USA > Indiana > St Joseph County > History of St. Joseph County, Indiana > Part 57
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the people which showed that they knew they were there, and meant all they expressed in their manner. The speaking and sing- ing were strictly in accordance with the attendance, and altogether it was a grand affair, and such a meeting as gives support and stability to any good cause and those engaged in it.
Promptly at three o'clock the assemblage was called to order, with Hon. Schuyler Colfax in the chair. The exercises were opened with an appropriate anthem by the choir. An earnest prayer was then offered by Rev. HI. A. Gobin, which was followed by a second song.
Mr. Colfax inaugurated the speaking by a few pertinent and eloquent remarks. He called attention to the terrible ravages which the evils of intemperance had brought to the land, and the urgent need of the reform now in progress. The women's move- ment had been as startling in its character as a clap of thunder from a clear sky, and the cloud which had been at first no bigger than a man's hand, had suddenly overspread the whole heavens. The speaker believed that the mighty uprising now witnessed by the whole country would only subside when the curse of the traffic in liquor had been swept away. Like the institution of slavery, the demon of drink brought nothing but woe to mankind. They were alike obnoxious in the sight of God, and, as by His aid the first had been uprooted and cast ont, so under His divine guidance would the women and men who had engaged in this noble crusade succeed in exterminating the second. The opponents to the reform all claimed to be friendly, but-they thought some other method of bringing it abont preferable. Moral snasion was urged, and the liquor sellers wanted their opponents to be careful to keep within the bounds of the law. With regard to the first, moral snasion was just the weapon in use, if he rightly apprehended the term, and he thought that if saloon-keepers were treated to the medicine they prescribe, few would be able to hold a license. For his part he was willing to let the women choose their own course, and he wished it understood that whatever they should see fit to do, he stood by them.
Marvin Campbell was the next speaker. In view of the fact that whole communities would often make concerted and most ener- getic efforts for the eradication of minor evils, it seemed strange that apathy could anywhere exist with regard to the blighting effects of intemperance. He blamed men, with whom all legislative and judicial power is vested, for allowing it to remain unchecked. He appealed to mothers, fathers and sisters, to throw all their in- fluence in favor of the good cause now so happily begun.
A letter was read from Rev. D. J. Spillard, pastor of St. Patrick's Church (Roman Catholic), in which he declined to take part in or approve of the movement inaugurated by the women, but pledged himself to do all he could to further the cause of temperance in other ways. He had but a few days before organized a total-absti- nence society in his Church, and would labor faithfully to increase
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its members. In concluding his letter the reverend gentleman said: " Let committees be appointed to watch and report every violation of the law, and then let legal proceedings be instituted, the guilty parties brought to justice and forced to forfeit their licenses. Let God be earnestly and piously supplicated to stay this terrible scourge which is devastating our fair land. Let every minor be made to bring to the bar of justice the man, if such he can be called, who would deal out his poisonous potions to inno- cent, unsuspecting, wayward youth; let every woman who suffers at the hands of the terrible demon have recorded the name of her tormentor; in a word, let all just and proper means be used to wage untiring warfare against intemperance. Count on mne always as the friend of temperance and the unrelenting foe of drunkenness."
Charles Smith, A. N. Thomas, Lucius Hubbard and Miss Fanny Spain followed in short remarks, when Mrs. Emma Malloy made the closing speech. Mrs. Malloy said she had often been asked what she thought of this woman's movement, and hesitated to give a reply lest her answer should be less reverent than the subject seemed to demand. She could not doubt but the movement was a natural revulsion, an eruption of the smoldering fires that for centuries past was pent up in the heart of woman. She could not doubt but that the hand of God had shaken these internal fires, and could only gaze with awe and reverence at the mighty upheaving that thrilled the nation from center to circumference. She was convinced that women were not satisfied to sit with folded hands while the first-born of the nation was being slain,-while the fairest and pur- est in every household in the land were the victims of the fell destroyer. The heart of woman had thrilled with silent anguish; she had wept her night of sorrow through; and now had arisen the host of Israel. The foe was being routed. "The glad dawn whose early twilight" all had been gazing down the centuries of time to see, had come.
