Rensselaer Journal, Volume 12, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 March 1903 — INDIANA STATE NEWS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

INDIANA STATE NEWS

FORWARDS MONEY IN A LETTER Ten Thousand Dollars Goes Through the Dead Letter Office. William G. Price, a liveryman of Lafayette, has received *slo,ooo from the estate of W. C. Lewis, an uncle, who died some months ago in Shelbyville, Cal. The bulk of the estate, valued at $50,000, went to William Reiner of Burr Oak, Kan. The letter containing the news was written by the administrator several weeks ago, and was forwarded to several cities before it was sent to the dead letter office at Washington, having been unclaimed. There it was opened and the government made a new efTort to locate Price. He was found at Lafayette and has received the money. END OF THE GROCERS’ TRUST. Bluffton Dealers Have Begun to Reduce Prices. For several years Bluffton grocers have had an agreement as to the retail prices of butter, eggs and canned goods, and the agreement was commonly referred to as “the grocers' trust." Recently one of the members of the combination began cutting prices on flour, canned goods and other articles, and others followed. A price war that threatens to be disastrous to small dealers is predicted. r ■ 1 LAY BOY’S CRIME TO- NOVELS. Reports of Earl Woods’ Shooting Show Effect of Trashy Stories. Since the death of Earl Woods, the Frankfort boy wbo shot his mother,

father and grandfather and then himself, it has been discovered that he had threatened to murder his school teacher. It is said he was incited to bloody deeds by reading trashy novels. * Accidents to Miners. William Taylor, a driver at Oak Hill mine, near Clinton, fell from his wagon, badly crushing his leg and hip and will probably die. By an explosion in a mine, a foreigner was badly burned. Harry Andersm, another miner, was kicked by a mule and had his shoulder blade broken. At mine No. 5, Peter Newkirk had hm hand crushed by a lump of coal. Recovers Bonus. Judge Ely of the Pike Circuit court gave the city of Washington a verdict of $2,72t>.2() against the Collier Shovel Company. Several years ago the city gave the company a bonus for bringing its factory io the place, and in the event it was taken away, the bonus, with interest, was to revert to the city. The plant was taken to Hammond, and the city brought suit for the money. Kills Gas Deal. The Newcastle city council refused to grant an ordinance for the use ot meters unless 2 per cent of the gross earnings be paid into the city treasury, and as a consequence the deal for the transfer of the Enterprise Gas Company to W. A. Browii and W. F. Skelly of Grant county is declared off. Drinks Lye. Henry Becker of Logansport drank a cup of concentrated lye, thinking it was coffee, A physician saved bis life, but he is in a serious condition. Dog Tax Pays for Sheep. . More than $2,000 worth of sheep were killed by dogs in Delaware county last year. The dog tax collected is used to reimburse owners of the sheep. Falls From Tree. Buford Banta, a wealthy farmer west of Logansport, fell from a tree while pruning his orchard and may die as a result of his injuries. Many Join Church. A revival meeting which had been in progress at Ireland for six weeks closed after bringing into the church over a hundred new members. Got Free Transportation. Two pedestrians reached Paoli from Crawford county, j They had heard that free transportation could be had from Paoli to California. After making inquiry they were convinced the report was a joke and they walked back home. Dog Commits Suicide. Because Calvin Breaks, a farmer near Crawfordsville, would not allow bis pet dog ‘‘Sport” to follow him to the home of a sick friend, the dog hanged himself in the forks of a tree.

LOCKED IN AND LOCKED OUT Jail Officers Could Not Get to Prisoners in Kokomo Jail. Supper was served to the prisoners In the county jail at Kokomo through the bars of the outside windows. The big door to the cage was securely locked and no one in Kokomo knew the combination. Fred Applegate, former deputy sheriff, was brought in from his home in the country. He was the only man in Howard county who knew the combination and he unlocked the door. The turnkey was experimenting and accidentally turned the combination, locking the door. The prisoners were locked in. and the jail officials were locked out. FARMER RUINS THE BARROOM. Drives Owner Away, Demolishes Fixtures and Empties Beer. Armed with beer bottles as weapons, Daniel O’Connor, a well-to-do. farmer of White county, entered the saloon of Leonard Burton of Royal Center demolished the fixtures, drove Burton from his place of business and emptied the contents of several kegs of beer on the floor. O’Connor was angered because he had been ejected from the saloon by Burton. Burton swore out an affidavit against O’Conner. Claims Breach of Contract. Robert Karr of Illinois has brought suit against D. J. Kimmel, one of the wealthiest land owners of Clinton county, for $7,000 damages. Kimmel sold his farm for $31,000, Karr paying $2,000 down. Since then land values have increased, and Kimmel refused to sign the deed. He says the property is worth $7,000 more than when it was sold. Accidents to Miners. Clarence Marion, a miner, was caught under a cage at the Buckskin mines, in Gibson county, and crushed to death, while his companion, named Smith, was so badly injured that me will die. William Bottoms, employed in a mine near Winslow, was killed by falling slate. Finds $20,000. W. A. Allen, a saloon keeper of Hammond, found a bundle of securities and negotiable paper valued at $20,000 hidden away between the refrigerator and a closet in his saloon. The papers were stolen last January from State Senator Lundgren of Chicago. May Get Big Factory. A proposition has been made by Harding Sons & Co., of Rochester, N. Y., to remove their factory to Marion, provided citizens will take $20,000 worth of stock and pay the expenses of moving. The factory will employ about 300 people.

Sues for Damages. Louis McMains of Crawfordsville, who was acquitted on the charge of •embezzling funds of the Interstate Life Assurance Company of Indianapolis has filed suit for SIO,OOO damages against the company and A. J. Heliker, who caused his arrest. Unusual Accident. Otto Stafford of Elwood, forty-two years old, was standing near a railroad siding when a switch engine passed, knocking down a water pipe, which struck Stafford on the head, fracturing his skull so that he may die. Teacher Resigns. Prof. M. W. Harrison has resigned as superintendent of the Wabash public schools, a position he has held for eighteen years. He will be succeeded by Miss Adelaide Baylor, principal of the high school. Sawmill Accident. Ora Stevenson, employed in the sawmill of Charles Lewis, east of Paoli, had his arm cut off by a saw. He is in a serious condition. Robbers Get S7O. Robbers broke into the postoffice at Lena, a small mining town, and stole about SSO in stamps and S2O in cash, together with some jewelry. Object to Uniforms. The dining room girls °at the Meredith hotel, Washington, are on strike because they were ordered to wear uniforms and caps. Dies From Ulcerated Tooth. Albert lieiden, 29 years old, died suddenly at his home in Chesterton from blood -poisoning caused by an ulcerated tootii. Lockjaw Attacks Two. Henry Klein and son William of Evansville are in a serious condition from lockjaw, both being hurt in a sawmill. Conquers Bell Company. The Bell Telephone Company, which put in its service in Clay City two years ago in opposition to the Home Telephone Company, has cut oft its service, havipg lost $4,000 in the venture.' Shoots an Eagle. James Leap shot a gray eagle north of Danville, the bird measuring seven feet nine inches from tip to tip, and weighing thirteen and one-half pounds. He sold it to an Indianapolis man for 15.