Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 December 1898 — INDIANA INCIDENTS. [ARTICLE]

INDIANA INCIDENTS.

RECORD OF EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK. Tragedy at a Church Door—States Prison for a Farmer Who Swindled His Daughter—Policeman Shoots a Boy—Young Skater Drowned. Robert Moore, a farmer living five miles east of Hazleton, sjiot and mortally wounded two brothers' of the name of Decker. Paris Decker called Moore from the village church, and Moore, as soon as he reached the door, drew a revolver and shot Decker in the back, following it with a second shot, which took effect in the man’s stomach. Charles, a brother of Paris, assisted by others, took the revolver away from Moore, who immediately drew a second pistol and mortally wounded Charles in the left breast. The trouble arose over the question of fencing the church property, and bad blood has existed between the three men for some time past. Farmer Swindles His Daughter. Isaac Pennington, a wealthy and respected farmer of Sims township, was sentenced to the penitentiary for two years, after being found guilty of embezzlement. The prosecuting witness was Pennington's daughter, who swore that her mother, who is dead, willed her S7OO. that her father used the money while holding it in trust, that he had married two years after the death of her mother and that the S7OO was used to purchase a farm, which he deeded to his second wife. Boy Killed for Snowballing. Charles Tracey, aged 17, was shot and killed by Timothy O’Connor, custodian of Greenlawn cemetery at Indianapolis. A party of boys led by Tracey were snowballing passers-by, when O’Connor warned them to desist. The boys turned their attention to O’Connor, and he chased them, revolver in hand, firing two shots, as he asserts, into the air. One of the bullets struck Tracey in the side, killing him instantly. Boy Skater Found in the Ice. Will Jasorke, 14 years old. was drowned while skating near Logansport. His body was-found the next day. He broke through the ice about six miles from there in Eel river. His hands were torn, and the rough ice around him gave evidence of a terrible struggle for life. Blinded While Coughing. Frank Jackley of Frankton lost his sight while in a paroxysm of coughing. One of the blood vessels of the optic nerves was broken and he went stone blind. There is no hope of recovery of hia sight.

Within Our Borders. Chicago capitalists are being interested in an effort to establish a plate-glass factory at Marion. A. F. Wilden of Goshen failed, with $30,000 liabilities and $120,600 assets. Depreciation in real estate values caused the failure. Township Trustee Henry Ross was instantly killed by being struck by the Pittsburg fast train while crossing the tracks near Inwood. The second disastrous fire within a month visited Brownstown, destroying the Benton block and a Building owned by Mrs. Clara Stillwell. At Terre Haute, the City Council hasp adopted a resolution to exempt from taxation for five years any manufacturing firm that will move to the city. James M. Addington, a farmer near Ridgeville, attempted to drill a gas well for use of himself and neighbors, but instead struck a vein of oil which yields ten barrels daily. Ephraim Keigwein, the matrimonial magistrate who had a soft spot in his heart for eloping couples, is dead at Jeffersonville, aged 07 years. He expired from Bright's disease. At Marion, May Powell, aged 15, coniniitted suicide by taking Rough on Rats. Iler parents were divorced some time ago, and the father married again. The girl’s life had been very unhappy. Ephraim Dollins. a prominent Franklin farmer, took a load of stock to Indianapolis recently, and, after disposing of it, disappeared. He is thought to have had considerable money with him. Alfred Garver, engineer of the Bash Packing Company at Fort Wayne, was killed by being caught in n revolving belting and hurled against a brick wall. Nearly every bone in his body was broken. Tin- remains of a tramp, who, it is thought, was frozen to death, were found in a barn near New Albany. . From a memorandum found in his pocket it is supposed his name was Thomas 11. Seeds of Chicago. At New Albany, Joseph Smith, arrested on a charge of killing John King at Minonk, 111., was released, after he had threatened to institute habeas corpus proceedings. The officers were convinced they had the wrong man. Robbers attempted to blow open the safe in Byerly A Elrod’s general store at Pekin. ’The safe did not yield to the charge of powder, but a big hole was blown In the floor and tin- windows were shattered. A small sum was taken from the cash drawer. Sergeant Corregan of the Indianapolis police force rescued an entire family, ranging in age from 2 to 50, and two guests from a burning residence. The fire broke out at 3 o’clock in tlw morning ami he had them all out before the fire department arrived. The thermometer marked N degrees below zero.' The smoke had nearly suffocated them, but by the aid of ladders and window shutters, and by currying out the children, not a life was lost. A rabbit weighing eighteen pounds and 4 feet’ <1 inches long was killed near Sellersburg. The rim, stock ami drying rooms of the Standard Wheel Works plant at Terre Haute were almost totally destroyed by fire, entailing a loss of about s2<>,(M)o. The main buildings were not damaged, and work will be resumed in a few days. The total loss is covered by insurance. Three rich men have gi<en $55,000 to raise the mortgage on the Presbyterian summer school at Winona Lake. ’Die money was paid to the treasurer of th* board of directors of Winona assembly. Its donors are John M: Studebaker, Thomas Kane and Alexander McDonald of Cincinnati.