IXD., SOPOfflee In Bank building, first floor. WIB •e tound at office day or night GEO. B. ASHBY, ATTORNEY AT LAW PETERSBURG, XND. Prompt Attention Given to ail Bnainett WOfflce over Barrett A Son's store. Francis b. Posit. Dewitt Q. CHtmu POSEY & CHAPPELL, Attorneys at Law, Petersburg, Ind. Will practice In all the courts. Special at* tention given to all business. A Notary Public constantly In the office. trOfflceOn first floor Bank Building.

B. A. Ely. 8. G. DAvxxro** ELY & DAVENPORT, LAWYERS, Petersburg, Ixd. 49*Offlee over J. R. Adams ft Sob's drat •tore. Prompt attention given to all business. K. P. Richardson A. H. Tatlor RICHARDSON & TAYLOR, Attorneys at Law, Petersburg, Ixd. Prompt attention given to all justness. A Notary Public constantly in tho office. Office in Carpenter Building, Eighth and —v— —1 DENTISTRY. W. H. STOKECIPHER,

Surgeon Dentist, PETERSBURG, IND. Office in rooms6 and ? in Carpenter Build tag. Operations first-class. All work warranted. Anaesthetics used for painless ex* traction of teeth. NELSON STONE, 0. V. $., PETERSBURG, IND. Owing to long practice and the possession of • fine library and case of instruments, Mr. Stone is well prepared to treat all Diseases of Horses and Cattle SXJCCKSSi"Ul^L.Y* He also keeps on hand a stock of Condition Pow* tiers and Liniment, which he sells at , reasonable prices. Office Over 1. B. Yoiag & Co.’s Store. i

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TRUSTEES* NOTICES OF OFFICE OAT. NOTICE la hereby given that I will attend to the duties of the office of trustee of Clay township at home on EVERY MONDAY. All persons who have business with the office will take notice that I will attend to business on no other day. M. M. GOWEN. Trustee, NOTICE is hereby given to all parties interested that 1 will attend at my office in Stendal, EVERY STAURDAY, To transact business connected with the office of trustee of Lockhart township. All persons having business with said office will please take notioe. J. S. BARRETT. Trustee. OT1CE is hereby given to all parties con* cerned that I will be at my residence. EVERY TUESDAY. To attend to business connected with the office of Trustee of Monroe township. GEORGE GRIM. Trustee. OTICE is hereby given that 1 wilt be at my residence EVERY THURSDAY To attend to business connected with the office of Trustee of Logan township 49-Positively no business transacted except on office days. SILAS KIRK, Trustee. OTICE is hereby given to ail parties concerned that I will attend at my residence EVERY MONDAY To transaot business connected with the office of Trustee of Madison township S9“Posilively no business transacted Except office days. JAMES RUMBLE. Trustee. NOTICE is hereby given to all persons interested that 1 will attend in my office In Yelpen, * EVERY FRIDAY. To transaot business connected wRh the office of Trustee of Marlon township AU persons having business with said office will please take notice. , \V. r. BROCK. Trustee. OTICE is hereby given to all persons concerned that I will attend at my office EVERY DAI To transact business connected with th# office of Trustee of Jefferson township R W. HARRIS, Trustee. N