Billy Sunday --- plus, Ekfelt's hearse

Here are a couple of examples of Chariton Leader editor Henry Gittinger having a little fun --- on the front page of his edition of June 4, 1908. Keep in mind that Lucas County still was reeling that summer from the failure on Nov. 1 of the preceding year of First National Bank, a considerable financial disaster. So perhaps a little cheering up was in order.

The first story, under the headline "Billy Sunday Meets His Match" obviously was apocryphal, but entertaining. For those who need reminding, Iowa-born Sunday (1862-1935) was perhaps the most widely known evangelist in the United States at the time.

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"He was on his way to the post office with a handful of letters to mail and he met a dirty faced urchin whom he asked if he knew the way to the post office. "You're darned right," the kid said, and he spit out the gob of tobacco he was chewing. Billy turned to walk on, but before going more than a step, he asked the kid: "You chew tobacco don't you?" The kid replied, "You bet; have you got some?" Billy continued, "I am preaching down at the tabernacle. You come down tonight and I will show you the way to heaven." "Hell," the kid retorted, "You don't even know the way to the post office."

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And then here's a brief item with a creative turn of phrase involving one of the assets of that failed bank, disposed of at a considerable loss by its receivers. The hearse had passed to the bank upon the bankruptcy of Ekfelt Furniture and Undertaking, operated successfully for many years just off the southwest corner of the square by John Frederick Ekfelt, then bankrupted by his son August:

Hearse Sold --- The Ekfelt hearse was sold on Monday by the sheriff to O.E. Tullis, the price paid being $60. The First National Bank had a mortgage on it for $400, but judges say $60 was a fair price for it. Thus another $340 of the depositors' money is buried never to be resurrected. Mr. Tullis will ship the hearse to Leon.