The Franklin County Publication Archive Index is constantly updated. By creating an account you can elect to receive notices when new articles are added and when people comment on the articles.
To search for a particular subject term, click on the highlighted link containing that term at the bottom of the article. For example, if you are seeking more articles about animals, click on the highlighted link which says Animals/Reptiles/Amphibians.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, September 13, 1875
South Deerfield
South Deerfield - The report of the fire, as given by the Springfield Republican on Mon., was anything but satisfactory to the "Law Abiding Citizens", their item in Tuesday's paper to the contrary notwithstanding. The insinuation that Mr.Mulligan allowed a set of roughs to come up on the train, who created "so much disturbance", the citizens do not believe.
On the contrary, we are requested to say that they are very grateful to Superintendent Mulligan and the company which came with him, for the very prompt manner in which they responded to the call for aid, notwithstanding they did not get here to render much aid, they did manifest a disposition, for which they have the hearty thanks of all Law Abiding Citizens". [Very blurry section follows]
Then the insinuation that the Irish were more drunken and disorderly than any other class is a mistake, perhaps not purposely. On the other hand there were many Irish [?] as they always have on such occasions in this place. As for the liquor flowing freely we will say nothing, as judging from the report we presume the said reporter knew better about that than the "Law Abiding Citizens" [more blurriness - sorry]. Law Abiding Citizen.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, September 13, 1875
Greenfield -
Greenfield - Trial Justice Brainard disposed of the following cases last week: Michael Moran, who took wood from Millers Falls, the property of Oselo Goodnow, was fined $2 and costs, from which he appealed. James Dwyer, Whitney Barden, Horatio Cutler and David Buffum of Montague City, were arrested for assaulting Abner Avery, and were fined $5 and one fourth of the costs each, which amounted to $8.92.
John McIves, one of the Bardwell’s Ferry roughs, was arrested by P.M. Fitzgerald for drunkenness, fined $5 and costs, which if not paid within 3 days, he was to take 20 days in the House of Correction. Dennis Brown for assault on Michael O’Neil, was brought in by Sheriff Swan of Shelburne Falls, and fined $8 and costs. Justice Davis discharged Patrick Mahaney of Cheapside, who was brought up for drunkenness, and fined John McIves $2 and costs - $4.95, who was picked up drunk by night policeman Carbee.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, September 13, 1875
News about home: Greenfield items
Greenfield - Fred Hawks left town last week to commence work upon a long bridge over the West River at Townshend Vt. It will require several weeks work with a large gang of hands to complete his contract.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, September 6, 1875
A female burglar
A female burglar has just been caged in Indiana, whose ingenuity and daring would be worthy of admiration were they exercised in a different field of labor. Her name is Nellie Spencer, and she is reported to have had under her command as desperate a gang of thieves as ever flourished. The latest operations of her gang were undertaken in Evansville, where Nellie was so unlucky as to be caught.
She is described as a young woman and wears a determined look upon her face. She is of good large figure, and her movements are extremely graceful. Her eyes are coal black, and a winning smile plays about her mouth. She wears her hair short and curly, combed back from her forehead, and she has a very pretty way of throwing it back by a dash of her hand.
She is no ordinary woman, and has little of the timidity which characterizes her sex. She has discarded the garments of her sex with all other feminine attributes and donned the clothing of the sterner sex, while carrying out her plans.
Her gang would usually meet at 2 o'clock in the morning. The party assigned for the work of burglary would be assisted by one person to hold the swag, while the others would be posted around to give warning. The signals were various, sometimes a gentle rap on the fence, and again a low whistle.
