Chesterton Tribune - August 27, 1885
MORE RASCALITY
The Hotels of Chesterton Taken in by a bad Trio.
Last Monday a long-geared lop-cared, mixture of African and white blood,
stuck Chesterton, and as usually there is a story to tell. The fellow
resembled a bean pole covered up with a blanket, and he said he was a
barber. We thought he was the barber pole. He was looking for his
wife. Going to the hotels, he asked if a woman with a little girl was
there. Being answered in the negative, he said he expected his wife to
meet him as they had agreed to meet at Chesterton. Being questioned
closely, he finally said that they had been parted for several years,
but were going to make up. He gave his name as Banks, and hailed from
Laporte. Soon after he left, the woman and little girl, about four year
old accompanied by another man came to Johnson's hotel, and put up as
man and wife. They staid all night, and early in the morning, the man
left. The woman had no money to pay for her breakfast, but said her
husband would soon be back and settle. She left the hotel, and soon
Banks was seen with her. They went to the Central House and put up as
man and wife, and there remained until Thursday, when the landlord began
to see through a stone wall, and fired them out. They then disappeared.
While here, Banks was going to buy out Ed Way's barber shop, and made
all the arrangements, but when it come down to business, he didn't have
money enough to get a shave. He admitted to have served 18 months in
the Laporte jail, and also intimated that the woman with him was in a
similar institution. She is about 22 or 23, passable looking, and is
supposed to belong to the notorious Lyberger family.
After leaving Chesterton, Banks and this woman went to Hageman. Shortly
after Banks disappeared, but the woman and little girl remained, from
Thursday until the following Monday. They slept in box cars at night,
cold as it was, and the wonder is that the child did not perish. During
the days the mother scandalized the community by her shameful conduct,
until finally Squire Gondring came on the scene, and ordered her and the
men who followed her, out of the town. Some kind-hearted people who
witnessed the sufferings of the little child, wanted to taker her away
from her inhuman mother, but this was not done. We learn that the whole
party went to Michigan City.
MORE NEW CASES
No Change in The Sickness at Hageman, Three More Deaths.
The state of affairs at Hageman remain practically unchanged. Several
new cases are reported. Among those are Mr. Wm. Chetham who was taken
suddenly ill this week, and lies in a precarious condition. The deaths
since last Thursday are, Carl Trowe, aged 65 years; a three year old
child of Seneca Bigelow, and the two year old child of Peter Westrand.
Mr. Trowe's wife died of the same disease a few weeks ago, and Bigelow
has now lost his second child. Another child of Mr. Westrand's is very
sick, but may recover. The attending physicians think little Paul Beam
will die. There are two or three others who are lying in a dangerous
condition. The recent cold weather has probably been beneficial to the
health of this community, but still the week has been bad enough. Some
are very much afraid of a sudden hot spell, predicting that many deaths
will follow. The sanitary condition of the town is wonderfully
improved, and the good work of cleaning up still going on. But now that
the disease has obtained a foothold, it will be very difficult to shake
it off until cold weather. September is the worst month and it is
possible that twenty more lives will be lost before October. All are
doing their best to check the disease, and can only wait and see the
end.
LATER
Just as we got to press, the news was brought that Paul Beam was dead.
He died this afternoon. The time for the funeral has not yet been set.
THE BEGINNING OF THE END
The Notorious W. H. Gray Jailed for Forty- six Days.
As soon as Released, He will be arrested and Tried of other Offenses.
As the Tribune went to press last week, W. H. Gray was hunting for some
one to go his bond, and thereby save himself from jail. The deputy
constable, not being very anxious to make the trip to Valparaiso, was
easy with him, and gave him every opportunity to get the required
signatures. Towards evening on Wednesday, Gray thought if he could see
a certain brick-yard man, that he would sign the papers, so accompanied
by the Deputy Constable, Gray and wife went to Hageman. After
meandering around for some time, Gray finally got away from the
constable, and was lost to sight. Gray's wife boarded the 10 o'clock
night train on the Michigan Central, and went home to Michigan City.
