The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1885-07-24
DOMESTIC TRAGEDY In
REAL LIFE.
DIR. Blackburn follows the start
he made in Ireland.


he made In Ireland.
Cincinnati Enquirer.
DIR. Joel s. Blackburn, aged thirty
seven, fol- three years q practitioner In
ISilverville, Lawrence county, 10 fugi-
tive from his home. He left between
two DAYS. and with him went Miss
|Aline Adamson, who will be twenty
|onc years OF age on 18th day OF next
November. The doctor deserted wife
who would have laid down her life for
him, and two lovely daughters.
In the city OF St. Jo, Mo-, eleven years
lago, DIR. Joel S. Blackburn and Joseph
line HARRISON were welded. Both de-
clare they lived happily until eight years
lago, when they removed to Ireland, Du-
lbois county Indiana. There the ser
lpeLt entered their garden. but this time
|the man first tasted the forbidden fruit.
The wife found out her husbands sin,
and when the proof Of his unfaithfulness
had been brought into bold relief there
was heartache and bitter tears from the
wronged wife and hollow-hear prom
ises fram the husband. He sought and
found reconciement to his wife. Be-
cause the loyal little woman, Josie Black
burn, truly loved him she condoned the
the act.
On q certain merning two years ago
Ziba Adamson walked into DIR. Black
burns Office and asked him TO prescribe
for a daughter, Alinc Adamson, then
eighteen years Of age. Ziba Adamson
was at that time Justice of the Peace,
a member and elder OF Christian
Church, guardian Of orphans and ad-
ministrator Of estates. Ziba Adamson
IL to-day fugitive and sclf-confessed se-
ducer. Dr. Blackburn agreed 10 give
Miss Adamson medical treatment. lie
visited her at her house twice each week
from August until December, 1883. In
the latter month Miss Aline became .
member Of DIR. Blackburn's family,
where the treatment was continued for
over year.
College-bred men are scarce there; but
it required no laundried linen or Latin
lore 10 convince them that the time had
arrived when the doctor mnst discontin-
|ue treatment in Mics Adamson's case.
They were about to act on their conyic-
|tions in q very summary manner when
their attention was diverted from the
doctor and his fair patient TO Elder Ziba
Adamson aud the wife Of the doctor
II was rumored that the Elder bad
gone over The precipice which separates
1.-The lambs from the goats, carrying with
with him the wife OF the physician
whose attentions TO Miss Aline had sug-
Igested A clinical examination with tar
land feathers. Elder Ziba Adamson dis
lappcared. One month ago to-day the
lEnauirer printed . ten-line special dis
match from Bedford chronicling his
flight. The Elderis still among the skip.
med. while his wife and six children on
their $50 acre farm watch daily in vain
lfor his coming.
On June I'd the Elder drove to Bed.
ford. went 10 the Recorders Office and
decided his property to John Pinkston
Who. IN turn. conveyed II to Mrs. Adam
son. The elder went away deeply IL
debt and leaving an estate Of which M
was administrators at skies and scvens
The further announcement that Mrs. Dr
blackburn left this place in company
Uith Ziba increased the wonder Tel
,davs later Mrs. Blackburn returned
with her came the rumor that she had
confessed her fraility and had received
from Elder Adamson $500 in ackDowl.
edpement Of the wrong the Elder had
lperpetrated. Mrs. Blackburn had al
ways borne a spotless reputation. BE-
eause Of this. and because OF the rumoI
which floated up the Silverville Valley
that her husband (the doctor) had dra'
cooned her into receiving attentions
\ from Adnmson, q score Of lusty men cal
Ied on the doctor one evening. They
showed no shooting-irons, but the doc
tor believes all were armed. AZ the re-
sult ~ this call the doctors wife wrote
and signed the following remarkable
declaration
as,rvrnvrLLE, ND. June 29.-Ther'
seems to be wrong impression amonf
the people in regard TO the circumstan
Ices connectcd with the difficulty be.
tween myself and DIR. J. 5. Blackburn
Ifmv husband,) and I feel Il duty owe
~ him 70 correct II. as he has Away
been kind husband and good father
las 10 the slanderous reports goinl
Through the country concerning him ans
j Miss Adamson. ! have every reason z
believe them to be false. She has beer
~ our house under treatment about
year. and has always conducted hcrsel
Ia 1 respectable girl, 80 far as Ihavc ha'
|anv knowledge, and have always De
Iijaved her 10 be such. Neither she not
the doctor had anything to do with thi
IafTair ar mine. wish to cxonerat
them from all blame In this affair; also
Ito say further: ! make this statement 2