Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 May 1909 — A TEMPEST IN A TEAPOT. [ARTICLE]

A TEMPEST IN A TEAPOT.

A couple of weeks ago an item appeared in. The Democrat regarding Arthur Gilbert, a baker from Fowler, who had been hired ny the Little Gem bakery and who, after one or two days, left town between two suns without making any explanation. The item, had it been seen by the editor, would have been pruned a little, but since it appeared and has provoked the following comment from the Fowler and brought forth an absolute denial from both Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert, we have taken the trouble to investigate a little, the result of which follows the newspaper comment: Fowler Leader: The article in the Jasper County Democrat concerning Arthur Gilbert needs fixing. Mrs. Gilbert frequently visits her husband in Fowder and he frequently visits her in Rensselaer. Mrs. Gilbert owed a duty to her mother and is fulfilling that duty. j Fowler Republican: The above Item is an example of the way In I which a story grows with telling. The young man referred to is Art Gilbert. The trouble he had with his wife occurred five or six years ago, but she was not tied to the bed or slashed with a knife. That there is nothing in the story Is evidenced by the fact that Mrs. Gilbert visits her husband here and will be here again next wee!. And the Monticello Herald says: Mrs. Ella Hancock, the Herald’s correspondent at Monon, Informs us that the clipping from the Jasper County Democrat In reference to Arthur Gilbert was false and that Mrs. Gilbert has written to the I Democrat asking a correction. Mrs. Hancock says: “We wish, In behalf of Mrs. Eva Gilbert, to refute the charge In regard to her former husband Arthur (filbert. He was accused of tying her to the bed and slashing her with a butcher knife because she refused to give him money she received from her former husband's death. Mr. Gilbert was not guilty of any such conduct, as jhls wife will testify, and at her request we wish tl*e article rectified. How such Infamous reports get a' 'start Is a mystery.”

Now Mrs. Gilbert resides in Monon, not in Rensselaer, and a newspaper publisher can not have personal

knowledge of every thing that transpires or is published in his paper, but must rely largely upon others for what information he gets. The statements concerning this man Gilbert Were made by former citizens of Monon, reputable people, and the writer of the item tells us that he believed them to be true. The story as told to him was that because of his wife’s refusal to give him money, damages received from her former husband s death—who was killed by the Monon railroad—he had tied her to a bedpost and slashed her clothing nearly all oft of her with a butcherknife. Whether the story was correct in all details we do not know, but there was at least enough truth in it to justify the parties concerned in keeping still rather than rushing into print in an unqualified denial.

The story, in substance, as it appeared in The Democrat has since been told to us, with further additions, and while in Monticello on business Wednesday we took the trouble to investigate Mr. Gilbert’s record.

We found that Arthur Gilbert and Eva Harness were married April 28, 1906, and that the following April Mrs. Gilbert filed a suit for divorce in tfie White circuit court, charging various cruelties, among which was that Gilbert had frequently cursed her and called her vile names, had struck her on at least two different occasions—one being April 9, 1907 and on the same date he went to plaintiff’s wardrobe and took several of her dresses therefrom and tore them into shreds, etc., etc. Nonsupport was also charged in this complaint •of Mrs. Gilbert. They separated April 9, 1907, the complaint states.

Order Book 52, page 252, of the court records of White county of the proceedings of the April term for May 3, 1907, states that defendant did not appear and that a divorce was granted plaintiff, and the court used the following language: And the court being duly advised in the premises finds for the plaintiff, that the allegations of her complaint are true, and that she should be divorced from the defendant.”

The records in the sheriff’s office of White county show that Arthur Gilbert was convicted of assault and battery April 9, 1907, by Squire Fuller of Monon and was fined $25 and costs, a total of $42.30; that he was committed to the White county jail April 10, 1907, and served 42 days, being discharged May 21, 1907—the 30 cents seems to have been thrown off, perhaps for good behavior.

The complaint and the evidence are in the hands of Squire Fuller in Monon, and we do not know the person upon whom the specific charge of assault and battery was committed, but in view of the charge made in the divorce complaint, where Gilbert struck his wife April 9, one would infer that it was Mrs. Gilbert. Twenty-five dollars is an unusually severe fine to administer for plain assault and battery, and it is evident the court felt that it was an aggravated case, to administer so heavy a fine.

So, in view of the facts, it would seem that silence would have been the better policy in this case, instead of attempting to make The Democrat out an unqualified liar. If Gilbert did not tie his wife to a bedpost and. slash her clothes off with a butcherknife, as reported, he did very evidently—or to the court’s satisfaction at least—treat her most cruelly, tear her clothing to bits and serve 42 days in jail for assault and battery, presumably upon a weak, defenseless woman, who had but recently become a mother, and one whom he less than a year before had sworn to love, honor and protect.

The Democrat doesn't know either Gilbert or his former wife—whom the Fowler papers state visits him frequently and has no interest what-' ever in their affairs, but it does object to being branded as a barefaced liar by these people or by the newspapers quoted above. If the above ’ fixing” meets with Bro. Carr's approval we trust to his sense of honor to set The Democrat right before the people of Fowler and vicinity.