Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1893-02-09

luz d iosS Vi Tlo,ouo iHiS - thc
second serious fire in that small town
In n short time, and wipes out more
than two-thirds of the business center
of the place. After the first serious
one the city voted tax to build
water works, which was completed a
few weeks ago, and the reservoir filed
with water, when it burst, wreclling
the structure OF course in consc-
quence, there was no water to fight
the fire with.
Charles City is torn with scandal
of large proportions Postmaster Dyke
had for his deputy A. W, Wilbur Fool
ishly he took no bond, though Wilbur
kept the books, had control of the
cash, and made all the reports of the
office. August II last, Wilbur was
taken sick and has since died. 1t has
been discovered that at that date he
was nearly $500 short in his accounts,
which the postmaster has been obliged
TO pay. There was also Il registered
package Tor S3iG. &c made up by Wilbur
in July last, which has never turned up,
aud the postma stcr has had to put up
that money. The circumstances at
tending the transaction are very shady,
and while the postmaster makes no
charges in the matter, he has some
very large suspicious. An expert has
examined the books and fixed the
shortage at S297 on August II.
In the supreme court the State ex
rel Jacob Perinc, appellant. against
George Van Beck, board OF supervisors
of Henry county, John Wirtz, auditor
of Henry county, the decision of the
lower court against appellant was af-
firmed. Periue and Van Beck were OPP
posing candidates for sheriff of Henry
county in 1891. Van Beck is alleged
not to be citizen of the United States,
having never taken ont naturalization
papers. He w. born in Holland. 1t
is claimed he concealed this fact, and
the certificate of election was given to
him as he received the highest number
of votes. He says IN his defense that
his father was naturallzed before he
had attained his ma jority and that he
had served in the army and had never
doubted that he was citizen of the
United States. He denies all fraud.
January he o btaincd naturalization
papers. On this day he was required
to qualify to his Office The question
is, does this make lnm eligible to Office.
The supreme court thinks 1t does, ant.
that man who is eligible on the day
of qualification is eligible for election.
Chief Justice Robinson dissents.
After a session of twenty-six days
the Woodbury. county grand jury con-
cludei investigating charges of black
mail against Atlec Hart, of Dakota
CITY, J. l.. Lewis and +. S. Crosby, of
Sioux City. They are accused of ex-
torting money by threats to publish
slanderous articles in Chicago scnsa-
tional paper. Hart was indicted on
seven counts foc bla ckmail, Lewis on
eight counts and Crosby on one, and
Hart and Lewis jointly for conspiracy.
In the hearing 200 witnesses were cx-
amined, including many leading people.
Some of the testimony involves promi-
ncnt men IN unsavory connections, and
efforts are BENG made to suppress it.
Despite this some details arc leaking
out and causing a new sensation. The
gang tried to extort money from Rev.
Il. Tracy, a leading priest of the city,
but was unsuccessful. One of the doc
uments introduced in evidence was the
copy of story prepared tor publication
in the paper, involving Geo. w. Argo,
the noted criminal lawyer, who helped
defend the Homestead strikers, in a
scandalous affair. The story had been
prepared and signed by Argos wife.
The defendants are liable to two
years Imprisonment on each count on
which they are convicted.
w. S. Dickinson, the Decatur county
hermit, was found lying dead on his
cabin floor, few days ago, evidently
having frozen to death In rudely
constructed hut in picturesque yet
lonely spot Dickinson had lived a rec
luse for fifty-three years, his only COM
panions being his dogs and cats. The
reasons for his wishing to live apart
from his fellows has never been di-
vulged, except once In a delrium dur
ing illness, when he frequently referred
to young lady who had died long be-
fore in Connecticut. From kensing-
ton, that state, Dickinson came to Iowa
in 1s4o. After his death photograph
of a young lady was found, together
! with letters IN which it is said she re-
fers to their wedding day. 1t is sup,
posed that hec death occurred before
the day set for the wedding, and the
disappointment caused him to come
west and seek hermitage. lie rarely
went to town, and for twenty years
he possessed $50 acres, though he lived
close to Davis City lie was cousin OF
the poet, James Gates Percival, and
highly educated. The single room OF
his cabin was filed with curious relics
of by-gone days. He was very well in
lOEmCu uH SNtutSs anu COu
versed pleasantly with all who CHANGED
to meet him. lie was very liberal in
his contributions to the church and
needy poor, and had considerable
money on deposit.
Rev. 4. \. Barrett received painful
and narrowly escaped serious injuries,
| at Iowa City, while attending to his
mustang ponies. Fortunately for the
minister, their hoofs were unshod.
Moses Sopher, of Oskaloosa, is in jail
at Keolsuk because he could not give
81, 800 bail He is charged with pass
ing a confederate bill on Albert Wecse
| and refusing to make it good. He was
arrested under the federal statute
which classes this offense as passing
counterfeit money. On being arraigned
before the United States commissioner
he was bound over to the federal grand
| jury in the sum stated.
Suits for the foreclosure of mort
gatges on real estate securing u note
for Sc, 1900 execute by DavidG. Lowry,
II