About mid-night, Gray came shivering to the watch-house at the crossing
and asked the watch-man, Mr. Broady, whether his (Gray's) wife had gone
on the passenger train. Being answered in the affirmative, he then
asked when another train would go east. Brody told him that nothing but
a freight would come through until morning. The Doctor waited for the
freight, and boarding it, rode to Michigan City. On Tuesday morning,
when Deputy Prosecutor Jno. C. Coulter learned of Gray's escape, he was
highly indignant and at once determined to see justice triumph.
Accordingly he, with Deputy Constable Wolf, hastened to Michigan City,
and notified the authorities. Marshall Gallas lent his assistance, and
arrested Gray, who was found at home in bed. He was at once taken, and
without ceremony, to the Michigan City lock-up, and held until four
o'clock Thursday, when he was turned over to the Porter county
authorities, who promptly hand-cuffed him, and brought him to
Valparaiso. Prosecutor Coulter was bound that there should be no escape
this time, and never left the prisoner until he was turned over to the
tender mercies of Sheriff Thomas.
On leaving Michigan City Gray was very gritty, but before reaching
Valparaiso, he weakened, and almost cried.
Now that Chesterton has shown that what has been said of Gray was truth,
and has taken decisive steps towards punishing one of the biggest
bullies, and most abominable quacks, that travels, we hope the good work
will be taken up all along the line. Gray is a dangerous man to run
loose in any community and should be driven out.
His Fame is Spreading
The following cablegrams and also a small package containing a decayed
herring were picked up on the sidewalk yesterday. The cablegrams
explain themselves. We cannot vouch for their being genuine.
Palace Royal, Madrid, Spain, Aug 22, 1855.
D. D. Marr, M. D., Ex. P.M. 7 c.
Honored Sir;- hearing of your wonderful discoveries as to the cause of
the epidemic in Porter Station, I have, after due consultation with my
minister decided to ask you, in the cause of humanity to come to my
Kingdom and ascertain the cause of the scourge that is rapidly
disseminating my subjects. My physicians have exhausted all their skill
and on you alone depends the salvation of my people. Please come and
although I well know that money or fame can be of little importance to a
mind like yours, yet I beg to assure you what little I can do for you
will be gladly done. Respectfully,
Alfonso, King of Spain
Windsor Castle, England, Aug 23, 1885.
Dr. Marr, Ex. P.M. of Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana, U. S. A.
Dear Doctor, In view of the remarkable discoveries you have made in your
township, and with which the whole civilized world is ringing, I beg or
you as a special favor to me to go to Montreal and put a stop to the
small-pox epidemic that is now raging there so dreadfully. There must
be a hidden cause which the physicians there are unable to discover. I
know this is asking a great deal but be assured I will not be
ungrateful. I will promise you now the place left vacant among my
attendants by my late lamented John, I will also confer upon you the
Order of the Garter with the titles of Sir Knight Billingsgate and Baron
of Cheeseborough. Hoping you will not disappoint me, I remain truly
yours,
Victoria
Chesterton, Inc., U. S. A., Aug 24, '85
To her Most Gracious Majesty, Victoria, by the grace of God Queen of
Great Britain and Empress of India:
Dear Madam; I appreciate the honors you would confer upon me, but my
dear Vic, I feel that duty holds me at home. The people here have made
me what I am, (that is financially and socially) and I feel that in the
hour of their affliction and danger, I must stay with them. I came here
without experience, poor, friendless, and unknown, with only my
wonderful brain and god like intellect. I found friends and patrons who
helped me from obscurity to world-wide fame and notoriety; and to one
with the noble qualities of mind and heart which I posses, duty must
ever be paramount to pleasure.
I would enjoy the rest and social pleasures of Windsor for I am wearied
and worn, the past month has been one of many cares and I feel the need
of rest, but there a few butchers and storekeepers here that I feel it
my imperative duty to watch. The lives of the people here depend upon
my vigilance. I know that I'm not appreciated here as my great
abilities demand, but I also know that in the hereafter a just God will
reward me according to my deserts. Please forward this to Alfonso as I
haven't time to answer him. With many thanks for your kindness, I am
yours truly,
D. D. Marr
Mr. W. A. Graham, is now in Chesterton, and sells a very handy clothes
bar made by himself. He is a worthy man, and those of our citizens whom
he calls upon, will find what he sells, a good article. Patronize him.