davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-12-24
SPEARS HAS BAD CROUCH
Tries to Annihilate Wife,
Daughter and Police Of
ficer-Is Arrested.

South Chicago, Dec. 24.-(SpeciaL)-
Nathan Spears was not imbued with
the Christmas spirit last night. and
because of the spirits by which he was
to say the least swayed, he wanted
to kill his wife and daughter and la
ter a policeman.
Spears lives at 1856 Commercial ave
nue., and last night went home with the
tide. He did not like the Christmas
gifts his wife and daughter had pur-
chased so he started to make trouble
When they demurred he wanted to
shoot them full of holes and carve
them up. The women told the police
and officer Gamer was sent to the
house. Spears did not like the intru-
sion and started to pull gun on the
bluecoat, when the latter used his club
with telling effect. He was arrested
and this morning his case was con-
tinued until Dec. 26. and the family
will have peace for at least one day
The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-12-24
ATTORNEY IN TROUBLE
Joseph Conroy, Technically
Under Arrest for Alleged
Contempt of Court.

Crown Point, Dec 24.-(SpeciaD-A
torney Joseph Conroy of Hammond.
was technically a prisoner of Sheriff
F. S. Carter last night. although he
was not taken into custody.
The technical arrest for which Mr..
Conroy offered himself leaving a sick
bed to do so. was made on writ of
attachment in the Lake circuit court
for contempt of court because Attorney
Conroy failed to answer certain inter-
rogations in the Scholler estate, in
which he is administrator.
Attorney Conroy as administrator.
was to have made a report on Dec 16,
but was said to be confined to his bed
with sickness. thus being unable to
attend to his affairs
Attorney Conroy was in Crown Point
today, but will leave for Hammond
this evening If his health will permit.
His trial for contempt has not been
set and will not be until Judge Nc
Mahan returns from Valparaiso
Considerable courtesy has been
shown the prisoner since he has been
summoned to appear forthwith" and
accordingly cannot demand that he be
permitted TO give bail Although he
is technically a prisoner he Is neither
in custody nor under surveillance.
The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-12-24
GARY BANK OPENS
DOORS TO PUBLIC
Handsome Home of New
First National is Ready
for Business.
TO COST $4,000 COMPLETE
Begins to Circulate First Issue of
Own Bank Notes Amount
ing to $4,000.
Especial to Lake County TImes.l


Gary, Ind, Dec. 24.-The First Ma
tional bank opened its doors for busi-
ness yesterday. The magnificent struc-
ture that is TO be its home was thrown
open to the public and the latters ap-
probation was freely expressed.
The building is on Broadway and
is one of the handsomest structures
architecturally that has been built in
this part of the state for banking pur-
poses. 1t will cost 100000 when COM
pleted.
The front of the building is of stone.
Four large monolithes stand on either
side of the entrance and they are said
to be as perfect examples of the stone
mason's art as can be found anywhere.
The interior furnishings are all OF
solid mahogany. The cages are made
of solid brass. The of the lobby Is of
mosaic and the wainscoting an dtrim-
mings are of marble.
There will be many conveniences.
There is a rest room in the rear and
the directors room is richly and hand
somely furnished.
Clock Serves Double Purpose.
There will be a number of safe de-
pOsit vaults which have been con-
structed especially for this bank One
of the features of the bank. which is
especially unique, is a clock that has
been placed over the door of the vault
This is in plain view of the street
and will be Illuminated so that the
people will make it a habit to learn
the time of the day from this clock
The clock will in this manner serve as
sort of a town clock and will make
every citizen watchman at the same
time, for should burglars get into the
building they would be almost sure
to be seen by some passer- by If peo-
pie make it habit TO glance at that
clock
Yesterday the bank started to cir
culate $4,000 worth of new Gary First
National bank notes and they served
as good advertisement, for every
body was proud of the first money to
bear the name of their city.
The First National bank Of Gary IL
the first bank to do business in the
new steel city. 1t was organized with
a capital of $4,000, which was after
wards increased to $4,000. and it is
now certain that the capital will be
increased to 100000 as soon as the
government grants its application.
The officers or the bank are: Presi-
dent, J. w. Fieldhouse; vice president,
w. S. Hazleton; cashier, T T. Smell:
assistant cashier r. c. Simpson The
directors consist of the officers of the
bank with the addition of T. C. Phil
lips of South Chicago, who is one of
the directors and who was the leading
spirit in the organization of the new
The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-12-24
BEATEN BY MASKED MEN
Charles Anderson Found
Unconscious, With Face
Pounded to Jelly.

