Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 December 1904 — FATAL BLAST OF GAS [ARTICLE]

FATAL BLAST OF GAS

Wrecks a Plant and Kills One Man, While of the Wounded s One May Die. SEVERAL MEN ABE INJURED Threatening Letters Received by Ao tors in the Gillespie Trial—Dr. Gillespie’s Testimony. Hartford City, Ind., Dec. 30. —John Sutton, aged 24 and unmarried, was instantly killed in an explosion at the Crescent Gas company’s station west of this city. Five others were seriously Injured, one perhaps fatally. The injured are Ed. Ayres, field manager, ribs broken and foot mashed, may die; John Craig, millwright, cut and bruised about the head; Harry Reichart, lineman, bead and arms badly cut; Millard Cowan, lineman, badly cut and bruised; Harry Lockhart, roustabout, hip broken. Cause of the Explosion. The explosion was caused by the valve plug In the compressor blowing out and filling the room with gas, which ignited from the spark of the gas engine used to run the compressors. The force of the explosion raised the four wings of the building, and the roof fell In on the workmen, killing Sutton instantly and probably fatally injuring Ayres. The escape of the other workmen was miraculous. The plant was recently erected at a cost of SIO,OOO. The only total loss Is that of the building, the machinery remaining intact. There is no insurance. His Jugular Vein Punctured. Linton, Ind., Dec. 30.—The body of Commodore Inman, a young farmer near this city, was found beside the highway at a railroad crossing near his home. A small hole in the neck, puncturing his Jugular vein, had caused death. When found the body was in a kneeling posture, one hand clasped to the wound, presumably in a desperate effort to stanch the flow of blood. It is supposed that Inman had stopped near the crossing as a train loaded with rails was passing and that one of these rails projected over far enough to strike him hi the neck. There were no other contusions upon the body. Corpse Recognized bp HU Son. Marion, Ifid., Dec. 30. —Phillip Davis, 55 years of age, a wealthy stock buyer, was killed by an interurban car while attempting to flag it at a country crossing. When the body was removed from under the car by the crew and passengers it was recognized by his son, who was a passenger. Might Watchman Is Hissing. Kokomo, Ind., Dec. 30. A fire of unexplained .origin destroyed the factory of the Kokomo Furniture company, and it is feared cost the life of the night watchman, Lyman East, who is missing. The property loss is about $25,000, with only $3,500 insurance.

LETTERS THAT ARE THREATENING Missive* of That Character Are Being: Received by Those Conducting: the Trlml of Gillespie. Rising Sun, Ind., Dec. 30. The trial of James Gillespie, charged with the murder of his twin sister, Elizabeth Gillespie, has begun its fourth week. The defendant will be the last witness. Many anonymous letters, some threatening and some making suggestions, are being received by the attorneys and officers of the court. Two hours were consumed In arguing aa to the admission of Dr. Gillespie’s statement of experiments made by him with a gun similar to Gillespie’s. The evidence was admitted. The cross-examination of Dr. Gillespie wa dramatic and tempestuous. It was the evident effort of the attorneys for the state to show that that Dr. Gillespie had shown a disposition to interfere with the work of detection of the murderer. Tn bis cross-examination Dr. Gillespie said be bad advised James Gillespie to remain away from the funeral of Elizabeth, because of fear of incrimination. He advised him not to go to the house of the dying girl because of the early training he bad received from his father, that If any one bad mistreated you and you could not get along with tbem to remain away from them. pr. Gillespie said that James and Elizabeth had been unfriendly periodically all tbelr lives. Myron Barbour, another of the defendants, was placed upon the witness stand shortly before court adjourned for the day.

Ceatlmaelaaa Strikers Punished. Indianapolis, Dec. 30. For contempt of the federal court three of the striking employes of the Mcßetb-Ev-a ns Glare company, of El wood, were sentenced to Jail from ten to thirty days by Judge A B. Anderson, and eight others were sentenced to pay fines ranging from $5 to $25. They had been found guilty of violating an Injunction Issued by Judge Anderson on Oct. 8, restraining them from acts of Intimidation or violence toward the men that have been hired to take their placet at the Macbeth-Evana company’s plane Charges Were Net SestalaodEvansvtlle, Ind., Dec. 80. —Governor Durbin and the members of the board of state charities have returned to Indianapolis from, Evansville, where they inquired into charges against Dr. Glover, of the Southern Hospital for the Insane. It was stated that tbs charge was not sustained.