Madison County, Indiana - Chapter 75, 1897 (part 2 of 2)

On the 5th of October, 1881, the citizens of Frankton were shocked at receiving the news by telegraph that William Townsend had shot himself at the Crawford House, in Cincinnati. No seeming cause could be assigned for the rash act, as he was pleasantly situated in business, belonged to a very good family, and was highly esteemed. He was happily married, and was the father of a three-year-old daughter whom he dearly loved. He was at times, it is said, given to fits of melancholy, but no stress was laid on that fact, as he had made no demonstration of doing injury to himself or to others. On the day prior to his death he went to Cincinnati on the evening train and registered at the Crawford House, paying his bill in advance for the time he expected to remain. He was apparently in the very best of spirits, and after supper left the hotel to spend the evening with a friend by the name of James Duncan, who represented one of the wholesale houses of which he purchased goods. During the evening he was more than usually cheerful, and never once raised a suspicion of the terrible deed he was about to commit. On leaving his friend he charged him particularly to call for him at seven o'clock the next morning. He entered the hotel where he had an order placed upon the register to call him at halfpast six o'clock the next morning, and after a brief conversation with the clerk, he retired for the night. The next morning the clerk, at the designated hour, went to his room, but getting no response, he forced the door open and was horrified to find young Townsend dead. He was lying with his pants and shirt on, with a bullet hole in his head, and a 32-calibre Colt's revolver clinched in his hands.

The alarm was at once given and the Coroner notified. He empaneled a jury, held an inquest, and after investigation a verdict returned that the deceased had come to his death from a pistol shot by his own hand.

It was a sad blow not only to his father, mother and other near relations, but also to his young wife, who yet survives him, and who is at this time a resident of Anderson.

Killed By Damps In A Well

On the 24th of July, 1890, Louis Peppin and David Welker, his son-in-law, both of Frankton, were digging a well near that place, when they were overcome by gas, or " damps," and were suffocated. They had dug the well to a depth of twenty feet, when Peppin, who was in the bottom, struck a vein of gas, and coming up, sat down, remarking that he believed he had struck a gas-well. After resting a few moments he again descended. He had nearly reached the bottom when his farther progress was arrested by the gas, which was pouring out to such an extent as to prevent him from going down farther, and was overcome. David Welker looked down and saw his father-in-law lying limp and help- Jess. It dawned upon him that there were " damps " in the well, and he started down to rescue Peppin from his perilous position. When he reached the bottom he attempted to lift the body into the bucket, and in doing so, he himself was also overcome, and both bodies lay at the bottom of the well in a lifeless condition. The accident produced a momentary panic among the men who had assembled on the brink of the well, and it was fully twenty minutes before the bodies were recovered. No one dared to enter the deadly well, and therefore a rope was let down and looped around the legs of the unfortunate men, and thus they were drawn to the surface. Peppin was a man about sixty-eight years of age, and his son-in-law, Welker, was much younger. They both left families in needy circumstances. The well in question was upon the farm of John D. Gooding, ex-Deputy Sheriff of Madison county, and was southwest of the town of Frankton. The remains of the unfortunate men were interred in the cemetery near the place of their death. Welker was a nephew of Mr. George Welker, ex-Chief of Police of Anderson.

On the 16th of May, 1882, a sad accident occurred at the town of Frankton, whereby Mrs. MaryTimmons, of that place, lost her life by being run over by a train of cars on the Pan

Handle Railroad. She had been in the dry goods store of Quick & Co. making some purchases and on leaving went towards the railroad. This she intended to cross and walked in a northernly direction, but had her attention drawn the opposite way by looking at some object along the roadside. She was unconscious of the approaching train, and being very deaf could not hear its noise. The train was running at considerable speed and struck her on her left side so that she was thrown a distance of forty or fifty feet, falling under a flat-car on the side of the track. Her body was considerably bruised and mutilated and she lived only an hour after the accident. Several persons saw her going to the railroad and beheld the danger that she was in, but were too far away to render her any assistance. Dr. Edwins was immediately called and took charge of the woman, being assisted by Dr. Brown. But nothing could be done. Her injuries were fatal.

