USA > Indiana > Howard County > History of Howard County, Indiana, Vol I > Part 22
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OF HOWARD COUNTY.
THE SUTTON-YAGER MYSTERY.
What is commonly spoken of as the Sutton-Yager mystery is one which has never been solved, if mystery it was, in fact. While the death of Francis Sutton, April 27, 1903, and that of Lewis Yager, May II, 1903, are both claimed to have been suicides, these deaths, succeeding each other so closely, happening in the same lo- cality, and bearing so many evidences of similarity, roused the en- tire county to the belief that the young men had been murdered. The best detective skill of the country was employed to no avail, working upon the theory of murder and with the intent of bringing the guilty parties-if any-to justice. All the great metropolitan dailies sent representatives to the locality to seek to clear up the mystery, but all these efforts came to naught. Francis Sutton was found lying near his horse and buggy, close to the gate at the Pc- ter's home, not far from Hemlock. Sutton had called the night be- fore (Sunday night ) upon Miss Stella Peters, and left her home. He never got farther than the gate at the end of the lane, which opened into the public road. Here he is supposed to have taken his own life, or to have been killed. A large hole had been pawed into the ground by the horse, indicating that it had stood at the gate a long time impatiently. A short distance to one side was found the body of Sutton, which had evidently been spilled out of the buggy when the horse left the gate, proceeding toward a woods on that side. In the buggy was found a revolver, that of Sutton, with one chamber empty, and his body disclosed that death had come from a single shot.
Two weeks later the body of Lewis Yager was found sitting bolt upright in his buggy, which the horse had drawn to the lane gate at the D. S. Yager home, near Oakford. Yager, too, had called upon a young lady the evening before, but had left her home
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early and proceeded elsewhere. There was some evidence that he had been at Sharpsville. The buggy wheel was stained with blood, and his toes were jammed under the front rod of the buggy bed. The blood had oozed from a wound in Yager's temple. While sui- cide was claimed, the position of Yager's feet led to the suspicion and belief that he had been shot and his body wedged into the buggy so it would not fall out, and the horse started homeward. Other circumstances alleged were that the horse he was driving was a high-spirited one and would not stand fire, in the case Yager fired a bullet into his own brain, but would have run away, perhaps wreck- ing the buggy and leaving the body anywhere along the road. The theory was that Yager had been with several parties, and there was evidence that he had been drinking, as the laprobe smelled of the fumes of liquor, yet it was recognized that this might have been poured on the robe as a misleading circumstance. The elaborate theory was builded that both Sutton and Yager had been victims of a feud of the neighborhood and that both had been murdered. The finding of a revolver in the road near the supposed scene of Ya- ger's death later heightened the belief of foul play, and it was argued that perhaps Sutton had been shot with a revolver not his own, but that his revolver had been discharged once and thrown into the buggy bed to establish the appearance of a premeditated death. It was sur- mised that both young men had been halted and shot to death while in their buggies. A bogus detective ran off with the revolver and no practical results ever came of the investigations upon the murder theory, but nevertheless it may have been the true one, and time may vindicate it, but the conclusion was accepted by the public that both young men had committed suicide and that the most striking coincident was that they should take their lives within so short a time, one after the other.
Amos Jackson, whose body was rescued from Wildcat creek,
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OF HOWARD COUNTY.
March 28, 1906, was supposed to have been pushed off the Carter street levee by design, but if so the fact was never established.
Attorney I. C. Hoopes, prominent at the Howard county bal. in a fit of mental aberration stole into the parlor of his West Taylor street home, December 28, 1907, sending a bullet through his brain, death resulting instantly.