When anyone approached, the party lay low until he passed, and the business was again resumed. No one person was selected to do the burglary, the risky work being divided between the members of the gang. Frequently however, Nellie is said to have accomplished a neat job single handed. Her valise was found where she boarded and among its contents were two suits of men's clothes.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, August 30, 1875
Shelburne
(Shelburne) There was quite a fight down on the railroad Sun. night, in which about 60 were engaged. It was rather the worst time that they have had, and was bad enough, as appearances of heads and eyes testify.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, August 9, 1875
News about home: Greenfield items
Among the victims who received sentence at Justice Brainard's court last week were James Moran, who was fined $9.95; Thomas Roach, fined $9.53, and James Riley, fined $9.85. These all belonged to the Bardwell's Ferry gang, and were hauled up for drunkenness. Martin McAllister, a local common drunkard, was sent to the House of Correction for 6 months.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, August 9, 1875
News about home: Greenfield items
One of the Bardwell’s ferry roughs, with more Greenfield whiskey that he could carry, settled down in front of Lamb’s music store to sleep it off Sat. aft. Officer Kimball being called upon to remove him, found the man had still life enough to show considerable fight, and was obliged to put "leaders" on him before he could take him to jail.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, July 26, 1875
John Jordan
John Jordan, a discarded lover of Miss Coyne of Taylorsville, Pa., was fatally shot by Miss Coyne Mon. night, while attempting with a gang of roughs to force an entrance to the Coyne house to eject one Oarnoshan[?], who had supplanted Jordan in his affections of the woman, and to close the tragedy, Miss Coyne, while handing the pistol to her son, accidentally discharged it, the ball lodging in Miss Coyne's side, and producing a serious and possibly fatal wound.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, July 26, 1875
Millers Falls
The Millers Falls Company completed their new dam the past week, and it seems to be the general opinion that "this dam will stand". The work was commenced on the coffer dam April 12; water was let into the same on the 27th April; and since then a gang of men have worked continually on the new structure. About 150,000 ft. of lumber have been used in its construction, and of this amount, 70,000 ft. are below the water level of the natural stream.
The work has been under the constant supervision of A.P. Richardson of Turners Falls, a first class constructor of dams, and who is a master of his profession in all its particulars. We think the company have reason to congratulate themselves upon having such an efficient and thorough workman to superintend the construction of the dam. He don't like any "bureau" work around; but everything that is done, is well done.
The late 5 o'clock prayer meeting, held in the Shirkshire school house, was of deep interest, more than 125 present; a marked change from the time, when disturbed by roughs, such a gathering could scarcely be held. The influence of Christianity has done much, and we hope for more good; the result of patient, prayerful effort.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, June 21, 1875
News about home: Greenfield items
Our village was filled on Wed. with drunken roughs. These fellows belonged to the gang of workmen on the Troy & Greenfield railroad, who, having been paid off, were spending their small wages in a general debauch. One or two arrests were made, and Officer Kimball was called to the depot, before the departure of the western train in the aft., to quell a disturbance among the fellows, who were having a free fight in a car. It is said that two Greenfield men drove out Tues. night to the road where these men were employed, and sold them several gallons of whiskey.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, May 24, 1875
News of the week
A gang of ruffians, supposed to be the James and Younger brothers, who have settled their differences and are again operating together, visited a country store standing alone on the prairie, 12 miles north of Clinton, Mo. on Thurs. last, forced a party of 8 gentlemen and ladies, who were playing croquet on the lawn in the rear of the store, to go inside, and then, while 3 of the robbers stood guard, the fourth relieved the party, the store keeper and the store of all portable valuables to be found, after which the robbers coolly mounted their horses and rode away.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, May 17, 1875
Hartwellville, Vt.
One of the boys that was arrested just before going to the State Reform School, owned that Calvin Fuller was their leader, and that they had lived high all winter on chickens, apples, and wine they had stolen. He will not have to steal now.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, May 10, 1875
News about home: Greenfield items
The army of half clad boys and girls who slam your front gate and ring your door bell, before you have finished your last morning nap, to inquire if you want to "buy any greens" are now in the full tide of their glory.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, May 10, 1875
News of the week
As expected, Judge Lynch [i.e. a lynch mob] succeeded in trying the case of the colored murderer, Joe Reed, who killed Policeman Frazier at Nashville, Tenn. Fri. night. The jailer did his best to protect his prisoner, but without avail. The mob, after several hours' work, forced their way in, seized Reed, fastened a rope around his neck, and hurrying him to the suspension bridge, threw him over with the intention of hanging, but the rope broke and he fell to the rocks below, a distance of 90 ft., and from thence into the river. He was shot once on the way and again at the bridge. [A policeman shot by a colored ruffian in Nashville - see the May 1, 1875 article in the New York Times].
