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THE CAPE COUNTY HERALD! CAPE GIRARDEAU, MISSOURI, MAY 17, 1918
NUMBER 20
TRIBUNE
-a.
VOL: XVII
BIG TIMBER WOLF
SLAIN BY FARMER
AT WHITEWATER
Animal Believed to Have
Been Driven in by
Flood.
FIRST SHOT IN 20
YEARS, IT IS SAID
Killed Near Home of L. H. Pru
itt by Farm Hand Was
3 Feet High.
A large timber wolf, one of the
largest of its kind ever seen in this
section of the state, was killed at
Whitewater Tuesday by Vic Gangel,
employed by L. H. Pruitt at White
water. It was said to be the first
wolf slain near Whitewater in twenty
years. The animal was killed in a
small field surrounded by many hous
es. He had evidently been driven out
of the weeds by the flood.
Pruitt brought the hide and scalp
of the wolf to the Cape yesterday to
have it tanned. The scalp indicates
the size of the wolf, the ears being
as large as those of a middleaged
greyhound.
According to Mr. Fruitt, the wolf
was nearly three feet tall. The hide
was exceptionally good, the hair being
long and course. The tail is as bushy
as that of a wild cat.
Farmers around Whitewater believe
the slain wolf was the same that
made his appearance on their farms
last witner. An unusually large male
wolf was seen near Whitewater sev
eral Jimes during the winter, but ev
idently did no damage to the live
stock of the farmers.
Tuesday morning Gangel was work
ing on the Pruitt place, when he saw
the wolf emerge from the thicket that
covers the field and approach him. He
hurried inside and got a shot gun.
The animal was evidently hungry,
paying little attention to its sur
roundings. Gangel let the wolf come within a
short distance, when he raised his
gun and fired, killing the wolf almost
instantly.
A reward of $00 is paid by the
State on each wolf scalp. Residents of
Whitewater say it was the first wolf
killed in that vicinity in at least 20
years. Several weeks ago a farmer
in Bollinger County shot a wolf, it
being a small one and not such a fine
specimen as was the one killed by
Gangel.
Wolves are becoming a rare animal
in this section of the State. It is be
lieved that Gangers victim lived in
the woods along the south county line
and was driven out by the high water
to hunt some food.
SWITCH ENGINE
RUNS OVER AND
KILLS EMPLOYE
G.
J. Williamson Struck as
He Steps Off Flat
Car.
BODY TO BE TAKEN TO
ILLMO TO BE BURIED
Coronet's Jury Returns Open
Verdict Only Two Witnesses
Eiamined.
The body of Garrett Jefferson Wil
liamson, a pile driver in the employ
of the Frisco, who was run over and
almost instantly killed by a switch
engine, a short distance south of the
freight depot yesterday morning, will
be shipped to Illmo this afternoon for
burial to take place, probably Sunday
afternoon. A son of the dead man,
Ms pie Williamson, arrived here 'io n
Illmo yesterday afternoon to make all
arrangements for the funeral.
Testimony given at the inquest,
which was held by Justice of the
Peace Kage, acting coroner, at the J L-J
D
Field Signal Corps in Action
0
DR.
BE
VORBECK WILL
U. S. SURGEON
Passes Civil'Scrvice Examination
With Average;of95 Per Cent,
A High Record.
Dr. J. C. Vorbeck, the well-known
physician, was' yesterday notified
from Washington that he had passed
the Ciil Service Examination for U.
S. Public Health Surgeon, and will be
assigned to duty in the marine hos
pital service in October.
Dr. Vorbeck passed the examina
tion with an average of 95 per cent.
he was informed by John A. Mcllhen
nv. uresident of the United States
Civil Service Commission.
Under this branch of the govern
ment, Dr. Vorbeck will not be requir
ed to leave the United States. He
is expected to be assigned to duty at
some port of entry where he will ex
amine immigrants.
undertaking parlors of the Lorberg
Undertaking Company in Haarig,
failed to reveal whether the death of
Williamson was an accident or wheth
er the accident could be attributed to
criminal carelessness. An open ver
dict .stating that the man "came to
his death by being run over by a
Frisco switch engine," was returned
by the jury.
Two witnesses were heard- E. W.
Segraves, foreman of the pile driving
train, and Lee Taylor, conductor of
the train. Doth testified that they
saw Williamson jump from the pile
driving train, which was standing
still, but paid no atten.tjonL.to him
until they saw him standing right
against the tank of the tender of the
switch engine which they testified
was moving at a' moderate rate of
speed on the main track. j
Both said they believed the engi
neer of the switch engine sounded his
whistle when he approached the
street crossing near the freight de-j
pot. They could not state, however,)
whether he gave a warning when he
approached the place where William
son was crossisg the track.
