Hanford Journal Hanford, Kings Co., California Tuesday, 17 DECEMBER 1895 ************************************** BIRTH -- HAMMOND -- In Visalia, Nov. 26, 1895, to the wife of W.H. HAMMOND, a son. BIRTH -- BRAMLETT -- At Traver, Nov. 26, 1895, to the wife of J.M. BRAMLETT, a son. BIRTH -- ROTH -- In Visalia, Dec. 3, 1895, to the wife of R.F. ROTH, a daughter. BIRTH -- HALFORD -- Near Traver, Nov. 30, 1895, to the wife of James HALFORD, a daughter. MARRIAGE -- PERRY-SPARKS -- In Visalia, Dec. 1, 1895, by Rev. Peter COLVIN; Samuel PERRY of Sanger and Miss Ida SPARKS of Visalia. ------------------------------------------------------- TOOK HIS LIFE -- W.W. BATEMAN, a Well-to-do Englishman, Invites Death -- Evidently Prepared for the Deed, And Made an Accurate Pistol Shot -- The Funeral Took Place Last Saturday -- William Washington BATEMAN, a bachelor and a man in easy circumstances, was well known in Hanford, where he had resided, off and on, for several years. His home, while in this city, was at the Hotel Artesia. He was naturally of a jovial temperament and had many friends, but was subject to fits of despondency, in one of which he ended his life last Thursday. On that day he was about the streets most of the time, but retired to his room, No. 44, in the Artesia, about 4 o'clock. The chambermaid, Mrs. Lizzie WINTERS, called at his door to leave some towels about 5 o'clock. She rapped and received no answer, and following his instructions not to disturb him while in his room, but to hang the towels on the door if he did not answer her, she left the towels on the door knob and went away. At noon the next day, when she went to enter the room to change the bed, found the door still locked on the inside and notified Mrs. TURNER. The 2 women decided to investigate. Up to this time no alarm had been felt as to Mr. BATEMAN, as he sometimes slept till noon. The 2 women went around and looked through the window in the front of his room and saw him lying on the floor. Mrs. WINTERS bravely opened the window and entered the room and found him dead, and seeing a scabbard near him, guessed at once that he had committed suicide. She unlocked the door and Mr. TURNER and others, who had been called, entered the room. Coroner MOORE was notified and came at once. The corpse was lying, face downward, on the floor near the bed. The head was covered with blood and blood had run for several feet over the carpet. The deceased was fully dressed. When the Coroner turned the body over, the means by which the deceased had met his death was revealed. In the right hand was clutched in a death grip the handle of a 38-caliber pistol and in the left a mirror. Deceased had evidently sat on the side of the bed, facing the west, had held the mirror up to guide his aim and had fired the fatal shot. No living person heard the shot fired. The ball entered the right temple and passed through the head almost straight, coming out through the left temple. After doing its deadly work, it struck the headboard of the bed, glanced off and struck the east wall, then rebounded back onto the carpet, near deceased, where it was found. Coroner MOORE impaneled the following jury to inquire into the cause of death: C.S. COOPER (foreman) Porter MICKLE A.M. LOVELACE R.K. BONNEY I.N. WHITE J.M. HICKS F.S. MOORE J.H. STYLES C.H. McJUNKIN A.M. ASHLEY J.L. CASEY G.W. BROWN The jury, after examining the remains and hearing testimony, rendered a verdict that deceased "came to his death on the 11th day of December, 1895, from 4 to 7 o'clock, from a gunshot wound inflicted by himself with suicidal intent, caused or produced from despondency over some financial matters." To those not acquainted with Mr. BATEMAN the taking of his own life was a surprise. But not so to his intimate friends. 