The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-10
A SENSATION At ACTON
VIM. COVAL BREAKS A CANE OVER
HEAD OF SECRETARY GADD.
The Latter Unconscious and Needing
-AItercatiOn over Pass-Chris-
tian EndenvOrers at bethany.

George w. Gadd, the secretary of the Ac-
ton Camp Meeting Association, was struck
over the head with cane by William NJ
Coval, one of the tenters, at o'clock last
evening and painfully, though it is thought
at the writing. not dangerously injured
The affair happened during the few min
utes that intervene between the arrival of
the south-bound and the north-bound trains
Mrs. Coval. who had been to Indianapolis
during the day, had alighted from her train
and was endeavoring to obtain admission
to the grounds. Mr.. Gadd was at the gate
and he had it is said, declined to allow
the lady to go through unless she pre-
sented her pass. Mrs. Coval had declared
she did not have it with her, and it was
during the parley that ensued that Mr..
Ccval stepped up and gave his cane a quick
swing, bringing it down on the back of
Mr.. Gadd's head. and breaking the stick in
two. Mr.. Gadd fell to the ground, and as he
lay there the blood spurted all about.
The camp was soon the scene of intense
excitement Women were wringing their
hands and the few men about had all they
could do to quiet things and attend to the
injured man. AS it happened there was one
doctor on the grounds and Dr. Stapp did
what he could to check the bleeding. Mr..
Gadd was then carried to a cottage. Those
who took the north-bound train, which left
a few minutes after the deed was done, did
so believing that the injury was not neces-
sarily one to cause apprehension.
Up until 9 o'clock last night Mrs. Gadd
who lives on North East street. had re-
ceived no word at all from Acton and it is
believed that had her husband been gravely
injured she would have been notified by
that time. Mr.. Gadd is ffty-four years of
age and has been identified with the in
terests of the camp for many years. He
is a prominent member of the Methodist
Church of this city. Mr.. Coval, who
handled his cane with such promptness, is
an abstracter of this city, his firm being
that of Lemon & Coval. He has lately had
congestion of the brain and when his physi-
clan recommended that he seek recreation
away from the city he selected Acton camp
for the purpose. Since he came to the
camp friction has several times been caused
between him and the management of the
park, it is claimed, mainly on account of
the noise of the young people near his cot
With the exception of the trouble between
Mr. Gadd and Mr.. Coval the day at the
camp was a very quiet one. In the after
his lecture entitled "A Ramble Among
Words to large audience.
The first eVangeliStic services were con-
Quoted in the evening by the state evange-
list, Rev. J. d. Hartsock This is the be-
ginning of the week of power, when real
revival meetings will be held One week,
usually the last week, is always set apart
each year for these service at Acton camp.
1t is then that every true Methodist enjoys
himself religiously. Many of the old menu
bers of the church have been he rd to say
that they wished the old days9bfS shouting
would return. In those goDd old times the
religious emotions were alloWeiI free play.
and if the converted one got religion" he
was encouraged to make appropriate dem
onstrations.
This morning F. G. Brown, of Cincinnati
assistant editor of the Western Christian
Advocate, will address the camp. In the
afternoon and evening Rev. Hartsock will
preach. Thursday afternoon Mrs r. J.
Trego, of Cleveland, o., will conduct serv-
ices in the Tabernacle These services will
be purely evangelistic.
Late guests at the camp are: Mr. and
Mrs Will Thatcher, Messrs. Jasper Thatch-
er, Lon Atkinson, Leslie Clancy, Hugh
Thatcher and Misses Clara Overhiser
Grace Whitsett, of Indianapolis, visited
Mrs Jasper Thatcher and Misses Bertha
Siddall and Edith White. Miss Ida Sample
returned to Indianapolis yesterday Mrs
Clark, of Kansas City, is the guest of Mrs
Woehler. Mrs. S. p. Van Pelt, of Indian
apolis, is the guest of Mrs. G. w. Budd
Miss Maria Jenkins spent yesterday in In
dianapolis. The Happy Seven" social
organization of Acton camp entertained for
Mr.. Wiley last night.