News
Page last updated February 26, 2016
ROBERT McNAUGHT SHOT
Ellettsville (Monroe County, Indiana) Farm, October 9, 1913, p. 1.
Submitted by Randi Richardson
Robert McNaught, 35 years old, son of General Thomas A. McNaught of Spencer,
was shot and instantly killed Sunday noon at Mooresville by Henry Beeler,
marshal of that place. It seems that McNaught and a friend named Elkins
were making trouble on the downtown streets and that Marshal Beeler was
called to put a stop to it. Elkins and McNaught turned on the marshal,
Elkins striking him and knocking him to his knees. Both men, says the Star,
jumped onto him and began beating him but were pulled off by citizens.
Five shots were said to have been fired, four of which, according to the
Star found lodgment in McNaught's body, and his death was practically
instantaneous. The shooting occurred at noon and was witnessed by fully 200
people who were going home from two churches, both in sight of the scene of
the shooting. Coroner Maxwell held Beeler guilty of murder and Sheriff Haas
of Morgan County took the marshal into custody and he was placed in jail.
MEDICINE MEN IN TROUBLE- CHARGED WITH OBTAINING MONEY UNDER FALSE PRETENSES
Indianapolis Sentinel; May 17, 1879
Posted by Debbie Jennings
Martinsville--Porter and Sailors have been returned here from Brownstown, where they were
taken on a charge of false pretense. The indictment against them there was
quashed and the court today has been listening to a motion to quash. The
question is not yet decided. Quite a number of indictments against them
were quashed at the last term of our court. The extreme technicality of
our courts renders the crime of false pretense easily perpetrated and hard
to punish. Porter and Sailors went over the country pretending to sell
medicines for the "Western Medical Works of Indianapolis" and to appoint
agents for the sale of the medicines thereof; but the pretended appointments
turned out to be promissory notes payable at the bank.The have been languishing
in jail here and in Jackson county until they look bleached and haggard.
DUTCH DOGGERY ROW
Morgan Gazette; April 11, 1857
Posted by Kathy Bargerhuff
On Monday night a week, about 12 o'clock, a quarrel and fight took place between Peter Miller and Jacob Mermann, both Germans, at the fancy brick doggery of the said Peter Miller. Jacob is quite a small man, and a bad cripple. This, however, did not prevent Peter from letting into him with the weapons of doggery warfare. He first smashed a large and heavy beer glass over Jacob's head, cutting a large hole in his scalp, and followed it up with one or more blows with a junk bottle over Jacob's face and head, badly bruising and smashing his nose and face. Peter, then with true dutch courage hurried to a justice and in common parlance swore his life against Jake and some other German, and they were arrested and held till the next day, when they were discharged. Peter was then arrested and taken before Esquire Orner and the case was laid over from time to time till Thursday to give the witnesses time to sober up-- On Thursday, the case was tried by Orner, who entered up a fine of $3.00 ! against Miller. Jake was in the street when he was beaten by Miller, so we have the precedent of a $3.00 fine for beating a poor cripple with huge tumblers and junk bottles till his friends don't recognize him in the public street.
ASSAULT AND BATTERY
Morgan Gazette; August 13, 1857
Posted by Kathy Bargerhuff
A serious case of assault and battery occurred near Hall in Gregg Township on Wednesday the 12th instant. The main facts of the case as near as we could learn them are as follows-- Isaac Garrett was present at the threshing frolic and while seated upon a wagon tongue near where the work was going on, George Adams came up behind him, armed with a pitchfork and struck him a severe blow upon the head inflicting a gash some three inches in length. Garrett we understand gave no provocation- he had a difficulty however with Adams' father some time since and the assault is supposed to have grown out of this. The case was tried before Judge Hinkle at Hall on Monday last and a fine of $20 was assessed against the defendant.
OFFICERS RAID "BLIND TIGER"; BEER UNDER WATERMELONS
Indianapolis Star; 16 September 1912
Submitted by Kathy Bargerhuff
Local Federal Officers raided two alleged "blind tigers" in Martinsville, Morgan County, at noon yesterday, arrested Thomas J. Booker and Jesse Beecham and confiscated two barrels of bottled beer found in the cellar of a restaurant operated by Booker. Although revenue officers are said to have bought beer of Beecham recently, no liquor was found in his establishment.
Chief Deputy United States Marshal Merrill E. Wilson. Deputy Marshal Lon Boyd and Deputy Revenue Collectors, Charles Whithoft and O.F. Boyce made the arrests. They invaded Booker's cellar and found the beer hidden in an icechest and covered with watermelons.
Booker fell before a ruse conceived by Chief Deputy Wilson, the Officer entered the restaurant, singled out the owner and called him into the back room. He inquired cautiously if he "could get a drink in Martinsville on Sunday". Booker said he had some beer in the cellar and took Wilson and his aids to the icebox.
Two "thirsty ones" entered the cellar while the officers were there. Seeing the crowd and suspecting that something was wrong, they started to leave. In reply to Wilson's question as to what they wanted, they said, "Only some watermelon." The officers say that this was the recognized call, When a friend or someone known to Booker asked for watermelon, he got a beer.
The two men were bought here and given a preliminary hearing before Federal Commisioner Howard Young and their bonds were placed at $250 each. Edward Cain, who said he was a farmer living near Martinsville, signed the bonds.
Found Liquor Preparations
Martinsville Democrat; July 9, 1926; page 1
Submitted by Debbie Jennings
Sheriff Pointer, Deputy Lucas and Chief of Police Newman located a large quantity of stuff that apparently was intended for use in the manufacture of "white mule" Wednesday night on the Steiger farm in Green township. The owners had apparently hidden the stuff and made their escape. The mash was destroyed and the stoves brought into the jail.
Phillips Arrested On Liquor Charge
Martinsville Democrat; July 9, 1926; page 1
Submitted by Debbie Jennings
William Phillips was arrested by Sheriff Pointer Wednesday on the charge of selling intoxicating liquors and he was placed in jail to await a hearing.
Weddings
Birthdays
Anniversaries
Reunions
Business/Failures
Crime
Suicides
Lawsuits
Help Wanted
Sickness
Advertisements
Political News
Church News
Accidents