Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 April 1908 — Page 1

Jasper County Democrat

sx.oo Per Year.

A MURDER IN RENSSELAER.

“Dan” Day Shoots and Kills Daisy Phillips Thursday Night. WAS ARRESTED AFTER A STRUGGLE AND LODGED IN JAIL

Crime Committed About 11:30 Thursday Night. PRELIMINARY HEARING YESTERDAY . ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ And Prisoner Bound Over to Grand Jury—Is a Cripple, and Hopeless Love for the Girl Is His Excuse for the Crime. . ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ .¶ “Dan” Day, a cripple and partly irresponsible young man of Rensselaer, shot and instantly killed Miss Daisy Phillips, the 17-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Phillips at her home in the south part of town at midnight Thursday might. He was under the influence of liquor at the time and when arrested shortly after by City Marshal Parks and Nightwatch Thomas, had two big revolvers and a hunting knife on his person.

.¶ It has been nearly a quarter of a century since a murder has been committed in Jasper county, and when the citizens of Rensselaer arose yesterday morning and learned that a murder had been done in their midst while they slept—it was known to but few outside the officers of the law until morning— they were terribly shocked. The murderer was apprehended and in jail in a very short time after the crime was committed. The facts as learned by The Democrat are as follows: Dan had been going to Phillips’ for some three years, he told the officers when arrested; said that he loved the girl and that she would have nothing to do with him; that he realized that in his crippled condition he could never hope to win her and made up his mind that she should not smile on anyone else, as he said she had been doing. He went there Thursday night intending to end it all. He gave the girl’s mother money and told her to get some whisky and that she might have half of it for medicine. Of the quart of booze bought he poured out probably one-third in another bottle and had drank considerable of this and was under its influence when he committed the

crime. .¶ It was shortly before midnight that Dan and the murdered girl and her 10-year-old sister were in the kitchen of her home together. Daisy was standing up, and without a word of warning Dan pulled a revolver and shot her dead, the bullet piercing her heart. She fell over against the door and cried, “My God, mother, I’m shot,” and expired instantly. Dan then ran out the back door —the family live in Judge Thompson’s tenant house near the Kellner ice house—up around by the ice house and to his mother’s in the north part of town, with whom he lives. Finding no one at home there or for some other reason, he then came back to his brother Dolph’s in the east part of town, was let in and went to bed. .¶ Officers were at once notified and the nightwatch and marshal went to his father Hiram Day’s, where they got him up and told him of the crime and he went with them to apprehend the boy. They first went to his mother’s home and not finding him there came back to Dolph Day’s. Going to the window of Dolph’s bedroom they aroused him and asked if Dan was there. He replied in the affirmative and they went to Dan’s room. He had heard the conversation and jumped out of bed and pulled a revolver. Dolph sprang at him and held his arms and prevented his shooting or one or two more murders might have been placed at his door. The officers quickly sprang to Dolph’s aid and the young man was disarmed, two big Iver-Johnson revolvers, one a brand-new one with a six-inch barrel, and fully loaded — he had replaced the cartridge that killed the girl with a loaded one— and a big hunting knife with a blade six inches long were on his person. He told the officers that had Dolph not caught his arms he would not have been easily taken; that he had resolved to sell his life dearly. .¶ He was taken to jail and the preliminary examination was held yesterday afternoon at 1 o’clock, at the jail, no one being admitted

except newspaper man and the necessary witnesses. .¶ The 18-year-old sister of the murdered girl who was in the room when she was shot, and a 15-year-old sister who was asleep in a bedroom adjoining the kitchen and into which the girl ran and fell dying to the floor, were the only witnesses examined. The prisoner was represented by Geo. A. Williams and the State by the deputy prosecutor. Arraignment was waived and the prisoner remanded to jail to await action of grand jury.

