Mission Statement:
To endeavor to bring to all residents of the Five States the most current and important news from across the entire Five States region. Never yellow, the Five States Herald vows to serve only the people of the Five States, from New Austin to Lemoyne, free of charge now and forever.
First Female Presidential Nominee Passes by Five States!
By Sofia Kathleen Fairfax – Lead Correspondent
The rights of women are a much-discussed question; if you see a well-dressed lady in the streets, she’s probably marching for the right to vote. Many will proudly say when they can vote, they will elect a woman to lead this nation. I myself find that perhaps a bit unlikely, but it’s not like women haven’t run for the office before.
In 1872, in what was considered a bizarre decision, a newspaper writer and Wall Street broker named Victoria California Claflin ran for president. She was, if anything, an odd duck, having worked as a mystical healer and spiritualist before striking it rich in New York. A constant rumor is that Leviticus Cornwall funded her firm; we cannot be sure this happened; we do know however, that he praised her work as a medium.
She ran on a platform of legalizing prostitution, creating a new constitution, and giving equality to all. Unsurprisingly, she got no electoral votes; we don’t even know if anyone actually voted for her, beyond one old man in New Austin who merely said he didn’t like the previous president.
She is in the news because, after moving to England a few years ago, she’s become something of a recluse. She is expected to give a speech about the suffragette movement, and praise Mr. Cornwall, amusing since his big rival is a woman.
What is to be made of this contradiction of a figure? A woman who has praised socialists in France and wanted a revolution, while at the same time embracing eugenics as a movement? When the history books are written, I wonder how people will feel about her. She was the first woman to attempt the monumental climb, but it was purely symbolic. It’s even arguable if she counts; Claflin was under 35, the minimum age to be president.
Women have a long way to go for many goals; the dream of being in the White House is more a fever dream than a realistic dream, but if it ever happens, well, someone in 1872 was the first to try, and for all her baggage, you can’t take that record away.
Del Lobo gang assaults Tumbleweed
By Jose Chavez
The small and fading town of Tumbleweed was the focus of a Del Lobo gang attack. The gang has been hunted by the U.S. military and been desperate for a win. The gang attacked the town suddenly, killing several deputies in the assault. “A couple fellas rode covered wagons into town,” one witness said, “lots of them popped out of there, then others came.” The lawmen were overwhelmed quickly and Sheriff Freeman was captured and set to be hanged. Thankfully a posse of gunslingers arrived to save the day, saving Sheriff Freeman and fighting the outlaws back. The posse was rewarded for their work and they rode off on their way.
Trial for alleged Executioner to be held next week
By Jane Duran
Emmaline Haven, accused of being the Executioner, will finally have her day in court. Mrs. Haven was accused of killing her late husband as well as several other men who allegedly cheated on their wife. We must specifically allegedly for legal reasons, but in our investigations we found that all of the identified victims were believed to have been unfaithful. Several of the allegations of infidelity were confirmed, though not all could be verified. The path to a trial has been a long one. Special Agent Rice Philips has been persistent in delaying a trial so he could collect as much evidence as possible. Mrs. Haven’s attorney successfully asserted her right to a speedy trial and the date has been set. Next week the trial will begin. Though it may be considered high profile, neither side expects the trial to take longer than a few days.
Man escapes murder charge thanks to witness
By Odell Clifton
Blackwater police arrested a man today after he killed a man. He did not resist arrest and explained that it was a misunderstanding. “I saw the fella and waved,” the man said, “then he pulled out his gun and aimed at me so I shot him before he could shoot me.” The Blackwater Chief of Police was unsure of the story. “I wanted to believe him,” the Chief said, “but I didn’t see it, just heard his shot.” However, a witness came forward and said they saw the whole thing. The witness was a Blackwater resident of upstanding reputation. “We are keeping their identity anonymous, as to not put them at risk of the dead man’s associates,” said a policeman, “but we believe them and accept their testimony.” The man was released soon after.
Mysterious killer in the Five States?
By Nick McCrary
The Five States is a region full of violence and murder, but to call someone a killer is to set them apart. Killers do not use violence as a threat or seek wonton violence. They are strategists first and gunslingers second. When a true killer kills, understand that the decision was made long before the trigger was pulled. These are the most dangerous men and women in the Five States. Unpredictable, ruthlessly efficient, as deadly as they come, and they need no reason to kill. One such killer may be roaming the Five States. Several witnesses have reported seeing a man dressed in all black entering buildings and leaving death in his wake. “I saw him follow a man and woman into a room, and he was certainly no friend of theirs,” one witness said, “I heard yelling and a man with a graveling voice yelled ‘what’s it mean?’ and then I heard two gunshots.” The witness left the building but said he saw the man in black leaving moments later, calmly walking away.
