The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-03-29
THE TRICK OF A RASCAL.
The Scoundrelly Persecution of Mr..
Wooster, OF MOntezuma.
a Short History of Some of the Indignities
Put Upon Man of Integrity and
, Unimpeachable Character.


ton practlCed upon Jne journal ana upon
prominent citizens of this place by the pub
LEGATION of an itcic supporting to give an ac-
count of a burglary at Davis & AiKen's store
and the alleged arrest and imprisonment of
William Wooster for the crime, has created
much excitement here. As stated in yester-
days Journal, the entire story was untrue
from beginning to end. There was no burg
larry, nor attempt at one. Mr.. Wooster was
> not arrested nor will he be- and above all, he
is a gentleman whose character is so far
above reproach that not even the slightest
suspicion of criminality could attach to him.
He is a prominent citizen, church member,
was the former editor of the Montezuma
Era, and for six years past has been a men,
Der of the town council, receiving the next
to the largest majority at the last election,
although he is pronounced Republican in
politics and the town is strongly Democratic.
The account that was published in the
Journal purported to be signed by Davis &c
Aikens, the leading business house of the
town, and it was so ingepiously worded and
constructed as to allay any suspicion of its
genuineness. The letter was base forgery,
and the supposed circumstances described
therein had no existence in fact. In its pub
lication gross injustice was done an honor
able man, and the reasons why he should be
made the victim of such Z. conspiracy are
only apparent from a review of comparatively
recent occurrences. To understand the mat
ter thoroughly, it will be necessary to recite
these:
SOME UNwRITTEN HISTORY.
For years past MonteZuma has been cursed
by the presence OF two saloons, the proprie-
tors of which paid as little respect to the
law as to the desires of a majority of
the citizens Minors freely patronized these
places They we're kept open on Sundays.
Drunken brawls and even serious affrays
were common, and there seemed to be no
prospect of immediate relief. A state of
terrorism prevailed to certain extent. 1t
was found next to impossible to convict
these men of violations of the law. Witnesses
were either bought or terrified by threats of
personal violence into silence. About five
years ago Mr.. Wooster, Mr.. w. N. Aikens,
Noah Deer, Thomas Wilson, and other rep
utable citizens, who were interested in the
public welfare began vigorous fight against
these saloons. By circumstances and per-
sonal appeals they prevented the applicants
from getting license from the county board.
An appeal was taken to the Circuit Court, and
again they were successful. In two instan-
ces a change of venue was then taken
to Vermillion county, where the applicants,
by methods indicated above, secured licenses.
Still Mr. Wooster and his associates did not
relax their labors but made every effort to
compel obedience to law. They received
numerous anonymous letters threatening
personal violence the burning of
their property, ETC., and in several
instances attempts were made to put these in
execution. The town authorities were open
ly defied, and once the marshal, in attempt
ing to enforce the law, was cowardly assault
ed and badly beaten by two men, although
he had but one arm and could not defend
himself. The courts were resorted to in
vain, but witnesses either would not or dared
not testify against the culprits
MR.. woosTER's PERSECUTION
Mr. Wooster's experiences in this respect
were particularly tempestuous. The first
threat he received was written in a disguised
ri am told you are a kandate for town
Consil Now you dam old full, You had bet
ter stop, as by God will get sum maches
and burn your dam old hous. Mind wat l
say Enuf dam fuls here now
This was not signed, but at the bottom of
the card were rudely-drawn skull and
cross-bones and a coffin, Mr. Wooster paid
little attention to this threat at the time,
IL
had peculiar significance. On one occasion
an attempt was made to burn his house but
tie ncipient flames were detected and ex-
tfnguished. On the floor of the building
which was set OH fire were found several
pools OF coal oil, with which it was
thoroughly saturated At another time he
was seriously assaulted by saloon keeper,
and so badly injured that he was confined to
his bed for several weeks. He made de-
lermined effort to have his assailant brought
TO justice, insisting that both should be ar
rested and brought to trial together, so that
the merits OF the case might be determined.
The local officers refused TO have anything to
do with it, and finally Mr. Wooster went to
Che grand jury. AT his own instigation he
was arrested, but was acquitted without
prejudice, while his opponent, who should
have been punished, escaped by some legal
technically. On still another occasion some
miscreant attempted to assault Mr.. Wooster
in his own house, but was driven away by
the judicious use of revolver He was.
and still is in receipt of threatening COM
munications, but these do not deter him from
doing what he considers to be his duty. Every
time an application is made for liquor
license, he and his co-lsborers go into court
and oppose it-and in this they are supported
by public sentiment
THE WHISKY ELEMENT
Tho tpo saloonc hara everf hi a in