A temperance meeting was also held the same day at the Reformed church, and an association was formed under the name of the " Women's Protective Association of South Bend," its object being, " In the spirit of love and earnestness to try to protect the hearths and homes of the women of South Bend, and those of other places who have fathers, husbands, sons or brothers, from the evils and dangers of intemperance." Various committees were appointed- on canvassing, visitation, enforcement of law, license, finance, mass meetings, printing, music and legislation. In addition to the regular membership there were to be co-operative members, com- posed of the men who would sign a pledge wherein they pledged themselves to abstain from signing any petition for the license of the sale of intoxicating drinks, and to give cordial support and co-operation to the Women's Protective Association, in their efforts for the banishment of the traffic and use of intoxicating drinks.
In less than one week 778 men and 350 women had signed the pledge of fellowship and co-operation in the temperance movement.
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
On Sunday, March 22, another monster mass meeting was held and addressed by able speakers.
The movement was not confined alone to South Bend, but at other points in the county large meetings were held and good accom- plished which is yet felt in every community.
RED-RIBBON MOVEMENT.
The next movement in behalf of temperance was that known as the " Red Ribbon Movement," which was the direct result of the women's crusade. An interest had been awakened throughont the land, but many not religionsly inclined, and some who were con- scientionsly opposed to the work as performed by the women, were yet ready to embrace some other method that would lead to good results. At the opportune moment the red-ribbon movement was set on foot and rapidly spread throughout the land. In the winter of 1876-'77, eloquent speakers in advocacy of the claims of this new effort caine into this county, and at South Bend and other points large meetings were held and many induced to sign the pledge and wear the ribbon. The first club organized was at South Bend, on the 7th of April, 1877. John Brownfield, Jr., was elected President; Richard Holmes, John Duey and Fred Barnhard, Vice Presidents; Otto M. Kuoblock, Secretary; Z. M. Johnson, Treasurer; Mr. Perkins, Chaplain. On the Sunday following the club held a public meeting and was addressed by several young men who had been accustomed to the use of intoxicating drinks. Under the direction of Mrs. Emma Malloy a series of meetings was held, and the number of those signing the pledge was greatly increased. The movement was one of love to all men, the doctrine of hate being unknown.
After Mrs. Malloy ceased her labors in South Bend, there was a lull in the movement for a time, but it was again inaugurated in July following by John W. Custer and Major Plympton. Under their labors many who had not previously signed were induced to do so, and the cause of temperance received an impetus which could not be impeded by any slight obstacle in the way.
CHAPTER XVI.
DARK DEEDS .- CHARLES EAGER .- ALEXANDER WILSON .- THOMAS BOU- CHER .-- ORANGE G. STAGE .- JOHN SCHULKOSKI .- JONATHAN HICK- MAN .- JOHN SULLIVAN .- MURDER OF EPHRAIM DICE .- ST. JOSEPH RIVER AND ITS VICTIMS .- FOUR YOUNG PEOPLE DROWNED .- MYSTERI- OUS DISAPPEARANCE OF HENRY F. PORTER .- HENRY SHERMAN .- FOUND A WATERY GRAVE .- KATY FLECK'S TRAGIC DEATH .- MYS- TERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF J. C. MARVIN .- DEATH IN THE RIVER .- DROWNING OF JACOB BAUER .- STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE .- JOHN SCHUMAN .- WHISKY DID IT .- ANOTHER VICTIM.
DARK DEEDS.
Since the day that Cain slew his brother Abel, murder has been rife in the land, and it can hardly be expected that a county the size of St. Josephi could have an existence of fifty years without having its soil stained with the blood of a human being. Made up of representatives of nearly every nation, having inherited the prejudices and imbibed the hatred so common among different nationalities, and spurred on by the demon drink, it is a wonder the record is not darker and crime has not prevailed to a greater extent.
Thirty-eight years had passed from the time Pierre Navarre made here his home before the murderous hand was raised. The first case was that of
CHARLES EAGER,
indicted October 7, 1858, for the murder of Charles Kelley, at Mishawaka. Kelley and several companions from South Bend went to Mishawaka, and while intoxicated got into a difficulty, which resulted in his being stabbed in the heart by Eager. On trial the evidence seemed conclusive that the murder was done in self-defense, and the accused was acquitted. W. G. George and John. F. Miller appeared for the defense. The same defendant was afterward convicted of manslaughter in Allen county and sen- tenced to eight years in the penitentiary.
ALEXANDER WILSON.
