Democratic Sentinel, Volume 12, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 September 1888 — INDIANA STATE NEWS. [ARTICLE]

INDIANA STATE NEWS.

A CHRONICLE OF HAPPENINGS IN HOOSIERDOM. Shocking Deaths, Terrible Accidents, Horrible Crimes, Proceedings of Courts, Secret Societies, and, in faet, Everything of Interest to the Hoosiers. The Coroner's inquest developed the particulars in the terrible double tragedy it Montgomery. John Keplinger testified that John Brady went to Montgomery to sell some hogs, for which he received SIBO in money. On his way home he passed St. Michael’s Church, where I was at work, [Mr. Keplinger was a contractor], and invited me to accompany him home to supper, which I did. After supper we concluded to sit down by the stand-table in the corner of the room I and have a game of cards. Mr. Brady sat with his back against the windowsill, and I with my side near the table directly in front of him. NVe played cards fora good while, when he asked I his daughter Kate to bring in some J peaches from the kitchen. Shortly after ■ the girl stepped out. as I was resting my i elbow on the table, I heard a shot and , aw Mr. Brady fall. A thought flashed ■ through me that some one was shooting I from the road. I started toward the wini dow when the next shot came through j the ..window and struck me. The ball struck me in the mouth, and. all bleeding and wounded, I ran out of the door and heard some one galloping away on a horse. My jaw is shattered and mouth terribly lacerated. Keplinger is very seriously injured, and it is a question whether he recovers. Wounded as he was, Keplinger ran down to his board-ing-house and gave the alarm. Friends at once rushed to the house of the tragedy and found the daughter alone with her dead father, who was lying prone upon the floor. The crime was the most diabolical that has ever occurred in Daviess County.

Killed by a Boiler Explosion. The boiler of Bennett <t (Hover’s steam thresher exploded with terrific force, while at work on the farm of Edward Green, ten miles northwest of Seymour. William Bennett, one of the owners, who was acting as engineer, was killed. Two employes, Wesley Alexander Ind Henry Kern, were badly injured. The Evening Democrat has the following additional particulars: George McElfresh received several oruises on the head; John Lamport, legs, side, and abdomen bruised; Brazil Weekly, severely scalded; Ambrose Thompson, severely bruised; Charles Dabb was blown one hundred feet, but was not seriously injured. William Bennett's body was hurled 150 yards. He was a man of family, as were also the men most seriously injured. Rallroiui Accident at Martinsville. Freight train No. 58 ran into freight No. 14, of the Indianapolis and Vincennes Railroad, within the city limits of Martinsville. No. 44 was switching, and had not taken the side track, as it should have done, while the other train was coming into the city at full speed. The accident occurred on a small curve and in close proximity to several dwellings. The engine of No. 58 was badly demolished, and the caboose and a box car loaded with freight, belonging to train 44, are almost a total wreck. One brakeman in the caboose, on seeing the approaching train, jumped. No person was hurt.

Crushed to Death. A frightful and fatal accident occurred near Crawfordsville. Workmen were repairing the iron bridge over Sugar Creek, and were using a large derrick to raise heavy rock. The derrick from some cause became unmanageable, and in falling struck Sam Marley, one of the mon employed. He was crushed to the ground by the huge beam and both legs broken, besides sustaining a bad wound in the side. The injured man lived but a few hours. He was a steady, hardworking citizen, and leaves one child, au orphan, as his wife died several years agoCondition of the Crops. The report of the Indiana weather service states that the conditions of the weather in the central portion of the State have been quite favorable for the maturing of the crops. In the northern portion the continued drought has caused a premature maturing of the corn, potatoes, and the like, which will shorten the yield fully 20 per cent. The successive heavy rains in the southern portion have damaged the wheat and straw in stack, and retarded the ripening of corn and potatoes. The tobacco is also suffering from too much moisture.

