LAWRENCE COUNTY INDIANA
NEWS


DID YOU KNOW?

LEESVILLE, A COMMUNITY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY WAS A FORT BUILT IN 1810 TO PROTECT THE SETTLERS. IN 1813 THE FORT WAS ATTACKED BY POTAWATOMIS INDIANS AND MOST OF THE SETTLERS WERE KILLED. JACOB FLINN WAS CAPTURED BUT ESCAPED AND LATER RETURNED TO LEESVILLE.

 

BACK TO BEDFORD; MAY IMPLICATE KIDNAPER IN SCHAFER MURDER.

Evidence Found That Tanksley May Have Killed Pretty Teacher Through Blunder. Bedford, Ind., Aug. 24.—Marshal Meyers is expected by Prosecutor Fletcher to arrive late today with Ernest Tanksley and Nellie Ralney, the Heltonville girl whom Tanksley iis charged with having kidnapped. Mr. Fletcher today denied many of the statements made in the story sent out from Evansville last night which attributed to him knowledge of. certain evidence against. Tanksley, which tended to connect Tanksley with the killing of Sarah Schaefer, who was found murdered in a shed here on the night of January 21, 1904. Mr. Fletcher is preserving silence as to what evidence, if any, he has in his possession. He admitted today he bad some letters written by Tanksley to Miss Rainey, but added, that not even his associate officials knew their contents. The prosecutor said today he would not secure a warrant charging Tanksley with the killing of Miss Schafer, but would place whatever evidence he might have in the hands of the grand jury. The prosecutor is much disturbed at the publicity given the matter at this time. He said he carefully cautioned Marshal Meyers about talking before the latter left for Evansville to bring back Tanksley and Miss Rainey.

TAKEN BACK TO BEDFORD. Officers Start With Man Suspected of Sarah Schafer's Murder. Evansville. Ind., Aug. 24.—Ernest Tanksley, of Bedford, Ind., and Miss Nellie Rainey, a school girl of Heltonville, Ind., a small town near Bedford, were taken to Bedford today by Bedford officers who came after them. Though the present charge against Tanksley is the abduction of Miss Rainey, the police will seek to learn if he has any knowledge as to who murdered Miss Sarah Schafer, the young school teacher killed more than two years ago and whose slayer is still unknown to the police. When charged by the police with guilty knowledge of Miss Schaferr's murder, Tanksley stoutly proclaimed his innocence. Miss Rainey says "he will commit suicide rather than testify against Tanksley". Three years ago his relations with the Rainey girl became Known and he left home and went to Bedford and worked there in hopes of hushing the disgrace. It is believed he decided the best way to clear his family of disgrace was to kill the Rainey girl.Girl to Meet Him at Alley. He wrote her a letter asking her to meet him in Bedford on a certain alley corner on the night of January 21. 1904. -It was at this very spot and time that Sarah Schafer was dragged down the alley and killed. The Rainey girl is pronounced, a duplicate of Sarah Schafer in appearance and the police believe that, Tanksley simply made a mistake in the woman and killed Miss Schafer while thinking he was getting Miss Rainey out o£ the way. The night was dark and such a mistake could easily have been made. Tanksley returned to his room that night with fresh, bloody scratches on his face. His roommate, Earl Hunter, asked him how his face became bruised. He did not reply. Late that night he awoke his roommate by poking a bundle of clothes into a stove. Hunter asked him what he was doing and an evasive reply was given.

Girl to Meet Him at Alley. He wrote her a letter asking her to meet him in Bedford on a certain alley corner on the night of January 21. 1904. -It was at this very spot and time that Sarah Schafer was dragged down the alley and killed. The Rainey girl is pronounced, a duplicate of Sarah Schafer in appearance and the police believe that, Tanksley simply made a mistake in the woman and killed Miss Schafer while thinking he was getting Miss Rainey out o£ the way. The night was dark and such a mistake could easily have been made. Tanksley returned to his room that night with fresh, bloody scratches on his face. His roommate, Earl Hunter, asked him how his face became bruised. He did not reply. Late that night he awoke his roommate by poking a bundle of clothes into a stove. Hunter asked him what he was doing and an evasive reply was given.