On Friday, Ang. 3, 1860, Alexander Wilson murdered, in cold blood, Samuel Pierson, near the residence of Mr. Lamadee, in Greene township. They were both residents of that township. Some
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
years prior to this sad occurrence, Wilson married the daughter of Mr. Pierson, but owing to his almost habitual brutal treatment she had left him, and in the spring of 1860 she obtained a divorce from him. Wilson had since that time made repeated threats to kill both her and her father and other members of the family. On the day of the murder, with her father, she went to the residence of Mr. Lamadee in a wagon, Wilson following with a shot-gun. As Mr. Pierson got out of the wagon and was hitching his horses, Wilson came up and struck him repeatedly with the barrel of his rifle, breaking his arm, breaking and smashing his skull horribly, and knocking him senseless beneath his horse's feet. Before the alarm could be raised and assistance secured, Wilson made hi escape into the woods. Mr. Pierson, all the time senseless and without motion, lingered until the next day, when he expired. Wilson was always considered a bad man and a reckless and dan- gerous character, and so excited and incensed were the citizens that if he had been caught at the time he would have been lynched. A reward of $200 was offered for his capture by the Sheriff of the county, and he was afterward arrested and returned to Indiana for trial. A change of venue being taken to La Porte county, he was there tried, convicted and sentenced to six years' imprisonment in the penitentiary at Michigan City. He was, however, pardoned by the Governor long before the expiration of his term. Wilson was defended by W. G. George and A. Anderson.
THOMAS BOUCHER.
At the October term, 1865, of the Circuit Court, Thomas Boucher was indicted by the Grand Jury, for the murder of Alex- ander Laudemun. Thomas Boucher was a Virginian by birth, and at the time of the affair was a resident of Chicago, but temporarily working at Notre Dame. The killing occurred in the fourth ward of South Bend, and was claimed to have been accidental. He was brought to trial at the April term, 1866, of the Circuit Court, found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to two years in the penitentiary. He was ably defended by W. G. George and A. Anderson. After the expiration of one year he was liberated by the Governor.
ORANGE G. STAGE.
This man was charged with the murder of Charles Tibbetts in a saloon, where the opera douse now stands, in the city of South Bend. The weapon used in taking life was a large dirk knife. Stage was indicted at the October term, 1870, of the Circuit Court. A change of venue was taken to Marshall county, where he was placed on trial, being defended by W. G. George, C. H. Reeves and James Davis. The plea of the defense was that Tibbetts was
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
killed by Stage in self-defense. The reputation of Tibbetts as a dan- gerous and quarrelsome man materially aided this defense, and Stage was acquitted.
JOHN SCHULKOSKI.
Frank Treanofski, Martin Sass, Max Strafe, Joseph Pinkowiski and John Schulkoski were out hunting on the 27th of November, 1873, and returned about 5 o'clock in the afternoon, and at the invitation of one Kitkoski, went to his house to get some whisky, but when they arrived there they found there was none in the house, so they made up a purse of a dollar and sent for some alco- hol, which they dilnted with water. Under the influence of their potations they became merry and went to dancing, which they kept up until about 10 o'clock, when they commenced quarreling. Kitkoski attempted to put Treanofski out of his house, in which he was assisted by Schulkoski, who in the melee drew a knife and attempted to stab Treanofski, cutting through his vest and shirt, but not wounding him. They finally succeeded in getting them ont of the door, but they did not immediately go away; they stood on the porch while Sass was putting on his gloves. While in the act of doing so Schulkoski shot at them out of the window, the load passing in front of Treanofski's face and striking Sass in the left side of the face, destroying the left eye and carry- ing away nearly all the lower part of the nose, and killing him instantly. Schulkoski was arrested, and on the 26th of December was arraigned for trail. Conviction followed and he was sentenced to 21 years in the penitentiary.
JONATHAN HICKMAN.
On Tuesday morning, July 16, 1874, the people living abont three miles north of New Carlisle were surprised to find the log cabin in which a Polander by the name of Thomas Cihanski, better known by the nickname of "Tommy Polander," lived with his wife, to be burned to the ground. On closer investigation they were horrified to find the remains of two human beings in the ashes. which proved to be those of the Polander and his wife. The sight was a most horrible one. The legs and arms were almost wholly consumed, the bodies with their shriveled intestines and the open skulls, showing the brains within baked to a cake, being the only parts which were not charred to cinders. At first it was thought they had been burned to death, but closer examination showed a foul double murder had been committed. The remains of the man were still recognizable, and on inspection it was revealed that the back part of his skull had been crushed in. The body of the woman was so badly charred, that whatever marks of violence may have been on her person were undiscoverable. Locks of hair and clotted blood were found on the grass near the ruins of
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the house, seeming to indicate that a terrible struggle had taken place between her and her murderer ontside of the house. A bloody nightcap was also picked up near by.
