The Norman Transcript. (Norman, Okla.), Vol. 15, No. 14, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 18, 1904 Page: 1 of 8
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TI
J- J. BUKlit. Owner anU Publish*
VOLUriE XV.
° Uu' Republican Newzpaper-.Deooted to the Best Interests of Morman
and Southern Oklahoma.
NORMAN, CLEVELAND COUNTY, OKLAHOMA. FEBRUARY n, 1904.
COURT HOUSE " '
n„i.„ ! suh*" nl>ti"". w.lxiper a>na«.
/ *0 <rti iQ8.M,de kncii to
V)
IN ASHES!
THE CLEVELAND COUNTY COURT HOUSE AT
NORMAN GOES UP IN SMOKE THURSDAY
MORNING, ABOUT 3 O'CLOCK.
Thousands of Dollars Worth of Valuable Records
Destroyed—Court Records a Total Loss-
County Superintendent's Records are
Lost—Fears that Vaults Were
Not Fire Proof.
ft
J
EVIDENTLY WORK Of INCENDIARY
The Cleveland County court house in this city was destroyed bv
fire about 3 o'clock this (Thursday) morning, entailing a loss ut>on
the county of several thousand dollars, without taking into account
the incalculable loss occasioned by the destruction of the valuable
records m the office of the clerk of the district court and county
upenntendent—in both of which offices the loss was complete and
nffir°U|At thl® 't is not known whether the vaults in the
w! K7ntVC,erk'COnnty treasurer and register of deeds
withstood the heat sufficient to save the books, but grave fears are
andTrom th y,d,d not'. There were C^at cracks in the vaults
?"yr°m the™ smol<e is issuing in considerable volume indicating
<r«t ■ the ,contents. are afir.e' UntiI the fire dies down sufficiently to
Th° «em' n° m 0rrt!?,n Ca" be learned as to their condition
The hre was undoubtedly of incendiary origin, for, when first
discovered by Jailor Andy Berry it was breaking out of the north
window of the hall just at the top of the stairs leading to the coSrt
ft f corndor of the bui'ding was open at all hours, makin-
easy for any one to sneak in at any hour, saturate the matting
' Thl °th3 s° SC^a matc.h t0 and make his escape. That is prob-
ably the way it was done—by someone probably interested in de-
stroying the court records or other property- ln ae
The fire department was on the ground early and did heroic
work, despite the cold, freezing weather. Most of its efforts were
was 1 t°wards saving the vaults, and a continuous stream of water
' for if thp UPT T' ,'S to be Slncerel>' hoped it was effectual,
III ( A a L m the,vaults are destroyed (especially in the regis-
ter of deeds office) the loss will be almost irreparable.
District Clerk of the Court Williams had the journals of the
may be safe S * and that part of the court's records
T here was about $6,000 insurance on the building, in good com-
panies^ As it was a total loss all insurance will be collected.
I he county commissioners will be in session today and make ar-
rangements for temporary quarters. It is probable the Ed Johnson
bu lding can be secured. A new court house is now an absolute
necessity, and some steps to build one that will be a credit to the
county will be taken soon.
I "j8 tfho"ght ^ the ruins may be cool enough by this evening
V- i forth erest by Friday morning to open the vaults and ascer-
r ct f H°" a a1" contents' lf is now believed the vaults of
/ register of deeds and county treasurer are all right, but doubts
Are expressed about the county clerk's vault.
|,. 1 here was great excitement among the inmates of the jail but
w.lnd_b,einK from the north biew the flames towards the south
------ v.-w me names towards the south
land away from the jail and that structure was never in any danger
[The prisoners were kept in the cells, but every arrangement made
I move them quickfy if it became necessary
Lnirt?." W'".d thfT f eatJchunks °f burning wood across to Geo.
ipmith s residence, but no damage was done bv them
The budding was an old shack, and had answered the purposes
nit J°tn th 6 ?r i°"llten y.earsor so- having been built and do-
nated to the county by the residents and property owners of the
east side during the East Side-West Side war some years ago. It
looked like an old Mexican adobe, was ramshackly and extremely
crude and nobody grieves over its loss-if the records are all saved
Latest- The vaults have been opened and the records and pa-
. pers found to be intact and in good condition. This includes the
records of the county clerk, register of deeds and county treasurer
and journals of the court. The probate judge's office was down
town and so his records and books were in no danger.
