HYPNOTIZED, WAVES FEET FOR 24 HOURS

YOUTH THINKS HE’S RIDING BICYCLE — CLUBWOMEN HAVE MAN RESPONSIBLE ARRESTED

GARY, Ind., June 12—Arthur Tracy, an 18-year-old youth, at midnight tonight, had spent 24 hours flat on his back, his wearied feet moving in imitation of a bicycle rider. Tonight the Woman’s club of Gary, the police and 1,000 or more indignant but interested citizens gathered at the police station to try to stop Tracy’s feet, while W. B. Griffiths, an itinerant hypnotist, who is said to be responsible for Tracy’s activities, is in the county jail refusing to undo his work.

At a public performance Thursday night, Griffiths hypnotized Tracy, giving him the illusion that he was riding a bicycle. The spectators were so amused that Griffiths refused to awaken Tracy but moved him with his feet still peddling to a public show window.

At noon today the Woman’s club complained to the police that Griffiths was guilty of cruelty to Tracy’s feet and the hypnotist was arrested.

He was admitted to bail, but the arrest rankled and he declined to awaken Tracy.

Under pressure of the club women, Griffiths’ bondsman withdrew his bail and Griffiths was returned to his cell. The spectators who went to the theater to see Griffiths tonight all turned their attention to the police office where Tracy, his feet still waving, was lying on a mattress.

Several physicians attempted to awaken Griffiths’ assistant but were so powerless and the hypnotist refused to awaken his victim at midnight until all charges against him were withdrawn.
Duluth News Tribune—June 13, 1914

CHARGE TRAPPER WITH KIDNAPPING

CHISHOLM CARPENTER SAYS CHARLES HUGO, ARRESTED AT INTERNATIONAL FALLS, STOLE SON

BOY AND MAN DISAPPEARED OVER THREE YEARS AGO

VIRGINIA, June 11—The arrest of Charles Hugo, a trapper, at International Falls for killing a moose at the Little Fork river, is expected by local authorities to clear up the mystery of the disappearance of Clarence, the 14-year-old, son of John Sampson, a Chisholm carpenter, who, it is claimed, was kidnapped by Hugo more than three years ago.

The Sampsons were residing here at the time and the youngster became acquainted with the trapper. The two disappeared and no word was heard of Hugo’s whereabouts until his arrest at International Falls this week.

Since the boy’s disappearance, the Sampsons moved to Chisholm. Sampson conferred today with the local authorities and wired to International Falls, where Hugo will be held until his arrival. Much interest was taken here at the time of the boy’s disappearance, as he is one of a family of nine children. The kidnapping charge against Hugo will be pressed, according to local authorities.
Duluth News Tribune—June 12, 1914

WOMAN TELLS HOW SHE SLEW

UNDISTURBED, MRS. AUGUSTA BUIANO ON WITNESS STAND DESCRIBES KILLING HUSBAND

DID DEED TO DEFEND CHILD’S LIFE SHE SAID

Swears Man Threatened to Shoot Baby Girl and Herself— Lawyers Will Plead Monday

HIBBING, June 12—Though the evidence in the case against Mrs. August Buiano, charged with the murder of her husband, was completed this afternoon, arguments to the jury will not be made until next Monday.

Court adjourned shortly after 3 o’clock, Judge Hughes leaving for Grand Rapids.

The state rested shortly before noon, after showing the facts that were unearthed by the police officers and residents of the Mohawk location.

Attorney McMahon for the defense used but four witnesses, relying mainly on the testimony of the defendant herself in establishing his plea of self defense.

Mrs. Buiano testified that during the six years she was married, her husband had been cruel and threatening. He had an insanely jealous disposition, she said, and refused to allow her to go on the street even with her babies in the evening. For some time prior to the killing he often threatened her life, she says, and that of their 4 year-old daughter, to whom he had taken an intense dislike. On the night of May 30, he was particularly quarrelsome, she said, charging her with infidelity and renewing his threats against the life of the child.

“We might as well end this now as any time,” he is alleged to have said at the end of the quarrel as he reached for his revolver which he kept under his pillow. It is then, she claims, that the defendant reached for the gun, too, grasped it first and fired at her husband.

Mrs. Buiano, who is a comely Italian woman, showed little nervousness in telling her story in court this afternoon through an interpreter. She related incidents in her married life tending to show the fear that she constantly felt lest her husband would harm her little girl or herself.

