Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 September 1904 — UNDER HEAVY RONDS [ARTICLE]

UNDER HEAVY RONDS

Willman Held in SIO,OOO to the Grand Jury in the Wells Murder Case. TWO WOMEN IN THE STOBY Coroner's Verdict in the Starbnck Case Sheds No Light-Poi-son in a Watermelon. North Vernon. Ind.. Sept. 9. Fred Willman, a wealthy fanner living north of this city, who was arrested Tuesday, charged with the murder of Mahlon Wells, has had a preliminary hearing before Justice Rash, who, after an examination, held the defendant to the circuit court in SIO,OOO bond. Willman seemed to expect such action and he was returned to jail without any show of agitation. It is expected that bond will be furnished for him today. The testimony against the defendant is largely of a circumstantial nature. Doubt is expressed of an ability to convict. Another Woman in tho Case* A telegram from Indianapolis aays that Allen Wells and Mrs. Placeucia, brother and sister of Mahlon Wells, have returned to that city and say that a bundle of letters found In Wells’ trunk at Cincinnati indicate that Wells had been intimate with a widow who lived in Mason, O. The widow had written a number of letters urging Wells to get a divorce that he might marry her. and there was every indication from the tone of the letters that Wells had proposed getting a divorce. Theory ot the Prosecution. The theory of the prosecution here is that while Wells was in Cincinnati and Mason, Willman was paying unusual attention to Mrs. Mahlon Wells, ind was infatuated with the woman. However, she objected to a yoposition from Wells to apply for a divorce. An attorney informed Wells ind his wife that they could not get i divorce without evidence of some kind. It seems that Wells and his rife, patched up their differences and ledded to move to California.

Whin the Motive Coma la. .It is alleged that when Willman heard of the proposed removal of the woman to California he made no effort to conceal his feelings for her. He purchased the Wells property and urged the woman to leave her husband and live with him. Being afraid Mrs. Wells would go away to California. to prevent it he waylaid and killed her husband. COBONER FILES HIS VERDICT * Long Delayed Judgment In tho Starbnck Caao la Published Under Throat or Legal Proceedings. Newcastle, Ind., Sept. 9.—Coroner Charles W. Wright has filed his verdict in the Starbuek case, and he finds that the death of Mrs. Mollie Starbuck, who was found in an abandoned well near Greensboro on the night of July 9, was caused by acute congestion of the lungs. The coroner’s verdict says that "'the approximate and original cause of death was acute congestion of the lungs, and the remote and original cause is unknown.” The coroner’s original verdict was suicide, and he held that Mrs. Starbuck was a victim of puerperal mania, but he changed the verdict. He was withholding his decision until evidence against Haley Gipe could be secured by the officers, but threats of legal proceedings by Gipe’s attorneys compelled the coroner to file his verdict. Thru* Serious Accident*. Lafayette, Ind., Sept. 9. Three accidents out of the ordinary has occurred here. Wesley Orth. 12 months old. son of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Orth, fell into his father's cistern and was drowned. John Katzmire was kicked in the head by a mule and fatally hurt. Robert Lester, a farmer of Westpoint, while driving in this city was thrown from his wagon, breaking his spine. Escape* from a Sanatorium. Richmond, Ind., Sept. 9.—There is no longer concealment of the fact that E. O. Ellis, formerly pastor of the SOuth Eighth Street Friends’ church, this city, has escaped from the Retreat sanatorium, at Oxford, 0., and his present address is unknown. He failed to report for dinner on Monday, and after a quiet search the superintendent notified his son, Arthur Ellis, of this city. Merchant cigars at J. W. King’s.