Letter Is Man's Undoing. Last fall Tanksley left Bedford and at the same time Miss Rainey disappeared from her home and was not heard of again until arrested. Recently Miss Rainey's father turned over to Prosecutor Benedict, of Bedford, a number of letters Tanksley had written to Nellie. His object was to have Tanksley arrested for kidnapping the girl. Among these letters was the one making the engagement on the alley corner in Bedford. The prosecutor connected Tanksley with the Schafer murder at once and soon unraveled the whole skein of evidence. Tanksley and the Rainey girl were arrested here in a rooming house. He refused to talk to the police. The girl tried to tell the story that they had been married. Late tonight she made a statement to a newspaper reporter that she knew Tanksley was wanted at Bedford for some charge other than kidnapping. There is another charge which can be brought against Ernest," she said, 'of which he has been living in terror ever since we left Bedford. If this charge is brought against him it will be terrible for him to bear and  will cause the greatest sensation. I will commit suicide rather than tell what I know." Weekly Sentinel, The | Fort Wayne, Indiana | Wednesday, August 29, 1906 |

WOMAN SOLON DIES MISS ELIZABETH RAINEY, THE FIRST WOMAN ELECTED TO LEGISLATURE, SUCCUMBS Indianapolis, April 27.—(/P)— Miss Elizabeth Rainey, 62, first woman elected to the legislature from Marion county, died today. She was born in southern Illinois. When a small child she moved with her parents to Knox county, Ind.,- where she lived until she was ten years old. The family. then moved to Waynetown, Monlgomery county. Miss Rainey came to Indianapolis forty-one years ago. She entered the office of a law firm. She was graduated from the Benjamin Harrison Law School and was admitted to. the bar. She was an organized of the Indiana Business and Professional Woman's Club. Survivors include a sister, Mrs. Lulu Earl, and a nephew, James Earl, of Indianapolis. Kokomo Tribune | Kokomo, Indiana | Saturday, April 27, 1935 | Page 2

 

7 Made III By Furnace Gas Clogged Flue Blamed For Bedford Case Bedford, Ind., Feb. 5 W) —A clogged vent in a converted gas furnace was blamed today for the illness of seven Bedford residents. The victims were overcome by gas in the home of Mrs. Benny Mascio early today. They were reported recovering in Dunn Memorial hospital. One of the victims said they all became ill last night but did not attribute it to gas. When they became ill they decided to spend the remainder of the night in the Mascio home. William Sherwood-, the woman's son-in-law,. called. for help when he revived sufficiently.. Fire Chief Ralph Rock said soot from a chimney apparently clogged the vent. Those overcome' besides Mrs. j Mascio and Sherwood, were Miss Amelia Mascio, Mrs. Josephine | Sherwood and her young son, and Mr. and Mrs. Junior Baker. Logansport Press | Logansport, Indiana | Tuesday, February 06, 1951 | Page 12

Fails to Return Schaefer Indictment. Bedford, Oct 4.—The Lawrence county grand jury filed its report with Judge Wilson and was discharged after three weeks' continuous labor. Among the cases considered was the attempt to connect Ernest Tanksley with the Sarah Schafer murder mystery. Forty witnesses were examined in the Tanksley case, but no Indictment was found. Logansport Reporter | Logansport, Indiana | Thursday, October 04, 1906

BEDFORD Ind., Sept. 27 Hon. James S. Dodge, ex-department commander G. A. R., spoke at the courthouse to-night to a large and appreciative audience. A large number of old soldiers were present. The Republican campaign is now on in Lawrence county, which is confidently expected to roll up one thousand Republican majority in November. Source: Indiana Journal Oct 5, 1898 submitted by Barb Z.

Bedford, IN. June 21, 1898. The Republican joint senatorial convention of Lawrence, Orange & Martin counties convened today at Mitchell to nominate a candidate. Will T. Penrod, editor of the Martin County Tribune, was elected chairman, and Fred Kimberley, editor of the Orleans progress, and Edmond b. Thornton, of this city, secretaries. Nominations being in order Hon. Thomas J. Brooks, of this city, was nominated by acclamation. Mr. Brooks is one of the editors of the Bedford Mail and a lawyer of acknowledged ability.
 
