Shelf List

 

 

R         Ault, John S.

367                  Journal, 1883‑1887.

                                    One volume.

 

 

 

This is the journal of John S. Ault, collector and city marshal of Salem in Dent County, Mis­souri.  The entries concern the collection of fees for business licenses and fines for violations, cita­tions for public nuisances, and arrests for disorderly behavior and public intoxication.

 

Date                        Selected Contents

 

03 Dec 1883           John S. Ault appointed assistant marshal and collector for City of Salem, to fill

                                  unexpired term of John R. Mitchel

 

17 Dec 1883           Received order from mayor to inspect flues and chimneys in city.

 

20 Dec 1883           John Hopkins, “Lame Tomb Stone Agent From Steelville,” intoxicated in public

                                  but was allowed to leave town with his brother‑in‑law.

 

25 Dec 1883           Ordinance prohibiting fireworks suspended during day by order of mayor.  The

                                  city was full of people, many in­toxicated, but good order prevailed.

 

13 Mar 1884           Seven dogs shot during rabies scare.

 

03 May 1884          “Arrested and calaboused” Con Sulivan for public intoxica­tion. Sulivan resisted

                                and was “clubed[sic] into submis­sion.” He was released later on own recog-nizance but did not appear in court. 

                                  Ault reported Sulivan as having left for parts unknown and commented, “good ridance[sic] to bad rubbish.”

 

17 May 1884          Issued business license to Sam’l K. Campbell, a crippled boy with peanut stand.

                               “An object of charity bravely trying to support himself.” License issued without charge on order of mayor, after “small business men” complained Camp­bell was doing business without license.

 

17 May 1884          Committed a “vagrant tramp” from Reynolds County. Released 19th and ordered

                                to leave town.

 

02 Jun 1884            Three burglaries during the night, including one at home of Frederick Dent.  No

                                clue to the robbers.

 

04 July 1884           Firing of anvils and other demonstrations for Independence Day celebration.   Ordinance forbidding fireworks and

                                 dis­charge of firearms temporarily sus-pended by the mayor.

 

07 Jul 1884             Angry dispute at Board of Aldermen’s meeting.

 

13 Sep 1884           Burglary of post office.

 

06 Oct 1884            Pullman, Mack & Co. Circus in town, 2,000 attend.

 

25 Oct 1884            W. W. Coles colossal shows at Salem, 3,000 people attend. “Whiskey and  flowed freely.”

 

12 Nov 1884          Ault builds furnace for Victor Mill Co.

 

24 Dec 1884           Burglary of Adams Express Co.

 

16 Mar 1885           Aldermen hear charges of partiality in office against mayor and city marshal.

 

25 Apr 1885           Con Sulivan[sic] clubbed into submission and jailed for public intoxication.  A

                                  repeat offender, Sulivan signed a pledge of abstinance for twelve months.

 

06 Jun 1885            Landlord given notice to evict prostitute from his property on 4th street.  Another landlord

                                  given notice on 10 June.

 

11 Jun 1885            Ault temporarily relinquishes duties so that he could go to Steelville to work on

                                  courthouse as bricklayer. Deputy Marshal J. F. McCrea assumed duties.

 

11 Sep 1885           “House of doubtful reputation” raided.

 

30 Dec 1885           Arsonist attempts to burn house of J. F. James but fire is suppressed with little

                                  damage. Another fire of suspicious origins on 18 January 1886 destroyed the

                                  depot. Other fires 18, 19 and 28 January also suspected to be arson.  Special deputy marshals

                                  appointed to assist marshal.

 

27 Apr 1886           “A desperado named Wadliegh” in Salem. A gunfight ensued when sheriff

                                   attempted an arrest, but no one hurt.  A posse pursued but did not  catch.

 

29 May 1886          Democratic meeting draws 2,000 to Salem.  R. P. Bland carried the county.

 

09 Aug 1886          A. D. Taylor’s skating rink was closed as it had not business license. Taylor re-

                                   opened after obtaining a license, but there were complaints of excess noise at

                                   the rink on 19 August, and a great deal of disorderly behavior on 28

                                   August. The rink was closed 13 September in lieu of back rent.

 

24 Sep 1886           Ault reported that the city had been sober for two days in consequence of no ice

                                   in town and hot beer.

 

07 Nov 1886          State officials begin a series of prosecutions for selling liquor in less‑than‑gallon

                                   lots, which Ault referred to on 14 November as “the war path against the saloon men.”

 

27 Feb 1887           Arrest of prostitute, Alice Curtis, who spent 22 days in  jail.  Two others, said to

                                   be from Steelville, arrested on 19 March.

 

26 Jul 1887             Balloon ascension draws crown in Salem.

 

26 Aug 1887          Many complaints made concerning bad behavior at the various churches, appar-

                                   ently by rowdy young men. The officers propose to put a stop to it.

 

19 Sep 1887           “Peck’s Bad Boy, a third rate one horse show” held at opera house.  Good order

                                    prevailed despite the show’s being “a great humbug.”

 

                                Final entries in October 1887.  The pages have been torn from the volume and

                                   the entries are not legible.

 

 

---