From the Archives of Western Newspapers

By Samantha Johnson
For Southern Alberta Newspapers

March 6, 1897 – The Boundary Creek Times

We confess we have not much sympathy for investors who purchase claims without verifying the statements of vendors first only to wake up one fine morning to find they have been made famous idiots of. The verdict is generally, “serves ‘em right.” Just so. But, nevertheless, the small investor is a useful man. It was his class who built up Rossland, and it does a camp no good when a man goes away and claims he was badly bilked in such and such a place.

The shooting affair at Midway has been an all-absorbing topic of conversation during the week. Why Mr. McMynn has not given himself up nor been arrested are questions many have asked. Up to the time of going to press, we’ve not heard that any steps have been taken to institute an inquiry. It is only reasonable to infer Mr. Hood has as yet failed to lay information against the man who shot at him and the two constables have grounds for believing the shooting last Friday was justified and not an indictable offence.

It will astonish nobody if many of the mineral claims in the vicinity of Vernon turn out to be, in the course of the next year or so, dividend paying mines and, who can tell, possibly rivals of Rossland. They have wonderful showings at Camp Hewit and reports there from have recently been most encouraging. The people of Vernon seem to be blessed with more than their fair share of Nature’s bounties.

March 3, 1904 – The Nanton News

Some Nantonites feel as though the town is growing too fast and it takes considerable effort to stay above board. Natural results are bound to come. On the other hand, there should be congratulations that the sudden growth is not due to an inflated boomerang, so commonly resorted to for the building up of western towns.

E. Leslie, who is well-known around High River and Nanton and cooked for two seasons on the Mosquito Creek round-up wagon, has met with some financial difficulties with the High River K.O.T.M Lodge. To clear the matters up, he appeared before Justices of Peace Thorn and Shepard, who heard the case at the police barracks with about 16 witnesses being called on the case. Word was received here on Monday night that Leslie was given 10 days hard labour and taken to Calgary to serve sentence.

A couple from Campbellford, ON, who have lived together for 25 years and raised a large family, recently discovered they are brother and sister who were separated early in life in the old country.

March 6, 1913 – Taber Times

Hockey affairs in this province are in a horrible muddle as a result of the mix-up of the past few days, which has prevented the Chefs of Taber from playing in the provincial championship. The Taber Chefs have been branded as bad, bold men with the whole team suspended. The whole trouble was the Chefs were caught with the goods. The other teams may be just as crooked, but they haven’t been caught – yet. The whole Sherman team are suspected of taking money and Edmonton’s team are also under suspicion. It’s a lovely state of affairs.

Numerous applications have been received for the position of publicity commissioner in Taber. Hoards of responses were received to the ads placed by the board in various newspapers. All are desirous of placing Taber before the public in the flowery language of the booster, and all are perfectly confident in their ability to secure any number of industries of any class or description to this thriving and enterprising young city.

H. Henri Robert, the leading French criminal barrister in Paris, enthralled a distinguished gathering at the L’Universite des Annales when he showed how he would have defended Lady Macbeth. In his impassioned defense of the tragic queen, he pointed out her husband was often absent on warlike expeditions and when home would spend the days hunting and the nights in drunken revelry. Additionally, M. Robert pointed out the long and deadly feud between Lady Macbeth and old King Duncan that led to her saving her own life only by fleeing after Duncan killed her first husband, her father-in-law, brother and grandfather.