NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS - 1908
JANUARY
January 3, 1908 - Friday
Clinton Register - Clinton, Illinois
John R. HILDRETH moved here from Uniontown, Kansas, and will live on a farm northwest of Clinton. Mrs. HILDRETH was formerly Miss Nettie CLOUD and is a sister of Mrs. T. C. WAMPLER. Mr. and Mrs. CLOUD formerly lived in this county.
....................
January 3, 1908 - Friday
Clinton Register - Clinton, Illinois
NEW TRIAL NOT ALLOWED.
Friday Tom TUGGLE and his wife, in jail for conducting a house of ill-fame in Clinton, were taken into court where the arguments were made at the motion for a new trial, which was not allowed. Judge HILL then informed them it was his duty to fix the amount of the fine. In doing this he said that the sad part of it, was that the mother and her children must be separated unless the defendants could pay the fine. This caused the mother to weep, and she promised to quit if she was given her liberty. She did not want to be away from her children. Judge HILL reminded her that a few weeks before she said that she could not care for her children and asked that one of them be cared for as the law directs. Her pleadings did not lessen the fine; each was fined $200, highest fine for such an offense. They were taken back to jail.
....................
January 3, 1908 - Friday
Clinton Register - Clinton, Illinois
THE WEDDING DIDN'T TAKE PLACE.
The following dispatch was sent out from Danville: A bit of romance surrounds the arrest at Farmer city today of Bert SCHAEFER by Marshal W. E. KENNEDY, and who was brought to Danville to answer charges of forgery. SCHAEFER was to have been married tonight to Miss Bessie BLAND, of Farmer City, whose name as Mrs. Bessie SCHAEFER he is accused of forging to two checks in this city about two months ago, on which he secured $75. Upon leaving Farmer City today SCHAEFER did not disclose his predicament to his intended bride, but he stated that he was suddenly called out of town and would return in time for the wedding. Upon arriving here he was held to the grand jury by Justice Grant in the sum of $500 and sent to jail in default of bail. Shortly after committing the alleged forgery SCHAEFER went to Oklahoma and only returned yesterday to get married.
....................
January 10, 1908 - Friday
Clinton Register - Clinton, Illinois
HAVE BEGUN SUIT.
Monday O.P. HAINES and wife of Texas township, who are temporarily living in Clinton began suit against their daughter, Mrs. Mary STEVENS to gain possession of their land, 40 acres in Texas township. It is charged that while they were sick last fall, Mrs. STEVENS told them that she had found a buyer for the farm at $100 an acre, and asked them to sign a paper giving her authority to sell the land. They signed the paper and did not know that it was a warranty deed until the first of this week, when they at once began suit. Monday night the land was deeded back to them. It seems that Mrs. STEVENS had mortgaged the land, and suit was filed to clear the title.
....................
January 10, 1908 - Friday
Clinton Register - Clinton, Illinois
KENNEY MAN WANTS DIVORCE.
Wm. MYERS, who had been an Illinois Central agent at Kenney, nearly fifteen years, has applied for divorce, charging his wife with adultery, and names W. J. MORPHEW as the man who has came between himself and his wife. It is understood that Mr. MORPHEW strenuously denies that charge and will fight it to the last. He has had charge of the board and trade office here three years and stands well with the people. Mr. MYERS and wife have been having trouble several months. He places the value of his property at $3,000.
....................
January 24, 1908 - Friday
Clinton Register - Clinton, Illinois
BEGAN BIG SUIT.
Mrs. Sarah E. THOMAS whose husband was killed about a year ago by the Illinois Central Railroad Co. has began suit against that corporation for $10,000 damage, alleging that it was through the negligence of the company that her husband lost his life. The case will be heard in the May term of the circuit clerk.
....................
January 24, 1908 - Friday
Clinton Register - Clinton, Illinois
TRAGEDY AT CHESNUT.
Friday night Chesnut, a village southwest of Kenney, was the scene of the most revolting tragedy, Henry HATCHETT, an escaped inmate of the insane hospital at Jacksonville, fatally shooting William HAGENBAUGH, a highly respected and prominent citizen of that place.
