The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1879-10-24
Circus Tinsel Lures a,Y0ung Loo
goOtee Girl to Ruin.

6OOtGC IIEl I'd .xSul0s
Dan. Rice and Miss Alderman in = New Role.
vincernes Daily Sun.
Col. Dan. Rice, the celebrated Ameri-
can clown and circus manager has cer-
iainly passed through great many event.
ful scenes during his life as Snowman,
and has been guilty Of fnumberless tricks
some Of which reflect credid on his
while others deservedly re-
|ceived the severest condemnation but
we think that Dam, as old as he Is, has
but recently cast all his former tricks in
the shade by one of which young Loo
Igootee girl Is the victim. From an in
|terview with policeman John p. Nc
Bride, Of this city, yesterday, we are en-
'abled to present the following to our
readers:
II will be remembered that James Rob-
inson's circus passed through here, on
Sunday, some time during June, en- route
from Cairo to Cincinnati, to play an en-
gagement Of two weeks. After his en-
gagement the party started out to "do y
the towns along the line of the Ohio and
Mississippi railroad, and showed at
Washington and Olney.
While at the former place. Dan Rice.
who was acting in the capacity Of agent
for the show, met and formed the ac-
|quaintance of Miss Mollie Ackerman,
daughter Of J. Ii. Ackerman, Of Loogoo-
tee, one Of the most well.to-do and re-
Ispected citizens Of Martin county. The
couple have since corresponded regular
lily, but Rice, with that cunning which
has characterized his whole existence
merely signed his letters "From Your
Friend" The climax was reached,
Tuesday, on which day Miss Ackerman
r sme to this city and boarded the north
bound train for Chicago, there to meet
her aged lover and ancient clown. By
some hook or crook the misguided girls
family obtained clew to her where.
abouts, and her brother AL, and j. b.
Lee, Of Washington, came to this city.
and. in company of officer Mcbride.
'lstarted 10 Chicago. Wednesday evening.
Upon arriving in the wickedest city on
the Western hemisphere, the anxious
trio began their search among the hotels,
and at last were rewarded by finding her
slat the fremont House, safely ensconsed
lin room No. 1870, with the gay I.othario.
d This discovery was made Thursday
moon. Mr.. Mcbride went to police
headquarters for detachment Of m. d. Z
10 take the festive Dan. in, but he was
compelled to wait so long that when he
lIreturned with the officers Rice had flown.
u The girl was taken charge Of by her
brother, and the party Immediately start
led oil their return home, arriving in this
city at half-past six o'clock, yesterday
morning.
There is no doubt at all but that Dan.
Rice Is the man who would have lead
this young thing 10 destruction. Miss
\ Ackerman asserts positively that the man
IN her company at the fremont House is
the author Of the letters, and the object
|of her iufatuation; and that man is also
identified as the veritable clown.
I The young lady Is the daughter OF
highly respectable people, and only about
seventeen years Of age. and Of an unusu-
ally prepossessiDa appearance. She is
surrounded by every luxury that the
female heart could desire, and the man
ner in which she has been persuaded 10
take this fatal step is a rlysterv. She
will not tell what transpired during the
slnight previous TO her timely recovery
! from fate worse than death, and but for
: the existing doubt that she has not pass
ed through the dangers that beset her
path, unscathed, the minds OF her people
would be at rest, and JOY would reign
supreme.
l This latest act of Col. Dan. Rice merits
The most severe condemnation, and be
should be made to feel the force Of his
villainy.