Miscellany: Irishman

At London, the probated will of a Mr. Doherty, Irishman who lived and died in Lagos, West Africa, revealed that he had made his 16 Negro wives, his 50 half-caste children beneficiaries of a $3,000,000 estate. Besides a money legacy, each wife received a house of her own.

Estate

At Philadelphia, the will of Wilson E. Stroudt bequeathed to his sister-in-law Mrs. Charles L. Stroudt “all that parcel of land from the Atlantic to the Pacific and all the trees and everything thereon”; to her son “the four winds of the earth, that he may enjoy them the same as I have”; to the person who buried him all that remained of his estate after funeral expenses were paid. Mrs. Stroudt buried him, received $5.

Watermelon

At Steele, N. Dak., August Waullan, 61, killed one guest, wounded two others at his home when they did not eat enough watermelon to suit him.

Oranges

A “Palace” cinema theatre is half in Orange, N. J., half in East Orange, N. J. When Sunday cinema was legalized in Orange, the East Orange seats of the Palace were roped off, the Orange ones sold out.

Egg

At Portland, Me., E. H. Dunham, 31, thwarted in love, attempted to swallow poison while in a drug store. Store Manager Lyndon E. Harris saw him, hurled an egg which splattered over Dunham’s waistcoat, startling him so that he spat out the poison.

“Help”

At Detroit, Dr. Frank L. McPhail, 30, was rescued from extortionists in a deserted house when he wet white paper, stuck it to a window pane to form the word HELP.

Quarter-Inch

At Mandan, N. Dak., Edward Loran often told friends he would fool his wife by pretending to hang himself. Last fortnight his body was found suspended in his cellar, the feet one-quarter inch from the floor. Edward Loran had misjudged the rope-length.

Bung

At Monee, Ill.., Simon Longton. bartender, died from blood poisoning brought on when a beer keg’s bung popped, banged his nose.

Swallower

At Great Grimsby, England, William Rose, infirmary inmate, committed suicide by swallowing his false teeth.