Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 150, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 January 1904 — RECORD OF THE WEEK [ARTICLE]

RECORD OF THE WEEK

INDIANA INCIDENTS TERSELY TOLD. Sister Accuses Brother of Fraud nt I unernl of I other—Constable’s Aid Convicted of Manslatightci—Thieves Rob Coat Cars and Sell to Poor. . According to reports from Poplar Grove there was it sensational scene at the funeral of Jacob Harness, an Octogenarian. who died a few days ago. Deceased was once wealthy, but gave his property Io his children. At the open grave it is alleged lliat Mrs. Easier Barker, a daughter, turned on her brother, Solomon Harness, and bitterly accused the brother of getting their father drunk and forcing him to deed all his property to Solomon and George Harness, then taking him to the poorhouse. Friends tried to quiet the. woman, but she refused to be sUonced and continued her tirade until exhausted. It is claimed that Jacob Harness bin! property amounting to $60,000 which he turned over to The sons. The Harness brothers frequently have been threatened with whitecapping for neglect of their father. and for months there has been great excitement iu-t-heneigliborliood; ——

Constable’s Aid Guilty. In Slielbyville the jury returned a verdict of manslaughter against Ola B. Powers, which means a sentence of from two to twenty-oneyears. Oct. 10 Powers iwoeiired a warrant for William Wells and returned to assist the constable in making the arrest. Wells went to Fairland on an interurban car ami when met by the constable and Powers started to run. Powers shot twice and Wells was killed. Powers is 23 years old and has a wife and two children. Wells was barely of age and owed I’oweis a bar bill. Powers claimed that Wells bad obtained drink under false pretenses.

Patterson Pleaded Guilty. Andrew Patterson, who shot two emplo.VM of a mining company's store at Fontanet, and who was caught at North Vernon, pleaded guilty in Terre Hunte. Judge Piety withheld sentence to await the result of the wounds of the two men. Patterson said lie was drunk and when one of the men kicked him while he was in the store, he used a shotgun. The second man. named Hein, he said, was struck by some of the shot fired at Parrott.

Coni Th ieves Were Busy. Lafayette authorities have ascertained by investigating Foal stealing cases flint quite an industry lias sprung up in the vicinity of the railroad yards. Because they told pathetic stories of suffering and poverty many of the coal thieves arrested have been allowed to go unpunished, but it develops that in many cases the coal is stolen from the railroads by persons wh o sell ,it to.4h wouhLuoL stoop to theft themselves. Fine for Ducking Teacher. Ira and Floyd Deckard. Pearl and Katherine Purks and Gertrude and Jessie McClellan, the six school children who "ducked” Miss Erline Sinclair in a pond near the Parks school in Cass township Dec. 8, pleaded guilty to rioting and were fined ?5 and costs each.

May Part Yonug Elopers. On New Year's day Everett Cleis, aged 19 years, of South Bend, and Maine Lucille Murray of Goshen eloped to Cassopolis, Midi., where they were married. Cleis’ parents were strongly opposed to the union and will take legal action to annul the marriage.

Brief State Happening* The large canning factory which was to be located in Tipton may not materialize. Mrs. Daniel Gordon of Greenfield is asking-the court to grant her a divorce because she wants to disinherit her husband. She claims there is no ill feeling between them. James Tilbstlt, g woodworker of Kifbiville, Tenn., is uy-der arrest in Lafayette for shooting MaZK Flannery in Chicago. Tillett claims Flannery was intoxicated and attacked ’’ ! m and that he shot in self-defense. James Vernor, proprietor of a large dairy farm eeven miles from Lafayette, will build a spur of railroad track from the Monon Railroad to his farm in a few months. The track will be used only for the traviporthtion of his own products. Realizing that death was a question of only a few hours, George P. Moorehead of South Bend sent for his bride-tq-. bei Miss Mary Nicar Tutt, and, propped up by pillows, became the husband of the roung woman. A few minutes later Mr. Moorehead willed his bride his fortune of $50,000. Two hours after the the groom'was dead. Mrs. C. L. Fisher of Indianapolis was awakened at midnight by burglars pounding on her door and, demanding admission. She jumped from a second-story window her night robes and ran barefooted sev<**ul blocks. She met two policemen, who hurried back to the house nnd were met by a fusillade of shots from the revolvers of four men. There was a running fight and two of the burglars were wounded, but all escaped. Hamilton. Ohio, police nre asked to locate Llewelyn H. Vinnedge, a member of one of Butler County's leading families, who has disappeared from Anderson, where he is alleged to be short $5,000 in his accounts with the American Wire Nail Company, of which he was chief clerk. He is said to have cashed the cqtapany.'a check for $5,0U0 Dec. 31. representing to the bank that he wanted it for the pay roll. Vinnedge was n deacon of the Presbyterian Church and vice president of the Y. Mri'. A. • It ds charged that he led a dual ’life ami lost heavily la gambling.. His relatively are ignorant'of his whereabouts. At Kouts Willinm I* Lane, a contractor. fell off a building, breaking his neck. He was a former resident of Chicago, nged 37, nnd leaves a widow and th.-ee .children.

Walter Phinney escaped from the Terre Haute smkllpox hospital nnd was found drunk on the street. He fought the police who seized and took him to the pest house, where lie died. Great alarm is felt nt Normal City on account .of the race war. The negroes have received arms and ammunition and the police with many deputies are guarding the homes of leading negroes.