On examination it was found that her left arm was broken and badly crushed and a dangerous wound was also discovered in her left side. Michael Ryan, Coroner of Madison county, was notified and proceeded to Frankton to hold an inquest. He returned a verdict of death in accordance with the facts as stated. The Coroner also exonerated the railroad company from anj' blame in the matter. Lafayette Freeman was the engineer and W. H. Green, fireman, in charge of the engine. They testified that they saw the woman, but not in time to stop the train, and supposed that she heard them, and every moment looked for her to step off the track. Mrs. Timmons left a husband, but no children.

Incendiary Fire

In the month of August, 1890, a man of the name of MacDonald erected a building in Frankton for the purpose of occupying the same with a retail liquor saloon, but while in course of erection in some manner it was set on fire and completely destroyed. It was almost certain that the fire was the act of an incendiary, as no fire was about the premises and there was no other way in which it could have been ignited. No clue %vas ever obtained as to \vho the guilty parties were. It was strongly suspected that some parties who were opposed to having the building occupied by a dram shop took this method of getting it out of the way.

A Burglary'

The usually quiet town of Frankton was visited on the night of the 20th of October, 1887, by a band of burglars who rifled the dry goods store of D. Canaday & Company, Sigler Brothers' drug store, and Quick's hardware store. The burglars, however, secured but little valuable booty, as they were frustrated in their designs by someone walking on the street, which compelled them to abandon their object. A little money had been left in the cash drawer at Sigler's store, which was taken, and from the other establishments a few pocketknives and revolvers were carried away. Strong suspicion pointed to some parties in the immediate vicinity, but sufficient evidence was not obtained to cause their arrest, and none was ever made in connection with the matter.

William Massee Disemboweled

In the year 1888 William Massee came near losing his life by having his bowels cut by a knife in the hands of a cousin, Charles Massee, at the town of Frankton. The occurrence was the result of a family feud that had for some time existed. The Massees were Kentucky mountaineers, who had not been long residents of this communitj', and little is known of them by the writers. Soon after this affair they removed from the county, and their whereabouts is now unknown. Dr. S. W. Edwins was soon upon the scene, and in a very skillful manner replaced the intestines and sewed up the wound, and the unfortunate man recovered.

Capture Of Burglars At Frankton

During the early part of the year 1890 the vicinity of Frankton had been the scene of several small burglaries and petty thieving operations. The store of Jefferson Ring was entered during that time and a considerable quantity of goods taken therefrom. Mr. Ring and others, who had suffered by these depredations, did their best to trap them but without avail, and finally the detective agency of Charles Page, of Richmond, was brought to bear upon them. Park Page was placed immediatel}' at work upon the case, and a " stool pigeon" was sent to Frankton to overlook the field. One of the first clews obtained was that Charles Rains and Preston Shell, twa young men living near Frankton, had some time previously come into possession of a key to the rear door of Ring's store, having stolen it of a carpenter of the name of Hiser who had

on the building. The young man who had been sent to Frankton as a -' decoy " and the detectives soon gained the confidence of the boys and a plan was entered into to rob the store on a certain night during the month of , May in that year. Mr. Ring and the detectives secreted themselves in the store. About 12 o'clock Rains, Shell and "the decoy" put in their appearance and opened -the rear door with the stolen key. As they entered the store the acute ear of Rains heard the ticking of Detective Page's watch and having some misgivings that he and his partner were "bagged" endeavored to make his escape. The detective stepped to the door and drawing his revolver captured the two boys and placed them in irons. After the capture they admitted that they robbed the store on two different occasions and had obtained entrance by the key which they had stolen. They were handcuffed together and taken to Anderson and lodged in jail to await their trial. They were both j-oimg men, one twenty-one and the other nineteen years of age. They had both been born and reared on farms in the vicinity of Frankton.

