Bloomington (IN) Saturday Courier, March 4, 1882, p. 3.
Jake Painter had his own way in Brown County for a number of years, and a
bad way it was. His wife got a divorce and married again, but he drove away
her husband and compelled her to return to him, frightening her so
thoroughly that she remained. A neighbor offended him, and he retaliated by
poisoning cattle until the family moved away to avoid his persecution. He
shot three men who at various times opposed him and escaped punishment
through the cowardice of the witnesses. A few days ago he went to Thomas
Robinson's house nearby and demanded that Mrs. Robinson be given to him. It
is not stated whether the woman regarded the proposed transfer favorably,
but Robinson certainly did not, and when Painter threatened him with death
for refusing, shot the bully dead.