Already there is discussion concerning the location of the new
court house Norman w.ll undoubtedly, at her own expense fu -
nish a suitable site, near the center of the town. The site'most
popular is the lots opposite the postoffice clear through to the next
f ,re+h 17 are ln favo,r ?f building in the ceuter of Main street
n the Forehand corner, it being pointed out that it would be 1
thv Th ^ su"oundln? Property could be secured reason-
ably. The idea is to make a public square there, securing enough
of the surrounding property to make a street clear around it That
would certainly be a good idea.
Now is the time to strike-while the ashes of the old structure
are still warm. onueiure
THE STATEHOOD OUTLOOK.
The present indications are
that the committee on territories
of the lower house of congress
will agree upon and report a sin-
gle statehood bill for Oklahoma
and Indian Territory. There has
seemed to be a determination
from the first, upon the part of
the majority of congress, to pro-
long the statehood question till
the last hour, and then force sin-
gle statehood. The dilatoriness
has been for the purpose of giv-
ing the Dawes commission time
enough to get the affairs of the
Indian Territory into such shape
as would warrant its provisional
annexation or incorporation into
Oklahoma with the result ot only
two additional western senators
instead of four, and a greater and
more powerful commonwealth
eventually. Unquestionably the
majority of the representative
men of Oklahoma have been and
do now stand for separate state-
hood. \\ hat Oklahoma may lack
in territorial area she more than
makes up in the richness and agri-
cultural resources of such area.
The McGuire bill, which appears
to be a satisfactory one to the
majority of the citizens of Okla-
homo, provides for the annexa-
tion of the Indian Territory by
piecemeal, or as congress shall
from time to time determine the
fitness of readiness of such sec-
tions. But the sentiment of the
house committee, as also of the
leaders of the senate committee,
seems to be for single statehood.
And the present indications are
that in the absence of strenuous
opposition upon the part of the
citizens of Oklahoma, the two ter-
ritories will be combined and ad-
mitted as a state before the ad-
journment of the present session,
which adjournment will take place
in eaaly June.—Wichita Eagle.
NUHBERrj
The First Gun of the Japan-
Russia War.
Torpedo Boats of the Japan Navy
Badly Damage Three Russian War
Vessels.
All hopes of a peaceful solution of
the troubles between Japan and Rus-
sia are now at an end and the first
gun in what promises to be one of the
great wars of the age has been fired.
Japanese torpedo boats attaeked the
Russian fleet in the harbor at Port
Arthur on Monday night and badly
damaged three of the Russian ships,
escaping themselves undamaged. This
news is confirmed by a dispatch from
Admiral AlexifT, commander of the
Russian fleet, to the czar, saying:
"I most respectfully inform your
majesty that at or about midnight on
rebruary 8, nine Japanese torpedo
boats made a sudden attack by means
oi mines upon the Russian squadron
in the outer roads of the fortress of
Port Arthur in which the battleships
Tetuisian and Czarovitch and the
cruiser I'allada were damaged. An
inspection is being made to ascertain
the character of damage."
News of the battle was received in
Russia with great indignation and
furnished the spark to arouse the
Russian patriotism, which has seem-
ingly been dormant, and great num-
bers of volunteers beseiged the war
offices. In Japan the news was receiv-
ed with the greatest enthusiasm and
the war spirit runs high.
The sympathies of the whole world,
Civilized and uncivilized, are with the
little Japs, and everybody hopes they
will whip the Russian bear out of his
boots.
Wednesday evening's papers bring
news of the surrender of two more
Russian vessels to the Japanese fleet
and the capture of 2000 Russian sol-
diers who were on their way to Port
Arthur. They also bring news of the
formal declaration of war by Russia.
The United States is taking steps to
be neutral and see to it that all other
coy-itries do likewise.
Story of a Bitter Feud That Has The Baltimore Fire One of the
Cost Many Lives. Greatest Catastrophes of
Modern Times.
Efforts Made to (iet Madison Parnell
Back to Arkansas in the Interest
of Fuedlsts-Kequlsltion Dis-
solved.
