NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS - 1905
Friday, May 12, 1905
Clinton Register
DeWitt County, Illinois
PRATT NELSON'S WIT.
Pratt NELSON, who is spending a couple of months as the guest of Sheriff HOFF, does not regard his extended stay as a joke, yet he jokes about it. Since he has been there he has had his meals prepared up town. Tuesday he telephoned his cousin, C. D. NELSON, about his breakfast, and he told him he could not take it to him for a short time. Pratt told him it was not necessary to hurry about it, as he would be there all day.
Submitted by Judy Simpson
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Clinton Register
DeWitt County, Illinois
Friday, June 9, 1905
CRIMINAL DOCKET.
The case against Pratt NELSON was continued on account of the state being unable to get a principal witness in the case.
C. D. NELSON, gaming, will come up in Judge Hill's court as does also Jas. LANE for conducting a confidence game and the bond for Lane had been fixed at $1000 by Judge Hill.
Submitted by Judy Simpson
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Wednesday, July 5, 1905
The Decatur Review
Decatur, Illinois
HURT BY BLANK CARTRIDGE.
Kenney, Ills., July 5.—James McDONALD, 48 years old, was accidentally shot in the leg with a blank cartridge by Samuel McELVIRLEY and seriously injured.
Submitted by Sheryl Byrd
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Saturday, August 5, 1907
The Decatur Review
Decatur, Illinois
PLEADED GUILTY.
In the county court Herbert L. TAYLOR pleaded guilty to false pretenses and was fined $19 and cost and sentenced to twenty days on the rock pile and ordered to restore the money he had fraudulently obtained. He had been working on the railroad and before pay day he sold his time to two different persons. He got $31 in this way.
Submitted by Sheryl Byrd
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Saturday, August 12, 1905
The Decatur Review
Decatur, Illinois
YOUNG GIRL ELOPES.
Attracted by the shows of the county fair, held here recently, the 15-year-old daughter of W. M. JASPER of Clinton ran away with one of the companies. She is now under arrest in Monticello on complaint of her father. She will be brought home.
Submitted by Sheryl Byrd
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Sunday, September 3, 1905
The Decatur Review
Decatur, Illinois
AN ESTATE OF $2,000 NET GOES TO DEWITT COUNTY.
(Review Special Service.)
Clinton, Sept. 2.—Last chapters have practically been written in what is thought to be the most extraordinary suit ever started in DeWitt county. The county will be gainer to the extent of $1,800 or $20,000 [sic] when the suit is finally disposed of. The complainant in the case has even been threatened with criminal prosecution on the charge of fraud and perjury.
The case is that of Mrs. Ellen C. HOGAN of Charleston, S. C., against the estate of the late Charles MARKLAIN, to prove heirship. It was started about a year ago but it was never finished. E. J. SWEENEY, attorney for Mrs. Hogan, has, however, signified his intention of withdrawing the suit and thus practically end the case. As there are no heirs, the estate will escheat to the county.
WAS A SECRETIVE MAN.
Charles Marklain died in Midland City about two years ago without disclosing much about his life or his people. He came to Midland City when he was past middle life and worked there at carpentering. He was very secretive about his past, never telling even his closest associates, of whom there were but few, of his life before he arrived in Midland City. One day his best friend asked him:
"Charley, where were you born and raised?"
Charley's tart reply silenced the curiosity of the friend.
"I don't consider that any of your business," he said.
HARD WORKER.
By industry and economy Marklain managed to accumulate some money. He worked as often and as hard as he could. When he was not at work for somebody else, he was building something for himself. The houses he built he sold, clearing enough to pay him well for his work and to give him a small profit besides. He invested part of his money in five lots and two houses, worth in all perhaps $1,800 or $1,400. The rest, about $2,200, he put in a bank.
Finally, after he had lived in Midland City a good many years, he fell ill. Just before his death he sent for Father DOOLING, who had charge of the Catholic church, of which he was a member. The priest had notice of Marklain's death inserted in some Catholic paper, which afterward fell into the hands of Mrs. Hogan.
CLAIMED TO BE A NIECE.
About a year ago she appeared in Clinton and asserted that she was Marklain's niece, her father being Marklains' brother. No relatives having been found previously and the estate not having been settled, she employed Mr. Sweeney to file suit in the county court to prove her rights as heir. The case was started before Judge F. M. SHONKWILER of Monticello, who was then acting judge of the DeWitt county court before the selection of Judge F. C. HILL. J. H. PARKER of Midland City was administrator of the estate and Attorney John FULLER was the representative of the county in the case. The hearing was started but never finished. Depositions taken in Charleston are still in the county clerk's office, unopened.
SHE WAS A FRAUD.
The county obtained a continuance and sent Attorney Fuller to Charleston to find out what he could about her. The result of his investigations convinced him that she was a fraud. He found the name of her father to have been MANNING, not Marklain. He found also that Mrs. Hogan was involved in another suit, similar to the one in DeWitt, out in the state of Washington. A little later the Washington people got wind of the DeWitt suit and opened a correspondence.
Mrs. Hogan never appeared in Clinton after the first time. Through her attorney, however, she threatened to fight the case. Criminal proceedings were talked of and finally Mrs. Hogan decided to drop the fight.
COUNTY WILL GET $2,000.
The estate is the largest the county has ever obtained under similar circumstances. When all debts and fees are paid $1,800 or $2,000 of the original $3,500 will go to the county.
Submitted by Sheryl Byrd
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Wednesday, September 27, 1905
The Decatur Review
Decatur, Illinois
CLINTON BURGLARS GET CASH AND WINE.
Loot Reynold's Saloon of Money Without Omitting Drinks.
(Review Special Service.)
Clinton, Ills., Sept. 27.—Burglars entered the saloon of L. REYNOLDS some time Tuesday night and secured $6.05 from the cash register and between $7 and $8 worth of wine. A music machine containing about $10 was broken into, but the money was not reached. The burglars entered the saloon through a window by first getting on the roof.
The discovery of the burglary was made Wednesday morning at about 6 o'clock when the saloon was opened. There is no clew [sic] to the perpetrators.
Submitted by Sheryl Byrd
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