Brawling At The Brewery

Brawling At The Brewery

Tonight we investigate THE HADDOCK ASSASSINATION that took place on August 3rd, 1886 about 10:00 PM in Sioux City, Iowa.

This story has nine (9) criminals surrounding the MURDER of Rev. George C. Haddock. The killing of Rev. Haddock was one of the sensational mysteries of the YEAR in 1886, and baffled authorities in Iowa... and the details that unfold from these criminals is nothing short of astonishing.

Join me on this fantastical journey of whodunits as each part of the story begins to unravel to learn WHO took the life of Rev. Haddock, the prohibition crusader.

***VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED***

Rather read this episode? Check out the BLOG post:
www.thegenealogyinvestigator.com/blog/brewery

*************************************************************************************
WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ME?
Visit my WEBSITE:   www.thegenealogyinvestigator.com  to learn MORE about me, Kelley Amstutz, The Genealogy Investigator and my business.

Email me for your FREE Consultation for Genealogy Services: MetaphysiKel@gmail.com
*************************************************************************************
And, check out my courses: THE GENEALOGY ACADEMY - featuring:

- My introduction to Genealogy Course - THE GENEALOGY ACADEMY - which is a 6-week, fully comprehensive certificate course giving you everything from A to Z on how to START your GENEALOGY business!

- DNA & Genetic Genealogy Academy - my NEWEST edition to my self-paced courses features a 29-MODULE, 12-WEEK CERTIFICATE course to help newbies and seasoned Genealogist LEARN about DNA and Genetic Genealogy to level up your business and help your clients FIND their ancestors using traditional genealogy methods -and- DNA methodologies.  This course is JAM PACKED with a TON of content to get you no your way to offering DNA services (or just analyzing your OWN DNA results!).

- MINI WORKSHOPS  are individual workshops on HOT TOPICS in the genealogy industry to help you keep up!

PLUS, I have several PRINTABLES and EBOOKS available through this LINK for purchase to give you the TOOLS to succeed within your own GENEALOGY business! 
**************************************************************************************
****LISTENER SPECIAL****

Have you HIT a BRICK WALL? 

A brick wall in genealogy is a ROADBLOCK!!! It's a question we can't seem to answer - no matter where we look. But... there's a WAY to overcome the barriers ... and FIND ANSWERS!!!

