THE NEW ERA, ALTURAS, MODOC COUNTY, CAL
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1912
MYSTERY SOLVED
In 1881, there disappeared from the mails, $3500.00, which had been placed
in the Registered Mail in twelve different letters by, John Comstock at
Peoria, Ill. The last trace of these letters was in the office from which
they were supposed to be sent and under the direct supervision of Charles
Edwin Burdette, as Register Clerk and who is the brother of the famous "Bob"
Burdette. The Washington Authorities investigated and found evidence very
strong, but did not feel like charging the so-called crime to young
Burdette, nevertheless they demanded his discharge and disgrace. General D.
Magee, the Post Master refused to do this.
A few years after this affair, Burdette left the Post Office and went to
Brown University and then to Newton Academy. He entered the ministry and was
assigned to Assam, India. He has now a pastorate in Springfield, Mass.
Into the repair shop at San Francisco a few days ago, a battered mail sack
was sent to be patched. It was a veteran and to repair it meant practically
to make a new sack. The first man to inspect the pouch decided that it
needed a new bottom and with a knife he ripped the leather. Above it he saw
a big manila envelope, caught by the corners, which served practically as a
false bottom. He opened the envelope and found that it contained the twelve
Comstock letters and the missing $3500.00, which had been wandering around
the country for thirty years.
When the finding of the money was reported to the Peoria Post office,
friends telegraphed to Mr. Burdette that the cloud hanging over him so long
had been dispelled.
QUESTION OF SEX
A local ironworker who has been married a couple of years always declared
that his first son should be named Mat, after one of his best friends.
Learning that the ironworker and his wife had recently been blessed with a
charming baby, a friend smiled all over his face when he greeted the father
on the street. "Well" he beamed, "how is little Mat?" "Mat,
nothing,"
answered the father, "it’s Mattress." – Youngstown Telegram
THREE ADIN BOYS HELD AS PRISONERS
The first of this week three young men were brought here from Adin and
placed behind the bars of the county jail, having been held to answer to the
Superior Court on a charge of rape. The prisoners are Ford Fruits, Johnny
Freeborne and John Pennington. Fruits and Freeborne are old offenders,
though young in years, having been up before the Court before. The following
account of the offense with which they are charged is copied from the Adin
Argus.
It was reported that some of the young men of this town visited the Indian
camp last night and assaulted a mahala, beat and otherwise mistreated her.
This morning, three young men were taken in charge by Constable Harry
Williams for complicity in the affair. No warrant has been issued owing to
the absence of the Peace, F. M. Auble at Alturas. There are no words in the
language to express the loathing and detestation with which the community
regards such acts of moral depravity. And it is to be hoped quick action
will be taken and stern justice melted out to the guilty parties.
This outrage on a defenseless Indian woman together with the indignities
heaped upon a simple-minded youth has thoroughly aroused our people. They
are getting tired of harboring such miscreants.
LOCAL AND PERSONAL
Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Thorne, of Mariposa, arrived here on Tuesday’s train for
a visit to their daughter, Mrs. J. M. Church.
J. Todd Bonner, who is in the employ of the State Fish and Game Commission,
is here this week to consult with the Board of Supervisors in regard to
local game laws.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 1912
LOCAL AND PERSONAL
Mrs. Pluma S. Ford is just recovering from a sick spell.
Mrs. A. C. Boudreau has been on the sick list for several days during the
past week.
R. B. Conley, principal of the grammar school was able to resume teaching
his classes last Wednesday, after a threatened attack of pneumonia.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1912
H. C. DODGE, KILLED
H. C. Dodge, who was in Alturas, for a time last summer, was shot at Reno
last Friday. It seems that Dodge and a man by mane Paul Streib got into a
quarrel over some matters with the result that Streib drew a revolver and
shot Dodge. Mr. Dodge lived after being shot until Monday morning. He leaves
two sons, who are also known in Alturas.
The funeral was conducted by the Elks; the deceased having been a member of
that order. (1:1)
MARRIED IN BIEBER
Last Saturday, Earl Clark, son of Mr. and Mrs. R. B. Clark and Miss Donnie
Craig, daughter of Mrs. M. D. Nicholson, of Glenburn and who has been in
Adin the past winter attending the Adin Preparatory School, quietly slipped
off to Bieber last Saturday, where they procured a license and were married
in the parlor of the Valley Hotel. After the ceremony, they continued on the
Glenburn, where they visited at the home of the bride’s parents for a few
days returning to Adin Tuesday evening.
JOHN S. BORRETTE DEAD
On March 30th, at the home of his nephew, John S. Borrette, in Susanville,
Henry Skedge Borrette passed away after a short illness, at the age of 100
years and 9 days. Doctor Borrette was known to nearly every citizen of
Lassen County and was beloved by all. Always cheerful, he had a way of
winning the hearts of young and old alike and he will be greatly missed by
all, of Susanville, where he has made his home for many years. (1:2) (Not
sure which person died).