Gazette & Courier - Monday, May 10, 1875
A gang of workmen from the Troy and Greenfield railroad repairs at Bardwell's Ferry went down to Springfield Mon
A gang of workmen from the Troy and Greenfield railroad repairs at Bardwell's Ferry went down to Springfield Mon. for a little "tear" and William Welch and William Tidd brought up very drunk Tues. night, on the Boston and Albany railroad track. Welch made a pillow of the rail, and his head was crushed by the passing switch engine Agawam.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, April 26, 1875
Daring robbery of a New York horse car
One of the boldest robberies that has ever been committed in New York occurred on one of the Belt line horse cars Mon. William P. Goldin, messenger for the Architectural Iron Works had just drawn $3000 from a bank and entered the car, when he was followed by 3 rough looking men, one of whom sat beside him, and the other 2 as near as possible. While passing through 14th Street between Avenues C & D, the man who sat beside Goldin snatched the package of money from him and dashed out of the door, one of the pals following him, while the other rushed to the door, drew a revolver and threatened to shoot the first person who stirred. The passengers, all of whom had risen, fell back dismayed before the revolver, the ladies screaming while the robbers jumped into a two-seated wagon that had been following the car and made off. One of the passengers managed to get out of the car and seize the robbers' horses by the head, but he was at once knocked down and the highwaymen made good their escape.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, March 29, 1875
The hanging of the bandit Vasquez
The hanging of the bandit Vasquez [Tiburcio Vasquez] the other day in California, closed a career that in the romance of crimes deserves to be ranked with the stories of Robin Hood, Dick Turpin, Claude Duval and Fra Diavolo. Vasquez had a spice of all these romantic villains in his composition. He joined the delicacy of a woman with the ferocity of a wolf and the courage of a panther. He had the manners of a Spanish don and the morals of a savage.
/ He had committed 37 murders, stolen some thousands of horses, and abducted a dozen or more women, who for the most part were willing to go.
/ He was a California Don Juan. The frontiersmen knew now whether to fear their lives, their herds, or their wives and daughters. Murders, horse thieving and love episodes alternated in the career of the bandit. He has been the leader of several bands of which he has finally remained the sole survivor. A thousand hair breadth escapes seemed to prove that he possessed a charmed life. His first murder was committed at 10, on account of a woman, and he was finally trapped through a fondness for their company. His life of crime lasted for 29 years, though he was but 36 at his execution. His name will be a household word in California for a generation.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, March 29, 1875
News of the week
The police of Lynn have broken up a gang of 5 youthful burglars, between the ages of 10 and 14, who have committed numerous petty robberies in that city for some time past.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, February 8, 1875
Murder of two college graduates
Murder of two college graduates - A recent issue of the Nashua, N.H. Telegraph gives the particulars of the alleged murder in Louisiana of two graduates of Dartmouth College. The two men, it says, were college mates, one V.B. Long, a talented, strong-hearted young man graduated in 1858; the other Frank W. Perkins, was still in college when the rebellion broke out, and at the first call for troops enlisted, and went with the Second Regiment to battle for his country. He was the first soldier Dartmouth sent to the war. When the war closed, Long, having read law and been admitted to the bar, was in New Orleans, and for a time his friends in the north heard of him as justifying all the bright promise of his college days. Afterward he was appointed to a judicial position in the city. Still later the news came that he had committed suicide by cutting his throat in his own office. This report in time reached his old friend Perkins, who by his ability and integrity, had come to be the agent of a line of steamships, running between St. Louis and New Orleans, and he went to New Orleans to investigate...He was there murdered in cold blood by members of the White League organization...There he offered a reward for the arrest and conviction of those who had committed the murder...In less than a week he was hunted down and shot...