Fairy McClain was shot to death at the home of her aunt, Mrs. Mattie Nay, North Lafontaine street, April 7, 1908. Knocking at her bed room door, which opened off a hall through which he easily entered, the street door being unlocked, Jesse Worley Osborn, her jealous and maddened lover, forced himself into her bed room, as soon as Miss McClain opened the door to see who was there. She being in her night clothes, fled to her bed, and the aunt and her lit- tle son fled to the home of a neighbor to summon the police. Os- born demanded that Miss McClain arise and talk with him and that she kiss him. She declined to comply with any of his requests, and defied his threats, which, previously made against her, he renewed upon this occasion. Osborn, who had been drinking, whipped out his revolver with the exclamation, "Fairy, you provoke me," and shot her twice in the head. She fell out of bed in a heap. Osborn fled the scene, although the night was stormy and the rain was fall- ing heavily. A search was instituted for him, but without avail, for some days. He had gone as far as Canada, but homesick, he ven- tured to return as far as Logansport. Here he was apprehended in the Pan Handle railroad yards by the company's detectives, while riding the bumpers of a freight train. Osborn made no resistance against arrest and was brought to Kokomo, his captors obtaining a reward of five hundred dollars offered by the county commissioners. Osborn entered a plea of guilty and was sentenced to the peniten- tiary for life. He had, it developed, kept company with Miss Mc- Clain for several years, and she finally decided to get rid of him. . 1
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few weeks before the killing they had quarreled and he had struck the young woman, for which offense he was given a jail sentence. While the young woman chose to bear her maiden name and did so, she was the wife of Levi Miller, but with whom she did not live.
Charles Thresher and William Lindley lost their lives as the result of drink, September 28, 1908. On that date their bodies, stiff in death, were found in the gravel pit near Greentown. Sunday pre- ceding they were seen to leave Greentown, jug in hand, which ves- sel contained whisky, and they remarked to one they passed that they were "going out to celebrate the county local option law," which had just been passed by the special session of the legislature. They re- mained at the gravel pit throughout Sunday, drinking and eating paw-paws. The jug was replenished at least twice. Finally Charles Lindley, who was with them, staggered away from the place and tried to get his companions to follow him, without success. When he returned next day he found them cold in death, one body sub- merged in the water and the other staring with glassy eyes towards the starry heavens. The bodies were taken to the Fulwider under- taking establishment at Greentown, where, under the direction of the Rev. Hall, they were viewed by school children who passed by, single file, as an object lesson in temperance.
NEWSPAPERS.
BY OTIS C. POLLARD.
THE HOWARD TRIBUNE.
The outfit of the Pioneer office ( the Pioneer was the first paper published in the history of the county) was brought from New Lon- don to Kokomo early in the fifties. The equipment was installed in
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OF HOWARD COUNTY.
the west side of a double frame building, on the north side of High street, just east of Main street. The name of the paper was changed to that of The Howard Tribune, with C. D. Murray as editor. On the east side of the building occupied by the Tribune office lived the parents of Daniel G. Wilkins. "Uncle" Dan, as Mr. Wilkins has been known for years, became a printer by natural associations. He fre- quented the Tribune office just across the hallway from his home, and soon picked up a knowledge of the business. James Beard, the real owner of the printing equipment, and who had come with it from New London, pulled the press-a Washington hand press-and "Uncle" Dan ran the roller. Mr. Wilkins was also given the employ- ment of passing the papers, the circulation of the Tribune being at that time about three hundred. "Uncle" Dan, who, as a boy, had carried the mail from Delphi to Marion, relinquished this employ- ment. Such trips made upon horseback consumed four days in going and coming. "Uncle" Dan settled down in earnest to learn the printer's trade, and soon had mastered the boxes.
In those days type was set by hand instead of by machinery. and each type was picked from a box and placed in a composing stick. "Uncle" Dan soon learned all the technicalities of the office and was not long in mastering the names of the type used, as the office was possessed of but few fonts of type at best. Mr. Beard was a very agreeable man under whom to work and took a great fancy to Mr. Wilkins, who acquired from him the thorough mastery of the printer's art, which distinguished him throughout life. Mr. Wil- kins became an expert and passed almost half a century in the prac- tice of his craft, a certain testimonial to his efficiency, the entire time being with the office with which he had started, he remaining in its service throughout successive ownerships. The Tribune of- fice was finally moved from High street to the north side of the pub- lic square, occupying the second story of the building in which was
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situated below the Robert Birt tin shop, later owned by G. W. Hocker. Mr. Murray retired as editor of the paper, which was pur- chased by Clinton Boliver Hensley, of Logansport. Mr. Hensley was an unique newspaper men, but preferred the pleasure of hunt- ing to the drudgery of the office much of the time. But the inter- ests of the paper did not suffer. An unknown but brainy contrib- utor was Dr. L. D. Waterman, who later moved to Indianapolis. T. C. Phillips purchased the paper of Mr. Hensley and changed the name to The Kokomo Tribune, dropping the word Howard. Mr. Phillips was a notable editor of Indiana, and his fame extended even into other states. He was an able, trenchant editorial writer, abso- lutely fearless and aggressive. He was equally devoid of physical fear, and the indignant man who came around to settle scores for an article to which he objected usually decided to abandon the at- tack. Mr. Phillips was a strictly party man, being an uncompro- mising Republican, the only tangent upon which he ever left his strictly orthodox Republicanism being when he, with Judge Linsday and a number of other leading Republicans, "swung around the circle" with President Andrew Johnson. But it was not long until he had returned to his party fold and his paper and personality were a tower of strength for the political cause which he espoused. His editorials were widely quoted and he expended his best energies in making his paper the leading one of Indiana.
