Rensselaer Republican, Volume 25, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 December 1892 — INDIANA STATE NEWS. [ARTICLE]

INDIANA STATE NEWS.

Goshen is overrun with crooks. Rushville threatens its gamblers. Evansville had a heavy snow storm on the 9th. William Ramsey, aged eighty, of near Sunman, Ripley county, was attacked and bitten to death by a hog Thursday. Andrew Ferrad, of Prescott, while walking on the railway track, was overtaken and killed by a Big Four train. Huntington county wants to be placed in a separate Judicial district, and Grant county demands to be freed from Black* ford. The treasurer of Madison county is again stirring up the Midland Railway Company for delinquent taxes, and several locomotives have been levied upon. The postoffice at Cope will be abandoned December 13. This office pays less than it costs to run it. The postmaster, shortly after the election sent in his resignation, setting out the disadvantages, and it was accepted with the above result. There have been 488 cases of diphtheria reported to the Terre Haute Board of Health since the latter part of August, with ninety-five deaths, and a few weeks ago two of the schools closed down temporaraily.. Markleville is without a saloon. Several have been opened in that village, but the sentiment against the liquor traffic is so pronounced that usually they are shortlived. If not starved out, then the torch seems to have been applied with consuming effect. Cal Husselman, the populist candidate for Congress in the DeKalb district, taking umbrage at remarks made during the campaign, hunted up editor Little, of that county, and thrashed him. Husselman will be tried at Angola. Frank Forrest, Boonville man, who was arrested by the Federal authorities for forging money orders, was identified largely because be could not spell. He attracted special attention to his forged paper by spelling the name of State’s capital “Indianopolis.” His letters were signed “Very Respectifully.” The Connor-Starke slander suit, tried at Greencastle on change of venue from Montgomery county, resulted in a verdict of $1,000 for plaintiff. It was a compromise verdict, some of the jurors standing out for the full measure of the claim. Miss Emma Connor, the plaintiff, is the school teacher near Ladoga, who was advertised far and wide in 1891 because of her plucky defense of the national colors, which had been cut down by Starke, one of the patrons of the school. Tills drew upon her the venomous tongue of the defendant, who made free with her good name, and accused her of scandalous conduct with one of her pupils, a boy thirteen year sold. The plaintiff is thirty-five. The teacher then instituted suit for damages, and Starke took a change of venue, claiming he could not get justice in Montgomery county. Three days were occupied in the trial. The plaintiff is the daughter of a dead Union soldier; Starke is a Bourbon Democrat. The greatest sensation ever known in business and social circles of Clinton came out Monday, it was learned that William R. Blanford, one of Clinton’s prominent and popular business men, and implement and stock dealer, had left for parts unknown. He left last Thursday, but no suspicion was raised about it, as it was announced that he had gone to Indianapolis on business. It has since developed that he took a hasty flight to avoid arrest for forgery and the hypothecation of a large number of notes. His business has totally collapsed and is in the hands of the sheriff, including a large implement store and a livery stable. His liabilities will amount to $20,000, and the accounts and goods on hand will not pay over 20 cents on the dollar. He had left a large number of notes on the farmers of this vicinity at the bank. Nearly all have been raised in various sums, some from $18 to 218, and others from smal amounts to $600. The amount inyolved in this hypothecation is not definitely known, but it is enormous. Monday a great many farm ers came in to attest their notes, and great excitement prevailed when they discovered the trick by which they had been victimized. The bank is supposed to lose some, but is generally believed to be safe His father will lose $8,000. County Auditor Hamilton loses $1,250. Outside manufacturers will lose from $500 to $2,000. Blanford had a bold, energetic manner that won him many friends, and he was a prominent leader in all social matters, being a member of the Masons, Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias. He was treasurer of the latter society, and has absconded with the funds, some $200 He is known to have had a large sum of money with him when he left. He is supposed to have gone to Mexico. A reward of $1,200 is offered for his capture. The immediate cause of his downfall was the loss of nearly $2,000, which he bet on the election. He took money from his business and was unable to recover.