South Chicago. Dec 24.-(Speciall-
Charles Anderson. 80 years old and n
laborer living at 9O27 Green Bay ave
nue., was found lying in the rear OF a
resort at 9021 Harbor avenue. last
night, his face beaten to a jelly. An
derson was found by officer Mex Sui
livan and it was several minutes be-
lore the policeman could revive him.
When he did Anderson was only able
70 say that two masked men had at
tempted to rob him and in resisting
'hem ne had been knocked down and
puIlIheIed with a club
ne ambulance took Anderson to the
station and his Injuries were dressed
oy Dr. Z. Core Later he was removed
TO his lodging house. sO27 Green Bav
avenue. Pr Gore stated last night
that Anderson's condition was very
dangerous. owing to the fact thar blood
poison Or erysipclas was likely 10 set
In. Under orders from rieu+enant
smith three plain clothes men u.are
detailed on the case and tba no,Ice
ext ect TO round up Anderson,s assail~
ants before evening.
The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-12-24
SENT TO COUNTY JAIL
Boys Charged With Burg
larry Must Spend Thirty
Days With Sheriff.

There were few choice gifts handed
out in the city court this morning as
Judge Mcmahon faced the line of pris-
oners. Several Jail sentences were
handed out and the unfortunates win
eat their turkey and hang up their
stockings a Fred Carter's hostelry.
With heads hung and flushed faces,
August Tolzman and Charles Basso,
the Hammond boys who pleaded guilty
to a charge of burglarly listened to
the stern words of Judge Mcmahon
4 have known you boys for a long
time and you both have been in
dustrious, but I can't imagine what
made you commit such a crime
think you must have been intoxicated
and the man who sold you the liquor
should suffer. Owing to your previous
reputation I will make the penalty as
light as possibly can" said the Judge
He ordered them TO pay a fine of
So and costs and to spend thirty days
in the county jail
Theodore Haehnal. who was arrested
for stealing an ice box out OF the
storage warehouse, while employed as
an eXpressman, pleaded guilty and
was fined $22 and sentenced to six
months in the county Jail
The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-12-24
KILLS HIMSELF AFTER
TRYING To MURDER WIFE
Hobart Man Resents Womans Silence and Attacks Her
With Knife After Slashing Her, Blows Own
Brains Out With Shot Gun

Baessler and Mrs. Levin returned t.
the house whore they found Levin
lying in bed with the top Of his head
blown of and the shotgun with which
he had committed the act lying by his
side. The room looked ike a shambles.
Must Have Died instantly.
The charge had entered his head fust
above the eyes and death must have
been instantaneous. The two children
who were sleeping in a room upstairs
knew nothing Of the affair. having slept
through all Of the confusion
Coroner Hoskins summoned a coro-
ner's jury and held the Inquest this
morning. The verdict returned was
suicide" The funeral was conducted
from the German Lutheran church this
morning at 1870 and the interment
took place in the Hobart cemetery.
The deceased. who is about So years
old. leaves besides a wife and TWO
children. q brother and two sisters.
father and mother
Mrs. Levin refuses 10 tell the coro-
ner what her husband said 10 her Just
before he began his assault on her.
Levin was not a drinking man nor was
he quarrelsome or abusive. and the
news OF his tragic death comes as a
shock and surprise 70 his friends
The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-12-24
STREET CAR co. TO
CUT ITS SCHEDULE
Traffic Greatly Reduced Ow-
ing to Recent Finan-
cial FURRY.
is NOT A BAD INDICATION
People Are Simply Avoiding Unneces-
sary Trips and Saving
Money.

From sources that are unimpeachabIe
it has been learned that the local street
railway company is considering the ad-
visibility OF cutting down It's service.
The old schedule Will probably be
maintained through the rush hours. but
during the rest of the day and late at
night the schedule VIII be reduced IL
The old schedule VIII probably be
sidered is carried out.
From the same source It has been
learned that the traffic on the cars over
the whole line has been surprisingly
reduced since the beginning OF the re-
cent financial furry. Trips that were
taken without a thought a few months
ago. are now being abandoned and the
people are saving their nickels.
The street car company has esti-
mated the cost OF running car from
Hammond to Sixty-third street. and
frequently the fares collected are not
sufficient to pay the runnig expenses,
1t is claimed.
As the company Is not operating
cars for the fun OF It. retrenchment wiz
be in order after the first OF the year.
The Christmas shoppers, which usually
crowd the cars are staying at homo
and the traffic two days before this
winter holiday are not much larger
than usual
The announced intention Of the Eric
railroad to cut down the number OF
trains it has been running, to cut the
wages of its employees 25 per cent and
II make other reductions is evidence
that the railroads are also feeling the
general depression.
However. this is not taken as a bad
omen by the business men Of the city
who realize that the country was going
at too rapid a pace and a reaction was
sue to come. They say that II the
people are sane about the reductions or
their expenditures. business viii be put
on firmer foundation than ever, and
the growth from now on viii be normal
and not abnormal. as 1t has been for
the past few years.
OF course. the officials OF the street
car company viii not admit that a re-
duetion of their schedule is in conteni-
platIon for they desire to give out such
information when ii is best suited for
their purposes.
However there is sure to be re-
trenchment during the winter months
and the condition of the country In the
spring will determine whether this
policy is TO be a temporary one or
whether further reductions Will be
necessary.
The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-12-24
FALLS FROM SCAFF0LD