At the May term of the Madison Circuit Court they were placed on trial for the crime of burglary, Shell being defended by Hon. C. L. Henry and Hon. George M. Ballard. Judge M. A. Chipman having heard the evidence, young Shell was sentenced to two years in the State's prison, and on account of the youth of Rains and by his being badly influenced by his companion he was left off with a light punishment.

Killed By An Officer

A serious shooting affair occurred at the town of Frankton on the night of August 29, 1872, the facts of which are about as follows : The firm of C. Quick & Co. had been suspecting for some time that there parties ^vho contemplated robbing their store and safe. They were large dealers in clothing, merchandise and groceries, and had a large Hall's safe in their office, as they also conducted a banking business for the accommodation of the Frankton public. They were formally notified of the intended raid by information which was communicated to them by a detective bj- the name of William .Shoemaker, who resided at Centerville, Wayne county, Indiana.

Shoemaker had fallen in with one William Beeson at Indianapolis, one of the parties upon whom suspicion rested. Shoemaker caused Beeson to believe he was also a burglar.

The detective told Beeson that he was not a good hand at opening safes, but that he had a friend who was very successful in that line, and would send him to assist Beeson. This assistant came, and it seems that he and Beeson made the necessary arrangements and fixed upon a certain night to commit the burglary. Quick & Co., in the meantime, had been made acquainted with the scheme, and deeraed it proper to provide such means as would tend to the capture and arrest of the parties who were about to engage in this criminal act. Thursday night of that week was fixed upon as the time for the burglary. Quick & Co. sent a messenger to the city of Anderson to inform the Sheriff of Madison county, and to request him to have some proper officer detailed to visit Frankton on the night in question in order to arrest the parties while they were engaged in the act of burglarizing the store. David K. Carver, then SherifT of Madison county, willingly complied with this request and selected Mr. Stephen Metcalf, his deputy, and called to his assistance Cornelius Daugherty, Constable of Anderson township, and Mr. Oran Walker, a deputy Sheriff.

These officers immediately proceeded to Frankton. At about 12 o'clock at night, two men entered the store, and, at a signal of the detective, who had met and become acquainted with Metcalf and his assistants, and who had communicated to them how the details should be arranged as to the capture, rushed to the store front, which was thrown open by the detective, who was on the inside of the building, in company with Beeson, in the act of committing the burglary. At that very moment, one of the men in the store, who had a darklantern, shut off its light, and in doing so, threw up his arm. The light reflected on the lantern and caused it to glisten. Islr. Metcalf mistook this for a revolver, and, from the man's motions, supposed he was in the act of shooting. Mr. Metcalf, acting upon the spur of the moment, and in the full confidence that he was acting in defense of his own life, and in the discharge of an official duty, instantly fired his revolver, the shot taking effect in the left arm of vShoemaker, who had been mistaken for Beeson, the burglar, passing thence into his side, causing instant death.

Some doubts were entertained as to the real character in which Shoemaker was figuring in this matter, but the prevailing opinion seems to have been that he was acting in good

William Beeson, who was found in the store, was arrested by the officers, and, after a preliminary examination before 'Squire Roach, of Anderson, was required to give bond in the sum of $2,000 for his appearance at the subsequent term of the Madison Circuit Court. He was unable to give the required bail and was committed to jail, where he remained for a considerable length of time. At one time he made his escape and was recaptured by Albert J. Ross, who had in the meantime become Sheriff of the county.

The Coroner, having empanelled a jury to hold an inquest over the dead body of Shoemaker, returned a verdict that he came to his death from a pistol shot inflicted by Stephen Metcalf , Deputy Sheriff of Madison county, in the discharge of his duty. A post-mortem exainination was also made, after which the remains of Shoemaker were transmitted to bis friends in Centerville, in charge of a man who had come froia that place to receive them.

Killing Of J. Frank Stanley

On the 22d of June, 1895, J. Frank Stanley, a blind fiddler, a grandson of Jacob Stanley, an influential farmer living^ between Florida and Frankton, was killed on the Pan Handle railroad near the town of Frankton. He was seen along the track at the time, but as he was not conscious of the appoaching train, was run down and instantly killed. His remains were taken to the house of his grandfather. A coroner's inquest was held and a verdict returned in accordance with the foregoing facts.

