Vitriol

(1992 Memoirs)
One time officers, knowing her habits, came to question her [Olga] but she knew nothing and shaking in her shoes stuck to it.  There were two women in love with the one man.  ...  When they met on the Main Street, the wife dashed vitriol acid in the other's face, burning it and disfiguring her for life.  But no -- Olga had not seen that.  She had been in the next room, the dining room with the big mirror where customers "tried on."

Bad eggs

(1990 March 11)

Suzy came over to tea. Two delinquent teen agers - boys - have been living with her and husband - bad eggs - one a prostitute on the streets. No one had ever cared at all for them. At last they went to a Grandmother, poor thing.

Drug bust

(1989 August 22)

Last night on radio news we learned of a big drug Richland Center roundup! Many names were read off - the girl who runs the music store and a Jim Keegan. Also TV carried it, showing a map only, and we saw how RC reaches even into Chicago for sales - a thing which seems odd.

Break-ins

(1987 November 1, All Saints)

I have been well and busy except for nervousness following the break-in at Lona Johnson's. I do what I can to keep safe. Every night I turn on the back porch light and lock both laundry doors. I worry that the front door is glass, but do lock the storm door together with the front door and leave a dim hall-light on. Also I am not going to church regularly as my movements may be watched as were hers (every Friday out for fish). I was surprised at church coffee this morning how many had break-ins when I broached the subject.

Cat taming

(1978 April 5, my father's birthday)

All your activities are just too many to comment on this busy morning. Besides I am so tormented by a cat who thinks this is the time to learn to write I can hardly. He is a splendid, loving creature, and we are attached to each other. The only problem is his fits of play or fighting - very ferocious, and sometimes I really am afraid of him. I watch my chance and get him by the neck and pop him into the dungeon.

Silver secret

(1976 January 9)

P. S. I hid the silver in a box in the hall closet under my coats.

Plagarized

(1970 November 21)

This writing is often a rum do. Last week I got a letter from Thurman Fox saying the exhibit sparked by my article on Ada James was now on view and to try to come to the [Wisconsin State Historical] Museum to see it and stop off at the office for a little visit if I could. So then a couple of days went by and there was quite a big feature story in the [Madison] State Journal on Woman's Lib and as I read on my eyes popped as I could see someone had been researching my article! Nay, as I read further, here were whole paragraphs and sections! So I did the crossword puzzle and after while phoned ... Margaret Scott [Richland County's local historian] and told her so she could get a copy, and she was indignant I hadn't been credited. But my thot was I was not paid for the article and I gave it to the Museum so it was theirs to lend out. What is your opinion?

Intruder

(1964 October)

I knew I missed telling you something when I mentioned Edith [Tuxford] before! Well, when she came home from the hospital, in Ellen's room the window and screen were both broken and glass skattered all over the room. A frightening sight! Nothing was disturbed, nothing missing. It did not look to be the work of a child. Dick [son-in-law] thought the police should be called. They came and could deduce nothing. Neighbors knew nothing. The next thing to do was to get Joe R. to put in a new glass and he knew right away what it was. A partridge had got off its course and hit against the window with great force. Joe even found a few feathers! He recalled the same thing happening at Bancrofts and one other place. Remarkable?

Lie detector

(1961 September 20)

Daddy took a teenager into Madison Crime Lab for a lie detector test last week. Very informative.

Robin Hood

(1949 December 5)

Kathryn Bailey [moving to an apartment] brought picture [she had painted ten years ago] of you as Robin Hood in big gilt frame. Unless you want to take it back with you Xmas to hang in your room [at college!], Daddy may hang it in the office. [And so he did; now Skip has it.] It now leans against the piano looking at me with Skippy-blue eyes that you had when you were young and cute.

Boston bookstore

(1952 September 23)

By the way, [while in Boston] one day took a cab to Goodspeed's 2nd Hand Store and must say I was disappointed. All orderly as a library, cataloged by subjects - in 25-cent and 50-cent stack were old school books and books on politics. Prices I thought high - book we have on Saints and Festivals, $3. But I would go there for good books like a set of encyclopedias etc. No one there but me and a woman, uncompromising but wise, except 3 men. One man was introducing a man who looked like Glencannon (Saturday Evening Post) to a 3rd man and was saying he was from Paris and came here searching out crime and wanted help. I pretended to look at some old books to hear more but couldn't. Anyway, don't expect too much from Goodspeeds in bargains!

Catching him green-handed

(1953 January 14)

Mary Margaret also wishes me to tell you that Monday when she went to school, lo and behold! the place had been robbed. Her ruler, colors and pencils were all gone. Also the petty cash and many items from other desks. She also said that the robber came in through the boys' bathroom, where he broke a window, and that no one could go down there because the police sprinkled power around and if you walked in it your feet would turn green - if you touched it, your hands would turn green. Daddy had a field day kicking that one around. But as often happens, there is some truth to these tales, and that night we heard on WRCO the State Crime Department of Madison had been called in. No arrests yet.