Other witnesses were not examin
ed. The jury, after a short delibera
tion, returned an open verdict. The
jurors were ex-Mayor Will Hirsch,
foreman; Frank Kinder, Horace Si
berell, William Liles, Ed Frenzel and
Elbert Kice.
Williamson died within a few min
utes after the accident. His right leg
was mangled from his hip to his an
kle, his left leg was also badly in
jured near the knee. He had also
suffered somp cuts and bruises about
the head, probably a fracture of the
skull.
The engine was stopped immediate
ly, and the injured man extricated by
the crew and the two witnesses who
testified at the inquest. He died after
being placed on the engine to be tak
en, to the passenger station, where the
body was met by the ambulance. It
was taken to the Lorberg Undertak
ing establishment to be held for the
coroner's inquest.
Williamson was born in Neely's
Landing and was employed by rail
roads for many years. He is said to
have been in the employ of the Frisco
for about 12 years. He was well
nown in this city, having worked
around the Cape for many years. He
was 50 years old, and leaves several
grown children. Two sons live in Ill
mo and a daughter in Arkansas.
4
JDDG B. F. DAVIS
LOSES LIFE AS
BOAT OVERTURNS
Returning From Farm with B. C.
Hardesty Drowns NearRanneys
Switch In Drainage Ditch Yester
day Evening.
BODY NOT RECOVERED DESPIE
CAREFUL SEARCH OF WATER
A. M. SPRADING
WEDS IN KENTUCKY
Well-known Lawyer Takes Miss
Alma Wilier of This City for
His Bride.
Albert M. Spradling, one of th
most promising young lawyers in this
section of the state, was married to
Miss Alma Wilier of this city in Pa
ducah, Ky., Wednesday. The newly
weds are now honeymooning in. the
Eluegrass State, and will likely re
turn home early next week.
The couple have been seen frequent
ly together and it was reported sev
eral weeks ago by close friends that
they were engaged. Miss WHler de
parted for Paducah last week to visit
relatives, it was stated. Tuesday of
this week Mr. Spradling departed for
that city, but he left the impression
that his visit was of a professional
nature.
Thursday, morning his friends in
the Cape received messages that in
dicated he had married. Yesterday it
was learned officially' that the wed
ding took place in that city. .
The bride is one of Cape Girar
deau's most popular young ladies.
JOHN DOYLE HIT
BY TIRE, SUFFERS
FRACTUREDSKULL
Tire On His Auto Bursts
Hurling Rim Against
His Head.
CHANCE FOR RECOVERY
SMALL, DOCTORS STATE
Unconscious al Hospital Parts
Of Skull Removed In
Operation.
GERMANY PROMISES TO GO
NO FURTHER INTO RUSSIA
Washington, May 17 A Moscow
dispatch today to the State Depart
ment said Germany had given assur
ance to the Russian Soviet Govern
ment that German armies would ad
vance no further into Russion terri
tory.
POPLAR BLUFF GETS
1919 K. C. MEETING
YOUNG MEN 21 SINCE
JUNE 5, ORDERED TO
REGISTER FOR ARMY
Jefferson City, Mo., May 17. The
registration of young men who have
become 21 years old since June 5,
1917, will be done under the supervi
sion of the present local boards in the
various counties of the state and the
City of St. Louis, according to unof
ficial regulations which were today
forwarded by Lieut. Col. J. H. McCord
selective draft officer, to local boards.
This measure has not been approv
ed by President Wilson, but the pro
vost marshal general wanted the reg
ulations governing the rerrlstr:i'.;--jn in
the hands of the lorn! b.:irl; i-ic;.
can familiarize themselves wi:h
provisions.
Luke Hart of St. Loafs is Made
State Deputy to Succeed
i Joseph Kane.
COUNTY ASSESSORTO
LISTALIENPROPERTY
Meeting of Assessors to be Held
In Jefferson City
May 20.
Poplar Bluff will have the State
convention of the Knights of Colum
bus in 1919, it was voted at the State
meeting held at Columbia, Mo., a few
days ago, which was attended by Ed
Schindler and Joseph Jarsik, the Cape
Girardeau delegates to the annual
convention. They returned from the
university city yesterday.
The convention next year will b
held on the second Tuesday and Wed
nesday in May. It is expected to
be one of the largest meetings ever
held in Butler County seat. More than
500 delegates of all councils of the
order in this State attended the con
vention in Columbia, Mr. Schindler re
ported.
Luke Hart .a prominent attorney
of St .Louis, was chossn State Depu
ty to succeed Joseph Kane, who de
clined to be a candidate for re-elec
tion to this office. Mr. Hart is well
known to the members of the local
council of the Knights of Columbus.