Among the old-timers of Madison county, none is more worthy of mention than Noah Waymire, late of Pipe Creek township. Noah formerly lived in Wayne county, from whence he moved to this county, in an early day, settling in the wilds of Pipe Creek township, ^vhere he cut out a large farm and made for himself and family a handsome fortune. He belonged to one of the largest families in the United States.

Every year the ^Vaymire family, at some point in this great union of States, holds a reunion; at these meetings, nearly every .State is represented. Uncle Noah always delighted in being on hand at tliese gatlierings. He was a man of commanding appearance and a fluent talker. Had he been educated and trained in politics in his younger -days, he would have been one of the political giants of the the times. He was large, portly and good-looking, and was a man w^hom one would turn around and look at if he passed him on the street.

No old settlers' meeting was complete without the presence of Noah Waymire ; he went far and near to all the gatherings of old settlers. He was generally the orator of the occasion ; he could speak long and loud, never failing to interest his hearers. He was uneducated, but the good Lord endowed him with the gift of commanding an untold supply of language, which seemed to roll out of him without effort. His greatest delight at an old settlers' picnic was to tell of the early trials of the pioneer settlers, and contrast the habits of the people then, with those of now, telling how the settlers lived, worked, loved and courted. He said at -one of these meetings at Perkinsville, a few years ago :

" Why, girls, you are here today, with your bustles and hoop-skirts on, you don't know the real enjoyments of young and blooming womanhood. When I was a young man, when I went out walking with a girl I didn't encounter any such -obstacles as these contrivances you've got on ; when I walked with a girl I walked right up ' against ' her all the way up ; when you put them riggins on you disfigure the beautiful form that nature gave you; you deceive the one who adores you, by your false make-up."

He said that " when he went sparkin' in them good old -days " they didn't have any parlor, nor any drawing-room. There was but one room in the house ; this room was used as a kitchen, parlor, bed-room and drawing-room ; there was an -old-fashioned fire-place in the house, where a big "back log " and a cord of wood made up the fire for warming the house. On Sunday nights, when he went to see his girl, he would have to sit and chat with the old folks until the girl got the supper dishes " done up." When bedtime came, he and the girl would shut their eyes until the old people got in bed. The smaller children were stored away in a trundle bed, and then business set in. He said he always took " shot pouch " holds on his girl, and never let go until daylight next rnorning.

she would always ride behind him on a horse, sometimes the distance being three or four miles. Uncle Noah was so entertaining in his way of talking that his hearers always lost sight of many of his rude expressions and plain way of putting things, becoming so worked up in his stories that they were sorry when he stopped. The good old men of the Noah Waymire stripe are fast passing away, there being but few left who came with him to Madison county when it was a wilderness. David Waymire Wood is a near relative of Noah Waymire, and is, in fact, named for him and inherits much of his brilliant wit, humor and oratory.

A Woman In Politics

In the history of Madison county politics many women have cut a conspicuous figure, as well as the men. In many instances women who figure in politics become more active and shrewder than men, laying plans and making suggestions.'

Among the women who have figured in the campaigns of Madison county, "Aunt Peggy Bowers," of Dundee, has cut quite a swath. Twenty years ago Dundee was known by the name of " Mudsock." There was no railroad there at that time, and Mudsock was away out in the woods, being the next thing to no place. The woods were so dense around its solitary precincts that the sun hardly ever peeped in. The place was rightfully named, from the fact that the mud was so deep the year round that it was almost impossible to get there with a wagon or carriage of any kind. Peggy Bowers kept a wet grocery, or liquor shop, in that isolated place for many years, Oliver Griflee officiating as her principal salesman.

Riley Etchison kept a place of the same character near at hand. Etchison's farm was a great place for shooting- matches, while Peggy's place was the general rendezvous for local politicians to congregate and fix up the slate for the county nominations for the north part of the county.