2 years ago Mr. BATEMAN was badly injured in an accident while summering over on the coast, and he asserted on his return that his case was badly handled by the physicians at the watering place. He had never been the same, mentally, since that time. He made on extended visit afterwards to his old home in England, returning some 2 months ago. Since his return he had been peevish, and small troubles and worries assumed with him large proportions. He was much given to reading and reflecting over suicides and told a person here, not long since, that if he ever became impoverished he would kill himself, as he would be unable to earn a livelihood. His was a sad end, apparently deliberately planned and as deliberately carried out. A man of considerable wealth, owning, besides a considerable property in this city, $12,000 worth of bank stock, 10 sections of land in Kansas, and having an interest in a large estate in England, he evidently had the hallucination that he was rapidly becoming a pauper. His brother, B.A. BATEMAN, died some 2 years ago. The latter's widow left Hanford on the 7th inst., for New York, on her way to England to visit her aged mother, who has been very ill. She took the steamer at New York last Saturday (14th) for England and was not apprised of the sad death of her brother-in-law, it being deemed best not to do so, under the circumstances. The nephew of deceased, and friends here, attended to the details of the burial. Deceased was aged 37 years. He was a single man and a citizen of England. The funeral took place last Saturday forenoon from the undertaking parlors of Thomas & Co. It was private. Services were held at the grave in the Hanford cemetery, Rev. C.S. LINSLEY, rector of the Episcopal church, officiating. Deceased had many friends here, who sincerely regret his death and the sadness of the ending. ------------------------------------------------------ J.D. SPENCER, editor of the Modesto 'Evening News,' died last Friday of heart disease. He was one of the pioneer editors of this coast and had published the 'News' for 25 years. He served in the Legislature and was Clerk of the Supreme Court. He was a man of sterling integrity and in his private life as well as his public life was an honest and upright citizen. His death is a loss to the printer's craft and to the State. [from Local Paragraphs column] -- Worth BROWN, convicted in 1887 of killing his brother in a saloon row at Traver and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment, died in San Quentin last Thursday of heart disease. The doctor of the prison had a hard time keeping the spark of life in the man until his sister, who was in Los Angeles, could reach him. 4 brawny convicts fanned the dying man with boards for hours, while the doctor applied stimulants. BROWN clung tenaciously to life until his sister arrived and he died within 5 minutes after his sister reached the prison. ------------------------------------------------------ HELD TO ANSWER -- An Accomplice Turns State's Evidence On JOHNSON and LEE -- He Relates How the Stolen Alfalfa Seed Was Cached and Divided -- 3 Arrests on Charges of Arson -- The preliminary examination of John JOHNSON and James LEE, on charges of burglary, took place before Justice Fassett last Saturday. W.D. GRADY of Fresno and J.F. PRYOR of Hanford were attorneys for the defendants and District Attorney SHORT represented the People. Defendants were accused of stealing a ton of alfalfa seed from Geo. CURRY, a farmer, from his home place, SE of Hanford. There is another defendant, accused jointly with JOHNSON and LEE in the crime. It is W.J. HOOD, a man employed by JOHNSON and who was at the latter's house when part of the stolen seed was found there. HOOD, who has been out on bail, gave a surprise to the defense by turning State's evidence. On the stand he told a clean and evidently truthful story of the division of the alfalfa seed after it was stolen. He testified that the stolen seed was first buried on a ranch which William NELLIS had rented from David BURRIS, near Eureka. He (HOOD), JOHNSON and LEE went one night to where the seed was buried, dug it up and JOHNSON and LEE made a division of it, LEE taking 1/3 and JOHNSON 2/3. He (HOOD) and JOHNSON took the latter's seed to JOHNSON's house. There it was turned into barley sacks and the alfalfa sacks, in which the seed was when stolen, were burned in the fireplace at JOHNSON's house. Then HOOD said the seed was placed in the attic where it was subsequently found by the officers. GRADY, defendants' attorney, evidently tried to leave the impression that HOOD and Ben BARLOW, both of whom turned State's evidence, committed the crime. Justice Fassett held both of the men to answer. LEE is still out on bail and JOHNSON languishes in the Kings County jail. District Attorney SHORT says he will bring the cases to trial as speedily as possible. JOHNSON appears to think that a term in San Quentin is ahead of him. Deputy Sheriff AYERS returned a few days since from San Quentin, where he took a prisoner, and JOHNSON has since been