Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 97, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 March 1912 — INDIANA STATE NEWS. [ARTICLE]

INDIANA STATE NEWS.

LAFAYETTE—Fred Hix, who was arrested here on the charge of robbing several railroad stations within the past few months, will be sent back to the Jeffersonville reformatory. He was sentenced- from Crawfordsville to a term of two to fourteen years for grand larceny, he having robbed an express office at New Ross. He had served three years and then paroled. In another month his parole would have expired! and he would have been free. Hix admitted to the police that he was the man who broke loose from the marshal at Battle Ground the night the Monon stations at Battle Ground, Chalmers and Brookston were robbed. While not admitting committing the chain of railroad station robberies attached to him, the police say he is the man who also burglarized stations at Crawfordsville, Westpoint, Clark's Hill. Hillsburg and other points. ANDERSON—John Pritchard, fourteen years of age, the sen of Superintendent of Police J. H. Pritchard, shot and killed a rare waterfowl which local zoologists have not yet been able to classify. The boy was on his way to Moss Island, when he saw the strange bird placidly floating on the surface of White river. He stopped at a farmhouse, borrowed a rifle, and succeeded in dispatching the strange bird at the first shot. His dog, which always accompanies the boy, immediately plunged into the icy water and brought the bird ashore. The strange fowl is snow white, except for a small yellow spot on each wing, and measures four feet from tip to tip of its wings. Its feet are webbed, and it has all the accessories of a waterfowl. It is believed to b.e a native of the extreme far north, and it is thought the bird ventured this far south only because of the recent extremely cold weather.

INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana now has 130,000 farmers, according to K. W. Perley, salesman for the binder twine department of the state prison at Michigan City, who is staying at the Oneida hotel for a few days. The estimate on the number of farmers is based on a census completed by Mr. Perley and the names of the farmers will be used in conducting the sale of twine from factory direct to consumer. The seusus includes farmers who either own or operate farms, and is exclusive of hired help. The census was obtained by Mr. Perley from tax schedules. The plan of selling binder twine direct to the farmers will result in an increase in the number of prisoners detailed to that industry at the state prison, the salesman says.

ANDERSON The many members of the state executive committee of the Elks lodge in Madison county are busy making arrangements for the state convention to be held in this city May 22-24. Ex. Ruler Foresman of MunIce lodge has appointed the following “Boosting” committee in his lodge to further the advancement of the state reunion: Messrs. F. L. Wachtell, Charles Emerson. Harry Gullett, Jerry Keever and Ross Boone. Muncie is coming to the state reunion in force, and will be accompanied by a band.. LAFAYETTE— After listening to a most pitiful plea of a heartbroken mother. Judge DeHart, i»~th£..juvenile court, ordered Orville Irons, eight years old, brought back from the Julia Work Industrial school and restored to his mother, Mrs. Minnie Irons. The child was taken from the mother a year ago on complaint of the board of children’s guardians. Mrs. Irons convinced the court the information was false, and that she was a proper person to haye the -custody of the boy. PERU James F. Perry’s general merchandise store at Amboy, together with its contents, was destroyed by fire, entailing a loss of $15,000, with SII,OOO insurance. The origin is not known. This makes six stores and stocks, all valued at $90,000, burned in the same block within the last six years. Only two of the original buildings are still standing. SHELBYVILLE - Clarence Goodrich, ten years of age, a son of Bert Goodrich, was ground to death by the Wihte City special on the Big Four. He jumped from a freight train on which he and a score of boys were stealing a ride and was caught by the passenger train. NOBLESVILLE Raymond, sixteen months old the son of Charles Eshman, was fatally burned by the explosion of a celluloid comb which the child was carrying in his hand.” The comb caught fire from a stove around which the child was playing. TERRE HAUTE— Freeman Martin sixteen years old, and his chum, Chester Byers, ten years old, were killed) at Coal Bluff, Ind., when they jumped froin one freight train, on which they were stealing a ride, in front of another. MITCHELL William L. Stevens, forty-seven years of age, living southeast of this city, on his farm, committed suicide by taking carbolic acid. No cause is known for the act rhe widow survives. , TERRE HAUTE Because of quent quarrels with his wile, Rtan. ley Lewis became despondent a*d shot himself in her