Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 37, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 March 1905 — Fanny Fuss at Francesville. [ARTICLE]

Fanny Fuss at Francesville.

WinamacDemocrat— , Francesville people were treated to an attraction Friday and Saturday that equaled a three-ring circus; with side show, menagerie and wild west performance included and not a cent for admission, Last Thursday, in circuit coutt here, Judge Lairy of Logansport rendered bis decision on the cases involvingjthe ‘ depot grounds” at Francesville, which cases hr had heard as special judge. There were two suits. Oae filed by M. M. Hathaway, who, with Attorney Steis of this p'acs, Winfield of Lcgansport and Spencer of Monticello, bought in the grounds at Sheriff’s sale over six years ago. These attorneys asked that, since the higher courts had sustained Hathaway’s claim to the grounds* the Monon railroad company ba enjoined from leasing the grounds or otherwise interfering with Hathaway’s possession of them. The o'her suit was filed by the company, asking that Hathaway et si be restrained from taking possession. Both oases were decided in fa?or of Hathaway, the injunctiin he asked against the company being granted. Friday morning the four attorneys mentioned went to Francesville and hiring some workmen, began to fence in the grounds aod take public possession. The grounds are in the heart <f the town, being a strip 150 feet wide and three blocks in length a’ong the tracks, and are covered with elevators, a lumber yard, h new bank building and other structures. They had a nice start at the work when the section min came along and tore the fences down The attorneys again built the <eaces, and when the section men came again they were informed in stentorian tones that by order of the courts the railroad no longer owned the grounds—that the attorneys owned them end that the man who molested the fences would be shot. The section men desisted, ml the fences stood until Saturday morning. Then a gang of section men from’Wanatah appeared mddenly, and they made kindling wood out of the fences in abort order. During all of these sc j nes a big crowd was present, the citizens evidently enjoying the maneuvres. The attorneys abandoned hope of being able tn keep up the fences a«ainet such a force, and returned here. Papera will shortly be filed citing the railroad company f'r contempt of court, so the end is not yet