.¶ The prisoner was not asked any questions whatever. He appeared rather scared and nervous when brought into the room, and seemed to pay slight attention to the evidence, pricking up somewhat when his arsenal of weapons were brought forth and identified by the two girls. It seems that he also had a shotgun when he came to the house, but this he left there in his hurry to get away. .¶ Yesterday morning the prisoner would not talk much of the crime, saying that he had enough to worry about without being talked to. The murdered girl had been employed as a domestic at the Rosenbaum hotel. Her home surroundings have not been of a very exalted character from all reports, although nothing special is heard against the girl herself. .¶ The boy is probably about 21 or 22 years of age, and has been crippled in body and speech since a child. His father and mother parted several years ago and the former married. Dan has been making his home with his mother. He has never gone to school, not being a fit pupil to enter the public schools, but has grown up on the streets, picking up junk and selling it, fishing and hunting along the river and occasionally getting loaded up with liquor. He has been known for years to carry a revolver and it has frequently been predicted that he would shoot some one. He should have been sent to some state institution years ago where he could have been looked after. .¶ The murder has stirred Rensselaer as it never has been stirred before, as crimes of this character are extremely rare in Jasper county. .¶ The funeral will be held Sunday, the exact hour not yet having been set, and burial will be made in Osborne cemetery in Hanging Grove township. .¶ The coroner’s inquest will not be finished up until Monday.

10 SALOONS IN UNION TP.

Applicants Give Up the Fight and Will Make No Further Effort to Gain a Foothold There. The anti-saloon people of Parr have filed a remonstrance containing the names of 198 voters, 89 more than the necessary majority, thus insuring that Union tp., will be dry for two more years at least J. M. Conway, the Parr applicant has sold his building to Ed Price of that place for 81,050, and will move away. Mr. Price will put in a stock of dry goods and merchandise, we understand. Charles Gundy, the Fair Oaks applicant, has also given up the fight, it is said, and will make no further effort to secure a license. While the conditions in some of the “dry” towns are not all that could be desired, yet a good majority of the people seem to think that present conditions are much preferable to those prevailing when they had saloons, judging from the Increased majorities which the remonstrators almost invariably roll up.

Service at Church of God.

Having regained sufficient strength after so long protracted illness, with conditions of strength continuing and weather permitting, will resume services next Sunday, April sth, at usual hour. All arq, cordially invited.

D. T. HALSTEAD.

Missionary Baptist Church.

Regular services at the First Baptist church to-morrow by the pastor, Rev. O. E. Miller. Subject for the morning service, “The Parable of the Sower;” in the evening, “Christian Warfare and Armor." Sabbath school at 9:30. Regular prayer meeting Wednesday night. Horses for sale or trade. One good mare In foal. One large cheaper mare. Will sell on time 'or trade for live Btoc t: 1

Rensselaer, lasph r County. Indiana, Saturday,. April 4, 1908.

G. F. MEYERS.

MORE MISREPRESENTATIONS.

The Republican attempts to make it appear that the jury in the ‘Tiber* case against the editor of this paper, tried at Kentland Tuesday, stood 11 to 1 for conviction. This is false as can be, and Is Inspired by the persecution. The jury stood 11 to 1 for acquittal all night long and so stood when discharged, a fact which la well known in Kentlaad, by the court and Others, and was told to th£ writer by a gentleman who was in a position .at all times to know precisely how it stood. He also stated that the Jury could have reached a compromise verdict in no time, a finding of technical guilt and fining of |5 and acquitting defendant of all coats, but the jurors did not think eleven men should * yield to one man. Another lie. Intended To create predjbdice against The Democrat editor, is that he had written the prbsecuting witness and threatened him with dire things if he returned here to prosecute. We have never written him a line directly or indirectly. Falsehoods and misrepresentations are the stock in trade of the republican machine here.

THE COURT HOUSE

Items Picked Up About the County Capitol. \ Commissioners’ court and thw county board of education will convene Monday. * The April term of the Jasper circuit court will convene one week from Monday. Miss Kate Rogers, now *f Glllam tp., who was in the asylum about a year ago, has again been found Insane and was brought here and placed in jail a few days ago. She Will be taken to the asylum to-day. Marriage licenses Issued: Mar. 30, Fred W. Forman of Remington, aged 23, occupation farmer, to Mabelle Ethel Hudson, of near Goodland, aged 22, occupation “ housekeeper. First marriage for each. April 2, William Russell And«i& son of Chicago Heights, 111., aged 21, occupation teamster, to Margaret Ethel Williams of Alx, aged 18, occupation housekeeper. First marriage for each.