Seventy-Five Squares, Consisting of
3.500 Fine Business Blocks, De-
stroyed--Loss, $135,000,000..
The following dispatch was sent ,1
out from Guthrie last Friday: structiv. « T , a"fl ",0St (le"
"Governor T. B. Ferguson has1 ? !In0dern tlmes broke
honored a requisition vesterdav ,,a^1 , °ck Sun(la>' morning
from Governor Jeff Davis of \r- ? * 'T* Part °f the c,ty of
kansas, for Madison E. Parnell ! w ,/ f°r twenty-foar
who is wanted on the charge of l0,"s hefore it was iinally controlled,
embezzlement at El Dorado U11- n,'mc ' llukl'(1 "P tvv0 square
ion county. J. A. Sewell is'serv- ' .'"'f b"slness blocks of
ing the papers and left yesterday ! l Jl , oyiru: seventy-five
for Cleveland county to place 1 ^ 0'm0re than 2,50° buildings
Parnell. who is thought to be ati, " °?°f ne;lrl>'$12f,-000>-
Norman under arrest Parnell N '1--™ belicml there was at least
alleged to have embezzled $226.391 wh'iTnMf i"!?uran?1 °n the loss>
belonging to Bammer Goowin at . \( .'1,11 ,)e p,ai(I l,y the eom-
E1 Dorado." I' ' will assist 111 buildinga greater
Mr. Parnell came to Cleveland j a"d Brander ^a'timore. The lire did
county about six months ago and
purchased the Peters farm east of
Lexington, where he has resided
ever since. He is a gentleman of
No use saying: "I told you so."
1 he old shack is gone and no
one is sorry, except that the loss
of the records is greatly to be de -
plored.
1 he day of the political grafter
is past; at least, as long as Mr.
Roosevelt has charge of affairs.
He demands and purposes to have
common decency and common
honesty in every department of
his administration, and his ideas
are permeating every branch of
the government, from road over-
seers to the highest offices in the
land. There is immensely less
grafting and boodling now than
ever before, and this state of af-
fairs is largely due to the example
and precepts and demands of
President Roosevelt.
New Grand A. O. U. W. Officers.
Guthrie, Okla., Feb. 4 —At the an-
nual session of the A. O. U. W. grand
lodge of Oklahoma and Indian Terri-
tory in Shawnee, Okla , the following
officers were elected last night: Grand
master workman,B. J. Clardy of Shaw-
nee; grand foreman, John S. Allen of
Norman; grand overseer, E. O. Flood
of Lawton; grand recorder, W. R.
Welch of Guthrie; grand receiver, J.
E. Sater of Stillwater; grand medical
examiner, I)r, A. L. Share of King-
fisher; supreme representatives, W.A.
Ruggles of Tecumseh; W. E. Bolten of
Woodward and J. E. Sater of Still-
water.
Pawnee has been selected for the
place of holding the next meeting.
means and has become so popular
among Lexingtonians since com-
ing here, that that community
rose as one man in his defense
when it was learned he was under
arrest; knowing there must be
some mistake. When the Arkan-
sas officer went after him Attor-
neys Hutchin and Lydick imme-
diately swore out a writ of habeas
corpus, and upon the hearing be-
fore Judge Sharp on Saturday the
writ was granted and Mr. Parnell
released on filinga bond for$iooo.
not reach the residence portion of the
city, which was a great blessing. No
lives were lost and few injuries sus-
tained.
I lie Chicago lire resulted in a loss of
«ia0,000,000, and was the only one for
many centuries that has surpassed
this great Baltimore fire.
John Sullivan Acquitted.
1 he celebrated case of Allan vs.
Sullivan, on trial before Judge Sharp
011 Saturday last, resulted in a verdict
of not guilty. The Jury consisted of
L. (J. Kendall, J. II. Hartley, Harry
Lindsay, Challe Richards and Brutus
Hughes—both
parties waiving the
sixth jurymen-and it was out only
His bondsmen represented' over Imi'luto before returning wi(
$100,000, and more could have a ^'dlct of acquittal; and come nea^,
$100,000, and more could
been secured if necessary.
Mr. Parnell and about sixteen or
eighteen Lexingtonians went to
Guthrie on Monday, and after a
full statement of the facts in the
case to Gov. Ferguson, the re-
quisition was permanently dissolv-
ed, and Officer Sewell has return-
ed to Arkansas without his victim.
