Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 May 1906 — SLAYS HIS BROTHER [ARTICLE]

SLAYS HIS BROTHER

Quarrel and Fight Over Money Ends in the Crime of Fratricide. HE HAS A SHALL FORT HEADY For a Time Defines Arrest, but Finally Surrenders—Sherrick Brief Is Filed—ltems. Montezuma. In<L, May 11. W. H. Sylvester, president of the First National bank, of Montezuma, was shot and killed In his home by his brother. Stephen Sylvester, who did the shooting, was Injured several years ago by a fall and. his mind had been affected. The shooting followed a quarrel at the home of W. H. Sylvester, who was one of the prominent men in the community. Stephen had demanded money from his brother and a quarrel and fist tight followed. A neighbor named Pittman was called in by Mrs. Sylvester, and be separated the men, Stephenagreeingto return to his home. Tried to Do More Murder. Pittman released him and Stephen drew a revolver and fired a bullet into bis brother’s stomach, killing him Instantly. The officers say that Sylvester attempted to kill the wife und child of his brother also, but did not even injure them. Stephen ran from the house to his own home and took refuge in a shed with an iron roof and wooden walls eight inches thick, in this he had placed a number of revolvers, rifles and ammunition. He Intrenched himself, shouting through the door that he would never l>e taken alive. Had Prepared fbr Trouble. While running through the streets from his brother’s house to his home Stephen Sylvester was pursued and fired iqion several times by neighbors of the dead lxanker, but did not return the shots and was not hit He has been known as a very eccentric character and if is believed he built the stronghold in his yard with Iron roof and heavy walls in anfLciiwtlon of trouble. He told a physician of the family several days ago that he was determined to get some money he claimed to be due him from his brother, and he did not care how he got it or what happened. Surrenders to the Sheriff. More than 1.000 citizens gathered around the shed at a safe distance, and the sheriff of this county, who resides at Rockville, eight miles away, was telephoned for. The sheriff made a quick drive, bringing several deputies with him. Upon'arriving here the sheriff approached the shed and called upon Sylvester to surrender. After a moment’s hesitation he said he would surrender if he was assured safety. This assurance was given and Sylvester opened the door, stepped out and locked it after him. He then gave himself up. and accompanied by the officers, was started for Rockville to be locked in jail.

HAFFNER’S DIVORCE CASE Some of the Complaints He Makes in His Application for a Separation. Anderson, Ind.. May 11. Suppose you were a parson and when you got up in the pulpit on Sunday morning to preach your wife, who had seated herself in the front pew, began to nuake faces at you to get you rattled so that you would have to give tip your sermon as a bad Job. Suppose, moreover, that your wife previously had marked your Bible in such a way ns to get you twisted when you attempted to read the Scriptures to the congregation. SupfK>se. again, that she railed you a “tin god" and "an immaculately conceived old hypocrite.” Now, would you ask for a divorce’? The above are but a few of the complaints that Rev. James E. Haffner. pastor of the lTniversalist church here, lias against the woman whom he took for lletter or. as he now thinks, for worse. Haffner says he can’t stand it any longer. He had charge of the Indiana bulldting at the St. Ix>uls exposition. She is a writer and lecturer. Plowed Up an Old Graveyard. Washington, Ind., May 11.1—Gallatin England, a farmer living about ten miles north of this place, while plowing a sand knoll on lifs farm unearthed a Immom skeleton. His curiosity l>elrig aroused, he continued digging up the ground within a radius of seventy feet from where he had found the first, and found fourteen other skeletons. The skeletons are supposed to I* those of Indians. Brief In Favior of Sherrlck. Indianapolis, May 11. Attorneys for David E. Sherrlck, ex.-sta.te auditor, now serving a sentence in the Htatc prison, have filed In the supreme court a brief snpjiorting their jietitioii for a stipeoedeus. The brief, alleges tlvat Louis Held, one of the jurors convicting Sherrlck. was prejudiced. Slierrick's release is sought pending the review of his cnee by the court. Woman of 90 Suicides. Evansville,lnd., May 11.—Mrs. Elizabeth Mooney, aged 1)0. residing near here, committed suicide by Jumping Into a horse pond. She had always predicted she would live to be 100 yeara She was in good health. Evangelicals in Session. Indianapolis, May 11. Ministers and laymen of the Indiana district of the German Evangelical synod have begun their annual conference in this •By-