plying him with questions -- whether the prisoners are well treated up there if they behave themselves, etc. There are charges enough pending against him to keep him in jail for a long time, even if he is not convicted on any of them. He has been putting in time in the Tulare County jail and he says the Hotel de Buckner is a palace compared to the Hotel de Merritt. HOOD's evidence was only as to the division and hiding of the alfalfa seed after it was stolen, but the officers claim to have other testimony to prove who stole the seed. The Sheriff's office and Constable Goodrich continue to do good work in the case. 3 More Arrests -- On last Saturday afternoon Constable BERNSTEIN swore to warrants charging Wm. NELLIS, W.J. HOOD and John JOHNSON (all mentioned in the cases above) with arson, to-wit, in having, on or about the 21st of last July, set fire to a building belonging to W.H. HAUERT, located about 4 1/2 miles NE of Hanford. At the time of the fire NELLIS had his furniture and household effects stored in the building. At least they are supposed to have been there and were insured for $960. Among the furniture was a good piano. Some of the officers claim, however, that much of the stuff had been removed by NELLIS and others and they then set fire to the building and collected the insurance on all the furniture, etc. NELLIS was over in Fresno county at the time of the fire. HOOD and NELLIS were both arrested, but JOHNSON has not yet been brought into court. NELLIS is out on bail and HOOD is in the county jail. Constable BERNSTEIN and his deputy, Frank GRIFFITH, are working up these cases. ------------------------------------------------------ A SMOOTH ONE -- He Does 3 Hanford Stores Out of Goods and Money -- He Does All His Work Within Half an Hour -- Chose the Best Time When the Banks Were Closed -- A forger has been at work in Hanford and had considerable success in his swindling operations. Last Saturday evening he purchased an overcoat and other wearing apparel at the Red Front store. In payment he tendered a check on the Bank of Hanford for $43 drawn in favor of John McMASTERS and signed by S.A. EDDY, the horseman who resides 4 miles east of Hanford. The stranger received $28 in change after the payment for the goods had been deducted. On the same evening a party, presumably the same man, purchased $5 worth of goods of Ben McGINNIS, the Poor Man's Friend, and tendered a check for $43 and with the same names as that given at the Red Front. The check was cashed, Mr. McGINNIS keeping out the $5 for a suit of underwear, a hat and other goods. The man who passed the check claimed to have been working for Mr. EDDY. Mr. EDDY has had no man in his employ recently, and hence did not issue the checks. The Mechanics store was likewise duped. The swindler bought $4.50 worth of goods, presented a check for $37 and received the balance in cash. Possibly this is the same fellow whom the Porterville 'Enterprise' speaks of as follows in its last issue: "A fellow came along the other day and bought a horse of Jimmy THOMPSON. He gave him a nice new check on a San Francisco bank and departed with the horse. A few days afterwards the check came back uncashed, and Jimmy is out a horse." ----------------------------------------------------- SUPERIOR COURT NOTES -- -Jasper RHOADS of Lemoore was examined before Judge Jacobs last Wednesday forenoon as to his sanity. Drs. MOORE and FELTON made the examination. RHOADS was pronounced insane, and orered sent to an asylum. -C.S. COOPER was today appointed guardian of his children, Frederick F., Edna P. and De Forest P. COOPER, in the matter of an insurance policy of $560. -A petition was filed yesterday for the appointment of B.A. FASSETT as administrator of the estate of W.W. BATEMAN, deceased, who died by his own hand last Wednesday. -George S. FULGHAM, a farmer, whose farm is near the NE corner of Kings County, filed a petition in insolvency on Monday of last week. He has liabilities to the amount of $3142.03; value of personal property, $750; value of property exempt from execution, $450, encumbered to the amount of $300. ------------------------------------------------------ CHRISTMAS EDITION -- Next Monday evening the 'Journal' will issue an extra large edition, of 12 pages. It will be handsomely illustrated and contain 2 pages of stories, poems, etc., appropriate for the holiday season. The paper will be issued on Monday