Bedford, IN. Sept. 7, 1898.  Otto Furman pleaded guilty to the charge of arson in the Lawrence County Circuit Court today, and was given an indeterminate sentence of from 1 to 21 yrs at Jeffersonville. He fired the barn of Daniel Rollins, a farmer, living west of this city, causing its complete destruction, with all its contents, because he had been rejected by Rollin's daughter.
 
Bedford, IN. Sept. 7, 1898. Samuel Gardner, one of Bedford's oldest citizens, aged 69, is dead after a short illness. Mr. Gardner has been a resident of this city for many years and is survived by a wife, 2 sons and a daughter. Anderson Gardiner, one of the sons, is a conductor on the Monon Railway at New Albany, and the other son Jesse, is connected with the same road in this city. Mrs. Murry Baugh, the daughter lives in Illinois. The funeral took place today at the Baptist Church and was attended by a large number of people.



Bedford, Indiana March 21m 1899 Louis Archileas, a widely known citizen of this county, died at his home today, near this city aged seventy. He was a noted bricklayer and had built or helped build many fine buildings in Indiana. He was a veteran of the civil war and a member of the G.A.R. The remains will be taken to New Albany for burial, where he formerly lived. He served during the war in the Sixtieth Indiana Regiment.


Bedford Indiana March 23- 1899 Samuel F. Moore was killed at Rock Ledge, ten miles west of this city, yesterday by an explosive of dynamite which he was thawing out. He had fifty pounds of the explosive in hot water when it exploded from some unknown cause. More was an expert dynamiter and was employed by the Southern  Indiana Railroad to blast rocks. His legs were found in a corn field three hundred yards away. He was said to have come here from Virginia. Otto Bourbon , of Williams, who was with him, was severely injured.


NEWSPAPER TIDBITS 12/13/1899

Bedford , IN. Dec, 4, 1899 .  The 10 yrs old child of William Fox, a farmer, living near Bedford , is dead eating bologna sausage supposed to be infested with trichinae and the other members of the family are critically ill.  The sausage was bought at Mitchell and the family ate freely of it.

 

 

Bedford, IN. Sept. 20,1898. Isaac Snow was taken before the court today for the second time after consultation with his father and attorney and pleaded guilty to murder in the 1st degree for killing William, McCart, Aug. 15 near this city. Monday he pleaded not guilty and his trial was set for Monday. He received a life sentence and was taken to Michigan City tonight by Sheriff Dobbins.

Idaho Tri Weekly Statesman Feb 11, 1882

CHICAGO, February 9. A Times Bedford, Indiana, special says the three roughs killed while trying .to raid a saloon, in Tunneltown, were Nicholas Vaughn, aged seventeen, Virgil Wilson and Isaac Whittel. These three, with Ben Wiloughby, conspired to steal a large amount of money in Myers  saloon, Then kill and rob Thomas Clark, a wealthy citizen, start, a fire near the village, and after burglarizing a large manufacturing place to flee to. Colorado or New Mexico. Wiloughby became frightened and exposed the plot Sunday morning and precautions were at once taken to thwart it.  A freight car containing five armed citizens in ambush was rolled nearby to the saloon door, commanding the whole place, and some fifteen others were hiding about the saloon, when the  fellows began their burglarious attempt, the fire from twenty rifles was  concentrated on  them. All fell, but none were fatally wounded until a second volley was given  them. Whitttel was killed, Vaughan was mortally wounded, And Wilson, after running, some distance and falling  several times, got the coup de grace from some person following, who shot his head off. .Vaughan died last night Willoughby said there was an organized gang of twelve who had entered several villainous plots, he has left for fear of his life. It Is well, as the rest are very bad characters, though some of them  had respectable parents.

 

May 30, 1882 Independent

Bedford (Indiana) Special, The storm that took place here last night was the most severe ever known in this part of the State. It began about twenty minutes before nine o'clock, and, for over half an hour the hail literally poured down, a strong wind from the northeast prevailing at the time, which caused the breaking of a great many windows. the hailstorm was followed by a perfect torrent of rain which flooded the streets of the town, rendering them at some places impassable. During the storm lightning struck the stable of Samuel Bristaw, in this place. The rain however, prevented it from burning. The strangest thing that took place was at the farm of Abraham Smith, who lives four miles south of the town, where a real genuine shower of stones fell, with what seems to be plastering. The stones are of various sizes, some as large as a man's fist, while others are quite small. The most of them are white flint, a stone that is not found in this part of Indiana. Many of Mr. Smith's windows were broken and several shingles knocked off his roof. In the immediate vicinity of the house more than a barrel of these stones can be gathered. A great many persons have to-day visited the Smith farm to satisfy themselves in regard to the matter.

