Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 207, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 September 1911 — ENGLISHMAN FLOURISHED GUN AND MADE THREATS. [ARTICLE]

ENGLISHMAN FLOURISHED GUN AND MADE THREATS.

; - -i ' ■ — T ■ . Jack Webb Returns Here at Night '$ and Causes Terror at Home of Wife and Her Mother. Jack Webb, said to be a bad tembered Englishman, will be a guest for some time of Sheriff Hpover. Judged from bis actions he must have heard -haw easily Hugh Burns got out when, he performed a stunt in Keener township last and thought he would escape likewise. The cases are almost identical in the manner in which they were pullecUQff.

Webb came here from no one seems to know where, about two years ago and worked at Babcock & Hopkins' elevator as a fireman. He is said to be an industrious workman, but addicted to the liquor habit and quarrelsome when in his cups/ He boarded at the Mrs. Prior Rowen, and a little less than a year ago married Mrs. Rowen's daughter, Mrs. Lillian Sayler. Soon After they began housekeeping she alleges that he became so abusive that she had to leave him and return'to the home of her mother, on Elm street. Webb left town and later wrote to her and to others, it is said, promising to behave if she would return to him, but she distrusted and feared him and his letters were unanswered.

Friday evening he called his wife by long distance phone from Chicago and asked her if she wanted him to get a divorce and she told him she die not care if he thought he had grounds for it He said he had, because she would not live with him or answer his letters. She told him to go ahead and that she would not appear against him. He then said that he had been thinking about coming down here, but she did not understand him to say that he was coming. He arrived, however, on the 11:05 train at night. Mrs. Rowen’s boarding house was well filled with boarders and all had retired. Webb went to the house and rapped, and then pounded, and then demanded admission. He was told to leave, out said he would not go. One of the boarders went to the door and tried to get him to leave, but he then forced his way into the houae and demanded a place to stay all night. According to witnesses he drew a revolver and flourished it about and said chat he would kill Mrs. Rowen and the entire family and clean out the house. The boarders did not seem very'''much, frightened, hut no one seemed inclined to take a hand in the matter, and Mrs. Rowen, who is quite an old lady and not in very good health, was badly frightened. Webb is said to have kept the revolver pointed right into her face for a half hour. Flnall he said that he would be peaceable if he was allowed to go to bed, and he was told where he would find s bed with one of the boarders. In the meantime his wife had taken her two children and escaped to the home of her brother, Arlie Rowen. Officers were then called and after a warrant was procured, Webb’s slumbers were interrupted and he was brought down to Jail, both Nightwatch Critser and Marshal Mustard acting as an escort. In Wlebb’s possession was found a 22-caliber revolver and a bottle of whiskey, minus,, several swigs. Webb offered no resistance to the officers. -s- \ . -

Today he was arraigned on a charge of aiming a revolver at Mrs. Rowen and Squire Irwin found him guilty, although he claimed that he had merely exhibited b4s revolver to tell them that he was going to defend himself, a queer necessity for a man who had made a forcible entry into a woman’s house at midnight and who was staying against the will of the mistress of the house. He was fined $lO and sent to Jail in default of payment He was also bound over to the circuit court on surety of the peace proceedings, his bail being fixed at $304. He was unable to procure the bail.

Mrs. Charles Passon and little daughter Pauline returned to Chicago Heights this morning, after a week’s visit here with James Passon and family. L. W. Shaffner returned to Kouts today, after a short visit here with his wife, who is visiting friends. Since the Kouts bank was sold Mr. Shaffner has been out of business and he is not decided yet What he will engage in, and be may wind up by locating in Rensselaer. D. M. Worland came home last night, having cut his Martinsville sanitarulm visit short In order to get home and boost the horse show and business men’s oelebration. Dave is the big booster in this event and Jants to be sure that it Is well advertised and that eviry thing is running smoothly.