The office was gradually improved and finally moved to the east side of the court house square, occupying two different locations in that district. It was while the office was in this part of the city that a cyclone blew down the building in which the office was situated. Mr. Philips declined to accept contributions to make good his losses, but consented to re-establish his paper upon condition that a cer- tain number of citizens would take his paper for a year. With these subscriptions, and with borrowed money, he erected the Tribune
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OF HOWARD COUNTY.
building, at the corner of Buckeye and Mulberry streets, and equipped the office with a cylinder press and a first-class typograph- ical equipment, including a job office. A tireless worker, he soon made the paper a distinctive one in surrounding states. All this time he clung by "Uncle" Dan Wilkins, in whose untiring labors for the success of the paper and excellent judgment he had implicit reliance and faith. Mr. Wilkins's service was interrupted long enough for a service in the Civil war, and a few months' application to house painting, but when he returned to the office at the earnest solicita- tion of Mr. Philips it was to remain through' the ownership of Mr. Philips's sons, and that of strangers as well, and terminating from the disabilities of old age in 1904.
At the death of T. C. Philips, The Tribune was taken in charge by his sons, Charles Philips and A. F. Philips. Charles Philips was possessed of fine literary ability and is spoken of by those who knew him best to have been the real one of the family gifted as a writer. The paper was now converted into a literary publication, all but los- ยท ing its character as a newspaper. It invited and paid well for con- tributions from the noted writers of the day, containing contribu- tions from Riley, Nye, Brady and others of great note. But as a financial undertaking this publication did not pay, the proprietors being unable to secure a wide enough circulation. Upon the death of Charles Philips, and under the management of A. F. Philips, The Tribune resumed its individuality as a newspaper and dropped much of its foreign contributions. Seymour T. Montgomery was promi- nently connected with The Tribune, and for the time that Philips was a "political heretic" essayed the editorial management and re- sponsibility. Montgomery finally ran off, leaving the city myste- riously and suddenly.
THE KOKOMO INDEPENDENT.
Dan H. Bennett established in 1869 the Kokomo Independent. It was a paper which reflected the brilliancy of his intellect and power
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of brain. It was not, however, long lived. During the period of its establishment and for several years succeeding Mr. Bennett engaged in the active practice of the law, and with success. It was not until 1872 that Mr. Bennett engaged in newspaper work on an elaborate scale. In that year a joint stock company was formed and a print- ing outfit purchased. The Howard County Republican was launched. While The Independent, Mr. Bennett's first paper, was printed from The Tribune office, The Republican had an equipment of its own, and asked favors of no one. Mr. Bennett was a tower of intellectual strength, and his paper reflected his personality. He was the only man feared by T. C. Philips, and he gave blow for blow in a manner which counted. Bennett had both the ability and the courage, and he feared neither man nor devil. The publisher of the paper was Will Siddall. When Mr. Bennett left Kokomo it was to go to Logansport, where he took charge of The Logansport Sun. This paper attracted wide attention, as did any paper of which Dan Bennett was the head. But while at Logansport Mr. Bennett fell a victim of an apoplectic stroke and died afterwards from its ef- fects. The Kokomo Democrat once said of Mr. Bennett: "We have met no cleverer gentleman than D. H. Bennett. He has figured largely in the politics of the county and the district. When he said that he would speak out his sentiments, boldly and unflinchingly, in matters of politics, we did not say it unwisely, as we have since learned. In the congressional canvass he was the friend of Dr. Hen- derson. Dr. Henderson has run up between five hundred and a thousand in advance of his ticket in the district, and it is due to the brave, bold, outspoken words of such men as Bennett that he has done so." The Republican, while in the hands of Mr. Siddall, sus- tained a misfortune from which it never recovered. A fire started in the office and was subdued with difficulty. The flames suppressed, it was found that material damage had been done. Mr. Siddall was
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OF HOWARD COUNTY.
not enamored of Kokomo newspaper work and left soon after for Indianapolis, making the best disposition possible of the printing ontfit of The Republican.