The most prominent men of Lex-
ington accompanied him to Guth-
rie, among them being S. C. Hawk
W. T. James, Jay Sherman, Tom
1 hornton, Steve Hutchin, E.
Duffy, R. F. Nesbitt, and Messrs.
Lydick and Hutchin. All are en-
thusiastic in his defense.
The story told by Mr. Parnell
shows that the effort to get him
i continued on eighth page)
so the jurymen say, assessing the costs
to Mr. Allan.
The case grew out of the scrap be-
tween Messrs. Sullivan and Allan.
Not content with complaing in police
court and having Mr. Sullivan fined,
Mr. Allan complained in the county
court, trying to double the dose. Quite
a number of witnesses were examined
and almost the entire day was <m-
J
II
^ By the above it will be noticed that
Grand Recorder Nicodemus was let
out in favor of W. R. Welch, of Guth-
rie. Too bad, for he had made an ex-
cellent officer. Norman, however,
secured another grand officer in his
place in the person of Mr. John S.
Allan, of the Voice, for grand fore-
man.
vSanta Fe
TIMETABLE
I' if I * li'M Vlf I'liyVuMn^jS
Noam Bound.
- Vi!.^
! I
No 406, Chicago Passenger. .4:05 a. m.
No 18, Chicago,Passenger. .3:07 p. m.
No 116, K. C. and Colorado.. 7:30 a. m.
No 420, Local 7;45a. mi
South Bound.
No 405, Galveston Passg'r.. 12:10 a. m.
No 17, Galveston Passg'r.. 1:35 p.m.
No 115, Purcell PassengerL 4:15 p. m.
No 423, Local . 1:55 p. m
J. J. Baker, Agt.
ri
■
j
The "Oriole" Barber Shop.
Denham & Holt, this week
opened their new barber shop to
the public, in the room formerly
occupied by the Oklahoma Rack-
et, and to say that they have a
swell and up-to-date establish-
ment is putting it but mildly
1 he young men have spared no
pains to make their shop neat and
attractive, and have placed there-
in some of the best fixtures to be
had 111 the market. They extend
a cordial invitation to their old
customers and as many new ones
to call and see them, guarantee-
ing satisfaction in every way.
Give them a trial.
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NEW RAILROAD IN PROSPECT.
Corps of Surveyors Said to be in the
Field Between Norman and Chick-
asha.
It is reported on the best au-
thority that a corps of surveyors
are in the field in the neighbor-
hood of Dibble, I. T„ surveying
a line that is to run from Shaw-
nee to Chickasha, via Norman
It is not definitely known what
company is backing it, but it is be-
lieved to be a Katy project.
Senator Hanna Weaker.
The latest news obtainable con-
cerning the condition of Senator
Hanna is that he is weaker and
grave fears are felt that his illness
will result fatally. His physicians
and friends are not giving out
much information concerning the
progress of his illness, which is
thought to be a bad sign. There
was a report Wednesday night
that he was dead, but it was later
contradicted. He is an extreme-
ly sick man and the worst may be
feared.
Valuable Properties Change hands.
Negotiations were closed last week
whereby P. H. Dressen, of near Moore,
becomes owner of the 13-acre tract of
land and the beautiful residence there-
on, belonging to Judge C. W. Bigger,
and the latter gentleman becomes the
owner of one of Mr. Dressen's fine
farms two and one half miles east of
Moore. Mr. Dressen is one of the
wealthiest men in Cleveland county,
owning several herds of fine cattle and
two or three fine farms. He hopes to
now make Norman his permanent
home, giving his children the benefit
of our excellent schools. A most cor-
dial welcome is extended to Mr. Dres-
sen and his estimable family.
R. J. Morgan Sick in Mexico.
Word was received here Monday
that R. J. Morgan, who went to Mexi-
co some two weeks ago, is quite sick
at Tampico, being laid up with ulcer-
ated teeth. He had to have a half
dozen of them pulled, and the pain
therefrom has made him quite weak
His friend, J. N. Grigsby, one of the
leading capitalists of Peoria, Illinois,
writes that he is much better, and
that they are fairly carried away with
Mexico; that they believe it is the
coming country of the world, and that
it will not be long before it is entirely
settled up. •
Bound Over Without Bail.
