Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 October 1907 — DEATH FOR A TAUNT [ARTICLE]

DEATH FOR A TAUNT

Drunken Printer Killed Because He Called Hie Editor-Em-ployer a “Scab.” THATB THZ WAY ITS LOOKS HOW Trial at Muncie Has Begun Unusual Advice in a Divorce Case State Items. • Muncie, Ind., Oct 17. Joseph P. Williams, ex-editor of the Indiana lied Man, the oflleia! organ of the fraternity in Indiana, and a highly respected business man, who, on the 20th of last July shot and killed his employe, Herman Pugh, has been placed on trial lu the circuit court, and the Impaneling of a jury was taken up. Williams was accompanied by bls wife and his attorneys Include Walter L. Ball and A. E. Needham, ex-prosecuting attorney. Called the Editor a “Scab.” The leading witness for the state Is Benjamin McGinnis, president of the local Typographical union, wbo was the sole eye-witness of the killing. It Is presumed that his testimony will reflect seriously on the defendant, as he has said that the murder was unjustifiable, although he Is said to admit that Pugh was Intoxicated and that be called Williams a "scab.” Not much difficulty Is expected in obtaining a jury. Pugh Was Going to Heave. Williams owned a large printing plant, where lie printed the Red Man. of which he was the founder and own er. He was prominent in the fraternity in whose interests it was published. He employed Herman Pugh as a journeyman printer. Last July Pugh became dissatisfied nnd notified Wil Hams that he would leave. Williams called on President McGinnis to meet " Pugh Tn his office, when The came To be paid off. hoping that he could induce Pugh to remain. Came to the Office Drunk. Pugh was intoxicated, and Williams only paid him part of the wages due. , and asked him not to quit work. Pugh then called Williams a “scab.” as the story runs, and Williams seized a revolver lying in his desk and shot him. McGinnis witnessed the transaction, nnd ho tried to prevent Williams from shoqting, but was too late in interfering. Likely To Be Convicted. Williams bears the reputation of a moral and upright man. and many friends have come to ids assistance. The general sentiment, however, is that bls net was unjustifiable and that notwithstanding powerful influences are working in ids behalf, there will bp some! kind of a conviction JUDGE GIVES UNUSUAL ADVICE Tells a Woman Suing for Divorce to Live with Her Husband Pending the Decision. Columuiis. Ind., Oct. 17. At the conclusion of the evidence In the divorce case of Mrs Emma Dnvis against Stephen Davis. In the Bnrthol omew eircutt court. Judge Hacker made an unusual suggestion. The law contemplates that when a divorce action is filed husband and wife shall he living separate and apart and they shall not live together during the time the suit is pending or after the suit is tried and before the decision of the court Is given. When Mrs. Davis brought suit against her husband for divorce ami 110,000 alimony she left her homo and had been living elsewhere, -Judge Hacker told Mrs. Davis to go home and remain there until lie had decided the case. He said she need not eat at the same table with her husband if she did not wish to and that she need not have anything to do with him. hut he advised her to go there and stay while the decision was being made, and said that he would not regard this action as living with her liusband.

Gun Perilous at the Breech. Brazil. Ind.. Oct. f7.—At an early hour Pressly Jenkins heard a thief in his chicken honey on his farm near Bowlins Green. Jenkins seized his old shotgun and blazed away at the intruder, bnt Jenkins was found in an un conscious condition shortly afterward, while the thief and the farmer's choice fowls were missing. The gun burst a barrel, seriously injuring Jenkins. Child Frightened to Death. Corydon. Ind., Oct. 17.—The 3-year-old child of Andrew Mosier. of Byrneville, this county, was placed on the roof of a chicken house, a few feet above the ground, by older children, who kept telling the child It was going to fall. The child was seized of convulslone, caused by Intense fright, and fell over on the roof and died. Would-Be Bride is Spanked. Bedford, Ind., Oct 17. David Pedro. 22 years old. and Pearl Leman, 14, eloped from Linton, with the expectation of being married here, and ♦bey were arrested in this city. The would-be bride was returned to her home, and she was given a spanking instead of a wedding feast.