The Kokomo Journal-first of that name in Kokomo-expired in 1871, while under the ownership of L. J. Templin. In the conduct of this paper M. W. Pershing and S. T. Montgomery had been iden- tified. Mr. Templin met every obligation, making arrangements with the Kokomo Democrat to care for subscriptions he had received since the Journal had been revived. He said that in doing this hie did not endorse the policies of the Democratic party, but desired merely to furnish his patrons with a good country newspaper. Mr. Templin returned to the conduct of a nursery which he had owned upon assuming the direction of The Journal. The Journal started in 1870, ended its existence in February, 1871.
THE RADICAL DEMOCRAT.
The first issue of The Radical Democrat, of Kokomo, appeared Wednesday, May 18, 1870. The editor was W. J. Turpin, "Jap." Mr. Turpin was known as the "Tipton Slasher," and was a man of exceptional newspaper ability. After his work in Kokomo he did valuable feature work for the Indianapolis newspapers. "Jap" Tur- pin is a familiar name in Kokomo newspaperdom, and he created an impression not soon to be forgotten by the older residents. His of- fice was situated in the upstairs of the Dennison building, corner of Walnut and Buckeye streets. The furniture consisted of two chairs, and two tables. A board reached from the head of a flour barrel to the top of a bottomless chair, and upon this board C. H. Havens folded the first issues of the paper. He was the newsboy, having what was known as the public square route. The Radical Democrat
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was published from the Tribune office. It was but a short time until the word "Radical" was dropped from the title page of the publica- tion. While Mr. Turpin was yet in control of the paper John W. Kern was a contributor to its columns. J. M. Goar succeeded Mr. Turpin as editor of the Democrat. In October, 1870, Dr. John F. Henderson was a candidate for congress, and in this aspiration the Democrat supported him loyally. The fierceness with which the oppo- sition of newspapers was conducted in that day is illustrated in an editorial appearing in the Democrat of the issue of Thursday. Octo- ber 20, 1870. For instance, the Journal says : "Philips is a malicious liar and an unmitigated scoundrel, and a bald-headed old gambler." Whereupon Philips reminds them that the Journal is a "bastard sheet, with neither paternity nor maternity, and that the editors thereof are thieves, murderers and scoundrels." R. G. Smith, a prominent contributor to the Democrat, said in the issue of that paper November 10, 1870: "Mr. Turpin started a Democratic paper in Kokomo, having neither press nor type, and I know it was often said, by both Democrats and Republicans, that the paper would soon play out, but Mr. Turpin kept the paper a running, and finally sold his interest to Mr. John M. Goar, whom our citizens soon knew as a sharp writer, and who made the Democrat as sharp as lightning." The Democrat in its issue of November 17, 1870, says: "Dr. Hen- derson, the founder of two hotels at Kokomo, and whose native modesty would not permit him to name one after himself, has as- sumed the heavy responsibility of the editor of the Kokomo Demo- crat. The doctor is a robustly constructed, smug and compact chap of the, best possible inclinations. Dan Bennet has been engaged and will sling ink in his best style and do up the fashion dispatches. Ed Freeman will contribute half a neck of items a week if necessary. and Walker will attend to the heavy market and banking conditions. and occasionally give his views upon hog cholera." John W. Kern
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OF HOWARD COUNTY.
did work on The Democrat. In the issue of March 2, 1871, the an- nouncement appears : "Dr. Henderson went to Baltimore and Phila- delphia this week, leaving The Democrat to my care. Inexperience and greenness in the business will account for the many inaccuracies and blunders."