A candidate w^as not properly in the race until he had visited Peggy Bowers' ranch, and got the Mudsockers all in line. When solidly entrenched behind Peggy's works the candidate was pretty sure of victory. William Long was then a central figure in all campaigning. He was generally on hand at the gatherings at Peggy's place, taking a hand in the festivities and lending his advice to the candidates. Since

In 1870, the Republicans, through a split in the Democratic ranks, made a clean sweep and elected every officer in Madison county, except the Clerk of the Court. David K. Carver was the successful candidate for Sheriff, defeating John Little, of Pipe Creek township.

This defeat had the effect to weld together the broken links in the Democratic ranks, and in the following election in 1872 every effort was made to bring about a Democratic victory. A. Ross, of Pipe Creek township, was placed in nomination for Sheriff against D. K. Carver, who was a candidate for re-election. Every one conceded he had a hard race, as Carver was popular and had made a good Sheriff.

Ross was then a young man, full of vim and made a hustling race. Many were afraid, on account of his being young and mischievous, the older and quieter element would not support him. But as the fight went on, he grew in the race. One Sunday a crowd of politicians congregated at Peggy Bowers' to compare notes and lay plans. During the day, some of them got inside the house and closed the doors, shutting Ross and his friends out. He demanded entrance and, upon being refused, got a rail and battered the door down. It was soon heralded over the county, and it was thought he had put his foot so deep into it that he could not get through, but he only worked the harder. When the election came around he was the leader on the ticket. It was al%vays said afterwards that Ross beat his opponent and -' carried a rail."

Peggy Bowers and Riley Etchison for years sold liquor in any quantity, without license, often figuring in the courts in prosecutions for violating the law, but it was cheaper to pay fines than to take out license.

jSIudsock is now a beautiful, place, with the timber cleared away, and is one of the finest farming communities in the county. Peggy and her " pull " have given way to civilization and good society. Her days of usefulness as a local light in politics have gone glimmering, and the world moves on.

Played The Insanity Dodge

James Stilly, a rather worthless fellow, for many years lived in different parts of Madison county, and died in Anderson, January, 1884. He at one time lived in Pipe Creek township, making his headquarters in the neighborhood of

Frankton. Stilly was once placed under arrest on suspicion of being accessory to some horse stealing in that neighborhood and was placed upon trial for the crime. He had a bad case against him and in order to avoid the clutches of the law he was advised, by his attorney, to play the insanity dodge.

Stilly was a peculiar looking man, not being possessed of an over-bright intellect, and it was an easy thing for him to impress upon the jury that he was no>i compos mentis. The event of which we speak took place in the year 1851, when the late William Roach was Sherift" of Madison county. For several years prior to this time there had been a bad gang in Pipe Creek township, who had given the Sheriff and other officers a great deal of trouble. They were connected with similar organizations established in Wayne county, and to the west as far as the Wabash river. Horses were stolen along the eastern border of the State and run to this county, and after they had been rested up a little were taken to Logansport and other towns along the Wabash river. There are yet living many citizens in Pipe Creek township who could substantiate the e.xistence of such a band if they were placed upon the witness stand. They were generally desperate, reckless men such as are usually engaged in that calling, and the neighborhood was in great fear of them. Very often persons, whose horses had been stolen, would pursue the thieves through Anderson on towards the west, but generally with poor success, inasmuch as after they reached this neighborhood they would generally be lost sight of.