Gazette & Courier - Monday, February 8, 1875
Singular circumstance
Singular circumstance - In 1747, a man was http://wesley.nnu.ed...701-0800/HDM0712.PDF broken alive on the wheel at Orleans for a highway robbery; and not having friends to bury his body, when the executioner concluded he was dead, he was given to a surgeon, who had him carried to his anatomical theater as a subject to lecture on. The thighs, legs and arms of this unhappy wretch had been broken, yet, on the surgeons coming to examine him he found him reviving, and by the application of proper cordials he was soon brought to his speech. The surgeon and his pupils, moved by the sufferings and solicitations of the robber, determined on attempting the cure; but he was so mangled that his two thighs and one of his arms were amputated. Notwithstanding this mutilation and the loss of blood, he recovered, and in this situation the surgeon by his own desire, had him conveyed in a cart 50 leagues from Orleans, where as he said, he intended to gain his living by begging. His situation was on the road side, close by a wood, and his deplorable condition excited compassion from all who saw him. In his youth he had served in the army, and he now passed for a soldier who had lost his limbs by a cannon shot. A drover returning from market, where he had been selling cattle, was solicited by the robber for charity; and being moved by compassion, threw him a piece of silver. "Alas!" said the robber, "I cannot reach it; you see I have neither arms or legs", for he had concealed his arm, which had been preserved behind his back, "so for the sake of heaven put your charitable donation into my pouch". The drover approached him, and as he stooped to reach up the money, the sun shining, he saw a shadow on the ground which caused him to look up, when he perceived the arm of the beggar elevated over his head and his hand grasping a short iron bar. He arrested the blow in its descent and seizing the robber, carried him to his cart, into which having thrown him, he drove off to the next town, which was very near, and brought his prisoner before a magistrate. On searching him a whistle was found in his pocket which naturally induced a suspicion that he had accomplices in the wood; the magistrate therefore instantly ordered a guard to the place where the robber had been seized, and they arrived within half an hour after the murder of the drover had been attempted. The guard having concealed themselves behind different trees, the whistle was blown, the sound of which was remarkably shrill and loud, and another whistle was heard from under ground, 3 men at the same instant rising from the midst of a bushy clump of brambles and other dwarf shrubs. The soldiers fired on them and they fell. The bushes were searched and a descent discovered into a cave. Here were found 3 young girls and a boy. the girls were kept for the office of servants and the purpose of lust; the boy, scarcely 12 years of age, was son to one of the robbers. The girls in giving evidence deposed that they had lived 3 years in the cave, that they had been kept there by force from the time of their captivity; that dead bodies were frequently carried into the cave, stripped and buried; and that the old soldier was carried out every dry day and set by the road side for 2 or 3 hours. On this evidence the murdering mendicant was condemned to suffer a second execution on the wheel. As but one arm remained, it was to be broken by several strokes in several places, and a coup de grace being denied, he lived in torture for near 5 days. When dead his body was burnt to ashes and strewed before the winds of heaven.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, February 1, 1875
(Hoosac Tunnel) A band of 13 Warm Springs Indians went through
(Hoosac Tunnel) A band of 13 http://www.npaihb.or...ndians%20Profile.htm Warm Springs Indians went through the tunnel Tues. en route for Shelburne Falls, where they were to perform, and improved the opportunity to give the workmen who were laying the track a good scare. When a few rods from a party of workmen, the http://gesswhoto.com/warm-springs-indians.html red skins set up a regular Indian war whoop, and as the hideous yells resounded along the dark passage, the affrighted laborers dropped their tools and ran, thinking the old Nick himself had come for them.
- Sun, Feb 22, 2009