 

Saturday Herald, The Dec. 30, 1882

A murderer named Bell in jail at Bedford, Indiana, was visited by his wife and furnished with a revolver. The jailer's wife, was called to the kitchen, and Mrs. Bell stole the keys and handed them to her husband. While he unlocked the doors and passed out, Mrs. Bell held the jailer's wife by the arm.

 

A saw mill six miles from Bedford, Indiana, exploded this morning, killing five men and injuring three others. Standard, The June 4 1891

John and Joseph Dusard's steam sawmill, near Bedford, Ind., was blown up by an explosion of the boiler, and six persons were killed. Herald And Torch Light, The June 11, 1891

 

MITCHELL, Ind., Jan. 27 -  Twenty-five years in bed is the record of John Bond, an eccentric colored man, living at this place. About a quarter of a century ago
his mother, then living in the country, decided to sell the farm and move to town. This greatly incensed her son John, who declared that if the farm was sold he would
go to bed and never get up again, as he had such a distaste for town life. The farm was sold and the family moved to town. Amid the protestations of his mother and family, John immediately went to bed and all inducements to get him up were unavailing. The only time he has been known to leave his bed was several years
ago, when his mother died. He was seen to get up about midnight and walk to his mother's coffin. For a number of years it was a familiar sight to see four enthusiastic
voters slowly wending their way through the streets carrying young Bond on a stretcher to the polls that he might cast his vote for their favorites. He has apparently lost all use of his lower limbs, which is due to lack of exercise.  The Indiana State Journal, (Indianapolis, IN) Wed., Feb. 1, 1899 - Submitted by Candi
Contributed by Candi Horton
 
Michael Messick, Jr., of a Prominent Bedford Family, Commits Suicide
BEDFORD. Ind., April 17.-Michael Messick, jr., committed suicide last night by taking strychnine. Messick was the only son of Mr. M. N. Messick, who retired from
active business some time ago and is now president of the Stone City Bank. He is quite wealthy. His brothers-in-law, Dr. J. Heckman, Charles Burton, W. A. Webb,
Harry Voris and Harry Gainey, are all among the leading business men of the city, the latter being a partner in the firm of Gainey & Co., of which young Messick was
the junior member. Messick was about twenty-two years of ago and was a member of Company H, One-hundred-and-fifty-ninth Indiana Volunteers in the
Spanish-American war. He attended college at Blooming ton and the military school at Cincinnati. The funeral will be held Tuesday. He purchased the strychnine, saying that he wanted to kill some cats. The poison was taken in the store and his body was found there. The motive is unknown.
The Weekly Indiana State Journal, (Indianapolis, IN) Wednesday, April 19, 1899
Contributed by Candi Horton

MITCHELL, Ind. April 9.—Mrs. Noah Greer. living about two miles west of town, aged sixty years, died suddenly and under
mysterious circumstances Wednesday evening. She had partaken of a hearty supper and was doing her evening work as
usual when suddenly she fell, screaming in great agony. A physician was summoned hastily, but the woman was dead before
he arrived. Her death was first thought to be due to apoplexy, but the circumstances are such that word has been sent to the coroner.
Indiana Journal April 14, 1897 submitted by Barb Zigenmeyer

 

John MURPHY, living near Heltonville, while crazed with liquor, assaulted Dawson CLARKE, who was trying to influence him to go home, and threw him down and cut his throat. Clarke will die. Murphy escaped arrest.
Indiana General News Items from the Indianapolis News 15 December. 1890 Page 6 Column 5 & 6 submitted by Barb Zigenmeyer

 

 

Bee EUBANKS, of Mitchell, has been indicted for the murder of his sister, Mary Eubanks, and a similar indictment rests against his aged father.
Their trial is set for the 24th inst. The same grand jury also indicted John W. FELTNER as the murderer of James HURON....
Indiana General News Items from the Indianapolis News 10 December, 1890 submitted by Barb Zigenmeyer

 

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