,If Abe Halleck made any votes for himself for state senator while in Kentland this week, the fact was not expressed by those who spoke their sentiments there regarding his activity and eagerness in persecuting The Democrat man. Such tactics as using the machinery of the courts and the money of the taxpayers in attempting to drive a man out of business is not indorsed by the better class of people of any party. The hearing in the Baldwin & Dague bankruptcy proceedings was set for yesterday in the federal court in Indianapolis. The defendants claim that their banks at Goodland, Fowler and Ambia, which were placed in the hands of a receiver last December on application of the Auditor of State, were solvent, and are fighting the application to have them declared bankrupt. If they can show that they are solvent it is likely no one will be more pleased than the creditors themselves. New suits filed: No. 7296. Christian Schultz vs. Bertha Schultz; action for divorce. The parties reside in Union tp., and were married in Germany years ago, the precise date not being stated in the complaint. They lived together until Feb. 15, 1906, since which time the complaint states defendant has been living with her son Herman Bchults. They have a large family of- children, all grown. Abandonment is charged in the complaint as grounds for the divorce. .

No. 7297. Alfred Collins vs. Amsl 8. Laßue; suit on account. Demand $17.40. i No. 7298. Alfred Collins vs. Amzi S. Laßue and Samuel M. Laßue; suit on account. Demand $161.85. No. 7299. Marietta Ennis va Edward Oliver; action for conversion. No. 7300. William J. Solt vs. Warren J. White; suit on account. Demand $260. The big sale is now on in the Hotel Rosey block. Shoes, hosiery, clothing, underwear, gloves, shirts, ladles’ waists, skirts, belts, furs — in fact everything found in a firstclass emporium. Will be sold at 50 cents on the dollar. It will be one of the biggest slaughters of dependable merchandise ever heard of in this part of the country. It 1b in the Hotel Rosey block.

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INSTANTLY KILLED

Tree Falls On Tom Moody of Barkley Tp. LIFE CRUSHED OUT IN A MOMENT X / Thomas Moody, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Granville Moody of Barkley tp., was instantly killed Tuesday morning at about eight o'clock by being caught by a falling tree and having the life crashed out of him without a moment’s warning. He was out In the timber getting out a butt of a tree for a gate-post. .His father and the hired man were “with him. The tree lodged in another one and a team was hitched to the lodged one to pull it down. His father was driving the team and Tom and the hired man stood by watching it. Another tree that had been broken off by the lodged tree and which was about six Inches in diameter, fell and struck Tom in the forehead, crushing it in and scraping his body down the front, causing almost instant death. Mr. Moody turned and saw the tree falling just before it struck Tom, but too late for him to heed his father’s warning cry. He rushed to his side immediately and picked him up and he expired In -a, moment in hia arms. TB@ 'yoVing man was exceedingly popular and his tragic death was a fearful shock to his parents and many friends. The funeral was held Thursday afternoon and was one of the most largely attended of any that has been held here for a long time. Interment was made in Weston cemetery-

A DISTINCTION IN CREDITORS.

The Republican devotes another column of space this week to abusing J. G. Tharp of Remington for his refusal to vote for Abe Halleck for state senator at the republican senatorial convention at Monticello recently, and charges that Mr. Tharp owes it—The Republican—for several years subscription to that paper. We know nothing of the truth of this whatever, but we have heard it intimated from a source that ought to be reliable, that a certain republican candidate for office owed the Republican SBS for subscription and job printing, and that the Republican couldn’t get a cent out of him, either. But of course the Republican will say nothing through its columns about this, and will enthusiastically support the said candidate, perhaps with the foolish idea that he will liquidate if he gets the office, and will jump onto John Tharp with both feet simply because he exercised his legal right as a delegate and showed his good sense in refusing to vote for the head of the Jasper county republican machine for senator ;

FOR EXCHANGE.

A fine grocery store, fine stock in a good city of about 3,000. This stock is worth $4,000. ' Doing fine business; will bear the closest investigation. Will exchange for a small farm or property in Rensselaer. Will give or take difference. A well improved farm in Shrebin Co., Minn. Large house, good barn, 100 acres in grain, near a fine town, price SSO per acre. Will exchange for city property or stock of goods. 240 acres near (between Remington and Wolcott) well improved, all tiled, will take a residence in Rensselaer (or any other good town) as part payment. S6O per acre.