evening, so that the 'Journal' typos can have a vacation on Christmas day. Advertisers will confer a favor on us, and so will our correspondents and patrons, if they will bring copy of ads and news in early. [transcriber note: no more issues for the remainder of the year 1895 were filmed. This is the last issue on the film] STRAYED -- From Ira HILL's ranch, 6 miles SE of Hanford, on the 2d inst., a dish-faced Berkshire boar; weighs about 300 pounds; short tail. Parties knowing of his whereabouts, leave information at 'Journal' office, with Ira HILL or at my ranch on Cross Creek. John H. MURRAY ESTRAY -- Came to my farm, half mile north of Hanford, on Dec. 5th, 5 small pigs. Owner can have same by paying costs. J.W. BAIRSTOW, Nurseryman ------------------------------------------------------- FRATERNITY NEWS -- *Hanford Lodge, No. 164, K. of P., has elected the following officers for the ensuing term: B.L. BARNEY, C.C. R.G. WHITE, V.C. F.M. GOODRICH, P. B.R. CLOW, M. of W. C.A. McCOURT, M. at A. D.R. CAMERON, K. of R. and S. A.V. TAYLOR, M. of E. H. McGINNIS, M. of F. J.M. HAMBLETON, I.G. Installation takes place the 1st meeting in January. *Lucerne Chapter, No. 127, O.E.S. has elected officers as follows: Mrs. F.A. BLAKELEY, Worthy Matron J.G. MARTIN, Worthy Patron Mrs. A. VANCE, Assistant Worthy Matron E.M. FRIANT, Secretary S. BOOKER, Treasurer Mrs. L.E. FELTON, Conductress Mrs. J.G. MARTIN, Associate Conductress Installation will take place tonight, jointly with that of the newly elected officers of the F.&A.M. *Hanford Chapter, No. 74, R.A.M., has elected officers as follows: L.C. DUNHAM, High Priest F. CUNNINGHAM, King A.G. DOLLENMEYER, Sec. J.C. AUGSBURY, Scribe R.W. MUSGRAVE, Treas. *Hanford Lodge, No. 279, F.&A.M., has elected the following officers: B.A. FASSETT, M. F. CUNNINGHAM, S.W. Ray CLARY, J.W. J.H. MELONE, Treas. A.G. DOLLENMEYER, Secretary *Willow Camp, Woodmen of the World, No. 163: E.H. WALKER, C.C. F.L. DODGE, A.L. D.A. WOODWARD, Clerk Judd SMITH, Banker C.L. BRYAN, Escort A.M. STONE, Watchman R.A. LONG, Sentry A.M. STONE, Trustee *Hanford Lodge of Odd Fellows has elected officers as follows: E.R. HEALY, Noble Grand M.L. DOSS, Vice Grand *Lady of the Lake Rebekah Lodge, I.O.O.F., has elected the following officers for the coming term: Mrs. O.M. NELSON, N.G. Mrs. E.R. HEALY, V.G. W.R. McQUIDDY, Sec. Cosmor B. CLARK, Treas. *Mussel Slough Lodge, No. 66, K. of P., nominates and elects officers for the ensuing term tomorrow (Wednesday) evening. *[from Local Paragraphs column] -- McPherson Post, G.AR., last Saturday elected the following new set of officers: Commander, Justin JACOBS S.V. Commander, J.F. ADAMS J.V. Commander, Rudolph REY Surgeon, P. VAN VALER Chaplain, G.W. CLUTE Quartermaster, C.M. SMITH O.D., F. McFEE O.G., P. HUSTON Sentinel, J. WELBORN Representative, W.H. WORSWICK Alternate, C. ADOLPH *[from Local Paragraphs column] -- The Friday night Cotillion Club was organized in this city last Sunday. The following officers were elected: J.M. ROYCE, Pres. Freeman RICHARDSON, Vice Pres. J.R. PREVOST, Sec. H.T. HENDRICKS, Treas. J. WEISBAUM, R. IRWIN & J.M. ROYCE, Com. Of Arrangements John IRWIN, Collector The club will hold semi-monthly dances, the 1st one to take place next Friday night in the Opera House. *[from Local Paragraphs column] -- The Epworth League at a recent meeting elected the following officers for the coming term: Pres. Miss Elva MARSH 1st Vice Pres., E.Y. DOLLENMEYER 2d Vice Pres., Miss Mary McGINNIS 3d Vice Pres., Mrs. E.L. HUBBELL Sec., Miss Joise PIERHENSIL Treasurer, Elmer BECKMAN The League also decided to hold revival services during the week of prayer. ------------------------------------------------------ LOCAL PARAGRAPHS -- -Carl TIMMONS has gone into the collection business in this city. -Mrs. OWENS, mother of Mrs. M.L. SHORT and an old resident of Hanford, has been visiting her daughter in Hanford for the past 6 weeks. -Last Friday the County Clerk of Tulare county issued a license to C.L. JOHNSON of Tulare to wed Miss M.E. BOLLINGER of Grangeville, this county. -James CAMP has had considerable carpenter work done on his house, moved here from Armona, and has had a barn built. Mr. CAMP and his family are now permanent residents of this city. -Mrs. B. KORN and children have gone to the State of Washington to join Mr. K. who is now employed on a railroad in that State. -Henry FORD, who has presided over this section