He will have an opportunity to make
a closer acquaintance with his fellow
Knights as the State Deputy confers
the degrees of the order.
While filling a tire on his automo
bile in front of the Hope-Cotner ga
rage on Broadway yesterday evening
about 7:30 o'clock, John Doyle was
dangerously injured, when the tire
burst, hurling the rim against the left
side of his head with such force that
he suffered a cross fracture of the
skull. He was rushed home in a pass
ing automobile and thence taken to
St. Francis Hospital where an imme
diate operation was performed to save
his life.
Mr. Doyle, accompanied by his
mother, Mrs. H. S. Doyle, 118 Themis
street, was returning from a drive.
When they reached the garage he
stopped to fill the tire. He was stoop
ing over to remove the air hos? from
the tire when the latter burst.
The rim was torn from- the wheel
and struck him on the left side of his
head. He was rendered unconscious.
Several persons who were attracted
by the heavy sound of the bursting
tire, ran to his assistance and carried
him into the garage.
Dr. O. L. Seabaugh was called and
after a preliminary examination ad
vised that he be taken home. The
automobile being unfit for immediate
use, a passing machine was halted to
ronvev the injured man home. An
other examination revealed the seri
ousness of the injury and Mr. Doyle
was rushed to the hospital.
Two noted surgeons of the city
were called into consultation and they
decided upon an immediate operation
It was performed two hours after the
accident.
The attending physicians declared
after the operation that although Mr,
Doyle's injury was very serious, he
has a chance to recover. He was still
tl ATI C 1 All at an earlv hour this
mornincr. it was said at the hospital.
He was resting well, being under the
influence of the narcotics.
Dr. W. C. Patton, one of the best
surgeons of the .city, was summoned
to perform the operation. He removed
part of the skull on the left side to
relieve the pressure on the injured
man s sneech center. He declared
after the operation he believed Mr.
Doyle was also injured internally,
thinking ha might have been struck
by the lower edge of the rim. If the
speech center of the brain was af-
County Assessor Ernest Caldwell
has been ordered by the State Tax
Commission to record all alien prop
erty in .the county and forward the
list to the Federal director of the
bureau at Washington, D. C, where
all property owned by enemy aliens
in this country is recorded.
The report on this class of proper
ty must show how it is invested and
whether the owner has invested any
of his money in Liberty bonds. The
State Tax Commission, in issuing a
general order to the local assessors,
emphasized that the request was
made at the behest of the Federal
bureau of investigation under the su
pervision of the custodian of alien en
emy property.
A meeting of the county assessors
has been called at Jefferson City May
20. All county clerks and the county
judges have also been invited to at
tend this meeting, which is held for
the purpose of bringing about har
mony between the State Tax Com
mission and the State Board of
Equalization. In that manner, it is
believed a repetition of the contro
versy over the assessing of property
can be averted.
Discussion of the enemy alien prop
erty will be one of the chief problems
confronting the conference. The meet
ing will be continued probably two
days and might be extended owing
to the new question brought before
the county assessors. Suggestions as
to how to ascertain the amount of
property owned by alien enemie and
how it is investeJ, will be given to
the county assessors in order that no
alien's investment can escape the at
tention cf the Federal authoritie.
Had Spent Day with Law Partner
On His Farm Near Dutchtown
Skiff Hurled Against Pier.
Judge B. F. Davis, one of the most prominent attorneys in Southeast
Missouri, was drowned yesterday evening in the small drainage ditch near
Ranney's Svvith, while returning from his farm, where he and his law
partner, Benson C. Hardesty, had spent the day looking after the live
stock and viewing the damage done b the flood. The jurist lost his life
in view of a gang of Frisco workmen, who were repairing the trestle over
the diversion channel at that point. His body was not recovered despite a
careful search by his companion and the Frisco employrs. Hopes of recov
ering the body last night were abandoned when dark fame. An effort will
be made again this morning to recover it.
The news of the death of Judge Davis was telephoned to friends of
the family by Mr. Hardesty and spread rapidly through the city. Friends
gathered at the home of the late jud ge on Themis street to assist his wife,
who collapsed when she learned of t hp tragedy.
Mr. Hardesty. and Judge Davi3 left terms, but resigned to devote all his
for the farm near Dutchtown yester-jtime to the practice of law. Shortly
.lay morning. They drove in a wagon, after his arrival in this city he form
taking with them a skiff to rescue
what they could, if necessary. After
spending the day on the farm they
decided to return in the boat on the
small ditch, known as drainage ditch
No. 2 and located immediately north
of the floodwav ot the Little River
Drainage District.
"The water was calm," said Mr.
l
cil a partnership with Judge D. L.
Hawkins. They remained in partner
ship till January. 1S8G.
