Dead man found to be just dead drunk, marriages hit a all time high in April 1897
In the news from April 1897, a new invention prevented 'tricky members' from cheating the church contribution box, illegal voting during the election of Mayor Magoffin and a man thought to be drunk was found to be just dead drunk.
April 1, 1897
Postmaster hereafter will keep a patent postage stamp moistener in plain sight as it has been found that the glue is not good for businessmen to lick.
April 2, 1897
A contribution box has been invented with a bell which rings when a coin is dropped in the box at church. This stops palming by tricky members who cheat the box.
April 3, 1897
Sheriff Pat Garrett took the murderer of a Las Cruces resident into the hills today and he revealed the hiding place of the body, the pistol and the hat.
April 5, 1897
A Swedish tramp threw rocks at a dog on J.H. Comstock’s ranch last night and Mrs. Comstock got a Colt’s 45 and fired at him, but the two bullets fired went wild.
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April 8, 1897
The supposed dead man found near Torbet station a few days ago was taken to Sierra Blanca but proved to be only dead drunk.
While city clerk Kitchens was asleep last night, someone entered his home on Overland street and got away with his watch, four loose dollars, and the collar buttons of his shirt.
The high school commencement will be held on May 25 and the graduates will be Misses Bessie and Jessie Johnson, Ethel Shelton, Gertrude Windsor, Marguerite Ainsa, and Messrs. Randolph Terry and Christopher Auger.
April 11, 1897
The county clerk has issued 100 marriage licenses this year. This breaks all previous records.
April 12, 1897
San Antonio Street is the principal street of the City and if the City is going to work on any thoroughfare it should be San Antonio street.
April 13, 1897
The Juarez jail commissioners have decided to erect the new jail on the site of the old bullring.
Fire, said to have been caused by a lighted cigarette, damaged Van Patten’s corral. Turning the corner of El Paso Street, one of the horses attached to the hose-wagon struck a pile of rocks and fell, sustaining injuries.
April 14, 1897
A dog show was on the T. & P. today coming west and it is claimed that two dogs escaped at Fort Hancock and beat the train to El Paso. The dogs were scratching themselves at the Florence street crossing when the T. & P. threw on air east of the depot.
April 17, 1897
A young dude standing at the corner of Egger’s saloon the other night leaned too hard against the glass pane and went through into the middle of the floor. He received a cut finger.
April 18, 1897
John O’Keefe has contested the election of Mayor Magoffin on the ground that there were many illegal votes cast.
April 21, 1897
The Easter offering at St. Clement’s Church amounted to $500, heaviest in the history of an El Paso church. This pulls the parish out of debt.
Two soldiers pedaling down Mesa avenue last evening were arrested for speeding when their bike crashed into one driven by a little girl who didn’t see the fellows coming lickety-split.
Joseph Magoffin went before the district court late yesterday evening and secured an injunction restraining Mayor R.F. Campbell and the City Council from opening the ballot boxes. The injunction will be heard in the district court tomorrow evening.
April 22, 1897
Constable Farrel has harvested his whiskers and his face is as smooth now as it was when he was in his teens. If he had left his badge at home, his best friends would not know him.
Col. Mills is thinking of erecting a double store building on his North Oregon Street property, fronting the plaza.
A lamp exploded in Gypsie Davenport’s Mason de Joie last night and the alarm of fire came near stampeding the opera house audience.
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April 23, 1897
A horse racing team is being organized here for exhibition during a meeting of the firemen’s convention soon. The boys are meeting every day at 6 p.m. for practice.
April 24, 1897
On account of so many bicycle accidents, riders should see about getting insurance policies for their skins, it has been suggested here. Some of the boys spend most of their time in the street.
The election contest case is being heard by Judge Buckler today. The defense is arguing this afternoon.
Unknown thieves broke into Lawrence’s store on San Francisco street last night and robbed it of a cash register valued at $250 and $10 in money.
Jack Morris, of Comanche County, went to sleep under a freight train last night at the Santa Fe link. He awoke at 10:45 this morning and found the train moving. Some of his clothing was torn off, but he was not hurt.
April 26, 1897
Judge Buckler, in the district court this morning, ruled that the City Council had no authority to go behind the returns, open the ballot boxes and count the ballots. This means that John O’Keefe loses his contest for the mayoralty.
April 27, 1897
Several El Paso ladies who have new bonnets respectfully petition the weather clerk for one good, quiet Sunday in which to show them off.
April 28, 1897
Mayor Joseph Magoffin takes office today.
A team hitched to the hack by Simon Mack ran away at the Southern Pacific station, ran down St. Louis street and was caught by detective George Harold near Ketelsen & Degetau’s warehouse.
April 29, 1897
Mariano Sierra has been elected mayor of Socorro, Texas, by a majority of four votes, while the balance of the ticket was elected by one majority and a new election ordered. Only 115 votes were cast.
April 30, 1897
It is becoming quite the thing in El Paso to paint brick and frame houses instead of leaving them unpainted and bare.
Trish Long may be reached at 915-546-6179 or tlong@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Dead man found to be just dead drunk, marriages hit high in 1897