of the S.P. road as section boss for 10 years, has been transferred to Orlindo, Fresno county, and has charge of the road from Clovis to Fresno. -John FONATI, an Italian, became intoxicated on the streets of Hanford yesterday. Some boys teased him, whereupon he drew a knife and chased one of them quite a distance. He was arrested & placed in jail. -The Vendome is the best place in town to board. Single meals, 25 cents. Board by the week, $4. Mrs. K.E. JACOBS, prop. -Last Saturday Tommy WHITE renounced allegiance to Queen Victoria and became a full fledge citizen of the United States, before Judge Jacobs. His witnesses were M.L. DOSS and C.L. BRYAN. -Joseph ABRAMS, of the Emma Lee Colony, is quite indignant because one of our contemporaries alleged that his children brought scarlet fever into town. One of his children has the scarlet fever, but she never attended the Baptist Sunday school. -L.J. ROSS and wife have gone to Los Gatos to spend the holidays with his folks. They may returned to Hanford in the Spring, or may locate elsewhere. -Wilson SNYDER, of this vicinity, has the largest dog for his age in Kings County. He was weighed a few days ago, when he was 6 1/2 months old, and he tipped the beam at 95 pounds. The dog is a mastiff and is a beauty of his breed. -The Corner Saloon on Douty St. has changed hands, J. SCHNEREGER selling out to R. DOZIER. J.J. FRENCH, the veteran dispenser of liquid refreshments, will now be in charge. -G.H. JOHNSTON and family leave Hanford this evening for Riverside. Mr. JOHNSTON has been in the employ of A.L. DELANEY and is an experienced salesman and business man. MORRIS RYAN and his brother, John, during a hunt of 4 hours on the lake last Sunday afternoon, killed 16 geese and 65 ducks. The boys live down near the lake and Morris says he has not seen the geese and ducks so thick on the lake as they were last Sunday for several years. The storm that day may have had something to do with it. ANOTHER CASE of diphtheria has been developed in this city. Dr. MILLER was last Sunday called to attend the 8-year-old daughter of Mr. HARP, the new railroad section foreman in this city. He thought at first that it was a case of putrid sore throat, of which there are quite a number of cases in Hanford, but the disease made itself manifest yesterday and last evening Dr. MILLER administered anti-toxine, the new remedy for the disease. He has great faith in the effects of the remedy, which he used so successfully a year ago on a lady patient for the same disease. This is only the 2nd case Hanford has had this year and is in another part of town from where the disease developed before. The child is some better today, but not out of danger. There are no new cases of scarlet fever and Rev. DONNEL's children, the only ones in town who have had it, this winter, are recovering. PROF. C.C. CHILDRESS, principal of the Hanford public school, has been arrested on a complaint accusing him of battery. J.D. ELLIS, the house mover, is the complaining witness, and he claims that on or about last Friday Prof. CHILDRESS beat, bruised, wounded and ill-treated Wesley K. ELLIS, son of complaining witness, by beating him about the neck and back, with a whip, with force and violence, to his damage. The case has not yet been set for trial. SOME LITTLE ONE dropped a letter in the Hanford postoffice addressed to "Santa Claus." The stony-hearted assistant P.M., Jerry SQUIRE, wrote across a corner of the envelope, "Not in Hanford," and placed the letter among those held for postage and better direction. DR. MUSGRAVE was called to Visalia last Saturday to consult with Dr. PENDERGRASS regarding the peculiar illness of the little girl of Mr.&Mrs. W. SIMS of Monson, who it was thought had symptoms of hydrophobia. The disease was diagnosed by the physicians as hysteria. MISS DAISY BELLE SHARP, the 18-year-old daughter of Craigie SHARP, Jr., formerly of this city but now of San Francisco, is going on the stage. She has a handsome face and figure and is a fine elocutionist. Next Thursday afternoon she will make her debut in the leading role in the "Costumed Ball," on the occasion of the performance given at the Columbia theater for the School of Dramatic Art. The picture of the young lady appeared in last Thursday's 'Examiner.' JOHN McLAUGHLIN has returned to Hanford with his wife, and they have now become permanent residents here. From San Francisco, where they were