OLDEST CAT IN WORLD DEAD AT BILLINGS

Thomas Patriarch, 24 Years Old, Mascot on Train, Has Unique History

Billings, Mont., Dec. 27.—Thomas Patriarch, the oldest cat in the United States and possibly in the world, was dead here today, aged 24 years and three months, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Grover Sample. He had grown quite feeble and would cry plaintively when his mistress left his sight, which was failing.

Thomas was born in Northfield, Minn., in 1898, and for a long time was mascot on the Northern Pacific trains between Mandan and Glendive. Owing to the loss of his teeth he ceased to bother mice and lived on condensed milk during his final year.

Thomas' claim to being the oldest cat in the country, was threshed out a year ago when a 20-year-old kitten at Missoula laid claim to the age championchip. The story appeared in papers all over the country and no cat arose to dispute the Billings' Tom's honors.

Bismarck Tribune, 12/27/1922
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INFANTICIDE IN FARGO GRUESOME—BODY RECOVERED

Fargo, Dec. 27.—Ella Henricks of South St. Paul, Minn., is the mother of an infant baby whose body was recovered after she had told a pitiful story.

Tuesday night the girl says she walked from her room to an outhouse, wading through the snow in her bare feet and clad only in a night robe, and that the child was born then. She admits having heard the baby cry.

The girl has named George Ruecker of South St. Paul, a cousin, as the father of the baby.

Devils Lake Inter-Ocean, 12/27/1912
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ECKMAN FARMER COMMITS SUICIDE

Eckman, N. D., Dec. 23.—Reuben Gill, a prosperous farmer living two miles north of Eckman, N. D., was found dead in his barn early Saturday morning, with a bullet hole thru his forehead. His revolver, with which the act had been committed, was lying by his side.

It is believed that Gill committed suicide, altho the position of the gun, and the manner in which the man's head was held between the hands, have led many to suspect that there might have been foul play.

Gill had spent the day at Eckman and returned late at night. He did not go into the house upon his return. It is said that he had been addicted to the use of strong drink and that he had been drinking that day.

Friends say that he had threatened to take his own life.

The remains were interred at Eckman Tuesday, the funeral being in charge of the Lansford undertaker.

Mr. Gill was about 45 years of age and leaves a wife and several children.

He was a member of the Masonic lodge at Russell, N. D., and was also an Odd Fellow. The members of the latter lodge conducted the funeral.

Gill was not worrying over financial matters for he had a fine farm free from debt and $700 in the bank.

Ward County Independent, 12/25/1913
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REV. DOUGHERTY CUTS AN ARTERY

Bright Young Pastor of Buchanan Kills Himself in Insane Distress over Nervous Troubles and Worry

Jamestown, N. D., Dec. 29.—Goaded to desperation by ill health and fearing insanity Rev. R. C. Dougherty, a promising young pastor, suicided at Buchanan, in this county, Sunday night.

It was noticed this morning that his window curtain was still down and that his horse was in the barn and that he did not appear to have left for his appointment in a neighboring town. Upon forcing the door the man was found seated in his chair in an upright position, it appearing that he severed the artery in the right side of his neck with a razor and slowly bled to death. He held a pail between his feet and caught the blood from his wound therein.

Coroner Todd found a note addressed to the brother of Rev. Dougherty, a resident of Kansas City, in which he expressed the belief that he would be unable to resist the impulse to kill himself. The note was full of self condemnation and showed an almost insane distress. It was learned that he had made frequent visits to a Jamestown nerve specialist who told him he was suffering from neuresthenia {sp} brought on by overwork and worry. He was advised to take a long vacation and the trustees of the church of which he was pastor had arranged to grant him leave of absence and had made up a purse to defray his expenses.

Rev. Dougherty was a person of great intellect and a hard worker. He was twenty-eight years of age and of a nervous disposition.

Bismarck Daily Tribune, 12/30/1908
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A Frightful Attempt at Suicide.

Dubuque Special:—John B. Miller, who owns a stonecutter's shop, while at work placed a sharp chisel against the right side of his head above the ear, and picking up a mallet deliberately drove it in until it projected an inch and a half on the left side directly opposite. He then picked up another chisel and, placing it to his forehead, drove it in by the same means about two inches. At this point he was detected and placed under the control of six strong men for about an hour, when three physicians arrived and withdrew the chisels. The one which entered the forehead was found to be bent by the pressure of the mallet. He still lives, although his death is expected at any moment. He has a wife, whom he married eight years ago, and one child three years old. He has also a brother and sister in Minnesota. He is a native of Germany and about thirty-five years old. His terrible deed is ascribed to drink and melancholy.

The Bad Lands Cow Boy, 12/24/1885
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MURDERER WAS TAKEN FROM JAIL AND HANGED BY MOB, AT WILLISTON

Body Dragged Mile Behind Automobile—Riddled With Bullets—Sheriff Powerless—Second Lynching in State Within a Year.

Authorities today are searching for clues to the identity of members of an organized gang of automobile lynchers who early yesterday morning hung Cleve Culbertson to a railroad bridge near Williston and then riddled his body with bullets.

Culbertson was in the county jail at Williston, under the sentence of life for the murder of Nrs. {sp} D. T. Dillon, said to have been his former wife and her second husband and 12-year-old daughter near Ray last October. He received his sentence Monday.

About 2 a.m. Tuesday several automobile loads of men, supposedly from the vicinity of Ray, attacked the jail. Leaving their automobiles a few blocks from the central part of town the lynchers, all heavily armed, took possession of the telephone station, the fire headquarters and the power house.

A detachment formed to storm the jail. A trusty on night duty was covered by a revolver in the hands of a masked man and held at bay while others hunted through the jail corridors, discovered a heavy iron crowbar and smashed an overhead window to the murderers cell.

The victim was hauled out of his cell through the window and half dragged, half carried through the streets to the waiting automobiles. It is said that he resisted and a bullet was fired into his body before the vehicles were reached.

With Culbertson in one of the autos the procession drove out of town to a bridge over the Little Muddy and the slayer of three was hung to the trestle work of the bridge. After strangulation was complete it is said the vigilance committee fired a volley of shots into the swinging body to make sure of their work.

Forty minutes later the coroner, district attorney and sheriff arrived and took down the body. At that time no trace remained of the midnight lynchers. The road leading to the bridge is a main traveled one and it was impossible to follow the automobile tracks.

After cutting down the body the brain of the murdered man was removed and examined by the coroner and pronounced normal.

The lynching was reported to Governor Hanna yesterday and the executive declared that he woul {sp} lend all the assistance in his power to the county authorities in their search for the guilty parties and would insist that their prosecution be pressed with vigor. If necessary he declared the attorney general would be called in the case.

Valley City Times-Record, 12/18/1913
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