Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 97, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 March 1916 — MURDER MYSTERY FOR WHITING POLICE [ARTICLE]

MURDER MYSTERY FOR WHITING POLICE

Corpse of Peter Coprito Found With Head Crushed. WATCHMAN IS FOUND DEAD Body of Watchman for a Railroad I* Found With the Head Beaten to a Pulp—Motive and Clues Missing, Whiting—The police were confronted with a murder mystery when the corpse of Peter Coprito, a watchman for the Pennsylvania railway, living at Indiana Harbor, was found behind bis shanty near the Standard Oil works. His skull was beaten to a pulp with some instrument, and Coroner H. Timm said the body had been dead for several hours. An Iron crowbar covered with blood was near the body. The motive for the crime and any clues to the murder are missing. Auto Bandit* Sentenced. Indianapolis.—Four youthful auto bandits who were foiled in an attempt to rob a South side grocery recently were sentenced in criminal court here to long terms. Ray Davl* goes to the state prison at Michigan City and Victor Mabrey, Michael Hale and Elisha Lamantress to the Jeffersonville reformatory. The sentences are from five to fourteen years. Ben Caldwell, the grocer, opened fire on the bandits when they entered his place and ordered him to put up his hands Clint Chaney Plead* Guilty. .Marion.—Clint Chaney, who was brought back here from Terre Haute on a charge of embezzlement, pleaded guilty before Judge JF. Paulus of having appropriated funds of the Mississinewa Motorcycle com- ‘ pany. Chaney returned $65 to the club. Miss Fern Chaney, his sister, : assisted him In paying the money, j Judge Paulus fined Chaney SSO and ! suspended sentence of from two to four years to the state reformatory. Afraid to Give Alarm. Frankfort.—Four men burglarized rhe Sheffier .'. partmerit store. Say- | lor jewelry store. r 'hittick bakery I and grocery end the Monon depot at ■ Rossville, ten miles north of here. They escaped with several hundred dollars Henry Lynch, a stock food ; salesman, who sleeps in his wagon, saw the men at work jimmying the doors of the buildings, but was so I frightened be remained tn the wagon ' until they had gone. In Search of Husband. South Bend - Realizing that she is i hear death and can live only a short time. Mrs Irving Dutcher of Buffalo. N Y , has through friends instituted a search for her husband in northern Indiana Dutcher is a traveling -salesman, and disappeared several weeks ago. When his wife last beard from him he was in South Bend, tn route to Fort Wayne.

Vandalia Brakeman Killed. Fort Wayno.—D G Balzer vs Ld-gan.-port employed as a brakeman on the Vandalia railroad, was crushed t:« death between cars in the Pennsylvania freight yards here as his train was preparing to depart on its run to Logansport He was about thirty years oldFined for Attack. Tipton.- Fred Fellows was Shed $-5 for assault On L! >yd Lee several weeks' ago. Fellows, with several r jmpatdons. was charged with attacking Lee as he left Evergreen church, north of here I>e was badly beaten and One rib was broken. Oil Lamp Starts Fire. WludfaL —The .-vrlosior of a ccai ci! lamp caused a fire which destroyed Mrs. Scphrona Laws,n's livery- barn here and her son’s he’:se, adjoining the barn. Greensburg Goes Wet. Greensburg.—By a majority ts 173 Greensburg is again wet terltory. The election was the hardestfought campaign between wets and drys this city has ever seen. Wdl Have Baby Show. Lafayette.—Th° Lafayette' Mothers' club has decided to have a baby show at the vocational school here March 15-18. during the celebration of Baby week. W. H. Quick Dies Anderson.—William Henr y Han Ison Quick, seventv-seven, banker and manufacturer, died following an attack or heart trouble. Widow Gets Award. . Indianapolis.—The state Industrial board awarded Mrs. Mary Borga of Gary $10.50 a week for 300 weeks and slG€- funeral expenses for the death of her husband, which occurred at the Illinois Steel company recently. Train Kills Youth. Laporte.—Harry Nelson, eighteen. In attempting to beard a train, fell under the w heels and was fatallv InJ nrod. He died while on the train which was taking him to a hospital in Logansport.