From the Archives of Western Newspapers

By Samantha Johnson
For Southern Alberta Newspapers

October 14, 1886 – Qu’Appelle Progress

The Vidette is making claims about the meanness and lack of moral calibre of the Progress reporter. Has anybody connected with the little sheet printed in the valley got any kind of calibre anyway?

On the seventh, George Garnett was tried in Regina for the robbery of the Prince Albert Mail. After an hour’s deliberation, the jury brought back a verdict of guilty, and the judge sentenced Garnett to 14-years imprisonment. He still declares he is not guilty and hopes time and circumstances will establish his innocence.

The first number of the Regina Journal has appeared, a forty column, eight-page paper. It is neatly printed, tastefully arranged and the character indicates considerable enterprise on the part of the publisher and proprietor. The journal’s introductory remarks are somewhat noncommittal in the party department, calling itself a fearless advocate of reform in political life. It is careful to use a small ‘r’ in reform and not a capital.

October 14, 1910 – The Bellevue Times

The J.P. disposed of a case in Blairmore on Tuesday under the vagrancy act with the offender fined $50 along with three months in prison. The imprisonment was suspended on account of the offender having left the district.

Sir Henry Irving sometimes, but not so often, had trouble remembering a line during a dramatic performance. On one occasion he turned to the wings and asked for his line where his prompter had grown careless and was chattering away to another. “Line, line,” repeated Sir Henry. There was a rustling of leaves and then a distressed voice murmured, “which line, Sir Henry?”

The local registrar of vital statistics in Calgary is cracking down on those who are failing to register births and marriages. Proceedings against three persons who have failed to register births have been undertaken and a few further prosecutions are pending. Most are English speaking and understood either the doctor or the pastor would be making the necessary registrations.

October 15, 1914 – The Edmonton Capital

British cruisers have seized an American steamship that was bringing a cargo of coal to German cruisers, which have been preying on British commerce in eastern waters. The ship ostensibly was sailing to Guam and did stop at that port, although without discharging her cargo. No formal complaint has yet been lodged with the government. It is presumed the owners of the ship are content to let their case be forfeited.

A dispatch from the Central News in Copenhagen states the Germans are preparing to lay upon Belfort with as large a force as possible. Almost the entire population of about 26,000 have left the city. Belfort is an almost impregnable fortress in France that withheld a three-month siege during the Franco-Prussian war.

At about 1 p.m. today, Frank Ward, a 27-year-old teamster, walked into the Gibson Gage company on Notre Dame Street in Winnipeg and charged his 22-year-old wife, who worked there as a cashier, of going around with other men before shooting her twice in the head. Ward then turned the gun on himself, shooting himself in the neck. The couple had been married 18 months.