In November. 1S87, he was united
in marriage with Miss Olivia Wanlcs
of Dover, Del. One child. Miss Eliza-
jbrth Waples Davis, was born to the
union. The daughter has been very
I
Hardesty, in relating the details of , prominent in public work for several
the drowning of his friend and law, years. At the pi-sent time
partner. "There appeared to be no ! Washington. D
danger, so we continued our trip 'this district to the national conven-
ne is in
a delegate of
Patton said, Mr.
speechless for
Doyle J
several
fected, Dr,
would be
months.
Dr. W. E. Yount, a noted eye spe
cialist, was also called into consulta
tion to determine whether the sight
of the left eye of the injured man had
been affected. Although the optic
was badly swollen, he said he did not
believe that the vision had been im
paired.
Mr. Doyle regained consciousness
only for a fey seconds after the acci
dent. It was on the way to the hos
pital when he opened his eyes and
asked his brother Mike, who was ac
companying, where he was being tak
en. When informed he was on his
way home he relapsed into uncon
sciousness. Friends of Mr. Doyle, who is well
known in the city," expressed deep re
gret at the accident. All agreed it
was unusual for a careful driver as
Mr. Doyle is known, to meet with
such an accident.
down the ditch toward the washout
of the Frisco track near Ranney's
Switch.
"The judge was seated in the front
part of the skiff. I occupied the rear
seat. As we approached Ranney's
Switch we noticed that the current
was getting swifter, but still not
swift enought to alarm anyone who
was familiar with a skiff.
"The force of the current was in
creased by the influx of water
through a gap in the levee near the
bridge. We left ihc skiff and walked
around on the bridge and the place
inspecting the work of the raiiroad
men. We considered this somewhat of
an outing and were not in a hurry
to return home.
"We returned to our boat and de
cided to float under the bridge. The
stream of water pouring into the
ditch through . the gap pushed our
skiff against one of the pier of the
bridge. The skiff was fcjrced into
what appeared a whirlpool, and be
fore we knew what happened the boat
capsized.
We both fell into the water. My
first thought was to rescue my friend
who was about 20 feet in front of me.
Just as I caught sight of the Judge I
saw him go down, and that was the
last time I laid eyes on him. He did
not reappear another time.
I jerked my rubber boots off, which
made swimming much easr jfcnH
! rushed to the bank. Immediately the
bridge workers came to my rescue
and we began to search the water for
Judge Davis. We continued our efforts
until dark."
' nother search party will be organ
... i , , . . .
ized twiay to conunue loosing ior xne
body.
Judge Davis was born in Delaware
in 1885. He was a son of Thomas J.
and Mary Davis, who lived at Mil
ford, Del. He received his first edu
cation at Amherst College in Massa
chusetts and in 1878 was graduated
in the classic course. He then took
up the study of law at Dover, Del.,
where he was admitted to the bar in
1882.
In that year he came to this city
to practice law. For a short time he
was a professor at the Normal, teach
ing Greek and Latin. He was a mem
ber of the Normal faculty for several
tion of the Women's Council of Na
tional Defensp. She was notified of
her father's death yesterday evening.
Judge Davis had an appointment to
meet his daughter at Washington and
go to Amherst to attend the com
mencement exercises as was the
ju Ige's custom every year.
Judge Davis was onp of the lead
ing Republicans of this county. He
was elected judge of the Common
Comynon Pleas Court in 1910, and at
the expiration of his term again was
a candidate for the judgeship of the
Common Pleas Court. He was defeat
ed, however, by the late Judge Ran-
ney at the general election. His de
feat, it was generally conceded at
at that time, was due to a split in
the Republican party.
Judge Davis was one of the lead
ing jurists of his days. As judge of
the Common Pleas Court he always
manifested careful judgment in ren
dering his decisions. He was often
consulted by younger attorneys. His
desire to -help youngei co??pagues
caused him to form a partnership
with Mr. Hardesty, when he left the
bench. He was the legal advisor of the
rst National Bank and also of the
Cape Girardeau Building and Loan
Association.
Judge Davis was considered one of
the largest real estate owners in this
city. He is said to have loaned a
helping hand to the poor when in need
and did much for charity purposes.
CRAWLS HALF MILE
WITH BROKEN LEG
Summons Aid for Sturm Victims
in Dunklin County Little
Boy Killed.
Extricating himself from the
wreckage of his home, which was de
stroyed by a terrific windstorm last
Friday, a son of W. T. Trobough, liv
ing near Kcnnett. crawled half a mile
with a fractured leg to summon medi
cal aid for the 'other injured members''
cf the family, says the Dunklin Court-1
ty News. The house was blown front
the foundation and buried the occu
pants under the debris.