Dr. Henderson was an able and courageous writer, and he made a formidable competitor of The Tribune in the Democrat. In time he was assisted by his sons, J. O. and H. E. Henderson, and later turned the property over to them absolutely upon their return from college. They are today the proprietors of the paper. C. H. Hav- ens, who occupies the editorial desk of the Kokomo Daily Dispatch. by which the paper became known years ago, is the dean of the Ko- komo newspaper circles. He worked for a time with Dan Bennett as roller boy, and then entered into the employment of Dr. Hender- son. Mr. Havens left Kokomo in 1874, returning in 1882 and tak- ing a place at the typographical case. Here he revealed the peculiar ability of which he is possessed. His contributions to the columns of the paper under a nom de plume excited a state reading. being quoted throughout the exchanges of the commonwealth, and were notable for a philosophy and a pathos that created a deep impression in the mind of the reading public. Mr. Havens used no manuscript, "setting the matter out of his head as well as his case." His ability demonstrated, he took editorial charge upon Mr. J. O. Henderson being appointed to fill the office of revenue collector in this district in 1884, and has been in charge since that time. His forceful person- ality, aggressiveness and brilliancy as a special writer and sound appreciation of news values have given the paper an individual standing among its contemporaries. Yet in the harness, Mr. Havens is desirous of no eulogy, and that will be a topic for the future writer after Mr. Havens shall have closed his newspaper days, but when that time comes his relation to Kokomo newspaperdom will be found to have been one of unusual importance.
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THE KOKOMO GAZETTE.
The Kokomo Gazette was founded by E. E. Russell and Wil- liam Gause, the office being located upon the West side of the court house square. The office was little more than a job outfit, although provided with an army proof press, upon which the publication was printed. The partnership did not long continue and in a compara- tively short space of time the paper became the property of Omer Maris, then of Russiaville, a brilliant writer, who afterwards achieved fame as a contributor to the Chicago Record, while pros- pecting in the Klondike. Mr. Maris eventually entered into a part- nership with Ed Pritchard, subsequently retiring, Mr. L. C. Hoss taking an interest in the paper, and being for a time a partner of Mr. Pritchard. Upon the latter disposing of his partnership hold- ing to John M. Runk, the firm continued as Hoss & Runk. the former finally securing entire control and ownership of the paper. Mr. Hoss engaged A. B. Kirkpatrick as editorial writer, and they conducted an aggressive, bold, independent Republican paper, its circulation soon assuming formidable and somewhat amazing pro- portions. Mr. Hoss utilized a steam press and greatly added to the typographical equipment of the office. In September, 1883, he established the Daily Gazette. While the Kokomo Herald was the first daily appearing on the streets of Kokomo, many years preced- ing the Gazette, the later paper was the first daily to stick, and never missed an issue from the first day it was offered to the public. In the spring of 1884 the Gazette and the Kokomo Tribune affected a consolidation, under the name of the Kokomo Gazette-Tribune, L. C. Hoss and A. F. Philips being the editors and proprietors. The name Gazette was carried several years and finally dropped. The daily issue continued under the new ownership and is known today as the Kokomo Daily Tribune. F. M. Gideon was in an early day editor and part owner of the Gazette.
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OF HOWARD COUNTY.
At the time of the consolidation of the Gazette and Tribune William H. Turpin entered upon the scene of newspaper activity in Kokomo, he being one of the most picturesque and striking person- alities known in the circles of Kokomo newspaperdom. A cor- respondent at New London, his humor and quaint style attracted a wide reading and favorable attention. He was offered a position as reporter upon the new daily, and as he once said himself, was ap- palled with the weight of the new responsibility and was doubtful if he could give satisfaction. But as a news gatherer he had few equals. He had a mysterious way of "getting next" to the most carefully guarded secrets which he gave to the public which made him dreaded. He was skillful and shrewd in building up a large circle of loyal friends, who aided him in many directions. It be- came a maxim that "Turpin is always' next." At an advanced age he was active, alert and divining, so much so that no new men in the field constituted formidable competition. They came and went, but he remained at his post without fear of displacement. His style was not of classical cast, but bubbled over with good humor, and he de- lighted to "touch them up." as he put it. No man in the Kokomo field could produce the number of personals that he did. They seemed to pour in a stream from his pencil point, and few were able to escape his observation, if desirous of slipping quietly out of the city. With those he knew liked a special mention he gave a special treatment and made many friends among those fond of newspaper mention. When George Gibbs and a party of friends made a trip from the city Turpin wrote: "The special mission of George Gibbs will be to eat two-thirds of the dumplings and all the chicken giz- zards, together with the gobble of the rooster, if it is possible to get at it. The proverbial part that gets through the fence last is also a choice morsel that George sets great store upon. It is his purpose to beat a lively tattoo with the drum sticks, and also to try his fortune
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