What Stocktonites Were Doing 94 Years Ago
The J. P. Vallette Cash Store was broken into Monday night, and merchandise of about $200.00 was taken. A pane of glass from the rear door was removed, permitting the robbers to unlock the door. Evidently, the robbers “knew their stuff” in selecting merchandise for many pairs of the best silk hosiery and other silken garments were appropriated, a few pairs of men’s shoes, several sacks of flour, and some canned goods and about $8.00 from the cash register. Mr. and Mrs. Vallette could not determine the quantity of merchandise taken, but these articles are missing. Tracks show that a car was driven up to the door, and the robbers made more than one trip to carry the goods away. The same night, the Swank Store of Woodston was entered, and there, the robbers helped themselves to two guns, some flashlights, ammunition, and other articles from the Swank stock. Tuesday, Sheriff Gillilan received a wire from the Wichita police that they were holding two men who had confessed to the Swank robbery. It is said that the men were trying to sell the guns and flashlights and, in doing so, aroused the suspicions of the prospects, and the police were notified. Local officers think that these men had a hand in pulling off the job at the Cash Store. In company with Joe Hagemeister, Sherriff Gillilan left immediately for Wichita and will return home this afternoon with their prisoners.
A new oil field seems to be assured for Rooks County The Seeley and Boynton test on the Dick Silvers place in Rush Township. They struck the pay at about 3,430 feet late Sunday, and 2,100 feet of oil rose in the hole in a short time. Various well estimates have been circulating, ranging from 300 barrels to 800 barrels a day. The oil was found in sand, which is believed to have a depth of approximately 80 feet, and the sand is said to be similar to that found in the Gorham field.
The Missouri Pacific’s applicator to take off our motor train has been taken under advisement by the State Public Utilities Commission. The hearing was at Downs last Wednesday and brought out the fact that the Missouri Pacific claimed to be making only $5.60 per day from the passenger portion of the earnings of the train. It was admitted, however, that the mail and express brought up the daily revenue to a sum slightly over the salaries paid to the train crew, but the passenger superintendent testified positively that the train was losing proposition to his line. It developed that the new service, if such it could be called, would leave Stockton at about 6:00 a.m. and proceed leisurely to Downs, arriving at 9:00 a.m. It would consist of a baggage car and an old passenger coach added to the freight train. A passenger, or an article of mail or express, would remain in Downs about twelve hours before he could begin the usual twelve-hour trip to Kansas City. This would allow one to travel 299 miles from Stockton to Kansas City in less than 27 hours. The return trip would not be quite so impossible. One would not have to wait more than two hours at Downs unless the freight was late in getting started back towards Stockton. The passenger would be able to arrive at Stockton at about noon and could reasonably be sure of getting here sometime during the afternoon.
Robert Osborn, son of Mr. and Mrs. O. O. Osborn of this city, is again a favorite in the musical organizations at Washburn College in Topeka. In the recent tryouts of music, he was again selected as a member of the men’s glee club and the college choir and elected chorister of his fraternity, Phi Delta Theta. Robert is going strong, and his friends here are glad to hear about it.
J. B. Riseley returned Friday by train from a business trip to Topeka. Mr. Riseley attended the hearing before the Public Utility Commission at Downs on removing the tour passenger train service last Wednesday and drove to Topeka after the meeting. He found the road impassable Friday morning and left his car at Alton, returning for it on Tuesday evening. He reports that the highway commission is planning to surface the road between Osborne and Stockton so that it is up to standard grade shortly.
Miss Gladys Jepson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mathias Jepson, married Mr. Titus Martin of this community on September 28th at the Probate Judge Case’s office. Although the young couple had been engaged for several months, the marriage was a surprise to their many friends and relatives. The bride was a student at Stockton High School and had been employed until recently in office work. The groom, Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Martin’s son, is a Stockton school graduate. For the present, they are making their home with the bride’s parents on their farm just east of Stockton. They plan on moving into town as soon as they can secure a house. Their many friends wish them a long and happy married life.
From The Woodston Argus….. Mesdames Celia Hollen, V. A. Crist, J. L. Smither, and Lawrence Swank attend the state convention of Federated Clubs at Hays on Tuesday….. Miss Doris Whitford is one of the 1,637 students who have enrolled at the State Teachers College at Emporia…..Congressman Chas. I. Sparks, who is the Republican candidate for re-election from the Sixth District, was campaigning in this neighborhood last Friday. He gave a short talk to the high school students.
