Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 February 1908 — MILLS MURDER CASE [ARTICLE]

MILLS MURDER CASE

Accused Man Insists That He Was Hit with a Sandbag in the Head. COMPLAINS OF PAINS THERE Boy Makes a Find and Tells Varied Stories Thereabout ̶̶ ̶̶ Farmers Kick Against “Regulation." .¶ Indianapolis, Feb. 12. —George Emory Cassell, now in the Marion county jail for safe keeping, and charged with the murder of Thomas A. Mills, near Quincy, Ind., last Friday, continues to complain of sharp pains in the head, the result of injuries, he says, he received from a sandbag in the hands of a highwayman, who is charged by Cassell with the murder of Mills. Sheriff Clay has issued an order forbidding all persons visiting Cassell, except his Indianapolis attorneys. Michael Ryan and John C. Ruckelshaus, and his wife. Today Cassell expects his attorney from Spencer to come here for a conference. Accused Man’s Attorney at Work. The prisoner’s attorney at Spencer has been working on the case ever since Cassell’s arrest and the conference is expected to produce some new evidence in Cassell’s behalf. Mrs. Cassell visited her husband at the jail, and promised to visit him again. The prisoner is displaying poor appetite, refusing almost all food given him. He has slept little and looks completely worn out. Boy Tells Three Stories. Martinsville, Ind., Feb. 12. ̶̶ ̶̶ The finding of the handle of a handbag bearing the initials, “T. H. M.” which are the initials of Thomas Mills, the murdered stockman of Eminence, has supplied a new clew on which the authorities are working. The strap was found by a boy who, when he turned it over to the authorities, gave three stories of where it was found. Authorities Investigating. His first story was that he found it on the Monon railroad track, one mile from where the murder took place; the second story was that he found it on a fence and the third time he told the story he said he found it lying in some bushes beside the road. The strap was supposed to have been wrapped around papers belonging to the murdered man. The authorities are investigating the story. One Report Is Denied. Spencer, Ind., Feb. 12.-—Authorities at this place say there is no founda-

tion for the story that valuable papers belonging to Mills were found near Quincy. They say, however, that they are working on a new clew and expect important developments. TOO MUCH “REGULATION” Farmers Kick Hard When Their Beef and Milk Are Strictly Inspected. .¶ Richmond, Ind., Feb. 12.—Objecting to the strict regulation established here to prevent the sale of meat on the Richmond market unless it has been approved by federal inspectors and to the preparations for the inspection of milk the farmers of Wayne county, it is announced, have started a movement to boycott Richmond business houses. As the situation now stands, no person outside of Richmond, save the big packing houses, under federal lnspettion, can sell meat on the local market, and this has worked a hardship on small dealers In nearby places, who found their chief market in Richmond. If strict milk inspection is also enforced other persons will suffer, as they are not in position to comply with required regulations. It is said that the farmers are arranging to patronize mail order houses, and they will place orders in carload lots. The matter i* assuming something of a serious phase. January Interest on State Funds. Indianapolis, Fob. 12.—Reports made to Oscar Hadley, treasurer of state, by the public depositories selected for state funds, show that the interest on state funds for January amounted to approximately $2,000. Interest checks from practically all of the depositories have been received, and It is believed the amount will not be less than $2, 000, and may be more. Clergyman Kicked to Death. Huntington, Ind., Feb. 12. — Rev. Shirley O. Slusser, aged forty-four, a minister prominent in the St Joseph conference of the United Brethren in Christ, was kicked and trampled to death by the family driving mare and her colt in the stable. Mrs. Slugger found her husband in the barn. Cashier Is Acquitted. Jasper, Ind., Feb. 12.—The jury In the case of Charles Behrens, accused of embezzling $5,000 of the funds of the People’s State bank, at Huntingburg, while serving as cashier, rendered a verdict of not guilty. Square with the County Now. Mount Vernpn, Ind., Feb. 12.—The bondsmen of Henry Fisher, ex-county treasurer of St. Phillips, found to be short $8,800 at the expiration of his term of office, have paid into the county treasury, principal and interest, a total of $11,083.43.