The preliminary hearing of Her-
man Burning charged with the
'Hurder of Fred Grossnicklaus at
the latter s home on Jan. 28, 1904,
was held before Judge Sharp on
Monday, and the prisoner bound
over to the grand jury without
bail. By agreement between the
attorneys Williams & Williams,
attorneys for the defense, and
County Attorney Wolf, the other
two cases against Bruning—one
shooting with intent to kill at Mrs.
Grossnicklaus and one for shoot-
mg at Mrs. Bruning—were sub-
mitted to Judge Sharp on the same
evidence as taken in the murder
?a®e- 1" the former case the
judge held Bruning in the sum of
&500 to answer to the charge, and
in the latter case he dismissed the
prisoner. No evidence was in-
troduced by the defense.
Death of Mrs. C. N. Rhoades.
sumed in the case and considi'
forensic eloquence displayed !*•
Attorney Wolf and Ben Williams.,
New (irocery In Town.
Sid Prince has opened up the Esh-
man <Sc Taylor stock of groceries in the
(>ld Model Cash Grocery stand, and is
fixing up the room in line shape. His
shelves are being stocked with a new
fresh up-to-date line of groceries, sec-
ond to none in the city, and every-
thing possible is being done to make
it a very neat and attractive store.
Mr. Prince is well known and quite
popular both In Norman and Cleveland
county, and it is needless to say'that*-,
h« will make a success of his venture.
He has employed J. T. Kilgore and
Jack Taylor to wait upon his custo-
mers, both of whom willdoeverything
in their power to accommodate the
trade, and make it a pleasure to trade
at the store.
Stole From His Father.
Iiernie Ballew, son of II. C. Ballew,
of near Moore, was brought in this
week from Durant, I. T., charged
with the theft of a horse and saddle
which, it is said, he stoJe from his fa-
ther some three weeks ago. This is
the third offense, having stole animals
from his father twice before, but was
not prosecuted on the promise that he
would behave himself. As a last re-
sort Mr. Ballew swore out a warrant
for his son, in the hope of giving him
51 mil/ill nn,.,L,l 1 0
> "l nuye ui giving liim
'"rs- Lu la V. Rhoades, wife of ja mucl1 needed lesson, and as a result
Mr. C. N. Rhoades, died at the "lc 's behind tlie bars of the coun
family residence, three and one ^
half miles west of Norman, Fri-
day, Feby. 5, 1904, of a complica-
tion of diseases. The funeral was
held on Sunday afternoon, and
was largely attended by friends
and neighbors. Burial was made
in Odd Fellows cemetery.
Mrs. Rhoades was forty-one
years old, and came to Cleveland
county a year or so agd vith her
husband and family fra Monti-
cello, HI. She was a mo\ >stima-
ble lady, and had mat many
friends by her sweet disv ition
and womanly ways. The v lost
sympathy is expressed for tin or-
rowing husband and children.
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a ito1" po]Jce ,court'' Tuesday, John S.
£ T ^ t)een charged with
K '1'"* b,y Night Marshal Burch, was
found guilty aDd assessed *1 and cot Is
amounting to about *20 Bob Green
also charged with lightioi; and wan
^u.nf guilty, but took an appeal to
district court. Both cases were after-
maths of the Sullivau-Allau scrap.
Miss Hinnle Larkin Married
Shawnee, Okla., Feb 5_Tohn a
Miss Larkin is the daughter of G. I
^ kin> tfie Wind man, and is well
fD°uW"'nt^ c'ty, having Uved here
t jejts t,,k tkanschipt
to the L rticst congratulations
Ule happy couple.
Tw® New Delivery Wagons.
neW' "P-^ate delivery
WT Put 0,1 the street this
week, w* by M. M. Furray, the popu-
thV ''d0 groceryman. and one by
Miller-Minteer Hardware Co
rhcy are elegant in style and finish
and are certainly good advertisements
of the enterprise and thrift of the two
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The Norman Transcript. (Norman, Okla.), Vol. 15, No. 14, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 18, 1904, newspaper, February 18, 1904; Norman, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc137600/m1/1/: accessed March 19, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.