Attacked by Mosquitoes. The old adage that a wet August brings a fine harvest of mosquitoes is amply verified the present year. The pestiferous insects have never existed in such swarms in the State, and reports from some parts are tjiat farmers are compelled in many places to keep brush burning in their houses in order to protect themselves sufficiently to sleep. All kinds of devices are brought into use to protect one against these night assaults. The screens, which seem to be proof against flies, fail signally to keep Out mosquitoes. Accidents in Clay County. Samuel Wheeler, aged 16 years, met with a terrible death near Staunton, four miles west of Brazil. He was harvesting hay with others. A pitchfork

was carelessly placed against a load of hay, with prongs downward, and with the sharpened broken end of the handle up. In sliding off of the load of hay young Wheeler was impaled on the handle, which penetrated his rectum several inches, and inflicted injuries from which he died in an hour or two, in great agony. The Teachers. At the recent County Teachers’ Institute. held at Cfawfordsville, resolutions were adopted favoring the payment of a day's wages for conforming to the requirements of the Institute, and denouncing the custom of requiring the teachers to do janitor work without pay therefor. Resolutions were also adopted denouncing the habit of teachers chewing gum and tobacco as not becoming to the profession and that the use of liquor as a beverage disqualifies the teacher for his position. Gasoline Explosion. A gasoline pipe in the creamery nt Flat rock, exploded, and the fluid becoming ignited a large volume of flamo shot into the building. Harry Prunk and John Ryan, of Indianapolis, were seriously burned with the flames, while Robert Porter was severely scalded by the steam from the steam retort. The flames were finally extinguished before the building was badly damaged. Poi Honed by a Snake. The right arm of Mrs. Jane Ennis, of Butler’s Switch, near Columbus, is terribly poisoned by coming into contact with a large blacksnuke, with which she had an encounter a few weeks ago. It is thought the reptile must have bitten her, as the arm began swelling soon after the fight, and is now broken out with sores and is very painful.

Minor State Items. —Andrew Woodfill fell dead near his farm, nine miles from Madison. The bear that has been running around near Bluff Mills is now in the vicinity of Crawfordsville, and was seen by several-persons. —Samuel Wheeler, aged 16, met with a terrible death near Staunton. In sliding from a wagon-load of hay he was impaled on the ragged end of a pitchfork handle. He lived but about an hour, dying in great agony. Freddie Walker, aged lit years, while playing ball near the Wabash Railway track, at Columbia City, steppedin front of a passing train and was run over and so badly injured that he died in a short time. —The Crawfordsville Natural Gas Company now have $5,000 stock subscribed, and an assessment of 25 per cent, has been ordered. It is proposed to purchase tools, ropes, etc., and proceed to drill. Probably the to'ols of the Lebanon Company will be secured for SI,OOO. Land will be leased and work commenced at once.

—A miner named Dell, in attempting tc board a coal train while in motion on the Vandalia south branch, a mile south of Knightsville, fell under the wheels. He lost a leg, which has since been amputated, and may die from injuries received. —The mangled remains of a man named Ford were found on the railroad track near Connersville. —ln Daviess County, John Brady, 8 wealthy stock dealer, and a neighboi named Carpenter, were shot by an assassin while playing a game of cards at Brady's home. Brady was instant Ij killed, and Carpenter cannot recover. —An 8-year-old boy was thrown from n pony near Anderson and instantly killed. —The Mitchell Horse-thief Detective Association was organized with the following officers; President, Dr. Yost; Vice President, Joe A. Burton; Treasurer. Daniel Sherwood; Secretary, Dr. A. J. McDonald. —There is upon the, court record oi Montgomery County a statement that one of the prominent citizens of Crawfordsville was, in 1836, fined $2 for making abet of $2.50 that Wm. H. Harrison would carry the State of Indiana that year. —An attempt was made to wreck the Chicago night express on the Monon route, between Lindan and Corwin. As D. Ammerman, of Romney, was returning home, late at night„ he came upon seven men piling ties upon the track. He stepped to one side and took a circuit around and signaled the train. Then he and the trainmen went ahead and removed the obstruction.

—Prof. J. E. Bundy, of Monrovia, has accepted the position of master of art in Earlham College, at Richmond. The paintings and crayon work of Mr. Bundy have been favorably commented on by eminent art critics, and his work has been given a prominent position in art exhibits. He had a large class in Martinsville a year ago, and proved himseli an able instructor. —The little 2-year-old child of George Fellows, a farmer of Bartholomeu County, while playing upon the railroad track a few wfceks ago, was struck by at engine and killed. The father of the child has entered suit against the Pennsylvania Company for SIO,OOO damages. —During the absence of the family, burglars entered the residence of Samuel Williams, at Greensburg, and carried off a watch and a large quantity of ing—Joseph Lamb, aged 21 years, sent from Bloomington to serve a term of one year for petit larceny, escaped from the Jeffersonville penitentiary by scaling the western wall.