Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 May 1904 — A VICTIM OF JASPER’S POLITICS. [ARTICLE]

A VICTIM OF JASPER’S POLITICS.

Mrs. Maude Lally Reed has begun divorce proceedings in the White circuit court against her husband, Nate J. Reed, ex-sheriff of Jasper county. We are not advised as to the grounds of the complaint, but it is possible that, by agreement of the parties, abandonment is charged. Nate is another victim of Jasper county politics. Eight years ago he resided in Remington and had money in bank and was probably worth $4,000 to $5,000. Besides this he drew a good pension from the government as an exsoldier. Then he was considered rather “close” by “the boys,” and the dollars passed out of his hands sparingly. But Nate made a trip to Rensselaer, drank a few “high balls” with the elite managers of the republican machine, and returned home imbued with the idea that the Lord had called him to be high sheriff of Jasper county. (Up to this time it vjas a debated question what he was cut out foY, as the Lord had never put him to work at anything, and he took life easy, but lived within his means). Of course if he wanted the nomination for sheriff on the republican ticket it was necessary to “jollyV the boys at Rensselaer, keep late hours, and get away with vast quantities of the liquid that made Milwaukee famous. This Nate did, and he not only received the nomination, but by continuing the free beer campaign was elected by a large majority. After his election Nate got married,but instead of bracing up and settling down, he at once began a campaign for re-election, and the thirst of his constituency was something unquenchable. But, he was re-nominated, and at the election "received the greatest majority of anyone on the ticket. Here was cause for more jubilation—in which his thirsty friends assisted him —and his second term was marked by about the same features as the first, and his money flowed freely. During all this time Nate drew a good salary as sheriff, his pension from the government, rent from rooms in the sheriff’s residence —owned, kept in repair, lighted, and we understand, heat, by the tax-payers of Jasper county. Still this was insufficient to train with Tom McCoy’s sporty crowd, and Nate drew on his savings and other resources until, when his second term expired and he moved to Michigan City, it is reported that his Household goods were attached here for debt. Some time later the family moved to Remington, and after a time Nate left there, and for a long while no one seemed to know what had become of him. It is now reported that he is living with a brother in Illinois, having no means except his pension. And now his wife is applying for a divorce. Broken in health and purse, forsaken by the friends that knew him in his prosperous days when beer flowed free and republican votes therefore came easy, his genuine friends, those who felt that it was the worst thing that could happen to a man of Nate’s make-up to beeleoted to an office in Jasper county, owing to the influences that were thrown about him, will be sorry to learn of this, one of the closing chapters in his career.

BARN BURNED BY LKJHTNINCI. The barn on the old Abe Pruett farm in Jordan township, owned by Thomas Burns and occupied by Willard Prewett, was struok by lightning Sunday night and burned, together With 7 horses, several sets of harness, 2 saddles and bridles, 3 or 4 tons of hay, a wagon loaded with straw, etc. The Foss was about SI,OOO, with no insurance. Mr. Prewett was a renter, having recently moved on the farm from Brook, and the loss is especially hard on him. At Dan Lesh’s, on the W. P. Baker farm, north of town, a cow was killed. Insured in Farmers’ Mutual. The house on Bruce White’s farm north of town was struck and slightly damaged. Two young horses belonging to James Bufling were killed at Reub Dickinson’s, southeast of town. They were insuredffor SIOO in the Farmers Mutual Insurance Co, Two horses were also killed on Granville Moody’s farm in Barkley township, and four hogs on Willis Hurley’s farm, also in Barkley.