Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 55, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 March 1913 — CUTTING SCRAPE AT MORRELL PUBLIC SALE [ARTICLE]

CUTTING SCRAPE AT MORRELL PUBLIC SALE

Elmer Hammerbacker Said to Have Been Severely Out by Knife in Hands of Otto Harbert. A man named Elmer Hammerbacker was severely cut in an affray that took place Tuesday morning at the Morrel public sale in the east part of Hanging Grove township. His assailant is said to have been Otto Harbert, a farm laborer, well known in and about McCoysbiyg. . . ' It is said that the men, both of whom are single, have recently had some trouble and that Monday cv ening while out driving their buggies scraped each other as they were passing. Tuesday morning they met at Morrell’s sale, before the hour for the sale to start and soon became involved in a discussion. Direct information could not be gained from any one who saw the affair, but Harbert is said to have drawn his knife and to have stabbed Hammerbacker three times, inflicting injuries that were so serious that two doctors were called from Monon to attend him. He bled profusely ai<d they found that he had been stabbed on the left side just above the hip, again on the left shoulder near the neck, and a third time on the left arm. Before those who had gathered for the sale seemed to realize what had happened Harbert had left. He went to Lowman’s store at McCoysburg, where he called the Rensselaer central office and tried to get into communication with some one, but he was so badly winded that he could not make his want understood. Even those in the store were unable to tell far whom he was calling. They say that he had evidently run all the way from the Morrell farm to the store, a distance of more than two miles, and that he was sweating like a farm hand when he arrived at the store. He did not wait there long, but left the store, going toward the west. Since then no information concerning hipi can be gathered. Persons at the sale are now wondering how it comes that Harbert was permitted to escape. Harbert is about 35 years old and Hammerbacker is 25. The latter was taken into the Morrell home and is said to be in such condition that he can not be removed.