HATCHETT escaped from the asylum in July and had not been seen in Chesnut until Friday evening, when he returned and lay in wait for HAGENBAUGH, and as he went to his barn fired both barrels of a shotgun into his body at short range. HAGENBAUGH was taken to a hospital in Springfield where he died that night.
Hatred is given as the reason for the shooting as HAGENBAUGH was a member of the insanity commission which ordered HATCHETT to be taken to the asylum at Jacksonville.
After the shooting, HATCHETT escaped and was found Saturday afternoon in a hut about 5 miles west of Decatur, where after a desperate struggle he was overpowered and captured, the united efforts of four officers being required to subdue the man who fought like a demon. He was taken to the Logan county jail at Lincoln.
....................
January 24, 1908 - Friday
Clinton Register - Clinton, Illinois
BRANNON-BRANNON.
News came that John BRANNON and Miss Lizetta BRANNON were married in Kansas City last week. They are the couple of cousins, formerly living near Weldon, who gave Dewitt county unenviable notoriety by their cursedness. It will be remembered Lizetta, the cripple, went to live in the home of her cousin and broke up his home. He was arrested, put in jail, fined and was released by Judge Hill on promise to leave the country and never return. He did so, and his wife was given a divorce. It is a queer case and is proof of what a big fool a man can be when he starts down hill.
....................
January 31, 1908 - Friday
Clinton Register - Clinton, Illinois
WON PRIZE.
Miss Leota STURGEON won a book as a prize by answering forty-one questions out of a list of a half of hundred given by the teacher of the Willow Lane school relative to the American flag. Quite an interest was taken in the contest and as a result many people know more about their country's flag than ever before.
....................
January 31, 1908 - Friday
Clinton Register - Clinton, Illinois
MRS. FULLER SURPRISED.
Mrs. C. M. FULLER teaches a class of ladies in the Sunday school and about twenty-five of the class gave her a surprise Tuesday night that was planned by Mr. FULLER. When the ladies arrived Mr. FULLER’s surprise was complete, and she acknowledged her husband had at last given her a surprise, something he has at other times failed to do, as something had always gone wrong. Mr. FULLER furnished ice cream and fruit, the evening was one of enjoyment, and all present were glad that they were members of the same Sunday school class.
....................
FEBRUARY
February 14, 1908 - Friday
Clinton Register - Clinton, Illinois
HAPPY SURPRISE.
Mrs. Harve PERSINGER at her home near Ospur planned and executed a very pleasant surprise on Miss Lula JOHNSON Friday evening, it being her 23rd birthday anniversary. About 25 responded to invitations and the evening was enjoyably spent in music and games. At 10:30 Mrs. PERSINGER who has an established reputation of cateress assisted by Mesdames, Chandler and Grove served an excellent two course supper, Miss JOHNSON was the recipient of several useful presents. The refreshments were enjoyed to the utmost for those ladies were never known to do things by halves and it was a late hour, when the guests departed wishing Miss Lula many more such happy birthdays.
....................
February 21, 1908 - Friday
Clinton Register - Clinton, Illinois
WILL QUIT FARMING.
Forty years ago George BRIGGS moved on the C. H. MOORE farm two and a half miles southwest of Clinton. At the time only seven of the 150 acres were cleared. Since then all the land except for about 30 acres had the timber cut off, much of which was done by Mr. BRIGGS and he has put it into cultivation, making it a valuable farm. On account of advanced age, 76 years, Mr. BRIGGS is compelled to give up farming, and Anderson LUKER, a neighbor has leased the farm. He will move to the WARNER farm and Mr. BRIGGS will move into Mr. LUKER’s house. Mr. BRIGGS will hold a sale at his residence Tuesday, March 3.
....................
February 21, 1908 - Friday
Clinton Register - Clinton, Illinois
FORGED CHECKS MADE GOOD.
