Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 January 1902 — AVERTS TRAGEDY IN CHURCH, [ARTICLE]

AVERTS TRAGEDY IN CHURCH,

Pretty Girl in Indiana Prevents Parent from Shooting Her Beau. A tragedy in a church at Newmarket was narrowly averted by the pluck of a pretty 18-year-old girl. One of the principals in the affair was Robert Reeves, a brother of the prosecuting attorney of Crawfordsville. Reeves had- been courting a daughter of Larkin Branch of Newmarket for some time despite the latter’s objection. The other niglit while the couple attended an entertainment in church the irate parent rushed down the aisle and tried to drag the girl out of her seat. Reeves interfered and Branch drew a revolver. Miss Branch threw herself upon him and pinioned his arms until her beau escaped. The row caused a panic in the sanctuary, women fainting and others being injured by those trying to get out. The assailant was released after paying a heavy fine.