Rensselaer Journal, Volume 10, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 February 1901 — FOUND UNDER A BOX CAR. [ARTICLE]

FOUND UNDER A BOX CAR.

An Indiana Senator’s Peculiar Experience at Lee last Saturday. Last Saturday morning, at 4 o’clock, at Lee, Senator Nathan L. Agnew, of Valparaiso, in a somnambulistic state, walked off the platform of the Monon train, leaving Indianapolis at midnight. At six o’clock he was found tinder a freight car on a switch atthat station. He was taken to the house of the agent there and properly cared for. Although his toes were frozen from the exposure to the cold, the Senator being clad only in his nightrobe, he was able to go home Saturday afternoon. It was not till 8 o’clock that the injured man became concious and gave hiss name. He said that he had taken thd Monon midnight train for Chicago, and had no recollection of now he got off the train nor under the freight car, where he was found. He was not seriously injured.

Mr. Agnew, when found, had on nothing but his night robe, but in this exposed condition had lain under the car for two hours. An exauiina tion disclosed tbat his toes were frozen, but as far as could be ascertained he had no other bodily injuries save severe bruises. T- J. McCoys of Rensselaer, went to Lee on the eleven o’clock train with a new outfit of 3’othes for the Senator and remained with him until 3 o 4 clock in the after noon. Mr. Agnew says that on leaving Indianapolis he disrobed and immediately sought his berth, and has no recollection of any circumstances after that, until he came to, in the home of the station agent. The train took a siding at Lee and it is presumed Mr. Agnew walked off the train while it was at a standstill.

Senator Nathan L. Agnew is a holdover, having been elected to represent Lake and Porter counties in the fall of 1898. His home is at Valparaiso, where he has practised law many years. He was born at Versailles, Ripley county, in 1850, was reared on a farm and educated in the public sohooh. He was married in 1871 to Miss Sarah E. Allen. In 1883 he was married to Miss Catherine L. Nolan, his present wife. Senator Agnew is a recognized leader in the Legislature. Such is his reputation for being on the right side of a question that his vote often carries with it many of those that hesitate. His name is first on the roll. He is the author of the antitrust bill. Friday he stood up for the valued policy bill. He believes the insurance combination is injurious to the people and that the valued policy would alleviate the injury. He is watchful to prevent a committee from smothering a bill. If he thinks that improper influences have been brought to bear by lobbyists he almost invariably makes a speech insisting that the bill be printed, although the majority report of a committee is against it. He gives the impression of being in dead earnest about his anti-trust bill, although he says he will stand by the Republican caucus if it decides against it. He is chairman of the Seriate Committee on Federal Relations arid Rights and Privileges and of the Committee on Constitutional Revision.

He is chairman of the Special Senate Committee appointed to investigate the Woman’s Prison and Girls’ Industrial School management. This committee held a meeting Friday which did not adjourn until after 10 o’clock and shortly thereafter the Senator took a train for his home at Valparaiso.

We heard a new argument against woman taking the places and doing the work of men. A farmer’s wife was in the habit of helping her husband in the field and therefore was out raking hay one day, not like Maud Muller, but she used a horse hayrake. Her foot got caught in the rake and was injured so it cost the man quite a doctor bill. If women can’t keep their feet out of trouble, of course they ought not to assume to do a man’s work.

Senator Wood introduced a bill that provides that whoever on account of a belief in the teachings of Christian science or religion, shall with hold medical aid from any dependent person in their charge at a time when such person is sick of any disease, and such failure to give medical treatment results in death, shall be deemed guilty of a felony and upon conviction shall be imprisoned in the state prison not less than two or more than twen-ty-one years.