Also a good threshing outfit, everything complete. Also 120 acres of fine prairie land. *r— ——-■ - - Also a fine nearly new cottage In Elwood, Ind., well rented, one tenant has occupied it since it was built. $2,500. Also good cottage in the city of Anderson, Ind. Will take a small stock of goods of any kind or small piece of land. Price $3,000. 280 acres of fine land In Wight county, Mo., for exchange for something in Indiana. S2O per acre. , Good residence in Rensselaer for small farm, $2,200. I have property In Muncle, Anderson, Elwood, Indianapolis, Seymour, and many other good towns for exchange. A nice 40 acre farm mile from nice small town in Clark Co., for exchange, fair improvements, a fine fruit and chicken location, good orchard on farm. Price $2,000. If you have anything to exchange come and see me. C. P. WRIGHT, K. of P. Bldg.

Millinery opening April 9, 10 and 11. MARY MEYER. Remember we purchased the goods cheap for this big sale, and we are going to sell them cheaper yet. Just cut the wholesale price In two. *

JURY II TO I FOR ACQUITTAL.

And It Later Developed That the Lone Juror Was Abe Halleck’s Unde. One of the Bcore or more of libel suits that have been instituted or instigated by Abe Halleck, the head of the republican political machine of Jasper county, during the past ten years, was tried in the Newton circuit court Tuesday. This particular case was one of those in which a former publisher of the Monon News, E. T. Jones, was the prosecuting witness, at least so far as the record in the case showed, but he was not present at the trial, and in fact left Indiana more than a year ago. He has stated that he was led into filing these suits by others, and that he has notified the prosecuting attorney and Halleck, who is the main persecutor in the cases, that he did not want to prosecute them, but did want them dismissed. These cases have lain dormant for about a year. Last May the defendant was over to Kentland in person ready for trial, and insisted on trial, but the state filed an affidavit for a continuance and alleged that certain witnesses were necessary, etc., who could not then be had. On this showing the special judge, William Isham of Fowler, granted the continuance, but the October and January terms of court passed with no effort being made by the ‘‘state*' to bring them to trial. At the present term the defendant moved the dismissal of the cases under the section of the statute which says that no person shall be held under bond over three terms of court unless the continuances be on his own motion. This law has been in force since 1852, and was re-enacted in the Acts of 1905. The court ruled, however, that they be not dismissed, and also held the three affidavits good on separate motions to quash. The first case taken up was one in which The Democrat man was alleged to have written a letter to a Monon gentleman in which the “prosecuting witness’’ was libeled. The defense was ready to go to trial in this, but the “state” was scared, and moved to dismiss at once when it found it must go to trial. The letter itself was in the hands of the defendant and the man to whom it was written was also in court, and no such words or phrases as those complained of were iq it, and the case would have lasted about two seconds after it got started.

Then one of the other cases was called for trial, notwithstanding the fact that the alleged prosecuting witness was not in court and had notified the prosecuting attorney and Halleck of the republican machine—who has boasted that he would keep after us until he drove us out of business—that he would not appear and asked that the cases be dismissed. The defendant’s witnesses were in court and the case went to trial, Abe Halleck directing and assisting in the prosecution. As he is neither a prosecutor nor a deputy prosecutor and if ever the attorney for the alleged prosecuting witness had been notified by said witness that he, the said witness, wanted the cases dismissed, and Halleck had telegraphed said witness long ago that might appear, to the uninitiated what personals interest Abe had in the matter. \ The defenseyin this case was so full and complete that practically everyone thought the Jury would not be out more than five minutes. What was their surprise when it remained out all night long and till ten o’clock next day, when, being unable to agree, it was discharged, and the case will have to be re-tried according to Halleck et al, who propose to push it as far as possible. ___ , Now comes the interesting part of the disagreement: The jury, which we understand was wholly republican, stood 11 to 1 for complete acquittal, and could have returned such a verdict in no time had it not been for one juror from Lake township who hung out. Incidentally, the eleven Jurors were not in a very pleasant frame of mind over being kept out all night, and this condition was not cooled down any when it was later learned that the solitary juror who had. caused the disagreement was an uncle of Abe Halleck, the fellow who had directed the entire prosecution. The question of relationship had not been asked when the jury was examined, but this will not be overlooked at any future trials, the reader may rest assured. All the pending cases were continued for the term. The slaughter on prices is now on in the Hotel Rosey block. The largest lne of chinaware, glassware, Jardiniere, dishes of every description, at 50 cents on the dollar, The sale will last all next week.