--- INTRODUCING the BRICK WALL BUSTER CARDS SYSTEM ---

Transcript

0:27

Hi, there it is your host, Kelley Amstutz, the genealogy investigator. And I am so excited to be back with you. So we took a little bit of a break. Things might look a little bit different around here for 2024. But I assure you that I'm still bringing the same crime stories from way back. We are just going to be traveling a little bit further from home with the drum roll the murder record. If you're joining me for the first time, welcome. I'm Kelley, your host and I started this podcast last year with really one goal in mind to retell what was happening in the United States in the 1800s, with a really big focus on true crime stories, because I mean, who doesn't love true crime? I have uncovered some really gory details, some really horrific events along our adventure. And let's face it, it's been a whole lot of early murder. So my podcasts here has really made me think about why people are so drawn to these sensational stories. And I think, at least for me, personally, it all kind of stems from that curiosity to see what the motivations were of these early criminals. Look at our justice system and legal system as a whole, and how they went about solving these real life who donate crimes. I do my best to take us all on a journey to uncover the details and see the outcomes of each and every case with a focus on the facts. So whether you're a new listener, welcome, welcome. Welcome or your repeat offender. I don't judge come on in because I cannot wait to bring you another case full of explosive twists and turns and even a little bit of scandal. So without further ado, let's go ahead and jump on in. Hi, I'm calling our case tonight. brawling at the brewery. So here's some details. It is 1886 August 3 of 1886. The crime actually happened about 10 o'clock pm and it was termed the haddock assassination are criminals are going to be John Aaron store. Fred Munch wrasse Henry Sherman, who is actually also referred to as the driver of the brewery delivery wagon. Paul leader, George Lane, who is the painter and a Mr. Levitt who we will have more details on this character shortly. This story takes place in Sioux City, Iowa, and our victim who suffered an early demise is the Reverend George had George C. Haddock to be exact. So our first story, I'm going to kind of work in a little bit of a weird order, but it's about 10 o'clock on the night of August 3 1886. Reverend George she had asked he was shot and killed near the corner of fourth and Waterstreet in Sioux City, Iowa. While he was on his way from the library stable to his home, which was in another part of the city at this time. Just to kind of set the scene it was said to be a really dreary, dismal, rainy night that this happened on Reverend George Seahawks he had been a really pronounced and unrelenting enemy of all persons directly or indirectly connected with or favoring saloons at this time. He had really aggressive methods and those that were not friendly to the Clark County Law had really incurred the bitter hostility of many and the approbation of few. So he's kind of like public enemy number one. So that's just kind of a backstory. I'm going to go ahead and I'm going to dig in this case right here. This story was published on the 15th of October 1886. And it was in the Perrysburg journal. So the headlines read Assassin's cot, which will we're going to kind of work backwards a little bit and forwards. There's a lot to the story. So hang on to your seats. If you need to stop and grab a snack and some water please do so now because this one's gonna be lengthy. Just kind of a segue. The new setup for this year is going to be one really Great, jam packed full long episode, every single month, I really kind of put my thinking cap on and was trying to figure out the best delivery method to make these stories just really be full of content to be full of the facts and to really lay out the entire story. Because I think the best ones so far have been the ones that are pretty lengthy and the details are just incredible. And that's the best part. We want the details. So our headline reads assassins calm the mystery surrounding the murder of Reverend George had asked at Sioux City Iowa solved. One of the conspirators tells the story of the murderer John Aaron store if the assassin captured. So we're in Sioux City, Iowa October 9. There's important developments that were made yesterday on October 8 in the haddock assassination case, Harry Levitz who also goes by Herman Levy, which is quite interesting. He is arrested in Chicago. He's brought to Perrysburg, Ohio, but he's taken to Kingsley which is the home of one of the attorneys on the case. His name is Attorney wood. He is expected to be in Perrysburg on Monday, the date was fixed for the beginning of the examination of Mr. Lovett levy whatever his name is who was arrested so accompany the attorney would to Chicago was an F A Hill who is the business manager of the Sioux City Tribune. And the brother in law is editor and proprietor JC Callie. So they've got the news on their tail. Mr. Hill was really intimate with Mr Levitz, Mr. Lobby, and it was through this intimacy that Mr. Lovett was induced to surrender himself. Mr. Hill brought back with him a confession of Mr. Labott, which has been made public we get to read it in the coming seven paragraphs here. And this confession sworn to before merit decarb Notary Public of Chicago Mr. Lovett charges that the shooting was done by Mr. John Aaron store, who was the foreman of the France Brewing Company company, and one of its stockholders, Mr. Lovett says, so now this is a direct quote from Mr. Lovett. It says about a 15 Tuesday night August 3, I met Fred of contrasts George Traber, Lewis PLAs, a saloon keeper and two others whose names I cannot recall. They were talking together about how to consider going to the Greenville house mantra said love it. Let us take a ride and go to the Greenville and see what they are going to do. We went over in front of the Hubbard house, and Henry Habermann, Trevor Plath and myself got into the hack. Right under the electric light. I asked Adams, the driver of the hack to let the windows down, which he did. I drove down to the Greenville. Henry got out in front of the Greenville house someone in and asked if there had been a buggy over that way in the last hour. They said no, he got in and came right back to town and the heck stopped in front of junks. I don't know what junk says I have a feeling that it might be the brewery where we all got out. It was then about 10 o'clock standing inside of the door where John Aaron store junk, Jim scollard and Robert Grady the aldermen and laying the painter we all went inside myself Henry retriever and PLAs and got a drink. We then went out to go home and the door on the outside. And at the door on the outside were the two Dutchman who were hired by Trevor to whip Walker so we have all these players and it continues Dawn airs or came out with us and these two Dutchman said to him, but loud enough for us all to hear the buggy has come back errs or have said let's go over and see we that is Arizona winter at Schriever. Plath, Henry myself and the two Dutchman started to go towards the stable. I dropped behind and that Harry Sherman and we followed on after them. Laying the painter was following us. I said to Sherman, this will be another failure. They are all cowards. Sherman says, Well, let us go and see what they're going to do. By the time we had got close together and we're talking and when tres said if your your man is going to lick hat out. Tell him not to punch him too hard, but hit him in the face twice and give him a black guy. This there that'll do as we don't want to go any farther than that. Trevor said. That's right. We only want to give one of them a whipping. So in that conversation, there was President John Ayers George Henry the driver of the burrito delivery wagon George tuba Lewis Plath, Fred muncher as Harry Sherman, myself and the two Dutchman whose names are unknown to me, but the same entry for hire to whip Walker in a saloon innkeeper in Sioux City, whose name I cannot recall to mind, but who I can identify. We saw had up coming across Water Street from the Columbia House. No one said a word as John eresource started towards Haddock and came up in front of haddock and locked him in the face and threw up his hands in front of hatbox face. Mr. Hancock pulled something from his pocket and struck Aaron store if I then saw as your jaw has gone as all him shoot head off. I saw nothing more of your stuff. Henry the driver started towards Arizona before the shot was fired, and I want to hug my wife and found her and told her that night all about the shooting. The morning after the murder, John air surf came to me while I was standing in front of Warlocks saloom. I said, John, I think you did wrong. He said, I saw Hajduk was pulling a gun on me and in the excitement I shot and that is how it happened. I left Sioux City shortly afterwards, and I have made no concealment of my whereabouts. And I've always been ready and willing to make the proper party a full and complete disclosure of all my acts connected with the hat off murder and the conspiracy to whip Walker whenever I could do so without receiving bodily injury or be legally protected in so doing ears or was arrested in Davenport after this confession where he had gone as a delegate to the Knights of pIaces Lodge. mooch wrath and Sherman were arrested in Perrysburg, Ohio on Thursday and placed under $5,000 bonds, each for appearance next Monday. And yesterday, Paul, leader of the Milwaukee house was arrested and admitted to like bail, and George Lane, the painter. He