Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 October 1882 — INDIANA AFFAIRS. [ARTICLE]

INDIANA AFFAIRS.

A Wondelftil Find. <rrWhile getting out stone in his quarry, a mile south of Kokomo, George W. Defenhaugh made one of the most wonderful discoveries of tho present age. It became necessary to split a massive slab of stone, when, to his great surprise, ho found firmly imbedded in the solid rook a species of lizard of light color, with eyes, but apparently sightless, alive and active. W hen first found it did not appear to possess any life, hut in a few moments was very lively. Tho lizard had been imbedded in this stone-prison house perluyim hundreds of years, feeding on nothing and lying in a comatose condition. Scientific men consider tl*’ find most wonderful. The lizard is now alive and in the possession of Mr. Defenhaugh. Validity of Indian Marriages. The sisters of an Indian woman named Nancy A otory are just now a party to an important lawsuit in tho Circuit Court of our suburb of AVabash. Tho facts are about as follows: Throe* years ago George Shapp, an Indian, entered into an agreement with Nancy Yotery to live together as husband and wife. There was no solemnization of the union, and the pair immediately went to housekeeping and cohabited for over a year, when a baby was born to them. It died shortly after birth, and a few days later the mother also died. The woman owned in her right u, farm of 250 acres, valued at, SIO,OOO, and as soon as she was buried Shapp began proceedings to gain possession of the property. The sisters of the deceased opposed his claim on the ground that the marriage was illegal, and that, not being a relative, he was not entitled to any share of the estate. Tho question to be decided is whether the union of Shapp and the ATitery woman was valid. According to the Indian custom it was a sound contract, but it is doubtful whether tho State law recognizes such a marriage. There arc about 100 Indians in AVabash county living together who were married in the manner described, and the decision against Shapp will render the title to much valuable land open to dispute. There are also some marriages of this kind in Allen county, whose validity depends on what tho State courts hold in this matter. — Fort Wayne Gazette. A J-OHt Soul’s Appeal—Straugo Story from Fort Wuyiiß. Every reader of the city papers is familiar with the sad suicide some weeks ago of Nellie Coleman, or Nellie Apt, and with which the name of Perry Alexander, the horse-buyer, was unpleasantly connected. At the time of her death from an overdose of morphine, Mrs. Coleman (or Apt) avhh boarding with tho family of Lewis N. Clark,at 95) Barr street,and. when she was found lying cold and stark in death there, she was taken thence to the undertaking establishment of Peltier & Son, where, after the post-mortem examination, it was turned over to Mr Peltier as a subject on which to experiment with a new embalming process. After her veins were opened and the preserving fluid injected, the corpse took on an almost life-like expres ion. Color came into the cheeks, the limbs were pliable, the breasts were firm, and tho success of the whole experiment was so remarkable that tho body was placed on exhibition and visited by thousands of people. But, while all this was going on at the undertaker’s, things were not so pleasant in the family of Mr. Clark. A few nights after the suicide, and while the excitement over the wondrous preservation of the corpse was at its height, Airs. CUvrk, who had retired . early, was awakened by a curious sensation. "J Although the air of the room had been hot and close before when she awoke, it now had the chilly feeling of a vault for the reception of the dead. Starting up, with her flesh fairly creeping, and while the air seemed full of a mysterious rustling of unseen garments, Mrs. Clark noticed a white figure by her bedside. The outlines wore but dimly defined in the darkness, but she at once saw it was Nellie Coleman, with her hair streaming about her face, and wringing her hands. As soon as the ghostly visitor saw that Airs. Clark wa« awake, it spoke, in an unearthly voice, as follows: “Oh, Ml'S. Clark, for God’s sake have them bury my body. I suffer terriblo agonies while they have it lying there. Saying this, the figure sank slowly to the floor and disappeared. Mrs. Clark was so frightened that her teeth chattered, and it was near.y an hour before she awoke her husband and told him of tho visitor from the other world. He, man-like, tried to laugh it off, but she would not he quieted, and remained awake the rest of the night. A few nights afterward the ghost came again, and pleaded even more piteously that Mr. and Mrs. Clark would intercede to have the body taken from the experimenting undertaker and buried. Each time tlie same damp, chilly air and oppressing sensation heralded tho approach of the ghost. At these visitations Mr. Clark also saw the spirit, and he was somewhat alarmed, but did not go to the undertaker. for fear of ridicule. The body, however, continued on exhibition at Peltier’s, and finally tlie visits and importunities of the ghost of tho self-murdered woman to have her body buried became so great that Mr. and Airs. Clark moved ou f ' of the house where the death occurred, but still this ghostly visitor followed, and they had no rest nor quiet until the father of Nellie came to this city and Took tlie body home to Elkhart county and buried it. Since that time the spirit seems to have found rest and has not troubled its earthly friends. Altogether it is a strange story, and one t ie truth of which may be fully relied on. Air. Clark are averse to any publicity being given the matter, but their story is so strange, and tho fact that their visitor was something unearthly is so well established, that wo give tlie facts as they arc. The psychologist and the scientist can draw their own conclusions. —Fort If r a\jne Gazette. A yoi'NO fellow asked another at a ball if his girl was there. “ Yes,” said lie: “do you see that girl dressed in pink?” “ AA'hat, that splendid woman with such magnificent eyes? You don’t say so. How lucky you are!” “Just so" Of course I am. AVell, my girl in the next one to her,"