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Vol-XI No i

HIS IDENTITY IS LOST

Object Lesson Showing the Necessity of Keeping All Birth Records Accurately. •' . t ■AN DOESN’T KNOW HIS NAIUt Wants Help to Find Out Who Ha Is, bat tbe Records Don't Tail— Indiana Notes. , * Indianapolis, April 2. A pathetic case of “lost Identity” Is cited by Dr. Charles A. Carter, clerk of the city board of health, as pointing to the absolute necessity of correct and careful birth and death returns. The case was called to his attention by a letter addressed to tbe city clerk, it was written by a young man in New Bedford, Mass., giving his name as Herbert Morgan, “or Fisher,” who wishes Information as to bis own birth and tbe Identity of his own parents. The young man writes that be was born in Indianapolis in September or October. 1883, and that his father’s name was Fisher. “They say that iny own father," be writes, “died Just before I was born, and my mother just after, although I do not know.” Adopted When an lnfhat. The letter says that the tiny child, bereft of both parents, was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. M. ML Morgan, of Crawfordsville, both of whom are now dead, bat that thewriter does not know whether he was ever legally adopted by the Morgans or not A foster brother, Harry Morgan, he aaya, lives at Indianapolis now, “but he says he knows nothing about my parents,” the letter addsj “I was taken to the Morgan family by a woman that said her name was Mrs. McGUleard, and she told tbe Morgans that my mother had Just died and that she was not able to care for me.” Wants to Know His Own Name. He concludes bis letter by the statement that he -wishes to ascertain if he ■was ever legally adopted by the Morgans and that, if be finds he was not, he will take bis own name, Fisher. Dr. Carter has made a diligent search of tbe birth and death records of the time given of tbe young man’s birth, but they shed little light. He finds several births of children whose parents’ name was Fisher, but tbe fact that the first names of children born were not returned to tlie health board until very recently makes the knowledge that the boy’s first name is Herbert of no value. Can Anybody Give Facts? Lack of other details make the search almost hopeless unless Dr. Carter can get information from some one acquainted with the Morgan or the Fisher family’s history, and he is hoping that the attention called to the matter may bring about some such result.

SURE THING. “COWIN' OR GOIN' ’’ Twang Woman Who Can’t Well Miss Spending a Winter at the National Capital. Indianapolis, April 2. —Miss Blanche Good is sure of spending a winter In Washington as a membejjof a congress, man’s family. Her father, Dr. Good, of Warren, Ind., is Republican candidate for congress in the Twelfth district, and her fiance, George Ranch, of Marion, will oppose him. Rauch is a candidate for re-election. 4 For twelve years Dr. Good has beea fighting for the Republican nomination, and now be has won it. During those twelve years Miss Good has prayed for her father’s success. In the meantime she also succumbed to Cupid's dart. Her friends are wondering if sbe, like Desdemona, will “perceive a divided duty.” His Last Day In Any Employment. Lafayette, Ind., April 2. Alien M. Young, lineman, in the employ of the Central Union Telephone company, met death in a mysterious manner. He was working at the top of a telephone pole. He was seen to fall and was picked up dead. The day was to have been his last day in the employ of the company. The coroner has been unable to account for his death so far. Aged Woman Throws Off the Grip. 1 Terre Haute, Ind., April 2.—Mrs. Martha Howard, widow of TUghman A. Howard, tbe noted Indiana political leader and lawyer of the first half of the last century, who is now living at the age of ninety-sht years with her daughter-in-law, is improving, following an attack of the grip. Her complete recovery is thought to Jj m 55sored. Seems to Run in the Hlnod. ■ Shelby villP, lad.. April 2.—rlt Is a: Id that Chris Huber, who committed suicide at his home at Waldrou by biking strychnine, is not the only member* of the family thus ending life. Hfc» father committed suicide several year* ago by hanging, and big brother also killed himself. 1