Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 June 1896 — RECORD OP TfirfW® r [ARTICLE]

RECORD OP TfirfW® r

INDIANA INCIDENTS TERSELY TOLD. An Old Battle Ground Bachelor Confesses His Mistaks Contemptible Blackmail at Shelbyrille—Thievea Make It Lively for Toland. Composes Hi* Own Epitaph. One of the most eccentric characters of the State la Allison Dewitt, of Battle Ground, an old bachelor who has lived alone in a little cabin for nearly half a century, and Is now an octogenarian, enfeebled by disease and near death’s door. Over one year ago he began digging hla own grave, which progressed slowly because of his feebleness, and after reaching the required depth he spent several weeks in walling it up, using brick and mortar. Then he contracted with a Logansport firm for a suitable monument, bearing bis own epitaph, and this stone has just been placed in position. He prescribed what should be carved on the tombstone, stipulating that no capital letter must be used save in the word God A literal copy is as follows: a bachelor lies beneath this sod who disobeyed the laws of God—advice to others thus i give: don’t live u batch as 1 did live—regret. Deacon Nicely in a Bad Fix. Zuchariah Nicely, a wealthy resident and a deacon in tho Methodist Church, wus arrested at Hhelbyvllle on a grand Jury warrunt. He gave bond In the sum of 91,000. Xteely came in 1800 from Lawrence County, Ohio, where he was married in 1840. A few weeks after marriage hla wife abandoned him, going to Virginia. After coming to this county he was taken sick, and wrote for his wife, thinking she would come. Instead a letter canto stating that she was dead. He recovered and married Sarah Bales, who proved a good and devoted wife, and who nNaistcd him In accumulating a nice fortune. This fact seems to have reached Virginia parties, who, he says, recently wrote informing hint that unless he would send them f 1,200 they would expose him, stnting that his first wife was living, which Is trite. Nicely refused to do this and his arrest is the result. Had to Fight for Hla Gama, Frank J. Tolnnd, of La Crosse, Wis., on Sunday morning entered an Indianapolis restaurant and met John Sheridan, * Mort Woods and Richard Taylor, alias “High-Card Dick.” Several drinks passed, and the party decided to break up. Then Toluml’s 9250 jeweled Masonic wnteh charm was missing. He demanded its return, mid got it. Then a quarrel began, and Woods caned Toland across the face and head. Taylor interfered as a peacemaker. When things had quieted down Tolund’s 9800 diamond stud was gone from his shirt front. Toland went back to liis hotel and notified the police. Woods, who is a gambler, wns arrested at his home, and was released under 92,000 bonds. Sheridan and Taylor were captured ill tlteir lodgings. The dintnond stud was recovered from a saloon porter iiumed Stelgelmolr.

Ail Over the State. William Jones, aged 17, of Bourbon, WHS drowned while bathing in Gilbert Lake. John McGreevy, of Richmond, wus assaulted in the rear of a saloon at Richmond by a man whom he pronounces a lifelong friend, but. whoso mime ho will not divulge. McGroevy wiih l>enten into insensibility. His assailant, thinking him (lead, then drugged him to a dark plaee in an adjoining alley, where he was found. Ho will recover. Judge F. E. Glvitn, of Osgood, died Friday very auddenly and under peculiar circumstances. He attended a church convention and took active part. At the close of the service he offered supplication, beseeching the Lord to make hint better and to help him lead a better life. Ho then went home In his usual spirits and health, but as- Ik* reached his doorstep ho foil dead. Judge Givau was (15 years old, a member of the G. A. R. and wns well known, having held several pnblic positions, being judge of the Circuit Court for several years. Thomas Chaffee, of Bhelbyvillc, is the owner of a very large female Daue dog which is the mother of six pups. A horse entered the stall where tho pups were sleeping, stepping on one of the animals, which commenced howling. The mother, who wns out, made a dnsh for tne barn, followed by Chaffee. The dog sprang upon the horse's back and drove her teeth into it. Chaffee knocked her off with a ritke, but she sprang back. This wns repeated four times, when the horse fell und the Dane turned her attention to her muster. The anltnnl was knocked down again and nguin, but would arise and make for Chaffee, who finally fell from exhaustion, and when the animal was shot she was ready to tear her master to pieces. Chaffee may recover. A fatal shooting affray occurred at Birds, Lawrence County, 111., Monday morning, between Dr. J. H. Daily and Prof. Sampson T. Mickey, two of the leading citizens of that county. , Prof. Mickey walked Into Dr. Daily’s office and asked Mrs. Daily to retire, as he wished to baye a private interview with the doctor. She had gone but a few steps when firing began. She called for help, and, accompanied by others, entered the office. Dr. Daily lay dying before hip desk, with a revolver clutched in his right hand, and Prof. Mickey stood near with a smoking revolver In his hand. It was empty, while the doctor’s was fully loaded. Five shots were fired by Prof. Mickey, three of which took effect. He at once gave himself up, and said he in self-de-fense. The trouble occurred ovfer a girl named Emma Smiley, who made her home with Dr. Daily’s family, and who was betrothed to Prof. Mickey. It is reported that his visit to the doctoY was to demand an explanation of certain stories. Others say Dr. Daily had’ Ordered Hi/ta nos to conle about his hyhse. jf ' 1 The body ol Ffed Friedley, drowned Saturday near Aurora, has been recovered and taken to his home at Scottsburg for burial. Scull, a fellow student, who nearly lost his life in attempting Friedley’s rescue, is out of danger. Mrs. Jacob Pickett, of Greensburg, is dead, the result of a fright Mr. and Mrs. Pickett moved a few days ago into an old cottage which had been vacant for some time. On the first night some fishermen, not knowing the hut was occupied, tried to get in. The woman, hnving heard that the house was haunted, went into hysterics, from which she never recovered. At Green’s Fork, a small place northwest of Richmond, Dr. Charles Fear and Edward Wright quarreled, as a result of which the latter- shot the former four times, each ball taking effect, but not producing fatal wounds. Wright gave himself up. Lase Camming, a noted insurance worker, arrested at Kokomo three months ago for burping a house for the insurance, broke jail Saturday night and escSped. He wnS supplied with saws by one of two women, who say they are his wives, one from Millersville, the other from Indianapolis. His trial was set for Monday, several insurance companies being prepared to testify against hiss.