| Transcribed by Norma Knotts Shaffer from microfilm of the Calhoun Chronicle
Illegal Spiritous Liquor Sales - 1896
Dan McCune and Chess Shafer were brought before Squire G.W. Ritchea by Constable John Sickles last Tuesday on a charge of selling spiritous liquors without a State license.
Shafer made a statement in which he virtually confessed his guilt and McCune waived examination, and in default of bail for $100 Shafer was committed to jail, and in default of $100 for appearance and $500 to sell no more whiskey McCune was committed to jail also.
Mr. McCune's statement and general deportment indicated clearly to our mind that he wanted to go to jail.
Dan McCune complained, or stated that he had been a burden to his friends for some time, that he had no means of support and could prove that he had not been blessed with any of this world's goods for a long time.
McCune is getting well up in years and states, and no doubt his statement is true, that he has never been in any trouble or been arrested before.
Shafer is only a boy and was doubtless led into the trouble by some one else. The whole matter is one that should be seriously regretted.
Sewing Machines and Highwaymen - 1896
Last Friday evening Ross Stump and John Ritchea went over to G.W. Ritchea's farm on Pine creek after a sewing machine and were driving Snyder's team and machine wagon.
As they were returning, just below the Em Ball house, on said creek, two men, the boys would not say who, came down out of a little ravine, one of them spoke to and asked the boys where they were going, to which John Ritchea replied: "We are selling sewing machines, don't you want one?"
To which the man replied, "yes," and ordered Ritchea to take the lines (Stump was driving) which he did.
The man then told Ross to get out of the buggy, but Ritchea perceiving that the man had a revolver in his hand took a sensible view of the situation and acted promptly by hitting one of the horses, which is high spirited, with the whip, which started the team at break-neck speed, thus averting what might have been a serious trouble.
The boys came into town with the team wet with sweat. Ross will not talk about the matter, but expressed great gratitude to Ritchea for having brought him out of such imminent danger.
Minnora Has Four Deaths - 1896
Last week there were four deaths near this place in forty-eight hours.
On Friday morning very early Chas. Boothe died of fever, and just one hour and forty minutes after his death, his father, Andy Boone, died. His death was due to old age. The former leaves a wife and nine daughters to mourn the loss of father. Interment on the home place on Saturday.
On last Saturday, Leonard Lane's youngest child died, and was interred in the new cemetery on Walnut Sunday. On Sunday the youngest child of Enoch and Lucinda Tanner died. There has not been such fatality here in years.
Mrs. Rufus Knotts is confined to her room with sickness and Mrs. Alfred Jarvis is dangerously ill. Others on the sick list are reported convalescing.
Hallenbake-Stump Entertain Bystanders With Fight - 1896
For some time A. W. Hallenbake has had something against "Zack" Stump and has been chewing the rag on street corners and elsewhere, until last Thursday evening he got so hilarious that Stump lost his equilibrium and proceeded to take Anthony by the back of the neck and apply a number 9 boot.
This made the said Hallenbake very indignant and he grabed up a clod which he threw with great force and violence at Stump's head, but the aim was a little too high and it only knocked Stump's new Stetson hat off and in the dust.
This in turn made Stump also very indignant and he made a regular Sullivan rush at Hallenbake, using his foot, which landed considerably below the waistband of Hallenbake's breeches behind.
After this Hallenbake made haste and tarried not and for about fifty yards no man ever saw a keener race between two guineas than was had between the two combatants, Hallenbake seeming to have the greatest incentive to do his level best soon distanced his pursuer, but declared he was not going to run from Stump.
Order has again been restored and everything is moving along as though nothing had happened.
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