Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 170, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 July 1911 — HAPPENINGS IN INDIANA [ARTICLE]

HAPPENINGS IN INDIANA

SAVAGELY FIGHTS RESCUERS; OFFICIAL JUMPS INTO RIVER. State Inspector Makes Attempt to Commit Suicide at Logansport Due to Domestic Worry. ~

Logansport, Ind., July 19.—William Pettit, a policeman acting under the bureau of state inspection, leaped from the. Third street bridge into Eel river this afternoon in an attempt to commit suicide. Pettit, who is a powerful map, fought his rescuers savagely and more than a dozen men struggled with him in the water' before he was dragged to shore. When rescued he was suffering from a violent nervous chill and whs taken to jail. En route to jail six policemen were required to restrain him. When* Pettit was placed in jail he made a violent attack upon other prisoners, beating them about the corridors until the jail was in an uproar and the yells of the frightened prisoners could be heard squares away* The police made their way into the jail and after a struggle dragged Pettit out and put him In the dungeon in the basement of the jail. 5.•»' Tonight Pettit declared he jumped off the bridge fully intending to commit suicide. His home Is in Frankfort, Ind., and he declares he got his appointment as state policeman in March through the influence' of his second cousin, Harry Pettit.

The cousin says Pettit has been worrying for sonje time about family affairs. He says William Pettit’s first wife obtained a divorce about five years ago and married a man by the name of Gowell, residing in Frankfort Pettit also married again and says that recently he has worried over the fact that his daughter by his first marriage has given up the name of Pettit and goes by the name of Gowell.

“This came to me suddenly today and I decided to jump into the river,” he told the police. Joseph Deford, also of Frankfort and an assistant to Pettit, was with him when he jumped into the river. Deford says he and Pettit had been drinking a little and on coming out of a saloon near the bridge, Ppttit told Deford he was going to jump Into the river. Deford thought Pettit was joking until Pettit took a short run, leaped upon the abutment and jumped into the water. Pettit has been here several days inspecting school buildings in Washington township.

Interesting Occurrences of One Day hi the Hoosier State