was arrested and sent to jail and default a bail warrants are still out for other parties implicated in the conspiracy, and it just said love it has assurances that by turning state's evidence he will escape punishment. So the killing of Reverend haddock, it was one of those sensational mysteries that was going on in 1886. And it really baffled the authorities of Iowa, Mr. Haddock he had been a pioneer in the prohibition crusade if you hadn't picked up on that already. And he opened a bitter campaign against the liquor interest of Sioux City, which had a very large number of saloons, which we just learned, as many were mentioned in that in that confession, and when the prohibition law went into effect, it was openly defied by the worst element there, the bold advocate of temperance was often warranted to assist in his efforts to enforce the law. Or he would be removed, but he paid no heed to any of these threats that he was getting. His dead body was found on the public street one day, and the wound showed that he had been shot down without warning by some ambushed assassin. The crime was laid at the door of the saloon element, but nothing was ever discovered to warrant the arrest of anyone until now October 15 of 1886. So that's kind of gets our story started. Now, the plot is going to thicken a little bit here. So on the 21st of October of 86, a couple days after the 15th. The book for sorry, Brookfield Gazette, published on page one, the headline reading dark for Aaron store was Henry Peters murdered additional exposure and disclosures. And then it says tales of people who heard strange noises and brawling at the brewery. So the article reads, public feeling is crystallizing against John Irizar, who's accused of having murdered the Reverend George C had asked the exposures respecting the mysterious disappearance of Henry Peters. Henry Peters again, if we had remembered he is the brewery driver. He had participated in the conspiracy as we know from the confession. And the sensational suspicion of the neighbors is that he was killed to basically ensure his own silence. The facts, never republished and they set to the community and this community basically started thinking, like what is going on here? Where is this man he disappeared. Now the almost universal verdict outside of the saloon element is that your store will have great difficulty in securing an acquittal unless he turns up the missing man of the two men who were seen running across the bridge towards the brewery after Dr. Haddock fell. Peters was certainly one of them. So now everyone is starting to ask in the community was eras dark the other? Peters absence can only be explained by the brewery people and is not the answer can be surmise. So error sort of says at the disappearance of Peters. He speaks on it and he says Peters had been talking about leaving for some time. When the injunction business commenced he made up his mind that he would be out of a job here and will quit and get a job somewhere else. I had no First with him one Saturday about August 20. I think I spoke to him about the horse's shoulders being sore. I told him that the team had never had sore shoulders before, and that a man who claimed to know as much as he did about horses should attend to them. He did not say anything but went to the office and said he wanted his money. He got it and went away. So that's all he says to the effect of what happens to Henry. Now Mrs. Sarah Peters, or sorry, Mr. Wallace, who lives opposite the brewery. She has a lot to say. So she says it was the evening of August 23. I know that it was the date because I wrote it down next morning. It was a hot night and I got up and sat by the open window of the front room upstairs, a little After the clock struck 10 I heard two men talking loud in the brewery. They seem to be quarreling and made a noise, like a dog or a lot of dogs. From the noise. They seem to come together and then one of them said, Oh, twice so loud, one might have heard him as far off as Pearl Street. Then I heard groans that sounded fainter and fainter. After all was quiet. Three men came out of the east door and walk towards the street. They were talking and one of them stepped on a little dog and the dog ran away. YLP the men walked back into the brewery and called the dog in. Mrs. Wallace says that the next morning she spoke to Mrs. Van Dugan about these noises that she had heard in the brewery and Mrs. Van Dugan. She also lived next door. She said that her and her husband had heard these noises as well. So Joseph Taylor, who is a solo next door neighbor of Mrs. Wallace, he's has to say, I can't tell the date. It was quite a while after the haddock murder. I was awakened by noise. I first thought it was a Charivari party, which I don't really know what that is. If you know please comment. I went out and the noise had quieted. I heard two groans. They seem to come from the brewery I listened to while and not hearing any more. I went in and went to bed the next day and this as well as told me that she had heard what she had heard. Mr. Taylor said that the evening before he heard the groans he had seen Henry standing on the beer wagon at the store. He seemed to be quarreling with someone inside all of them talking loud. That was the last time that he had seen Henry had a late hour tonight it was reported that Davenport was Mr. Peters home. And that was where he could be found. But there was no confirmation on that no further follow up. Now there's an Albert cash nisky Whose alias is Bismarck, he makes the positive statement that he was hired and the money paid to him to do up hat. He went down onto Water Street for that purpose intending to catch hat I guess he came from the library stable. He goes on to say that he stood behind a pile of posts and waiting for headlock when the fatal shot was fired. Then he says that he saw the man who fired the shot and knows him personally. He was told he has told the officers who committed the murder, who committed the murder. It is almost certain that the testimony of this man will involve a man other than John Aaron store as the murder. But it still remains to be seen. The statement that he gave was made that there was a traveling man a stranger who was in Sioux City. He was near the Columbia House at the time of the shooting that took place. And he he old see this is different. This is just kind of see we're figuring something out as we're as we're live here. It reads really weird. So I think this is a statement of another man who's a traveling man but it's it's kind of tied into Mr. Bismarck's statement. But he is saying that he said he was standing by the Columbia House at the time of the shooting. And he saw the shot fired. He did not know the man who fired the shot. But he pointed out John's heirs drove to the state's attorney as the man. So there's there's another statement, there's another testimony or witness right there. So we have a really interesting story going on here. And unfortunately, it just keeps getting worse. So on the ninth of December of 1886, the bottom new current reports on page two about the headlock murder and it says Chicago new Sue must be in Illinois attorney would counsel for Harry Levitt who is under bonds for complicity in the murder of the Reverend George haddock at Sioux City Iowa said now member Harry love it is Harry levy to the situation in regards to the murders. Just this Mr. Lovett has been indicted with 10 others for murder and for conspiracy to murder Reverend George haddock immunity and protection was probably As him before he turned state's evidence, and it is the intention of the prosecution to carry out that promise no appeals Nestor Sarita Governor le vie, for immediate immunity could not be extended by the governor until after Mr. Lovett should appear and testify and all the courts in which he might be called upon to appear and testify by the state. Mr. Leavitt is under bond in the sum of $5,000, which is required more for the purpose of securing his presence as a witness than anything else. This bond was secured through the influence of the Methodist ministers. There has been no refusal on the part of the law and order league to go on Mr Levitz bond. That League was never asked to furnish the bonds and therefore could not have made any such refusal. Under authority vested in me by the governor. I extend the protection and immunity to Mr. Levitt agreeing to see that proper bond was given in his behalf. That promise I have kept and there was no trouble in securing bonds. Now, there says Dr. E. Bedford and others gave Bond as soon as the same was required and a number of others were willing to give bond as they were convinced of the truth of Mr. Levitz statement in regards to the shooting. So here's just a little update on what's going on with Mr. Levitz. He's obviously the one that first spilled the beans. Now, on the 16th of December, a couple of days after this information about Harry love it. There's an article in the Detroit Free Press that says that there was a an arrest of one of the murders of Reverend George headlock. So in Kansas City, December 15, at the instance of the authorities of Sioux City, Iowa, a man named Ganders was arrested here this afternoon on the charge of complicity in the murder of Reverend George head off the prohibitionists. Last summer Ganders, who passed under the name of James Braun came down the river in a flat boat and has been working in a packing house in West Kansas City for several weeks. The nature of his connection with the murder case is not known here. So if you recall back on the 15th we had all of those people. And one of them's name was I gotta go back and look here just to make sure I'm, I'm not I'm not speaking