DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA
NEWS
INDIANA NOTE: 12/14/1898
The bondsmen of nap Coffinberry, of
Garrett, who was short many thousand dollars in his accounts as auditor
of DeKalb county, have filed suit to recover the amount they paid into
the county treasury in settlement of the defalcation, Mrs. Coffinberry,
whose is the daughter of the late William Ditton, of Wabash, and the
administrator of Mr. Coffinberry’s estate, are made defendants.
June 11,1919 Minor Accidents in Northeastern Indiana
Newville, IN. 6-11-1919.
Mrs. Minnie Tarney stepped on a nail a few days ago, the mail
penetrating considerably into her foot. Little was thought of the
accident at the time, but since blood poisoning has developed and Mrs
Tarney is suffering intensely.
Auburn, IN.
Feb.1.,1898. Hon. C.A.O. McClellan, ex-member of Congress,
died suddenly at his home in this city last night. Mr. McCellan was
president of the First National bank of this city, had served as judge
of this circuit in 1879 & 1880 and served in Congress. As a
Democrat for 4 yrs, being elected in 1888 & 1890 from the 12th
district. He leaves a wife, one son Charles and 2 daughters, Mrs.
Jennie Garwood, of this city and Mrs. Della Silver of Detroit. He came
to this city from Waterloo, this county, in 1883, being then interested
in banking business in both cities and prominent as a lawyer, having a
large practice in this and surrounding counties. The cause of his death
was heart failure, from, which he suffered more or less for about 8
months. His funeral takes place at the Presbyterian Church Friday at 1
o’clock. He was a 32nd degree Mason and will be buried under the
auspices of that order in Waterloo.
Auburn, IN.
Feb. 24, 1898. The citizens of Garrett were thrown into a state of
excitement this evening when it became known that Frederick Simons had
murdered 2 of his children and then shot himself. His wife had gone to
the home of Mrs. Harper, a neighbor, and Simons sent his son over there
immediately after for some tobacco. The father then locked the doors
and shot his 2 little daughters, aged 3 and 4, and then he sent a
bullet into his own head. The son, returning, could not gain
admittance, and went back for Mr. Harper, who came and forced the door.
One child wad dead and the other dying, while Mr. Simons was struggling
on the floor and beyond recovery. All 3 shots were in the right temple.
Mr. Simons was formerly a clerk in the Baltimore & Ohio offices,
but lost his position. He had been drinking hard for several weeks, and
becoming crazed from drink and discouraged from loss of work, committed
the deed. He was a native of England and was 50 yrs old.
Auburn, IN.
Dec. 2,1898. The safe in the private bank of Chadwick, Ransburg and Co.
at Pleasant Lake was blown by robbers last night, and over $1,000 in
money was taken. The robbery gave the town a sensation it will
never cease to talk about. Five men drove into the town at 2 o’clock
this morning, broke open the bank door, bound and gagged the night
watchman and calmly proceeded to blow once the safe with dynamite. At
the second charge the safe flew into a hundred pieces, and the mammoth
door hurled through the plate glass window and across the street. The
bank is in the front of the company’s general store. While 3 of the
robbers were bust at the safe the others looted the tore.
Everything of value they could carry was loaded into the wagon. One
thousand dollars of the banker’s money and the postmaster’s money and
stamps were taken from the safe. The robbers drove north before the
town was aroused. An armed posse was formed early this morning and
started in pursuit, with no news yet of the chase.