A few weeks ago Bert Shaffer [Schaefer] was arrested in Vermillion county charged with forgery the day before he was to have been married to a Farmer City girl. He is still in jail at Danville, and will probably be sent to the penitentiary. It is said the Farmer City girl not only escaped marrying a forger, but a bigamist.
Soon after Shaffer's arrest, it was learned he had passed forged checks in this county; one of his victims was Mr. HUMPHREY, near Kenney, for $60, and the paper for $25 was taken by L. Freudenstein & Son.
Tuesday an attorney from Paxton came to Clinton and settled the smounts. He asked that no charge be preferred against Shaffer, but States Attorney Miller gave him no promise.
....................
MARCH
March 27, 1908 - Friday
Clinton Register - Clinton, Illinois
DOG SAVES WOMAN’S LIFE.
Tuesday night soon after midnight Mrs. Charles STEWART was awakened by her poodle dog which had jumped upon her bed and was pulling at the bed cover. When she awoke, the house was full of smoke and there was a blaze in the parlor. She hastened out of the rear door and ran to the home of J. E. JOHNSON, across the street. Mr. Johnson telelphoned to the firemen, and in less than ten minutes they were at the house, about eight blocks from the fire department headquarters. The run was one of the fastest the department ever made.
When the firemen arrived they saw the fire through the window, but the front door was locked. Policeman STOKER, who is about six feet four inches in height, threw his length and breadth against the door, and it gave way. The blaze was just inside the door and a stream ended all danger in less than a minute.
The fire had been caused by a piece of stove pipe falling on the floor; it was hot enough to set the carpet on fire, and a hole about one by three feet was burned in the floor and a door casing was destroyed. The damage to the house was about $20, and to household goods the same amount.
....................
March 27, 1908 - Friday
Clinton Register - Clinton, Illinois
HOUSE BURNED NEAR WAPELLA.
The residence on Levi TROXELL’s farm, three miles west of Wapella, was burned Tuesday afternoon. Meat was being smoked in the smoke-house near the residence. The smoke house caught fire and the residence was on fire before Mr. Troxell knew it. He saved part of his furniture. The house was valued at about $900. It is said there was no insurance.
....................
AUGUST
August 7, 1908 - Friday
Clinton Register - Clinton, Illinois
POSTMASTER INSANE.
C. M. C. WEEDMAN, postmaster at Farmer City, was adjudged insane Tuesday morning at that place by Drs. Littlejohn and Ziegler, who were appointed by Judge Hill to decide upon his condition. His affliction is paresis and it is said he cannot recover, but may live for sometime. He was taken to Kankakee.
....................
August 7, 1908 - Friday
Clinton Register - Clinton, Illinois
BLIND MAN GIVES ALARM.
Wilson TINDLE, a blind man at the poor farm, who assists with washing for the inmates at the poor farm, was alone in the wash room Wednesday when a stove on which was a large tank of boiling water fell down. He realized the danger and, making his way to the door, gave the alarm, thus preventing the burning of two or three of the buildings occupied by inmates.
....................
August 21, 1908 - Friday
Clinton Register - Clinton, Illinois
ADJUDGED INSANE.
Monday morning Superintendent STILLMAN brought George MELIZA, one of his charges at the poor farm, before Judge HILL in order that his sanity might be inquired into. At various times he has made threats to kill his associates, and his condition of mind has been regarded as dangerous. About a year ago he made an attempt upon the life of John FOSTER, at that time superintendent of the poor farm. Meliza has been a public charge for about three years. After his trial Monday he was adjudged insane and ordered taken to the asylum at Jacksonville.
Walter ROGERS was another unfortunate whose reason had been dethroned, and he, too, was committed to the same asylum for care and medical treatment. Both Meliza and Rogers were accompanied to Jacksonville by attaches of the sheriff’s office.
....................
OCTOBER
October 16, 1908 - Friday
Clinton Register - Clinton, Illinois
WANTS HER CHILDREN.
Mrs. Elizabeth NICHOLSON, who deserted her two children in Clinton over a week ago, returned on Wednesday to find proceedings had been begun in county court to have them legally placed in homes. When she left she took a son, aged 7, leaving a daughter, aged 10, and a baby, 7 months old.