out of turn here. One of these men was named Ganders. Yep. Okay. So yeah, so so we have this guy, now he's been arrested. So now, there's a 11 people arrested in this case. So on the 30th of March of 1887, there's the trial. Now, this is where we get all our details. And this is going to be long winded. So I apologize. Pause me if you need to take a break. But you're gonna want to listen because it's really, really interesting. So this is from the Niles weekly mirror the 30th of March 1887. It's a Wednesday it made page two, I think the entirety of page two, and the headline reads the hat off to murder opening of a celebrated criminal trial at Sioux City, Iowa, to counsel the jury bedding men offering odds on a disagreement. So, on a dark and rainy night in the month of August 1886, Reverend George C. Haddock, a minister of the Methodist Church, and still we're prohibitionists was assassinated in one of Sioux City's public streets. The murderer created a profound sensation in the community. There was universal condemnation of the deed and an almost passionate demand that the proprietors be hunted down. Meetings and scores are places in Iowa and other states were held. Religious temperance and other organizations pass resolutions denouncing the crime and expressing sympathy for the widow of the murdered man. Contributions came in from every direction and a handsome Psalm was provided for her, and the smaller sons were sent to aid and closing the saloons and discovering the murders. The day of the murder George Governor sorry Governor Leia be offered a reward of $500 the limit allowed by law for the apprehension of the guilty parties. The city council also offered a reward. Later, Methodist ministers offered a reward of $1,000 On the day following the murder. The coroner's inquest began taking evidence and after two days the evidence showing the fact that valuable clues were likely to be developed. The investigation was made secret. The investigation covered a long period of time they're being extended adjournments circumstances were developed which fasten serious suspicion on one Harry L. Levitt, who had kept a low variety show and Sioux City. So there's our Harry Perry let lovey who does a variety show. Suspicion was also fastened upon several others with whom he found to have been intimately associated. But the trouble was, there was no satisfactory proof. Love it and the other suspected parties testified before the coroner's jury and had stories to tell them which they denied knowledge or part in the crime. But before the coroner's jury adjourned it was noticed that these parties towards whom swish appointed began to disappear from the city. Love it was among those who, who left. He was finally arrested in Chicago and confess all he knew in conjunction with the tragedy. He fixed upon John Aaron story of a member of the fronds Brewing Company as the man who fired the fatal shot and declare that there were present that they were present at the murder Henry Peters the brewery drive every driver sorry standing at your source elbow, Fred Munch wrath Jr. jheel. Traber, Paul leader Harry Sherman, Louis Plath, and two other Germans. So now we have all of these players eresource leader when Trev and Sherman were instantly arrested and warrants were sworn out for the others names who had disappeared. Elbert cause Netsky was arrested in California and Sylvester grande in Kansas City. So it's not Gandy, it's Grande. After a long impatient investigations, the grand jury returned to indictments against all the nine defendants above named charging them jointly with murder and conspiracy. As a January term of core, the attorneys for IRS serve demanded that he should be first put on trial and claim to be ready for trial. The prosecution asserted its legal right to say which defendant should be first tried and asked that a speedy date be assigned for trial. The court set the trial for the 21st of March some days prior to this date. The defense insisted that the prosecution should elect which of the defendants should be first tried in the prosecution or applied by electing John IRS or if the principal defendant and that he be tried on the charge of murder. Thereupon, the court so ordered and set the trial for the 23rd of March. So the trial happens on Wednesday the 23rd of March before Judge Lewis began the trial of John Ayers door for the murder of Reverend George head off and at this writing, it is still in progress. So the 30th of March 27. John is still in his trial. Able council representative both sides on the side of the defense are the names OC Treadway, Judge Isaac Pendleton, G W. Argo of Lee Mars mm Gray, Willis G. Clarke, Judge J and Weaver and George W. Kellogg. The prosecution is represented by county attorney S. M. Marsh and dill Connell of Fort Dodge ex United States District Attorney, honorary TP Murphy, United States district attorney and the well known law firm of Hubbard Spalding and Taylor. The jury in the selection of which only one day was consumed consists of Janell Connor a farmer of Morgan Township, Thomas Krylya, Farmer of Morgan Township, cc Bartlett, a farmer of little Sioux Township, John Madden, a farmer of Miller Township, Dennis Murphy, a farmer of oak Hendren township CGT grows a merchant of correction Bill Thomas Fraser, firmer of Rutland Township, WP Pennell, affirmer of concord township, David Kiefer, a farmer of Floyd Township, EB Weber, a farmer of Woodbury Township, John D. O'Connell, a farmer of liberty Township and John Adair, a railroad greeter of Sioux City. Mr. H. J. Taylor presented the case for the state and Mr. GW Argo presented the case for the defense. Mr. Taylor, after reading the indictment recited the story of the crime in a delicate and somewhat labored manner. Mr. Taylor laid the foundation of the motive for the murder in the exciting incidents of the injunction suits against the Sioux City liquor dealers. The Reverend George Seahawks participation in these suits and his advocacy of temperance were shown to have incited the enemy m&d of certain men among whom was John Aaron store if it is freely predicted in certain circles that a disagreement will be the real Is all of the trial and bedding men are taking odds against conviction? Mr. Taylor grew regularly eloquent as he neared the climax. In few words, he outlined the plan of the state and its proof of the murder. He described the assembling of the alleged conspirators at junk saloon. It was a saloom The watching for Haddock's return from his temperance mission to Greenville. The arrival of the minister at Merrill stable after leaving Mr. Turner at his home in the western part of the city, and the starting of Hotdogs for his own home. Then came the deed of blood had arrived after once returning to the stable door to ask if they're that Mark was lying and wait for him. Started across Water Street directly in the face of the band on the corner of fourth and water streets. A man stepped forward firmly past the victim then turned and fired the deadly shot. This man Mr. Taylor declared the state was ready to prove was none other than John Aaron's door and the blood then shed on our city streets, he said now cries for justice at your hands. Mr. Argo entered a general denial of the state's charge and introduced the defendant to the jury and a brief biographical sketch John Ayers Dorf was born in Belgium in 1851. His parents were farmers. At 14 years of age, he was apprenticed to a brewer in 1871. He came to America and has been employed as a brewer since that time, he has resided in Sioux City for nearly 10 years. Mr. Arvo show that the defense propose to rely upon proving an alibi and upon the general good character of the defendant. The council devoted considerable time to an arraignment of Harry Levitt, who he said, was the chief witness for the state. It was for the prosecution to prove the GIL of Aaron serve. But the defense would unquestionably demonstrate that he not only knew nothing of the murder, but that he had on the night of the shooting actually saved a temperance worker from assaults. So the plot thickens. On the 13th of July of 1887. A grave for Reverend had Oct was given so the the this was in the Kingsman weekly news. It's a Wednesday it made page one and the headline read Reverend George had ox grave unmarked special to the news. So embracing Wisconsin July 7, it is almost a year since the assassination of Reverend George head of the Temperance champion at Sioux City. The dastardly crime attracted national attention and temperance organizations and ministerial meetings throughout the country, adopted resolutions eulogizing the disease, paying tribute to his memory and denouncing the acts by which he lost his life, a splendid confirm, and close his mortal remains a special car brought them to Resene and a vast crowd, which included representatives of many leading cities surrounded the open grave when the body was committed to Mother Earth. All this was less than a year ago. Today, a stranger raceme might search mount cemetery from one end to the other without finding the grave of the major preacher. Unless in his search, he were aided by the watch. But with the help of this official, he might find himself standing near a little spot of hard ground fast thinking beneath the level of the surrounding surface. This is Haddock's to desolate on care for not a reason of laurels or wooden cross to tell the name of him who sleeps beneath. Surely after the murder, a movement was started for the purpose of raising a fund for the erection of a monument but it collapsed after brief existence. And the last resting place of the once great Methodist preacher and temperance exporter is an appearance and immediately surroundings, little