Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 76, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 December 1916 — State Happenings [ARTICLE]

State Happenings

FORT BRANCH IN A PANIC Discovery of a Case of Leprosy Causes Great Excitement in the Village— David Bayer Contracted Disease in Panama. Evansville.- —The. entire village of Fort Branch was thrown into a panic when an Indianapolis health officer returned here Secretly with David Bayer, sixty-nine, who was declared by Indianapolis physicians to be suffering from leprosy. A few’ weeks ago Bayer joined the Methodist'church and was given a handshaking welcome. Local authorities plan to slaughter all cats In the town, to quarantine Bayer, his aged wife and daughter and deliver supplies to the house. Bayer contracted the disease in Panama.