DR. FRIEMAN SHOT AND INSTANTLY KILLED
Dr. F. N. Freiman, formerly a resident of Alturas, was shot and instantly
killed at his office in San Luis Obispo last Thursday. After which his
slayer committed suicide, shooting himself. The daily papers give but few
details of the occurrence. It is reported that the two men had been
quarreling over a bill.
Dr. Freiman was well and favorably known here and has many friends in Modoc,
who are deeply grieved to learn of his tragic death. (1:3)
INDIAN GETS STABBED BY NEGRO JANITOR
Last Thursday witnessed a hot time at the Indian camp west of Alturas, which
resulted in a dusky brave called Wild Bill getting stabbed in the back by
Deason, the little colored janitor of the First National Bank building.
It is said the cause was love and whiskey mixed, which seems to be a
dangerous mixture, judging from the result.
Deason was placed under arrest and on Monday was brought before Justice of
the Peace, W. E. Armstrong, who fixed the preliminary examination for next
Monday at ten o’clock.
The defendant is out on bail at present.
A. K. Wylie is employed as attorney for the defendant and says that the
testimony clearly shows a case of self-defense.
STEAMER SINKS 1200
The Titanic, the mammoth White Star Liner, with 2100 persons on board, sank
in med ocean Monday morning, after striking a huge iceberg. Only 866
persons, mostly women and children, are known to have been saved and it is
feared that more than 1200 were lost. Other steamers had learned of the
disaster by wireless message and were rushing to help, but arrived too late.
This is the greatest marine disaster known in history and the mind can but
faintly picture what terrible scenes of tragedy must have been enacted on
the decks of the doomed ship. This was the maiden voyage of the Titanic,
which was the largest steamer in the world.
LOCAL AND PERSONAL
Morris Lamb is quite sick this week with pneumonia.
Mrs. M. Murphy is on the sick list this week with a badly sprained ankle.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 1912
NEGRO MARRIES INDIAN MAID
Last Friday the County clerk issued a license for the marriage of M. W.
Deecent, colored, and Dora Aller, a dusky native daughter of the Pitt River
tribe. On Saturday the happy couple hied them to the office of Justice of
the Peace, J. P. Callaghan, who in his usual impressive and dignified manner
tied the nuptial knot, which naught but death or the divorce court can
sever. It will be remembered that the bridegroom is the little colored
janitor who was arrested last week for stabbing an Indian in the back.
However, no cloud so dark but that it has a silver lining and now Mr.
Deecent is enjoying an aftermath of happiness after his season of strife and
trouble.
NEGRO IS TURNED LOOSE
The criminal case of the People vs. M. W. Deecent, the colored janitor of
the First National Bank Building, came up for hearing Monday, before Justice
of the Peace, W. E. Armstrong. The charge was stabbing an Indian called Wild
Bill in the back with a pocket knife but as the hearing progressed, the
evidence showed that the act was done in self-defense. It seems that the
Indian had gone in the night to the cabin where the defendant was living and
has raised a disturbance and made an attack on Deecent, who in turn drew his
pocket knife and defended himself. Upon this showing, the Court was obliged
to turn the defendant loose.
LOCAL AND PERSONAL
John G. Dawson resigned his position as deputy sheriff last week and we are
informed that Sheriff A. E. Smith has appointed L. M. Estes to that
position.
Mrs. N. A. Cornish suffered from a paralytic stroke last week and is now
lying critically ill from the same, but is somewhat better than at first. At
first she had lost the power of speech, but has now recovered so she can
speak in a whisper. Her husband, N. A. Cornish, was absent in Seattle at the
time, but was telegraphed for.
J. M. Kirkpatrick returned a few days ago from a visit to Bakersfield, where
he was called as a witness in a jury trial in which Bernard C. Sitz, well
known in Goose Lake Valley, was the prisoner, the charge being obtaining
money under false pretense. The result of the trial was a hung jury,
standing three for acquittal and nine for conviction.
We received a copy of the Elma Chronicle this week, containing the sad news
that Dr. Harry G. Hill had died at his home in Elma, Washington, at the age
of 73 years. Dr. Hill was formerly a resident of Modoc County and all the
old time inhabitants of Alturas and vicinity will remember him well. His
life was a kindly and useful one and all who knew him will grieve to learn
of his death. (4:1)
Ed Conlan, one of the prominent ranchers of Fort Bidwell, arrived here last
Friday on his way home from below, where he went to secure surgical
treatment for his hand. Last fall, Mr. Conlan had his hand badly broken, so
that it never healed properly. The hospital surgeons removed several small
pieces of shuttered bone and the hand is now considerably better.
Maurice Lamb is just recovering from an attack of pneumonia.
Little Thelma Lyberger daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Lyberger, of Alturas,
is very sick this week.
~~~~~~
Billie C. & Anita 'Jean' Reynolds
Armed Forces Emergency Service Caseworker
American Red Cross
Three Rivers Chapter, Yuba City, CA
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Family Researcher of "The Last Frontier"
Modoc County, California