if any better than a potter's field. Now, I do want to just follow up and say that I did do a little genealogy dig on, Mr. Reverend George had asked, and he does have a headstone it was actually funds were raised, and it was established for him, which is a good sentiment, but I just thought it was really interesting that you know, 1887 this this story even exist. So now it is the 10th of December of 1887. We're still moving in the right direction, which is a good thing. This one is going to blow your guys's minds because I know it blew my mind. I was just I it's kind of unfathomable. But it's good stuff. So we are in reading out of the Sioux City Journal is the 10th of December of 1887. Okay, so our headlines read not guilty The jury in the IRS serve murder case reach a verdict early last night. Only a single ballot taken in the jury room and that on the anonymous scene in the courtroom at the moment of the announcement of the verdict, O'Connell's closing argument the judge's instructions. Great crowd miner mentions So, drumroll the verdict the scene in court. At a few minutes before nine o'clock last night, the juror and the IRS are for murder. The jury in Arizona murder case returned a verdict and the verdict was not guilty. Hard to believe, right? I know because I read this and I'm like what? It was a sudden ending of a very long trial. The case did not go finally to the jury until six o'clock the entire day, till 515 o'clock was occupied with the address of honorary MD O'Connell of Fort Dodge, who closed the argument to the jury on behalf of the state. The reading of the instructions of the court occupied 45 minutes and then the jury was sent to its room. It remained there only a short time choosing a foreman and then took supper so that it must have not have not been far from eight o'clock before it took a ballot on the issue before it hits 20 minutes past eight o'clock. Judge Wakefield was notified that the jury had agreed. The defendant is attorneys and the attorney for the state were summons and we're not many minutes in reaching the courtroom. The news of the agreement of the jury spread with great rapidity, rapidity, and within 10 minutes, scores of spectators had gathered in the courtroom. Just before nine o'clock, the court set for the jury, as the jury filled into the room the men grouped within the bar formed and interesting spectacle. Although the verdict was foreshadowed by the fact of such speedy agreement in connection with the history of the trial. Still there. We're in the faces of the attorneys on both sides. The badges of acute anxiety are one of the defense especially betrayed a keen, consuming inquiry and nervousness. One man in the courtroom sat in her chair bubble and the man most deeply interested of all John Arizona of the defendant. He sat bolt upright in his chair, not even removing his overcoat not a feature of his face moved, and his hair did not change by so much as the shade of a shade, either while the sealed verdict was being passed to the clerk, or after the moment of its announcement. He was absolutely immovable. There was in the courtroom, the silence of death as the clerk and the order of the court. After he had made the usual interrogation of the jury as to agreement read the verdict. We the jury find the defendant not guilty. There was silence for some moments after and then there was some effort at demonstration by apart of the by standards. The verdicts have hardly been announced when Treadway was on his feet. After on parallel and on unequal night of darkness, he said and oppression such as could be only be equaled by the combined and concerted action of the most wicked Trinity, that it is possible to organize and form on this earth. The court interrupted. I do not think we need any remarks at this time. Mr. Treadway? No, Your Honor, replied Treadway. And then he continued the sentence from exactly the point where he was interrupted. Thus, the church the press in the state, I asked that the defendant be now discharged and his bonds release. The court discharged the defendant. Argo was the first among the council to turn to the defendant and say, Well, John, let me congratulate you. The others were quickly shaking hands with him and then he suddenly stepped across the room to where the jury was already dispersing to shake each one of by the hand and thank him. The courtroom was quickly cleared. On the street. A few shots were heard as the crowd pass by and a half an hour the defendant went to his wife at the Milwaukee house and that's home. Inquiry of journeyman jury men revealed the fact that only a single ballot was taken in the jury room. Soon after returning from Sabra bail, it was taken and it was anonymous for acquittal. The jury waited a little while and sent the word to the court. And that was all the drama was played out. So the last speech, which is O'Connell's closing. It's done immediately upon the opening of the court in the morning, Mr. Connell, he begins the closing argument and behalf of the state, he congratulated the jury that this important case was drawing to a close it was a matter of no consequence which you know what anyone except this court may say about the case, the laws of Rome of Germany of England have I would solve Can you lay down only by the court in this case, not by the Council on either side. He goes on to say it is the law which the court lays down and the jury under its oath must be blind to every other consideration. This is the law which forbids the crime of murder. The defendant in this case is indicted in due form for the crime of murder, the murder of George C. Haddock, and that is the sole issue to be decided by the jury under the laws as stated by the court. So he's giving his his big speech, just kind of getting the jury all ready for what's about to happen. So the judge, he's in this bench and evidence before it he Mr. Khan was being very thorough. Mr. Connell said that it must not be expected that in this case, he would follow counsel for the defense in the remarkable discretion called an argument. Five hours of the talk of Mr. Irwin had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the case he states, Mr. Irwin had spent hours in talking of its history of Rome and England and Germany. So that's why he kind of hit on those which is really interesting to be a fly on the wall in this courtroom, right? It mattered absolutely nothing. In this case, whether beer was brewed more or less than 1800 years ago, whether the Gilliam's of the forest all drink beer, or none of them drink beer. Mr. Irwin had spent hours in arguing the wrongfulness of the theory of prohibition, and urging that the clerk law ought not to have to pass. The jury was ABS has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the wisdom of legislation. The jury doesn't make or decide legislation, the solemn bonds have their own spine to take the law as the legislative or as the legislature makes it and as the court states it. Mr. O'Connell said that he hardly knew whether to answer such x drosha arguments as those of counsel for the defense, it was a question whether it was proper to occupy time was such a relevant discussion. He included or alluded to Irwin's declaration that it was a jury of keys. Mr. Connell said it was a jury of the citizens of Woodbury county citizens who are part of the people who make their own laws and who the same as their fellow citizens. Oh, submission and allegiance to the laws. So made and declare, Mr. Owen had spoken of the oppression, which was perpetuated by the power of the state against a defendant and had cited from English history of judicial oppression. He contrasted changes which have been made in the law in modern times, and giving incalculable advantages as against the prosecution. He called attention to the fact that the state had to put on the back of the indictment, the names of all the witnesses to be called against the defendant, together with the evidence of each witness so that the defendant is fully advised as to the case against him. The state had no such knowledge, the defense may call 1000s of witnesses and the state does not know even the face of one of them. So he steps to the witness stand. So they're having a little bit of schooling of how this all works. The defense has to peremptory peremptory challenges to one for the state the law, whether wisely or not, it is not to be discussed. It does throw around the defendant every advantage and puts every difficulty in the way of the state. Mr. Argo had talked to hours about the ancient liberties of Europe, but the liberties of no country in Europe could compare with the liberties of this country. There's so much going on it is like a circus. Mr. Irwin had denounced George C. Haddock as a scoundrel, a spy and informer. Mr. O'Connell declared that he knew George C. Hedgehog, he was a Methodist minister. The defense had defiled him because he was a preacher. The defense had defiled and slandered the church, all ministers of the gospel, the governor, Attorney Marsh, all the officers for the law, slime and abuse had been poured out on the law in on the state. Mr. O'Connell said that the Council for the defense had talked about the spirit of fairness, yet they pretended in the same breath that Simonsson was our the state's witness, and yet it was absolutely false. Gus Schmidt, a man whose face would convict him of any crime in the calendar before any jury counsel had charged him. O'Connell was saying falsely, that gosh Schmidt was arrested in late August for disturbing The piece here settled Connell displaying some document is the actual evidence, the certified copy of the record of the police court declaring that gosh, Schmidt was so arrested and I heard