Following the shooting she fled to a neighbor’s house in great excitement, still in her night clothes, and the police were notified.
Duluth News Tribune—June 13, 1914

MAIMED LABORERS DEMAND $13,000

VIRGINIA, June 12—Claims amounting to $13,000 have been filed in district court by attorneys for Matt Hills, John Swanson and Charles N. Valentine. Hills, names the M. A. Hanna company as defendant and seeks to recover $5,000 for injuries he is alleged to have sustained in an accident at the Brunt min at Mountain Iron on July 28, 1911 while he was cutting timber in a drift.

The plaintiff claims insufficient light was furnished and that he miscalculated the distance to timber and struck his left foot with his ax.

Swanson is suing the Oliver Iron Mining company for $5,000 for injuries alleged to have sustained at the Alpena mine here on Sept. 10, 1912. He claims his left eye was injured by a wood screw.

Osterberg & Johnson, drill contractors of this city, are named as defendants in the action brought by Valentine. He asks $3,000 damages for a bruised hand, alleged to have been caught in a drill. The thumb was amputated. The actions will be tried at the August term of court here.
Duluth News Tribune—June 13, 1914

“PANTRY” THIEF TAKES LAST PIE

POLICE, AFTER TWO-YEAR EFFORT, ARREST MAN ON EAST END PORCH.

CHARGE HE HAS GRABBED MANY SUNDAY DINNERS

Elusive Person, He Is, Say Maids and Police—Lived on Delicacies

Rest in peace, oh ye of the East End! No need to hurry to the backporch refrigerator this morning with anxious face, for—after two long years—the “panty thief” has been caught, the police joyfully announce.

He was booked on a charge of attempted burglary at police headquarters shortly before 11 o’clock last night. He gave his name as Richard Malcomson, age 32, a Canadian. Captain Fiskett invites all of you who have frantically begged the grocer and the butcher to save your lives by making a special Sunday order, or have sadly gazed at an empty refrigerator and gone in a body to a downtown restaurant or hotel for Sunday dinner, to come down and look Malcomson over.

Captain Fiskett suggests that the maid be brought along to see if she can be brought along to see if she can recognize the polite prowler who declared he had lost his pet bear—saw it running into one of those yards—was sure it was at your place—thought possibly Teddy might be hiding in your latticed back porch; was awfully sorry to have disturbed anyone.

Liked One Home

Malcomson is alleged to have become too fond of the variety of eatables the family of Rudolph E. Abraham, 208 North Fifteenth Avenue East, bought for the Sunday meal. For three consecutive nights the Abraham refrigerator has been emptied. Twice members of the family saw some one hurriedly making his way out the back gate, and the police were called. Much to their chagrin, however, the “pantry” thief always made his escape.

The Abrahams were determined to catch the culprit, however, They fixed an alluring package that might have contained a couple of dressed chickens, another the might have been several large and delicious bunches of celery or what not. Then they notified police headquarters.

Detectives Toewe and Bradley hid themselves outside the house last night. They say they saw Malcomsonn come in the yard, enter the latticed porch—then, evidently becoming suspicious, step out into the yard again to have a look around. The officers grabbed him.

Maintains Sang Froid

Malcomson “stands pat,” Captain Fiskett said last nn ight, and will not comment on the situation. He is rather well dressed, of medium size, and did not seem particularly interested in the scene at headquarters.

Members of the Abraham family hurried to the station in their automobile and took a good look at the prisoner. None of them could say positively that he was the man who had visited them before.

Malcomson was lined up in front of the 11 o’clock detail, so that the officers going out on their beats could familiarize themselves with his countenance. Malcomson looked bored.

The police were jubilant at catching Malcomson, and declare they believe he is the cause of so many unhappy East End households on various Sundays.

Repeatedly police headquarters has been called by owners of suffering refrigerators. Time and again officers have been hurriedly sent in response to the call, but not even a glimpse could they get of the “pantry thief.”

Thief Was Elusive

Many housewives and housemaids have had experiences with the “pantry thief” It is said that he had a perfectly hypnotizing bow, and was very glib at explaining and apologizing for his “mistake” when caught making back-porch investigations.

Last week, Captain Fiskett said, a report came in that a thief had been obliged to seek refuge on top of a porch. The police thought they “had” him and eagerly hastened to the house from whence came the call. They sadly returned, empty-handed. The “pantry” thief, through almost uncanny luck, had managed to escape.

Captain Fiskitt says the “pantry” thief, be he Malcomson or some one else, has lived off the fat of the land. He has taken eggs and ham and cheese and beef roasts and oysters and tomatoes and nearly all of delicacies imaginable, characteristic of Sunday dinners.
Duluth News Tribune—June 14, 1914