Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 February 1905 — VIEWS OF DR. HURTV [ARTICLE]

VIEWS OF DR. HURTV

Docs Not Think Much of the Cf« garette Bill Now Before the Legislature. THIHHS IT PROBABLY IH VALID Also Impossible of EnforcementBrute Attempts to Kill His Mile— State Items. * Indianapolis, Feb. 17. believe that the proposed anti-cigarette bill now before the legislature would go far toward regulating the cigarette evil. Ido not believe that if the bill should be passed the courtswould hold it constitutional, and it would be no more effective thun is the present cigarette law. The bill is an invasion of personal liberty, and public opinion behind it is not strong enough to make it ojierutive. I am in favor of any legislation that would lessen the cigarette evil, but I do not believe the proposed bill will do it.” Freaeut Law Not Enforced. This, in itrief, is the position of Ur. J. N. Hurt}-, secretary of the state board of health, with respect to Parks’ anti-cigarette bill, which has passed the senate, and will be bunded down on second reading in the house within a few days. I>r. Hurty says that he believes something should be done to undermine the habit, but he does not know what methods would reach it. “It seems to me that we have a fairly good cigarette law in this state,” he continued, “if it would only be enforced. The trouble is that the boys tun get the cigarettes any time they want them, because the sellers do not observe the law.

Would Fill the Jolla with llojk “The law proposed would not keep the cigarettes from the boys. They would get them from other states, and I think we would find that the law would not be strictly enough enforced to keep them from getting them right here in the state. If every boy who is found with a cigarette is dragged into court, our courts and prisons will be overflowing with them. There are thousands upon thousands of cigarettes smoked by older men aftd I do not believe a law' to prohibit their using the cigarettes has the public opinion to demand its enforcements.”

HE TRIED TO KILL HlB WIFE Shot at Her Twice, One Ballet Entering Her Head—Then He Cate Her Throat. Richmond, lud., Feb. 17. William W. Medlin, aged 30, surrendered to the police after having attempted to kill his wife. Medlin met his wife on the street and without saying a word drew a revolver and shot at her twice, one bullet entering the young woman’s head near her right eye. After she had fallen to the ground the husband drew a-Jackknife from his pocket and cut a long gash in her throat Believing that his purpose had been accomplished he went to the police station, entering the building just as officers were starting after him. His wife’s condition is critical, but the chances are favorable for her recovery. -Medlin and his wife have been living apart for a year.

Ice Stall* a Train. Seymour, Ind.. Feb. 17. The fast mail train on the Pennsylvania road stuck fast in the ice here and was delayed two hours. The train pulled in twenty minutes late, stopping at the station, but when the engineer turned on the steam the train refused to move the train an inch. He could neither get forward nor backward until another train came in and sent its engine to pull the stranded train over the icy place. Tallent Man'* Heart Wo* Weak. Bloomington, Ind., Feb. 17. Riley Smith, aged 68 years, said to be the tallest man in Indiana, 7 feet 2 inches, was found dead In bed of heart failure. He was an old soldier. He died at the home of his brother, Jefferson Smith. A special coffin had to be made for his body. Woman Wander* from Hama. Rlufftou, Ind., Feb. 17.—Mrs. Fred Hostetter wandered from her home and jumped or fell from the Clover Leaf railroad bridge over the Wabash river. She was found unconscious and almost frozen to death. She was resuscitated and it is thought she will recover. Mayor’* Home I* Looted. Washington, Ind., Feb. 17. A tramp entered the home of Mayor Will K. Penrod, of Loogootee, near this city, and forced two women, members of the family, who were then alone, to supply him with food, clothing and some pocket change. He escaped. Repeal of the Bose Ball Law. Indianapolis, Feb. 17. After less than ten minutes’ consideration, the committee on criminal code made unanimous report in the house for the passage of Ruick's bill to repeal the law prohibiting the playing of base ball for pay on Sunday. Bojolna a Go* Kate Ordinance. Indianapolis, Feb. 17.—Federal Judge Anderson has enjoined the city of Indianapolis from enforcing an ordinance recently passed to compel the Indianapolis Gas company to sell sued gas at 50 cents per 1,000 cubic feet.