What Stocktonites Were Doing 98 Years Ago

Six people suffered broken bones, cuts and burns during Fair week. Auto race car driver, Richard Richardson, one of the contestants, lost control of his car and it shot from the track, through the barbed wire fence and landed in a deep gulley, turning over and pinning him to the ground. Richardson was badly injured when the wires struck him in the face and neck, inflicting a severe gash on the throat from jaw to jaw. Mrs. John Edwards was the unfortunate victim of a severe accident when she fell on the show grounds. She received a complete fracture of the right arm. Chas. Reed, the third baseman for Agra, got an ugly cut in his right ankle when a runner accidently struck Reed with his foot. The show plate cut quite a gash. Mrs. Quentona Keller fell through a showcase at the Floral hall and was cut about the foot. Mrs. Keller had been standing above the showcase arranging some exhibits and while doing so missed her footing and fell through the case. Mrs. Frank Hubble was the most unfortunate victim of any. She and Mr. Hubble were on their way to the T. A. Kincaid home where they with several others were to partake of a Sunday dinner. On the way Mr. Hubble stopped at a pasture to look after some cattle while Mrs. Hubble and the baby remained in the buggy. Something frightened the team and they started to run. Mrs. Hubble, with the baby on her lap, endeavored to brace herself in the buggy but was pulled or forcibly thrown from the vehicle. It is not fully known just how her injury happened, whether from a kick of the horse or a foot was caught in a wheel, but she received a compound fracture of the lower right leg. The baby was not injured beyond a few scratches. One of Boss Lambert’s boys had his right hand badly burned by the explosion of a lamp, which had been filled with gasoline.

The J. T. Smith Hardware and Furniture store, one of the oldest establishments in Stockton, passed into the hands of N. F. Hill and Carl Bray this week. It has been generally known that Mr. Hill had been dickering for an interest in this store for some time, but not until the first of the week was a sale effected. Newt takes over the furniture undertaking and music departments while Mr. Bray takes the hardware, paint and wallpaper. The new owners will take possession next Monday.

The Mack-Welling Lumber Company of Palco has bought out their competitor, the Badge Lumber Company, putting the two yards under the Mack-Welling management. Earl Hinkhouse, who has been managing the Badger yard, goes to Collyer to take care of a yard there for the same company.

Robbers made an attempt Monday night to “blow” the Codell bank. The vault door was jimmied and the combination knob was broken off but the thieves failed to make an entrance in the vault, evidently being frightened away before completing their work. Pete Matson, cashier, said the work was that of professionals. Some days ago one of the banks at Natoma was robbed and it may be the same gang that made the attempt at Codell.

One of the interesting trials scheduled in this term of court was that of Charles E. Rader, charged on two counts—misdemeanor and manslaughter. The case on the first count went to the jury and no verdict was reached until a day and a half later. Rader was arrested in the killing of Lawrence Thomas in an automobile crash on October 29th, 1922. The accident happened a mile east of Woodston. It seemed that before turning the corner to the north, young Thomas swung his car to the south and Rader thought he swung south to let him pass, and spurted to go by when he hit Thomas’ car.

George Beckley is having the rear room of the old Wizard garage building, across from the Standard Service station, worked over into a paint shop for painting automobiles. One room is being portioned off for a varnishing room, making it dust proof, thus assuring a perfect finish to newly painted cars. Rev. T. S. Hunter will have the management of this business and it goes without staying that he is not surpassed when it comes to the art of paint. He will make your old car look as though it had just come from the factory. Mr. Beckley states that he expects to open the shop in a few days’ time.

Claude and Harry Turner and their families returned last Saturday from California, where they had gone in July with a plan to locate there. They did not like the country so returned to good old Kansas.

Probate Judge Case says that Cupid made business pick up in his office during the county fair days. Ustel Lee Clair and Irma O. McClay were granted a license on September 5th, Norbert Sonntag and Marie Newbrey, and William Francis Bice and Leona Milder Sites were married on September 6th; Marshall Ferris and Elsie Westenhaver received a license on September 7th; and Wm. Veverka and Sophronia Ziegler were granted a license on September 8th.

Complementary to Leigh Muir and his bride, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Muir and many relatives gave a fine reception at the parents’ home on September 9th. Leigh was married to Miss Florence Davis at her home in Arlington, Kansas on September 2nd at high noon. The acquaintance of the young couple dates back to their school days at Hays when they attended the college. The Muir families turned out “en masse” to give the newlyweds a royal reception. At the close of the greetings all repaired to the dining room where a feast of good things to eat had been placed on the table. In the afternoon a lunch of ice cream and cake were served. Leigh and his bride will reside on one of his father’s farms north of town, which has been prepared for them for some time.