The remains of both parties were found close to where they were known to sleep, showing that the woman's body must have been carried in and thrown on or near the bed, to convey the impression that both came to their deaths while slumbering, by accidental burning of the house. The house was built of logs in a partial clearing made by Cihanski, on land belonging to James Swank.
The report that there was a considerable sum of money in the house, supposed to have been the motive of the killing, was posi- tively confirmed by the evidence brought out at the inquest, the brother-in-law testifying that Cihanski had about $600 in a belt which he carried around his waist. He had been repeatedly urged to put this in a bank, but would not.
Sheriff Turnock, who was present at the inquest, had his suspicions aroused by the actions of two young men, James Bennett and Jonathan Hickman. They were arrested, but no evidence being found against them, they were discharged. The Sheriff kept track of them, however, and becoming more and more convinced of their being implicated, organized a party, and going to the residence of their parents, a few days after the murder, arrested them and con- fined them in the county jail, where they remained until the December term of the Circuit Court, when they were placed on trial, Judge Stanfield presiding.
After hearing the evidence of a number of witnesses, James Bennett, one of the parties indicted, was placed on the stand and turned State's evidence, narrating every particular of the horrible deed. Upon his evidence as well as by cireninstantial evidence by other witnesses, Hickman was found guilty and sentenced to the penitentiary for life.
The proseention of the case was conducted by O. S. Witherill and Lucius Hubbard, the defense by Major Plympton and Judge Hagerty.
JOHN SULLIVAN.
On Saturday evening, March 18, 1876, a little after six o'clock. John Sullivan appeared at the county jail and asked to be locked in, stating as his reason that he had stabbed William Quinlan in front of a saloon on South street, opposite the Lake Shore depot. It would appear from evidence given in the case, Quinlan and a man named Harrington had been having some trouble about a woman. Harrington had cast some aspersions upon the character of a woman in whom Quinlan was interested, and the latter, when intoxicated, went to a house where Harrington was stopping and demanded satisfaction. It is said that Harrington and others took advantage of Quinlan's partial helpless condition and gave him a severe beating. Out of this grew the difficulty which ended in the
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deatlı of a human being. The parties met in the saloon of Thomas Krick, near the Lake Shore depot, and after partaking of a quan- tity of villainous whisky, the old difficulty was renewed and they proposed to fight it out. Some feeble protest was made against the fight, but the general voice of the crowd was in favor of it, fisti- cuffs being recognized as the only true way of settling misunder- standings, particularly if it happened to be an old grudge. Krick objected to fighting in the saloon, and as the crowd wanted more elbow room, all moved ontside, Quinlan and Harrington clinching and falling as they cleared the door. They then had two or three rounds, breathing a moment between cach, when Sullivan, a cousin of Harrington, who had been standing with an open knife in his hand, gave Quinlan a slash in the bowels, driving the blade in its full length. Quinlan did not at first realize that he was cut, but continned fighting. The blood streamed from the wound, however, and he soon got faint. He leaned for support against a building, and with an exclamation that he was stabbed, staggered a few steps and fell. He was taken into the saloon and physicians summoned. Soon after he was removed to the residence of his parents, where about six o'clock the next morning he died.
On Wednesday, May 31, Sullivan was arraigned for trial, the evidence being substantially as narrated. After hearing the evi- dence and the counsels for the prosecution and defense, the jury retired, and in a few minutes returned with a verdict of eleven years in the penitentiary.
MURDER OF EPHRAIM DICE.
