The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-04-06
Terrible Death OF Jasper NORMAN, a
Wealthy Farmer.
indianapolis Journal. !

The many friends of Jasper Woman
were shocked, yesterday morning, to
learn that he had been drowned the
night before. under peculiar circum-
stances. WOrman was in the city dur
ing the day, and in the afternoon and
evening drank too much for his equilib-
rum, go that on starting home, which
is near the Insane Asylum, at about ten
o'clock, he was very much under the in
Auence of liquor. He stopped at Carr &
Golfers livery stable, on West Washing
ton street, and Mr.. Collier, seeing bis
condition, detailed Elias Stanbro, one OF
his stable men, to 90 home with him,
sending his own rig. Stanbro returned
about one o'clock, without the horse or
buggy, in a state of great excitement.
He says that Woman was alternately
quarrelsome and sleepy, and when he
did not insist on driving laid back on his
seat and dozed. Being unacquainted
with his place of residence he drove past
Worman's house, which is on this side
of Eagle creek, and Just as they got to
the other side of the second bridge, that
over Little Eagle creek, he (WOrman)
aroused himself, and, seizing the horse,
turned him down the enbankment with a
violent gesture, and whipped the animal
down the stream for about hundred
yards, when one wheel went over the
bank, throwing the buggy into the
stream. He threw himself out of the
vehicle just as it was going over, and 80
saved himself, but WOrman was unable
to extricate himself, and in the dark:
ness Stanbro was unable to afford him
any assistance. The neighbOrs were
aroused, but nothing could be done un-
til daylight.
In the morning great crowd assem-
bled and began dragging the creek for
the body. The horse and buggy we're re-
covered without much trouble, but
WOrman's remains could not be found.
The waters of the Little Eagle were
directed into the main stream through
another channel, but still no trace of the
body was found, except the hat, which
was picked up near where the buggy
tipped over the bank.
During the forenoon it was ascertained
that Norman at the time had on his per-
son $500 in cash and a valuable gold
watch, and the fingero of suspicion pointed
toward StanbrO, who was last with him.
A warrant was accordingly sworn out
against him before Esq. Miller, and he
was arrested on the charge of murder.
Miller fixed his bail at So 200, but ascer-
tanning subsequently that murder was
not a bailable Offense, his Constable took
him to Jail, where he was interviewed
last evening, but nothing varying from
his first story was told. Stanbro is
about twenty wears old. intellipent. and
with a not unprepossessing counte-
nance.
At one time two or three hundred peO-
pie were assembled on the banks of Eagle
creek, aiding in the search or looking on
while others were working. About two
o'clock report circulated through the
city that the body had been found, to-
gether with the money and watch, but
this proved to be without foundation,
and it is now thought that the current,
which was, and is at present, very swift
in Eagle creek, has washed the body
further down the stream. The friends of
the deceased believe he was victim of
foul play, and Stanbro's friends stead
fastly assert his innocence. A reward
for the recovery of the body will, it is
understood, be offered to-day, and that
may have the effect of increasing the
number of searchers and consequently
the chances of recovery.
Jasper Woman is about thirty-two
years of age, and lived with his mother
on a farm east of Eagle creek near the
National road. He is brother Of Enoch
Woman, of this city, and was worth
%IOO OO0