Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 244, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 October 1911 — Highly Esteemed Fanner to Have Inqnlry as to Sanity. [ARTICLE]

Highly Esteemed Fanner to Have Inqnlry as to Sanity.

William Augspurger, who lives two miles west of this city, and who is regarded as both an excellent farmer and splendid citizen, is to have his sanity inquired into by a board Tuesday afternoon at 1 o’clock. Saturday morning at about 10 o’clock as Omar Morlan and son Ernest were driving past the Blue Grass school house to vote at the interurban election their attention was attracted by a pistol shot and they state that they heard a bullet hit the barbed wire fence. They say tljat they looked in the direction of the shot and saw Mr. Augspurger standing in the doorway of his barn with a revolver pointed at them. Their horse had been frightened by the shot and was lunging forward when a second shot was-fired, which they state went in the rear of the buggy. Not a word was exchanged. That afternoon the Morlans came to town to begin proceedings to have Mr. Augspurger declared insane. In discussing the matter with The Republican reporter, Ernest Morlan stated that there had never been any trouble of any kind between either he or his father and Mr. Augspurger or any member of the latter’s family. They have always been on cordial terms and they have regarded Mr. Augspurger as an exemplary man and a good neighbor. They were greatly surprised, he says, when the Saturday demonstration occurred. for. Augspurger is said to have received treatment a few years ago for mental trouble, having gone voluntarily to a sanitarium. He is entirely rational to all Appearances, although several stories have been told of peculiar things he has done. It is understood that he claims that he did not fire at the Morlans, but was shooting at rats. Mr. Augspurger has prepared to fight the effort to have himself declared insane and has engaged counsel.