Similar stories of a man dressed all in black and asking about a puzzle have begun to spread across the region. One witness claimed to have seen the puzzle and lived. “I saw this so called man in black at the Blackwater Saloon and, well, saw what I was sure was a scalp on the table,” the man said, “he was just staring at it so I got a look and it was one of those mazes, like I’ve seen papers print for the kids to play.” What the maze means is anybody’s guess and how it is related to any of the killings he may have committed is unknown. Law enforcement officials claim that the man in black is not real, just a story being told. “We have had no actual criminal complaints about a man dressed in all black, at least, not a specific man,” a Saint Denis policeman said, “no murders that match the stories, just lots of other outlaws in black probably making up stories to be more intimidating than they are.”
For now, the man in black is just a story. But will the stories ever prove true?
Smithfield’s Saloon the most popular place in Valentine, and for once not because of the alcohol
By Emery Cosberry
Smithfield’s Saloon is always the busiest business in the Valentine. Travelers, workers, retirees, lushes, and gamblers alike, all fine peace at Smithfield’s Saloon. In the middle of the week there was a line of cowpokes that stretched out of Smithfield’s Saloon and reached the doctor’s office. Was it a special on alcohol? No, it was a special on haircuts. The barber in Smithfield’s Saloon was offering gold nuggets as an incentive to get a haircut. “Folks still gotta pay but I got these gold nuggets left to me and honestly, I have no use for them,” the barber said, “so why not give them away and cut more hair!” Folks came from all over New Hanover for a trim or a shave. “I think he’s a bit crazy to give gold away, but I needed a trim so why not?” one customer said. All day folks lined up and got their haircuts and then hunt out to drink. The owner of the saloon said they sold more alcohol then usual. “Only thing that more or less stayed the same was the gamblers,” the saloon owner said, “just a lot of shouting about maximum betting.”
Cable cars a nuisance?
By Aloysius Levron
Horace Berkey, a resident of Saint Denis, has begun a campaign against the city’s cable cars. Mr. Berkey claims that the cable cars are unsafe. “First of all, we have all heard stories of people being run over by a cable car,” Mr. Berkey said, while speaking in the public square of Saint Denis, “and that alone condemns them as unsafe.” Mr. Berkey compared the rate of cable car accidents in Saint Denis to automobile accidents across the nation. “There are far more pedestrians ran over by cable cars in Saint Denis than there are cars in the entire world, “he shouted. Several city residents were drawn to his speech. He also called attention to the cables that give the cable cars power. “What happens if the cables fall on someone?” Mr. Berkey said, “I don’t know, do you? Because there is electricity in those lines!”
They city cable car operator said the cable car system is entirely safe. “Pedestrians have been hit but such accidents are rarely fatal,” the spokesman said, “and in many cases, it is the pedestrians fault.”
Man makes incredible journey from Saint Denis to Mount Hagen on foot
By Lucien Privitt
A cowpoke called Willie made what many called an impossible journey. He set out from Saint Denis to travel to the top of Mount Hagen. While folks have likely made a similar trip in the past, usually one rides a horse or hires a wagon to take them pout of the way. Willie however elected to walk the entire trip. The trip took only a day and a half, according to Willie. Though that seems like a fast trip to travel across multiple states. While it is difficult to confirm his claims, we did manage to speak to several travelers and traders that use the roads Willie would have used. While there were many who had not recalled seeing him, there were many more who did. “He stood out, so far from a town and on foot with no horse around,” said one trader, “offered him a ride back into town and said he had a while to go before he could turn back.”
Others said Willie seemed to be a determined man as they passed him or shared the road with him for awhile. After returning to civilization, Willie was treated with rounds of drinks in exchange for his story. He admitted that he attempted this trip twice before, but was attacked by a panther twice. “After the attacks I had to heal up before I tried again,” Willie said. At least one cowpoke who had retired from traveling for a steady life in town said he was ready to return to the wilderness. “HIs story was an inspiration,” the cowpoke said, “so I believe it is time I get back out there and, get back in the saddle as they say.”
The Five States Herald 