Her husband deserted her sometime ago taking his three children by his first wife. She became discouraged, and left, leaving the children at a neighbor’s. She says she went to Peoria where work was secured, and she returned for her children.
As Supervisor Hoffman is away, nothing can be done until his return, but there is little doubt of the children being returned to her.
....................
October 16, 1908 - Friday
Clinton Register - Clinton, Illinois
SEWING MACHINE TRIAL.
E. B. LANE, west of Clinton, and his wife separated, and she took the sewing machine in preference to the husband. This did not make him feel proud and he began suit to get possession of the machine. The case was heard by ’Squire Donahue, and he decided the wife should have the machine, as she had helped earn the money to pay for it.
....................
October 16, 1908 - Friday
Clinton Register - Clinton, Illinois
SUIT AGAINST COUNTY.
John McKINNEY, through an attorney, has asked the board of supervisors to allow him the amount it is claimed he is entitled to by law. The board had been advised otherwise, and no favorable action was taken. Believing he is entitled to $150 a year, payable quarterly, he engaged Monson & Gray to begin suit to compel the payment. He is the son of A. T. McKINNEY, and was born in this county, which has always been his home. He is about fifty years old and has been totally blind about seventeen years. He lives with his parents and has no income.
....................
October 18, 1908 - Sunday
Sunday Review - Decatur, Illinois
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SUED.
John T. McKINNEY of Texas township today, through his attorneys, Monson & Wray, filed suit against the DeWitt county board of supervisors to recover money alleged to be due him through the refusal of the board to provide for him under a statute which provides that blind persons are to be paid a sum of $150 per year when the provisions of the statute have been complied with. Affidavit to prosecute the suit on the grounds of poverty was also filed. There will be a hearing at the November term of court.
Submitted by Sheryl Byrd
....................
October 18, 1908 - Sunday
Sunday Review - Decatur, Illinois
HELD TO CRIMINAL COURT.
Will MILLINGER and Charles CONRAD were held under bonds of $800 to appear in the criminal court to answer to a charge of larceny when arraigned before Justice M. Donahue this afternoon. They are charged with stealing brass from the shops of the Illinois Central railroad. Millinger was arrested a week ago and Conrad was arrested Friday night.
Note: This is the same William Millenger/Millinger who shot Roy COPPENBARGER, causing his death in 1903. (See news article).
Submitted by Sheryl Byrd
....................
October 18, 1908 - Sunday
Sunday Review - Decatur, Illinois
CONSENTS TO HEARING.
Mrs. Bettie NICHOLSON, again exercising a woman’s perogative of changing her mind, has decided to willingly allow the courts to take their course and has consented to the declaring of her children, Elwood and Louisa, delinquents. The matter will be heard before Judge Fred C. Hill on Oct. 27, the date originally set. With her change of mind she has asked that her two other children, Omer, aged 7, and Arthur, aged 4, whom she took with her when she deserted the girl and seven months’ old babe, also be declared delinquents, and Supervisor E. L. Hoffman said today that a petition to that effect would be filed whether late this afternoon or Monday. Twenty days must elapse before the law can take its course, as the father of the children has not been located. Then after notice is given him by publication there will be a hearing as regards the last two children.
Mrs. Nicholson this afternoon returned to Peoria, where she has secured work with a manufacturing concern. The 4-year-old child has been taken to the county farm, where Elwood, the seven months' old babe, is now, and will be held temporarily.
Submitted by Sheryl Byrd
....................
DECEMBER
December 1, 1908 - Tuesday
Daily Review - Decatur, Illinois
THREATENED WIFE'S LIFE.
James MERRIFIELD was arrested here this morning on information sworn out against him by his wife, who said he threatened her life. They have been married about three years and have lived here during that period. They reside on East Webster street. Their married life has not been altogether a pleasant one, according to her statement. His name has graced the county records at different times.
Submitted by Sheryl Byrd
...................