The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-31
GOSSIP OF THE TOWN
INCIDENTS PICKED UP' ALONG THE
BYWAYs OF INDIANAPOLIS.
A Woman Solicitor Causes Speculation
in the North End-A Local
DistflIery.

Some of the people of the north and
northeastern portion of the city have been
somewhat exercised recently over the ap-
pearance of woman in the role of an
agent for building and loan association.
She has asked many pointed questions.
wherever she goes, that suspicion has
arisen that she is the detective of the
county, gaining information for the tax
assessors. At the county offices it is de-
MED that there is any woman out for that
purpose, but nevertheless the persons who
have met the woman cannot see what the
answers to the questions she asks can have
to do with the success Of any building and
loan association. When she enters house
she does not announce her business. but
gives her name and acts as if she had come
to make call upon the lady of the house.
In the parlor she makes perself perfectly
at home and does not mention her mission
until she has chatted for time on matters
of everyday interest. More than one woman
has been deceived by her, thinking her to
be an acquaintance whose face and name
is difficult to recall. After the woman
agent, If such she be, has made herself at
ease, she begins to ask questions and point
which she represents. At one place where
she asked that shares be taken she was
met with a blunt refusal.
Have you any building and loan stockT'
asked the agent.
How muchg' asked the agent.
well don't err
''Ah, you don't remember remarked the
agent in a tone which implied that the per-
son being questioned could tell if she would
II do remember replied the woman of
the Sc The agent was
not squelched. She asked more questions
AND had to oe ab e od bR the
that the latter's husband transacted all the
business.
'sYou surely don't mean to say re-
marked the agent, that you don't know
how your husband has his money invested?''
The wife replied that business was no
Can't you tell me whether he has any
building and loan stock or not? asked the
agent. The wife replied no. After asking
more questions, the agent Withdrew seem
ingly much Disguised with the little bust
female agent asked the same kind of ques-
lions every place she visited and one or
learned that their wives haa given informa-
ton, which was no ones concern, TO
stranger.
One day the last week a trust deed was
filed at the county recorders office by the
Distillng and Cattle Feeding Company. bet
ter known to the public as the Whisky
Trust for five acres Of ground west of
the city and south Of the insane hospital.
The deed was but one of the many filed
in this and other counties where the trust
has property, and it was made at the or
der of the court, which directed the trust
to deed all of it's property to the receivers.
1t may not be known, but at one time In
dianapolis had the promise of being an
important whisky center. On the ground
decided is an old dilapidated STILL which
has not been operated for years The dis
tillery was built early in the seventies by
paid d. we'll we'll for time. A 'two-story build
ing was erected, which at present is almost
ready to fall down Il Is nov W. + fayorite
operated for time it was purchased by
a Cincinnati man named PETER, who en-
larged the building. and increased the ca
pacity of the plant. It is reported that
PETER made money and also manufactured
netition here. and. this being good ,e corn
center, the business promised to grow. Mr..
PETER was on the point of charging the
pany had been formed to, invest quite
sum of money: when the Whisky. Trust was
commenced to buy UP the small distilleries,
and the property west of the city was
bought the property outright or paid PETER
for. keeping 1t closed. Anyway, it gained
control, and ever since still Of four hun hui.
The apparatus is now almost worthless. The
trust found it cheaper to buy the stiil or
purchase its use than to have it running
in competition with the distilleries of the
trust.
They had an Italian locked up at police
headquarters for theft. He was an ignorant
fellow, and could speak very little English.
During the afternoon a felow-countryman
of the prisoner called and asked to see him.
The caller was as ignorant of English as
the prisoner. He approached Superintend-
ent Powell, and in poor English asked for
the privilege of speaking to his friend. Mr..
Powell looked sternly at the caller and
said
You may speak to your friend, but what
you have to say must be said in the pres
ence of the turnkey. Then turning to the
telephone man Mr.. Powell gave Instructions
that Al Taffe be present at the interview.
Mr.. Taffe stood at the door and listened to
the two foreigners talking, and he failed to
Il wonder what Powell wants me to stand
here for. don't know what they talk
ing about, and the bars keep them four feet
agart.
Telephone man Doss Shafer appeared at
police headquarters one day the past week
with an ugly scar on his forehead. The
other officers asked for an explanation
Shafer said:
Il don't know how that scar came there
but it came while l. was asleep. and the
dream l had was horrible 1 thought
something was falling. The sensation was
1t seemed as if there was a great weight
hanging over me ready to fall. 1 saw it
coming ng,,i and tried to get out Of the way
screamed and something struck me, and /
put my hand to my forehead to find that
and how that scar got there 1 can't i'm
agine. | believe it was caused by my
dreaming that something did strike me-
Several of the officers laughed, but Shafer
SAID he would take oath that he had told
the truth.
20! All! beg pardon, sir, but is the
mon on the 'orse there the ladies' groom
or her escort? questioned a healthy-look-
ing gentleman with forid face and side
whiskers whose accent plainly showed his
nationality. The question was asked of a
passerby a white lady and colored man
cantered up North Meridian street side by
side on horseback a few afternoons ago.
When informed that the colored man was
supposed to be acting in the capacity of
groom, the Britisher added: 'Beastfy
beastly. Very imp, oper form, you know
The groom should keep in the rear no mat
ter how fast or how slow the lady pushes
her orse The only proper form, you know