back the imputation. And I charged them with willful falsehood. And all of this they do in the spirit of fairness. In the spirit of fairness. They charged that a conspiracy was hatched between the governor and Bismarck, de abuse the officers and they go out of the record in a dozen directions. Mr. O'Connell said that he would go to another branch of the case a branch within the record. He had no Mr. Hajduk as a minister and a neighbor. He had known him as a good man, a man of sterling worth and to be admired. He had never heard him preach because he owed Mr. O'Connell, belong to another church. And when the Sabbath here's where Mr. Argo laughs audibly, like you can hear him laugh. So Mr. O'Connell says Argo laughs because he knows no Sabbath. And Mr. Argo says I laugh because it is the same old story. And the court says, Mr. Argo, you will not interrupt. Mr. O'Connell says Argo laughs at religion, as he denounced it in his argument. What is the matter with him this morning? See his flushed face? is he suffering from remorse for the murder of Hejduk or shame? Or is he trying now to laugh this case to a conclusion as he by arrangements with his associates at an earlier stage tried to laugh out the evidence, but I remind council that he laughs best who laughs last. Mr. Connell, resuming his argument, alluded again to George he had off and paid a tribute to his character as a man, a citizen and a minister of the gospel head on Kekkonen to Sioux City, and he had not been allowed to remain here a year before he was found volley murdered on the public street. Councils say that Hajduk armed himself and that if he was killed, it was no more than he deserved. They deny that he was murdered, and they take up the word of the miserable assassin and say that haddock was removed. Mr. McConnell declared that there was not one shred of evidence to show that hadn't ever threatened or use force, but the whole evidence shows and the fact was that he knew of this conspiracy to attack him and others connected with the prosecution and the only prepared to defend himself against criminal assault. That is the right of every citizen Mr. McConnell says. Mr. O'Connell, then came to the evening of the murder and describe the mutterings of The Gathering Storm. The movements of the conspirators their preparations for violence. He said that Hajduk knew of the impending danger and anticipated that violence would be done to him. He knew he had had death threats, right. His soul offense was that he was plaintiff in legal proceedings, and that he was out that night of August 3, in pursuance of his lawful rights. Mr. O'Connell then traced the movements of the conspirators following the testimony of Bismarck, as it was corroborated by the defendants own witness. He declared that not one thing had been developed impeaching the evidence of Bismarck except the one thing that he was addicted to drink. And within three days after the murder, he was drinking beer with John Aaron store. Mr. O'Connell showed the meeting of Traver and Bismarck on Monday, the day before the murder, that Traver offered Bismarck $500 to whip Haddock and took him to see how dogs house that Traver then thought that Bismarck could not whip the preacher and sent him to Gandalf to help the meaning of Gandalf Bismarck on the street, that ganda failed to go to tribers Saloon that night and Treiber sent Bismarck for him again on the day of the murder. It was not disputed that Bismarck went the evening of the murder to Ghana's house to bring him it was not disputed that Ghana and Bismarck were they are in the dark on the SU National Bank corner with the crowd nor that PLAs love it Trevor and the others of the defendants were in the crowd. It was not disputed that Bismarck and grant ganda grinder Gatto left the corner at left the corner of at the instance of men in the crowd and went up here Street in the direction of Mr. Head ox. I think they're going to his home. Yet his home they went there to watch for the outgoing of the Minister to to pour Germans drunken, ignorant men knew that an assault would was to be made on Haddock and they agreed to trick the main conspirators. And after remaining a way a short time went back to the crowd and were given money to buy drinks. What interest had that crowd in those To men that aid or any man in it should give them money for drinks on their return. They had been stationed to what Tatak if he emerged and went onto the street to give tidies thereof. Mr. Economy makes a great argument right? Mr. O'Connell declare that the information which Bismarck and ganda were sent to get had been secured by two other conspirators, mantras and Plath, who went in another direction, saw havoc in a buggy driving east on Fourth Street, and they hastened back and gave information to the rest of the conspirators. Mr. O'Connell, then trace the following movements the facts that then Bismarck and ganda were sent to lie in wait for the return of the buggy to the library stable that Bismarck did not go to the Columbia House and have Fitzsimmons go into the stable and inquire if the buggy had got back to Ghana. Bismarck did stand in the rain watching for the buggy, that they saw it and then hastened to junk saloon, gave the news and the crowd came out. Mr. O'Connell wanted the jury to remember that the distance from Shunk saloon to Didion's corner, was only a block and a half, which a man can walk in two minutes and yet not walk fast. He then described the murder eresource and Peter's walking out from the crowd to meet head off the fatal shot the scattering of the crowd and Aaron Sorkin Peters, hurrying on towards the bridge and the brewery. He then cited the testimony of witnesses who corroborated Bismarck story lever tin, who swears that immediately after the shot, two men ran south on Waterstreet Swanson, who saw a man running south. The fact that Bismarck was later seen going west from the direction of leaders house by two officers, the meeting of Bismarck Irizar and Folger at Joe borsch saloon, a few days after the murder, Folger taking Bismarck in the night to Salix and putting him on the train for California, and giving him eresource money. Mr. O'Connell then reviewed the testimony of Bismarck's little girls stating that her father being sick and San Francisco wanted her mother to come, that she sent to Aaron's Dorf, and he came promptly that he bought and paid for her house. And that to the next day, Paul leader went with the woman and child and children on a train to Omaha and bought their tickets to San Francisco. Whether Bismarck had fled noon adjournment. At the convening of court, Mr. O'Connor resumed his argument. He alluded to the charge that he had been paid money as a private prosecutor by association, and he declared that no private person had ever paid her so much as a copper. Mr. O'Connell took up the question of alleging collusion between Lovett and Bismarck. The attempt to show collusion is made because they feel the force of the identity of the story is told between love it in Chicago and Bismarck in San Francisco. He contended the very story of the defense's own witness. His name is like Kreuk shank, the turnkeys what they call him, proves that they never met before except on the night of the murder and then only a stranger's. Cruickshank says that when Lovett asked his mark, if he knew him, Bismarck said he did not. But he had heard of him. Then the defense saw that this failed to show collusion and so the witnesses Eilers, who was brought in to swear that he saw Levitt talking with Bismarck and an ally a few days after the murder. Mr. O'Connell showed that alors swore as positively that he saw Levitt drinking beer in the saloon two weeks before the murder. And yet at that very time, love it was in Michigan had been for weeks and did not leave for weeks. The evidence utterly failed to show that love it and Bismarck had ever met before or after the murder and before they testify to the grand jury. On the contrary that evidence shows that up to the meeting in jail Bismarck did not even know love it save by what he had heard of him. So they were able to throw that out which is probably a good thing right? Mr. O'Connell said that he was not before the jury to claim that love it was as good as yachts been the defense had been in love it and blackest colors. But one thing was certain. And that was that love it did not organize the saloon keepers Union. He was out of Sioux City and as soon as he came back, the zookeepers held a hurried meetings to make him a member and to stay in effect that love it was as good as they was he and infamous scoundrel the keeper of a den of vise why, then were the slum keepers so headlong to take him to their bosoms and adopt him as a member of their conspiracy. It wasn't for the defense to come in and impeach the character of Lovett, for whom the saloon keepers and anonymously voted as a brother the night before the murder, and John Aaron store himself had voted for love it. And how did they try to impeach him? Why they rate the slums in gambling Hell's of this and other cities for men to come into swear. Love its character and Lewis seltzer attempts to impeach love it and yet Selter admits that he knew that love it had made threats to murder head off, and that after the murder, he asked him seltzer to secure bonds for him love it if arrested for the murder and Selter promised to do so. And seltzer didn't even tell the fact after love it had disappeared from the city. Mr. O'Connor reviewed the evidence of the impeaching witness or when the gambler who could take 10 drinks without feeling it, as he said, who swore that he saw love it in front of Davidson store a few minutes past 10 o'clock when the evidence shows that love it