THEY SLAMMED THE DOOR Church Organist Plays His Own Wedding March and Made the Congregation Sit Up. Shelbyville, Ind., Oct 16. After the congregation had assembled for the morning service at the First Presbyterian church Albert CbenbaH, the organist, rendered the wedding march from “Lohengrin” as a voluntary. When it came time for the collection to be taken, Instead of the choir sing ing an anthem, Chenhall rendered “Oh, Promise Me.” By this time the congregation was in an expectant state. Rev. L. O. Richmond, pastor of the church, took for his subject: “The Wedding Feast” When he had con dnded Chenhall and Miss Catherine Hartmaker, a member of the choir, stepped from the choir loft and made their way to the front of the pulpit, where Richmond pronounced the words which them husband nnd wife. After the ceremony they again took their places In the choir, and assisted In Singing the closing hymn. The beneIctlon was then pronounced. Chenhall then played Mendelssohn’s wedding march as the congregation was leaving.

Bloomington, Ind., Oct. 16. After nine days of violent insanity, which defied treatment and which caused him to be considered eligible for the Central Indiana Insane hospital at Indianapolis, Tobias Gaddis, who shot and killed Jesse Robinson in the late “whitecapping” affair, suddenly re gained his normal condition. Gaddis had been slowly improving for two days, and it was noticed that be did not rave nor cringe for fear of i“whitecaps,” to such an extent as formerly. Nine Days Only • Dream.

About midnight he became perfectly sane while some of the prisoners In the county jail were talking to him. Gaddis sayp the last nine days seem like a dream to him. His mind is perfectly void as to the investigation of the committee, and the decision to have him placed In the insane hospital. He says he does not wish to go to the hospital, as he is not crazy. His physical condition shows the effect of the strain he has heen. under. He is very feeble and has the appearance of having had a spell of sickness. He wants to fight the charges that have already been preferred against him. He denies vigorously all the reports to the effect that he may not bo entirely guiltless in the “whitecapping” episode.

Some Suspicion of Shamming. One of the first things he did after regaining his mind was to express a desire to see his lawyer. As to whether Gaddis has been shamming there seems to be no way of telling at present. nnd this will probably have no bearing on the case now that his mind Is normal, and be expects to fight the charges of theft against him. The commission found tils mental condition to be unsound when they exnmined him a week ago. and decided to have him transferred to the institution at Indi anapolis. Yesterday Gaddis wrote let ters in answer to those from his girl wife and to liis sister at Muncie. He read the letters which came several days ago for the first time Monday. Honor to Whom It Is Due. Terre Haute, Ind.. Oct. 16. Some one lias found in the tiles of the old Terre Haute Express a story of the origin of the expression commonly attributed to Horace Greeley ■— “Go West, young man,go West" —and finds that it was written by John L. Soule, editor of Tile Express, in an editorial which was the result of a bet with Colonel Richard W.Thompson that an editorial could be written in the Greeley style which would pass for one of his own productions.

Seniors Pntting on Air. Greencastle. Ind., Oct. 1(5. —Wishing to distinguish themselves th»> “general run 6f college men,” the genl ors in DeFauw will soon bloom out in novel wearing apparel. The character of the “taboo” has not been decided upon as yet, but it will either come in the nature of lint bands, caps or sweater vests. x Baby Roasted to Death._ ■- Muncie, Ind., Oct. 16. — Mrs. William McKinley, of Cammack, this county, crossed the street to call on a neigh her. and during her absence her 18-months-old child fell out of a rockingchair into a hot oven and was virtually roasted to death. Wheat Sella at One Dollar. Columbus. Ind.. Oct. 1(1. Local dealers in grain have at last begun paying $1 a bushel for wheat, and all dealers In the cotfhty are now paying that price. Grain men predict that the price will go to at least $1.20. He Proved Self-Defense. Newport, Ind., Oct. 16. At the preliminary trial Robert Olney, of Perrysville, who stabbed bls brother-in-law, Noah A. Dowell, to death with a pocketknife, was acquitted on a showing of self-defense. Striker Is Fatally Hurt. Lafayette, Ind., Oct. 17. William Adams, a striking telegraph operator, had both legs crushed at the knee by falling under the wheels of a Monon passenger train. iujthe Monon yards. He will probably die. Why, Indeed! Arthur, six years old, gave to the little maiden of his choice a candy on which was printed in pink letters, “Why do you keep me in suspense?” “I gave Millicent a candy with reading on it,” he said shyly to his mother. “What did the reading say?” asked his mother.“Wby do you keep me in suspenders?” repeated Arthur proudly.