Past Pages for Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014

140 years ago

(Continued from Sunday). It was the first instance on record where a criminal has gone to the gallows free of irons. He looked down on the motley stream that to hear his farewell words and said, “They may yet need the mercy they don’t feel for me; and they may not get it when the Power above calls them away ... when you hear those chains rattling, look out for me.” Arrived on the ground of the execution, he jumped lightly out of the carriage and walked briskly to the circle and up the stairs to the scaffolding. He gave the structure a hasty, wild, but scrutinizing look. He awaited the reading of his death warrant. (Continued on Wednesday).

130 years ago

Yesterday morning as W. Lillienfeld went to open his store, he found the lock of the iron door had been forced, and further investigation showed the premises had been robbed. The thieves had appropriated a quantity of clothing, the floor was strewn with goods. At present there is no clue to the thieves.

100 years ago

There is the case recently of the little Reno girl who wrote a letter to Santa Claus asking for a violin for Christmas. The letter was published in the Journal. Now comes the news a violin was received by parcel post, but the sender could not be identified. Two convicts from the State Prison sent her theirs. The story of their sympathy and sacrifice has given a new zest to the real meaning of “Christmas.”

70 years ago

There were slightly more than 3,000 fewer automobiles operating on the highways of Nevada this year, the secretary of state revealed today. The report stated the reduction in automobiles cost the state $20,000 in revenue.

60 years ago

Clear Creek Road will be four lanes. Construction to start by 1956.

50 years ago

Three persons died on Nevada streets and highways during the Christmas holidays and a fourth died early today to bring the 1964 toll to a record of 208, 11 more than in 1963.

Dolan is the son of Bill Dolan, who wrote this column for the Nevada Appeal from 1947 until his death in 2006.