was then in the hack at Greenville, Martin another gambler who had left the city for the city's good and gone to a Dakota town. Benny Keith, still another gambler who swears that love is seduce his wife when Keith admits that he never lived a week with her in his life. Joe spay a saloon keeper who swears that Lubbock came to saloon that night and asked for a revolver. Mr. O'Connell discuss race evidence, spay swore that Levitt came to the saloon at nine o'clock, and that he Mr. Spay was then playing cards with Peter Miller, and had been since eight o'clock and remain there with him until the news of the murder was heard. But Miller comes on the witness stand and swears that the only man who came into space saloon that night was Louis Plath, and not love him. It was Plath who asked for a revolver, and stay in Miller together corroborated and don't impeach love it. Mr. O'Connell said that he could understand it all. It was mantra and PLAs according to Munchetty himself who saw Hajduk in the buggy, and pleth hastens to get a revolver, for they were after his heart's blood. Mr. O'Connell then passed to junk saloon just before the murder. He read the testimony of Grady and others showing that a crowd came into junk saloon, and he could only remember mantra Traver Plath love it and Aaron store they came in together. Grady swears that the crowd in which airsoft was came into the saloon together and all went out together as fast as they could get out. O'Connell said that this was most important testimony as it demonstrated that Aaron CERF was in the crowd when it went out the door. Mr. O'Connell, then put Grady's testimony in connection with that of a Mr. John. Sorry. Robson, the man he said, who cause IRS store to charge his alibi or to change his alibi in this trial. Rob someone that wasn't junks and saw Aaron serve there when Grady saw him. There's so many players to the story. It's really hard to keep up right? If you're keeping up I give you props because this is really tough. So he goes on to say he swore that he loves a saloon and when he got to the street corner, he looks back and West and saw the crowds standing in front of junk saloon and the ears sore from the crowd. And they all turn and what was the whole crowd won't was and no one can ease. Then when Robson got across forestry, he turned again and led to us and saw the crowd going west and at the Leb beyond jokes here. Then our three reputable witnesses Grady scollard, and Robson who all corroborated each other and contradicted Aaron stores. They located him at the door of junk Saloon in the crowd and the crowd starting West and not a single one going east. Mr. O'Connell, then read the testimony of the boy Buchanan, the witness for the defense who swore that he was at the door of junk saloon love it and the crowd came out and you can and swears that the crowd went right by him, and he saw no one go ease that the whole crowd went passing him West and walked rapidly. And Buchanan swears that he walks along slowly after the crowd and let the jury noted that no one passed him going in the direction of the other crowd swears positively that no one passed him. This Mr. O'Connell contended, made it absolutely impossible for leader story to be true for leader swore that he and heart went out of junks after the crowd and pass the door when the crowd was 30 or 40 feet further west, and that they followed slowly after the crowd being almost 100 feet behind, when the crowd reached the dinning corner, and that they walked on passing the crowd with the corner and turning the corner had gone only 50 feet south on Water Street when the shot was fired. And the boy Buchanan swears that he had gone only to the alley following the crowd when the shot was fired. This fixes the time been more than two minutes. Certainly not more than three minutes from the moment ears sort of in the crowd left junk so the trigger was pulled into the corner which took the life of George C hat off. Mr. O'Connell then considered the testimony of the Jove Simpsons, and contended that the defense had been unable to break the force of their evidence. At the defense asked why lagger didn't see the Joseph sins. When he hurried to the scene of the murder. O'Connell would ask why laggard didn't meet jewel, the witness for the defense, who pretends to have been near the same place where the dose of sins were. He spoke of the conservative laughter of the lawyers for the defense when the Joseph sins were describing the murder. He said that the whole theory of the defense was that the murder of Hajduk was not murder, but that it was justifiable and that he ought to be killed. So I read that again, it was justifiable and that he ought to be killed. Mr. O'Connell, then discuss the evidence of the alleged eyewitness on whom the defense relies he read the evidence of Charles Smith, who swore that he saw three man dragging the body of hair out from the middle of the street thing that never occurred. Charles Smith, he declared, never saw what he pretends and his testimony was a pure fabrication. He discussed jewels, evidence and pointed out its contradictions, absurdities and impossibilities, which he claimed utterly removed jewel from the realm of credibility and which eliminated him from the case except as a sign on which was written the extremity of the defense. The defense had attacking the Universal Press and and outs the newspapers for their course with reference to the case. But Mr. O'Connor was glad to know that there was one paper a single exception. The Sioux City Tribune, which merited the praise of Mr. Irwin. And this same paper at the last trial was commending the prosecution, which we're reading out of the Sioux City Journal now. Had editorially condemned Mr. Irwin's coarseness, as unjust to himself as a lawyer and an injury to his client. Mr. O'Connor declared that of all the witnesses who had sat in the witness stand the worst looking the most brutal of features and desperate of glance was ganda who was also Grande, and his testimony was discussed at some length showing his connection with Bismarck on the day before the murder, and who admits that he was up and down the streets with the conspirators on the night of the murder. He ridiculed the statements which ganda made and the explanation of his flight down the river from Sioux City immediately after the murder, he can tend to that ganda instead of impeaching Bismarck corroborate him. There's so much of his case. Mr. O'Connell, then proceeded to the last branch of the case was he proposed to discuss the alibi, and he first discussed the evidence of IRS sort of himself he declare the IRS I've had already sworn to three different and contradictory alibis, number one, before the coroner's in jury, when he said under OLS, the second day after the murder that he had heard of the shooting, when he was in front of the shepherd restaurant, and then he was then ready to go home and he went down past the place where head ox body was lying. Number two, before the jury in his first trial, when he swore that he went from the shepherd saloon to junk saloon, and from there directly up to the English kitchen saloon, and they're first heard of the killing, and that then he went west, pass that in your corner. Number three, in this case, and before this jury when he had sworn that he came from the shepherd, saloon, to the Chicago saloon, and then to the junks, then going back to the shepherd saloon, and shaking dice with hyginus, and then went to the kitchen saloon, which of these alibis O'Connell demanded was the true one. That is the question. He declared that the last alibi was fabricated in order to meet the fatal testimony of Robson, which had been developed since the first trial. He declared that Webster's testimony utterly destroyed his last pretended alibi, for he was in the shepard Soluna. the very time when Irizar swore he was there shaking dice. He referred to the testimony of hyginus before he reached to city and helped to fabricate the last alibi, his testimony when I can and he told me that he did not see Aaron store the second time that night at the shepherd's spoon or anywhere else. So Mr. O'Connell and leaving the case with the jury declare that the state did not want to convict the defendant by an appeal to sympathy or passion, but he asked and the man of the jury should use their judgment, their conscience, their candor and their rules. So, the instructions the conspiracy feature, the instructions of the court were very elaborate and full, the reading of them occupied of 45 minutes, it would hardly be worthwhile to reduce them in full because it was such a long, just drawn out process. They are in large part identical with those given in montross case and in large part they are similar to the instructions which are usual in all murder cases this is necessary. So in that portion, which relates to legal distinctions and definitions, such as those relating to degrees of murder, the penalties there for the forms of verdict, the reasonable doubt testimony, all that are covered, those bullet points were were made sure to be taken care of. But the most unusual part was that relating to the facts of the conspiracy. I mean, like it couldn't get any worse, right. Judge Wakefield applied broadly the rule that if the defendant had made an agreement or entered into an understanding with others to murder haddock, that had aided there in then he was guilty. So he was not present at the murder or if he can, expired or entered into an understanding with others committed assault on edocs. And if in committing that assault had off was murder, and the defendant was present, he was guilty. The instructions also stated the broad rule of evidence that if conspiracy was