On Friday night, Aug. 20, 1880, Benjamin and Ephraim Dice, had some trouble with Charles Perkins and Maennerchor Wall, in South Bend. The parties met again on Monday afternoon follow- ing at J. K. Seltzer's saloon, No. 117 Michigan street, where the trouble was renewed. Ephraim and Ben Dice were sitting in the saloon when Perkins and Pfaffenbach entered. Perkins and Ben Dice renewed their quarrel and engaged in a sort of a wrestling fight, which Pfaffenbach interrupted by striking Dice. The latter then turned his attention to Pfaffenbach and knocked him down, when he gave up whipped. A short time afterward the two broth- ers met the other crowd in front of Hughes' saloon, where talk of a fight was entered into, Pfaffenbach making a demonstration toward Ben Dice. The Dice boys saw that they were greatly ont- numbered and didn't care to fight. Meantime George Keck, who like most of the others was partially under the influence of liquor, was anxious to get at Ben Dice, and finally did break away from a couple of his friends who were holding him and struck Ben Dice. Ben was knocked down and partly stunned by two or three blows rained in upon him as he fell, and did not fully recover conscious- ness until informed that his brother was killed. When Ephraim Dice saw his brother beset by so many he naturally went to his aid,
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and thus through his brother's troubles came to his own death. He was immediately engaged by two or three of the crowd and quickly knocked down with what is supposed to have been a pair of metal knuckles on a slung-shot. He fell head foremost against a box and then rolled down upon the sidewalk, from whence he was kicked into the gutter. As he struck in the gutter his hands went up like the last grasp of a man for receding life. The next mo- ment he partially raised himself on his elbow and was picked up and carried into Snyder's drug store, close by, where within ten minutes he breathed his last, without having uttered a word or recognized a friend. A large crowd immediately gathered, and when the injured man was pronounced dead, people began to look around for his assailants, but during the excitement of the moment they had taken to their heels and made their escape. The police were scattered over the city, but were soon summoned, and as soon as they could get any information began to work, resulting in the arrest of Michael Lynch, Charles Kelley, Martin Pfaffenbach, Charles Perkins, Daniel Casey, Patrick Touhey, Geo. Briner, and a number of young men who witnessed the fight.
On being pronounced dead by the attending physicians, Drs. Partridge and Myers, the remains of the unfortunate young man were removed to Liphart's undertaking rooms on the opposite side of the street, where Coroner Miller viewed them, and assisted by Dr. Flory, made a post-mortem examination, which resulted in the discovery that in addition to a bruise and cut over the left eye, pre- senting the appearance of having been made with a hard, blunt instrument, his neck was dislocated close to the base of the skull. The physicians satisfied themselves of this fact by making an in- cision in the back of the neck, by which means the dislocation could be plainly felt. The dislocation was caused, the doctors say, by the fall into the gutter, but it might have resulted from one of several kicks that forced him from the sidewalk.
The parties arrested were taken before Justice Harbaugh, and after an examination lasting two days, Charles Kelley and An- drew Pfaffenbach were held to bail in the sum of $2,000 each. The others arrested at the time were discharged.
A few days after the examination, Pfaffenbach was taken before Judge Noyes, on a writ of habeus corpus, for examination, with the intent of having bail reduced. After hearing the testimony, the Judge remanded him to jail without bail.
ST. JOSEPHI RIVER AND ITS VICTIMS.
As one looks upon the St. Joseph river, with its clear, sparkling water hastening on toward the lake, it is with no dark, foreboding thoughts, but with heart-felt thanks to the Giver of all good and perfect gifts for placing at our feet another evidence of his wisdom and his power. Here in this beautiful stream is seen a power, which, if controlled by man, may be the means of giving life to
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
many by converting the golden grain into an article of food; mills and manufactories may flourish upon its banks; vessels may ride upon its water; but no thoughts of death obtrude upon the mind; the grim monster that waits upon all surely cannot be lurking here; and yet the pen of the historian is compelled to write of many sad endings of life in these pure waters. Here is witnessed a youth, playing in the water, with no thought of deatlı before him; peace and joy reign in his heart; but as he playfully splashes the water upon his companion he gets beyond his depth, goes down, and a life is lost! A beautiful maiden, fair as the sunshine, outwardly giving no evidence of a clouded life, plunges into the river and is rescued a corpse. Here is one whose mind has been deranged by misfortunes that crowded thick and fast upon him; a small ray of light pierces his mind; he realizes that he is a burden to those he loves; he goes down to the river bank in the dark hours of the night, lays down in the water, where he imagines all trouble will end; his body is found and laid away to rest. None but an all. wise God can know the thoughts of those who have met death by their own hands. The veil of charity must be thrown over all by those who are living.
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