Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 97, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 July 1904 — RECORD OF THE WEEK [ARTICLE]

RECORD OF THE WEEK

INDIANA INCIDENTS TERSELY TOLD. Secret Weddings of School Children Arouse La Porte Parents—Snake Add* to Virtues of Jeffersonville Mineral Spring—Minor State News Items. La Porte has become so aroused a« the result of secret marriages of school children that the parents of daughters and sons who figure in unconfirmed rumors will send a committee to enoiAine the marriage records of St. Joseph, Mich., and Chicago. The announcement of secret marriages within the last few days, one of which was solemnized a year ago, with the report that other prominent families had sons and daughters carefully guarding nuptial secrets, has caused the biggest social sensation in the history of the city. The principals in nearly every union have been school children.

Faces Blanched at Spring. While six society young women of Jeffersonville, were drinking mineral water to beautify their complexions at a spring near the northern limits of the city, their faces were blanched with fear at the sight of a huge snake which crawled from behind a bowlder and blinked at them in the sun. Many people of Jeffersonville flock to the springs daily, particularly worsen and children, as the water is said to possess rare medicinal properties, and is becoming famed as a beantifier of the skin. The six young women had repaired to the spring early in the morning, and were gathered about the basin in a circle on their knees. At sight of the snake they ran screaming, and did not stop until they had sprinted for several squares. A crowd of men and boys, armed with clubs, went to the springs, but the reptile had crawled to Its hiding place. Since then not a woman nor child has visited the spring. Girl Who Killed Man Free. Miss Elma Vandevener, who shot and killed Leslie Bradford in a restaurant at Marion, was dismissed from jail. The finding of Coroner Whitson was that Bradford was killed by a bullet fired from a revolver in the hands of Miss Vandevener, but that the affair was an accident. This is the third tragedy in the Vandevener family. The father of the girl was murdered and a brother was shot and killed.

Schoolma’am Now Wealthy. From a school teacher to a wealthy oil operator within a few years is the remarkable career of Miss Minnie Hunt, who was a teacher several years ago at Anderson. Miss Hunt left Anderson for the West, about three years ago, going to Colorado, where she invested her savings in oil leases. She has made several rich strikes and is said to be wealthy. Minister Explains His Disappearance. The Rev.- Elwood O. Ellis of Richmond, one of the best known Quaker clergymen in the middle West and whose sudden disappearance two weeks ago created a sensation, has returned home, reporting that he has been at Nashville, Tenn. Apprehension is felt for his mental condition.

All Over the State. Roscoe Howard of Hobart accidentally shot and killed himself while cleaning a shotgun. The Star Lodge of Druids, in Lafayette, will give a “Pike” similar to that to be held at Indianapolis. Wilberforce Twaddle, a high school graduate of Terre Haute, died from hlood poisoning which resulted from a blank cartridge wound. Morgenroth Brothers of Schnellville have assigned their dry goods store to Dr. Peter Coblo. The liabilities are $5,000 and the assets $2,000. Kenneth Clark of Cambridge City, who was accidentally shot by his little cousin, Carl Dowell, 3, on July 4, died. The bullet pierced the neck, passing through the windpipe. Mrs. Mary Sties, a prominent society leader, the wife of Joseph M. Sties, treasurer of Pulaski County, committed suicide by pouring gasoline over her clothes and setting fire to them. She has been ill. Lucy Shay, 15, who disappeared recently dressed in nothing but her nightgown, after a quarrel with her stepmother, is dead. Her body was found in some drift at Stratton’s dam, near New London. It is believed that she drowned herself. Two thousand men are out of work in East Chicago, and business is at a standstill The Grassolli Chemical Company’s laborers have been locked out because of a reduction in wages which was objected to, and the Republic and Emlyn steel mills have shut down.

Disappointed because she was unable to make a final payment on a new dress recently bought on the iitstallment plan, and believing that the gr.rment would be taken away from her, for she had pawned her jewelry to maks tho first payment on the dress, June Harris of Muncie, 36 years old, killed herself by taking carbolic acid. * A bau has been placed on the Flying Rollers and hereafter disciples of Benjamin and Mary of Flying-Roller fame and other curbstone preachers must stay off the main streets in the business district of Benton Harbor, Mich. This edict, handed down by Mayor Gillette of the latter place and seconded by the other two cities, South Bend and Elkhart, Ind., will be enforced by the police department at once and offenders will be arrested and placed in jail. For the past two months Benjamin and Mary, the Dowleltes and those of other rival creeds have been competing for business on the street corners. The conflicting voices of gospel singers and the monotony of several kinds of wind instruments put all the medicine shows in the background. Harry Watt, a farmer near Milton, had the knuckles of his left hand burst by the kick of a horse. Arthur Chaffee, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wells Chaffee, Hartford City, is dead as the. result of being trampled on by a horse.

William Lockridge, aged 50, living In Greensboro, was arrested on suspicion of being connected with the murder of Mrs. Starbuck and baby. Bringhurst has contributed fI.OSOi, with which to fight against licensed saloons. The town of Flora has taken similar actio*