established, then all the action declarations of all the conspirators in pursuance of the common unlawful purpose was evidence against one another. So the reading of instructions was listen to what the keenest interest not only by the jury, but also by the great crowd that was president. Just some notes like minor mentions. No man ever had a more intensely interested audience to listen to him than O'Connell. The courtroom and all the avenues leading there to were literally packed, dense crowds gathered about the doors and extended weld on the stairwells in the afternoon intent a listening if they could not see O'Connell in his address made a powerful arguments as we just we just read. The magnificent force of the man physical as well as mental was never shown to better advantage. O'Connell's wit and sarcasm afforded rich entertainment to the spectators while they're watching this go down. The most industrious man among the Council for the defense had been GW Kellogg, some elegant bouquets were sent to O'Connell's room at the hotel after this. And on this day, Mr. Aaron store actually turned 36 years old. So on his 36th birthday, he was found not guilty. So quite interesting, right. I told you guys this case was a lot. And I'm not done yet. So just something really, really neat. On the sixth of August, and we're wrapping up here, but I'm really really excited to share this on the sixth of August of 1899. It is the 30th anniversary of Reverend George C. Haddock staff. And the Muscatine News Tribune in Iowa. It's a Sunday, August 6, on page seven published this little blip that I found that is just great. And it says yesterday was the 30th anniversary of the murder of Reverend George C. Haddock pastor of the first Emmy Church of Sioux City. Hajduk was working as evidenced in prohibition days against liquor dealers, when late one night he was shot and instantly killed. John Ayers store, a prominent Brewer was arrested for the crime and after two sensational trials, was finally acquitted. The temperance unions and members of his former church went to the site of the murder and health services in memory of the dead man, a large number of persons attending, so it's good to know that 30 years later, it was still relevant. People were still showing up, they were still honoring the Reverend George C had asked. So I hope you guys really enjoyed this story. It was a lot All in all, everybody was acquitted, which is just, I mean, they had nine players, they had 11. At one point, they had nine players at the end of this. That is insane. I have lost my voice because we are over an hour into this, but that's a great podcast episode, right? Um, but it's just amazing to me that after all of this we did, we dug so deep, we got so much information. Everybody was acquitted, like, what does that say about our justice system at this time? And I have a question for you guys. How do you think our justice system has changed since then? And what can our justice system do to be better today? And no bars sold? Like just lay it all out on the line? Um, I know it's controversial. I know that it's like one of those loaded questions. But I just think it's really important to kind of gauge what everybody's thinking, How do you feel about this case? How did it make you feel, because I know for me, there was so much going on. And when I dug a little bit further, and I found out that the Reverend had a family, he had three children, two of which died really young. And I don't even know the circumstances I have, I have a little bit more digging to do, but I think it might have been because it's before he started this this pilgrimage. For prohibition, I have a feeling it was cuz he had two children that died on the same exact day in the same year. And I have a feeling that it's something to do with alcohol. I'm just foreshadowing, I don't know more details will come on that though, because I keep digging, but it's just kind of unfathomable. And it happens today, this isn't something new. But here we are, you know, in 1886. And it's happening that and, and we have all these players. And it's just, it's something that kind of opened up your eyes a little bit about. So in closing, I just kind of want to do a little genealogy update. Because this is a you know, I do genealogy for a living is a huge part of my life, I do these cases for the podcast. And I actually build them out because I want to know about these players lives. And that's why I kind of changed up my format a little bit. So that I am just focusing on one case per month, because I need to know the details. And I don't want to just do a case and then put it off to the side like these people, I have names. They all have stories, and I kind of want to see how their lives looked. And I will be sharing them on the blog. So make sure that you are checking that out. But I was tasked with I'm part of this, this international genealogy team group, which is excellent. If you are a genealogist I mean even just a business owner, it's really important for you to find your tribe. And we have a meeting coming up. And I was tasked with coming up with something that's going on in the genealogy community. And I thought I would share it with you guys too, because I think it's everywhere. It's not even just in the genealogy community. It's everywhere right now. And that is AI, artificial intelligence. So pertaining to the genealogy, like industry itself. Ai seems to be like what everybody's talking about. And it's not even just in the genealogies and everything right now. So the question that's been swirling is, Can generative AI revolutionize or even replace normal tasks that we as humans do every day. And that includes our research, our creation of content, like all of that stuff, it all falls under this umbrella. So some of the arguments especially in I guess, it's like an everything. Critics state that AI tools were created via massive copyright infringement was raises serious ethical issues, right. But AI like chat GPT, for instance, they keep growing to keep developing, they keep learning, as we keep using them, they keep on learning. So I'm dabbling in AI, I'm kind of dipping my toe in at the president. And my biggest concern right now that I'm taking away for, like my own creativity, by just letting the computer do the walking, if that makes sense. Then there's like, these questions about like, what are the best tools to use? How can I as a professional genealogist and my own career, my own business, get the most out of AI or shine even? So we see AI at all of our major testing companies ancestry.com, you know, in 2022, they use a proprietary AI handwriting recognition algorithm that allowed them to have a searchable index of the 1950 US census, and it only took nine days for them to transcribe that census those censuses, which is amazing. The algorithm perform the mental task of handwrite getting recognition and transcription that we as humans, right, were previously tasked with. So just kind of a side note, it took nine months to transcribe the 1940 US Census using only humans. So that's like, nine months versus nine days. Like that's, that's pretty impressive, right? How does that make you feel? The flip side is that this new algorithm did not eliminate the need for human curator, or a second set of eyes, right, which we all need anyways as humans. So that's kind of like the good of it is there's still human need. But it is quite impressive. Family Search, they made an announcement that it also had jumped on the handwriting recognition algorithm that it was enabling to scan and index millions of their records. Using that technology, my heritage, they jumped into AI with their time machine, which transports an individual's face into a wide array of different times and places all around the world. And complete with time, place, appropriate facial features, and even the close, which is amazing. The new photo data tool that uses AI to estimate the year a photo was taken. The deep nostalgia tool animates a still photo to create a realistic video animation of your ancestors face, I use that one, I think it's fun. Yes, all of these tools use generative AI to manipulate digital photographs or documents in a way that even humans could not previously do. So anyone who uses a computer for genealogy or anything, has at this point inadvertently use more AI tools than they can count. And that's like the truth, AI. It's not anything new. But the transformation is just on the horizon for AI. So I just kind of wanted to bring that to everybody's attention. And I just kind of wanted to ask, like, how do you feel about AI? Comments, you know, let me know your feelings. Let me know how you're using it. If it's working for you, if you feel like it's taking those creative juices out of what you're trying to do and what your message is. I'm not 100% on the AI train yet. I'm a creative person. And I like to do things myself, no matter how much time it takes. So I'm not quite there yet, but I love to connect. And I really love to hear people's opinions. And I'm not just talking about in the genealogy community but like in your business in your life. How are you using it? Let's connect let's talk let's chat. Let's work together. So that's gonna be it for me. I'm gonna go ahead and wrap up. I hope you guys enjoyed this episode. I had a lot of fun. If you have any questions, any concerns, any ideas you want to connect, please reach out my email metaphysic cal@gmail.com my website where you can find all my contact information www dot genealogy investigator.com. Don't forget to check out the blog which associates itself with this episode. And I am so glad you guys are with me happy 2024 And until February. I will talk to you soon