The cause of Stilly 's incarceration was that a valuable horse had been stolen from a farmer in this county and run to the rendezvous near Frankton where Stilly at that time lived. It is said that one of the leaders of the band induced Stilly to take the horse to Logansport, where he sold it. The owner pursued him and arrived soon after Stilly did. He recognized his horse on seeing it and established its identity and secured it. He also caused Stilly to be arrested and brought back to Anderson for trial, while the man who had really stolen the horse escaped. Before the trial came on Stilly's attorney had a private interview with him in which he asked him if he could not play the insane act on the trial. The idea was favorable to Stilly, who answered that " he could try mighty hard and thought he could make it work." When the trial came off a large crowd was in attendance. From the very first Stilly played his part to perfection. He would look silly and indif- ferent at every thing around him ; would twist up small bits of paper between his fingers and holding them up between himself and the light, would laugh like an idiot. He cried during the course of the trial and acted so strangely that he almost convinced the people and the jury that he was insane. When the argument began Stilly's attorney made a very eloquent address to the jury in his behalf in which he pictured the great injustice that would be done to humanity by commiting to prison this unfortunate, insane youth. He spoke feelingly of the great wrong it would be to punish his client for committing an act that he did not know was wrong. When the jury retired for deliberation, they were very much divided on the question of his alleged insanity, and could not reach a verdict for several hours. However, a verdict was at last agreed upon and he received a sentence of two years in the penitentiary and was taken by the Sheriff and two other prisoners overland in a wagon to Columbus, Indiana, and then by rail to JeflFersonville prison. The prisoner behaved very well during his confinement and learned the trade of a cooper, \vhich he for several years afterwards followed when he returned to Anderson.

James Stilly was one of the greatest fishermen that ever lived in this county. During the summer season he would go along the banks of White river, month in and month out to indulge in his favorite sport and rarely ever returned without having a long string of fish. He never referred to his early life, and after his discharge from prison was always a quiet inoffensive citizen and lived a rather exemplary life.

A destructive fire, which is supposed to have been the work of an incendiary, occurred on a Saturday night in November, 1857. The building burned was a new one just erected, and was owned by Qiiick & Murphy. It was a large structure containing a store, warehouse, railroad ticket office, and post-office, all under one roof. Nothing in the building was saved. The proprietors had just moved into their new headquarters, and had stored their warehouse with supplies, and had on hand a large stock of dry goods and groceries. The loss was estimated to be about $5,000, with no insurance. Suspicion rested on two parties who were engaged in keeping a saloon, or doggery, in Frankton, named Isaac Sigler and John Ravy. It is said that they had threatened Messrs. Qiiick & Murphy with their vengeance only a short time before this occurrence. Sigler and Ravy had both been previously arrested, charged with tearing up a railroad switch at Frankton. Sigler gave bail, and Ravy, in default of bail, was lodged in the county jail. This is said to have been the cause of their purpose to burn the building. Sigler and Ravy were both tried for the crime of arson, but in consequence of insufficient evidence were acquitted.

Sigler and Ravy were afterwards arrested for robbing Atherton's store at Frankton, and convicted. Sigler was sent to the State's prison, where he died, but Ravy made his escape and afterwards fell from a railroad bridge and was killed.

In an issue of an Anderson paper of November 27, 1857, we find the following editorial : "The citizens of Frankton haviilg endured a low groggery, kept by an Italian by the name of John Ravy, until forbearance ceased to be a virtue, the ladies of that place a few days since boldly walked into his saloon and quietly poured out the disgusting compound." We are informed by a friend who chanced to be in Frankton at the time, that the act was done in a quiet and orderly manner, and that the ladies deserved credit for the manner in which it was performed. Ravy is the same person %vho was connected with the burning of Quick & Murphy's store.

A Burglary

" On Tuesday night, last, the store of Messrs. Atherton was robbed of .$6.15 in cash and about sixty dollars worth of goods. On Wednesday James and Isaac Sigler, of that place, were arrested and the money found on their persons, and the goods were found secreted. They were detected by means of a plan laid by Officer Raney, of Cincinnati. Frankton had been for some time infested with housebreakers, and the citizens secured the services of this officer to ferret out the crime, which resulted in the capture of these two persons. Two other persons were suspected as being accessories to the larceny, but made their escape. The two Siglers' were brought to Anderson, and tried before "Squire William H. Mershon

On the 2nd of September, following, James and Isaac Sigler were tried in court for the above robbery and \vere convicted and sentenced to the State's prison for a term of two years each. They \vere safely lodged in the penitentiary at JefFersonville on the Saturday following their conviction. Isaac Sigler is the same person suspected of burning Murphy & Quick's store, referred to formerly.