Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 September 1901 — RECORD OF THE WEEK [ARTICLE]

RECORD OF THE WEEK

INDIANA INCIDENTS TERSELY Farmer Cats His Heart Off and Kills Himself— of Farmer’s Treasure Trove Discovered Mies C’llara Ajjaiu KiJnapeil.X Buck Wheeler, a farmer, killed his son-in-law, Elias Burns, cut his head off with an ax, tijed to kill his own wife, and after his brother-in-law had refused to send a bullet into his heart shot himself and may die. The tragedy was enacted near Folsomville. Wheeler recently got a divorce from his wife and the court gave her one-half of his farm and permitted him to keep the other half. The divorced wife has been making her homo with her son-in-law. Wheeler, it is said, has been insanely jealous of his son-in-law. The other morning about 9 o’clock Wheeler went to the tobacco patch where Burns was working, drew a revolver and fired four shots, all of which tool; effect. Wheeler then left his son-in-law in the field for dead and went to the house. He told Mrs. Burns her husband wanted her to bring him a glass of water and his tobacco knife. Mrs. Burns started for tlje field and Wheeler drew his revolver and tried to Lil! his di.-ore.cd wife. The weapon failed to go cff. He looked in the direction of the tobacco patch and saw Burns stagger into the lane and his wife trying to help him to the house. Wheeler picked up an ax, ran down the lane till he met Burns, when he knocked him down and then struck him again cn the neck with the ax, severing the head from the body. Wheeler then hastened to the home of his brother in law and earnestly besought him to kill him before the sheriff arrived. On being refused the murderere went to the barnyard and blew out his brains. H'ding Place of Gpl 1 Foun 1. When Ira Smith, a Terre Haute farmer, was killed by a bolt of lightning two months ago he carried to the grave with him the secret of the hiding place of not less than $5,000 in gold. He was a peculiar man, who did not ted even the members of bis family about his financial affairs, and was afraid of the banks. It had been known for years that he was hiding money on the farm. He often said that he would disclose the secret on his deathbed, but he di 1 not take into account the chance of sudden death. He was at work in a field when killed. For weeks after his death search was made for the money, but the search was finally abandoned. The other day a son-in law was loading corn from an old crib into a wagon when his shovel struck something hard. It was found to be an old wagon box with rags filling the opening. These were pulled out, and following them came a stream of the yellow coins. In all there was $1,600. The search for the remainder of the hidden wealth has been resumed.

Missing Girl Returns Home. Miss Riba O’Hara of Bushton, 111., who says she was abducted from the home of her grandfather in Kokomo, was found at Oakford and returned. She says she was riding her wheel when she was seized and thrust into a dosed carriage and gagged. She was driven to Goldsmith, then to Oakford, where she was rescued. When found her clothing, face and hands were covered with blood. She declares she was robbed of SSO. Tha abductors have not been found. Her father is a wealthy broomcorn dealer of Bushton. State New. in Brief. Washington has fifty cases of typheid fever. People seared. W. E. Cox, Jasper, district 3 chairman, has announced himself for Congress against W. T. Zenor. Henry Funk, aged 76, deaf and unable to hear an aproaching train, was kil!e 1 at a grade crossing at Kokomo. John J. Tesh of Battery N, who helped capture Aguinaldo, is telling his experiences at his home in Elwood. Sim Steers, night watchman at the Ideal stove foundry, and William Leonard of Yorktown were badly injured in a riot at Daleville. Richard Hewitt, a convict at the northern Indiana State prison, who was recently granted a parole and went to work on a farm, tired of farm life and was sent back to prison at his own request. Warden Shidcler of the Indiana prism north has tendered his resignation, business interests at Marion demanding his persons! attention. The Governor h:'.s requested him to continue in chirge nt the prison until Nov. 1. In a street duel at Shelbyville between Milton Evans and John Cunningham the latter received a fatal wound in tha groin. Five shots were exchanged. Evans is under arrest. There had been an old grudge between the men. Prescille Cox, a widow, tried to kill John Heizer, aged 81, with a revolver. Heizer lives with his wife on Chestnut street, Indianapolis, and Mrs. Cox rent-* the front room. The shooting took place in her room. Heiser, not seriously hu:t. run from the place and the police are unable to find him. James Chance of Starke County, who lost his life recently while fighting a fire that threatened the destruction of valuable property, was betrothed to Mlsa Gusta Gitea, aged 18 years. The day of his funeral she vowed that she would tuke herkwvn 'l* c - Miss Gites made nil plans foi*J r funeral and she took (wiscii, wh Nd caused her death. Claude McDowell, who has escape I from the military authorities three times after being arrested for dts rilng from the Philippine army service, | N hiding in the woods between Yorktown and Ullman, and a poa.se of farmers wiU try to run him down. With McDowell are said to be three other deserters, who escape 1 with him from Fort Thomas. Henry L. Harbin, 79, English, is dea l -rom injuries received at the hands of his grandson, Lewis Morgan. The young man will be tried for murder. J. W. Groves, a poor Mnncie carpenter, received a letter from a brother in Wyoming that he has been made heir to a fortune of SS,(MM) by Ichabod Lucas, a rich uncle, who died in New York recently. Fred Powell, a young married man, reached homo in Elkhart a couple of nights ago and found hia furniture all gone except a picture of himself, which was “turned toward the wall.” Mrs. Fourall left no other message.