married, they went up to Oregon, expecting to locate at Astoria. They were up there 11 days, during which time it rained all but 5 hours, and Jack came to the conclusion he was not built for a webfooter, and he hastened back to Kings County, "in the land of sunshine." At least it used to be the land of sunshine, but during the past 10 days Old Sol has been off on a lark most of the time. ------------------------------------------------------- GRANGEVILLE GLEAMS -- -Mrs. Louis NATHAN is still quite sick, the la grippe being loath to loose its hold. -Will ALEXANDER has been appointed to the position of ditch tender in the place of Ed BURRELL, resigned, on the Last Chance ditch. -Supervisor W.A. LONG, who has been suffering from erysipelas in the face for the last 3 weeks, is slowly recovering. His eyes are still very weak. -Mr. DOUGLASS, who has been visiting friends in New York and Michigan, is expected to return about the 16th inst. He has been gone about 3 months. -Nat DOGGETT, who was recently married, is going to move to Grangeville, he having rented part of Mr. MARLOW's house, and will join George BARTLETT in the carpentering business. -A letter received from Newt AGEE, dated San Jo., Missouri, gives the information that the weather is very cold -- 16 degrees below zero. Newt is well in health and has succeeded in selling most of the car-load of raisins he took with him. -The Grangeville correspondent was not mistaken or misinformed, in his recent statement, as regards the county looking after Mrs. RAINEY. Our Supervisor, Mr. LONG, distinctly stated to your reporter that he, in the name of the county, hired Mrs. BELKNAP, and that at the present time the county stands responsible for the expense. LEMOORE LOCALS -- -Tom DODGE is seriously ill with typho-malarial fever. [some damaged] -Mrs. I.H. HAM of Tulare, daughter of [illeg] W. GRAY of this town, has been attending her father during his illness. -Mrs. Ben KORN, formerly of this place, has returned for a visit and to settle up private affairs prior to her departure for Levenworth, Washington State, where she expects to reside permanently. -Wm. B. RHOADS, brother of Uncle Dan RHOADS, deceased, arrived in Lemoore on Sunday last to attend the funeral of his brother. He will return shortly to C.S. MERRILL's ranch in the Coast rnage mountains. ------------------------------------------------ TWINS 91 YEARS OLD -- John and Richard McGRIFF are twin brothers, who were born in Preble County, Ohio, August 31, 1894. Their father and mother died at the age of 75 years, leaving several children, 4 of whom are still living -- the twins and 2 other brothers whose ages run from 65 to 91 years. All of them are married. The wives of the twins died about 50 years ago. They never remarried. John has 2 sons about 60 years old, with one of whom he makes his home, within a mile of his brother Richard, who lives at Deerfield, Ind., and has 6 children, 4 boys & 2 girls. They have been farmers all their lives and extensive stock dealers. They have lived but a short distance apart, meeting almost every day. They are mentally and physically sound, jovial, hearty and well-preserved men. Uncle Richard walks 4 miles every day, carrying the United States mail, and enjoys the exercise. This he has been doing for 20 years. He will not ride because he says it is too much bother to get in and out of a wagon. Away back in the 40's, Uncle John was elected Commissioner of his County, the only Democrat elected on the ticket. Richard never held office. In fact, neither one aspired to public positions, but both were always at the polls on election day to vote. Transcribed by Dee Sardoch To see more old newspapers, visit http://www.newspaperabstracts.com/

Dee: Now I know where Scrouge was living... SOME LITTLE ONE dropped a letter in the Hanford postoffice addressed to "Santa Claus." The stony-hearted assistant P.M., Jerry SQUIRE, wrote across a corner of the envelope, "Not in Hanford," and placed the letter among those held for postage and better direction. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dee Sardoc" <deesar@frontiernet.net> To: <NORCAL@rootsweb.com>; <CAKINGS@rootsweb.com>; <CATULARE@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, March 16, 2010 9:58 AM Subject: [NORCAL] Hanford, Kings Co., CA -- 17 December 1895 Hanford Journal Hanford, Kings Co., California Tuesday, 17 DECEMBER 1895 **************************************