Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 May 1896 — RECORD OF THE WEEK [ARTICLE]

RECORD OF THE WEEK

INDIANA INCIDENTS TERSELY TOLD. be. ocrats Gain an Apparent Advantage in the Apportionment Matter—Wabaah County Wheat and Rye Hare a New and Woolly Enemy. Upholds the Apportionment. The Supreme Court has decided that the legislative apportionment act of 1885 cannot be set aside, and that it is the only act under which Senators and Representatives can be elected this fall. The majority opinion was written by Judge McCabe. Judge Monks filed a dissenting opinion. The effect of the decision is to elect members of the legislature under an act that the Democrats passed when they had a majority in the Legislature, and which, if there is any advantage in it, is in their favor. When the court set aside the laws of 1803 and 1805, and thus brought the law of 1885 into effect, the Democrats proposed that no further questions should lie ruined, and that the two parties should acquiesce in the decision. The Republicans, however, attacked the law of 1885 on the ground of unconstitntionality, and this decision sets the matter at rest, although there are suits pending to set aside all apportionment laws nuder the present constitution, which Was adopted in 1851. The court enters upon the discussion of the points involved by declaring that the law of 1885 is the only net now upon the statute books under which an election of members of the Legislature can legally be held. Prior to 1870 the franchise was limited in this State to the white male population above the age of "J 1 years, and all apportionments made before that time excluded the negroes from voting. If a law, argues the court, were revived under which this class of citizens could not vote, it would be in conflict with hoth the State and Federal constitutions, and no election held under it .now would be legal.

Additional Peat in Indiana. In addition to the rust und the Hessian fly, which have been destroying the wheat ana rye in Waliash County, the farmers of that locality have a new enemy to contend with. Ex-County Commissioner J. I). Starhuck, of Largo township, has found thousands of woolly wurniH about an Inch and a half in length and totally unlike any other pest he has ever seen destroying his corn crop. They appeared to come from a strip of woods nnd, invading a line Held of corn, ate four acres of th(> grain off Just above the ground'. Mr. Btarlinck says they are in evidence in countless numbers on his place and farms adjacent and Ills nelghlHirs are much alarmed by their appearance. All Over the State. The drouth lu southern Indiana is becoming serious. Henry Akers, near Windfall, was kicked to death by a colt which he was trying to halter. The Mcliool Furniture Company at Wabash, which failed in September, will go into a receiver's hands. Lightning destroyed the Findlay, Fort Wayne nnd Western Ruilwny depot at Baldwin. The loss is $2,500. Joseph Smith, aged 80 years, married at Youngstown Mrs. Louisa Lane, who is a year or two older. Mrs. Latte is infirm and a few weeks ago was declared incapable of managing her estate. Since then “Uncle Joe’* has been her legal guurdian. Major (diaries Doxey, of Anderson, who now owns the De Pnuw glass works, located at Alexandria, has let the contract to the Indiana Bridge Company of Muncie for the erection of an iron building 126x210 feet. It will be erected adjacent to the old buildings and will make, the factory one of the largest in Indiana. After all Improvements are completed the factory will employ as many inou as it does now.

101 via Heck, of Hhelbyville, is missing, and members of Ills family report that he will not return. Recently lie married Miss Mao Trend wny, daughter of n farmer in Bartholomew County, and an accomplished and beautiful young woman. It was a runaway match, the parents of the bride opposing it. Thirteen days luter the young bridegroom closed out his business affairs arid disappeared, although his wife's parents had become reconciled to the mutch. Ditllus Baker, aged 19, and Thomas Ryan, aged 23, of Adrlun, Mich., boarded a Chicago and Grand Trunk west-bound freight train nt Vicksburg, Mich., and when nbout five miles east of South Bend were approached by two tramps, John Moore and John Crnmer. Moore held a revolver on them while Cramer robbed them. After the robbery Moore passed his revolver to Cramer and conducted Ryan to the end of the car, where he made him jump, although the train wus running at full speed. Baker sprang upon Cramer and secured the revolver. His first shot was at Cramer, whom he struck in the right side, inflicting n bad wound. The next was at Moore, who disappeared over the cars. When the train reached South Bend Moore and Cramer were captured. Cramer was sent to the hospital and will probably die. Moore is from Evansville. Ind., and Cramer said he lived in New York.

A stranger, supposed to be an attorney named John H. Wilson, aged 73, died at the Columbus hospital Thursday night. On his body, strapped in a belt next to his person, was $9,240 in molded and mildewed bills, and $1,625 in gold. He is supposed to be from UuntiDgton, Clarksburg or Fairmont, Va. Telegrams were sent to notify the relatives, but in each case the telegraph operator answered no such persons could be found. An attorney, Jim Jones, of Nashville, Brown County, where Wilson owns 160 acres of timber land and two sawmills, came with letter* of administration on Wilson’s estate and took charge of the money. A telegram received from the postmnster of Pomeroy, 0., says Wilson was known there years ago as a leather dealer. Frank Slusser, thirteen years old, of Terre Haute, tried to save his little friend, Harry Baird, who was drowning in the Wabash river, nnd both were carried down. Baird was rescued by Harry Hossler, who rode Into the water on horseback. While Carrie Harris, daughter of Conductor Charles C. Harris, was standing in the rear of her home at Elkhart, an nttempt to assassinate her was made, the assassin firing at her from short range with a pistol, the ball striking her in the fleshy portion of the right arm. The young lady had recently received anonymous letters threatening her life. One hundred furnace men employed in the plate glass works at Kokomo walked out because, in their judgment, they were not allowed a sufficient number of helpers. They were paid off and their places sup-, plied. Frank Pierce, a youth or 15 years, was shot in the forehead and instantly killed near Huron Monday night by his brother \\ alter. Walter Pierce was niarried last Saturday night and young Frank, with a of companions, formed a charivari party, when Walter fired into the . crowd with fatal effect. The young man is crazed over the death of his brother at his hands and is constantly guarded to ore vent taking his own life.