Gary. Dec. SPECIALIZATION can
non a plasterer employed on the ca
oui'ulhg which is under construction
zen headlong from a scaffold thts
morning but Is considered to have bad
q miraculous escape in that he was
hot more severely hurt than he is. He
suffered however an injured hip ana
bruised eye and was otherwise shakeo
UP in the fall
In falling from the scaffoId his les
were caught in cross pieces. leaving
him suspended in midalr for short
time. His position was such that those
who witnessed the accident feared he
would break his neck when he fell. He
balanced himself for an instance, how
ever, and instead of falling on his head
he fell fat.
The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-12-24
Especial to Lake County Times.

Hobart. Ind, Dec. 24.-Coroner Hos
kins arrived here this morning for the
purpose OF holding an inquest over the
remains Of John Levin, a farmer liv-
ing about a mile and a half east Of
this city, who committed suicide last
Saturday by blowing out his brains
with a shotgun.
levin and his wife had been to
town TO do their Christmas shopping
until late IN the afternoon. After fin
ishing his chores Mr. Levin retired.
while his wife occupied her time
mending stockings and doing other
work about the house.
Shortly after Mr.. Levin retired he
asked her a question which she did
not answer. and, becoming angered, he
jumped out of bed and. grabbing
butcher knife exclaimed, This viii
settle it." and then viciously attacked
his wife with it
Woman Badly Wounded.
He inflicted a deep cash in her arm
and her hand was badly cut but she
finally managed TO escape her husband
and got out OF the house She ran 10
the home OF her brother. Michael Baes-
sler, who lives about a mile from the
Levin home and informed him what
had happened
The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-12-24
SURPRISE HOME THIEF ALL OBSERVE XMAS
Tries to Sell Harness to Man
Who Owns it and is
Nabbed.

Robert Higgins, a negro, was the
most surprised horse thief in the worl(.
when he went into Goodwin's sa-
loon in Gary and attempted to sell a
piece of harness to A. L. Goodwin the
owner of the article. Mr. Goodwin
looked over the article and instantly
recognized it as his own. Without
saying word he grappIed with Hig-
gins and held him until the police came
and took charge of the prisoner.
Some time ago thieves broke into the
stable of the Toleston Coal company.
and taking horse hftched to a buggy
drove away with it. The pair escaped
and the town marshal has been look
ing for them ever since.
The Toleston Coal company is run bv
two partners. Gordon and Goodwin.
and yesterday Mr.. Goodwin went to
Gary thinking possibly he might run
across his outfit.
He went into Goldman's saloon and
was talking to one of his friends when
Higgins came in with his harness and
offered to sell it to him. The negro
was asked where he got the harness
and made some evasive reply when
Goodwin jumped to his feet and
grappled with the fellow.
He soon overpowered him and some
one went out and called the police.
Sergeant Edward Klopf and Patrol
man w NJ. Miller responded and the
thief was taken to the police station
AS soon as Chief Martin returns the
negro will be given a sweating and
1T is hoped his partner who got away
with the horse and buggy will be ap-
pretended.
The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-12-24
CHRISTMAS TRADE
IS PHENOMENAL
If Times Are Hard, They're
Not Reflected in the
Holiday Trade.
LARGE BUSINESS IS REPORTED
Many of Best Paying Customers Come
From Outlying Districts
Stores Canvassed.

In spite Of all the talk that has been
going on about financial fiurries and
possible hard times the volume of
Christmas trade in Hammond this year
has been greater than ever.
Ask the merchants, Are we down
cast?" and the chorus of mos" will
leave no question as to how they feel
about the matter If there has ever
been question as to the prominence
of Hammond a mart of trade. that
question has been removed and the
prosperity of the local merchants is
without a parallel
Last year the Christmas shopper had
but two days in which to make their
purchases Pay day came on Saturday
and Saturday and Monday were the big
shopping days before the Christmas
holidays
This year, however, there is Satur-
day, Monday and Tuesday, in which
the belated buyers of Christmas pres
ents have had time to spend their mon
ey At first there was disinclination
on the part of the populace to let go
OF their money, as readily as they did
last year but during the last few days
the Christmas spirit has gotten the
better Of them and the volume of their
purchases has mounted higher than
ever
The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-12-24
Services to be Held in All
Hammond Houses of
Worship.

!, The churches and Sunday schools of
udammond have prepared elaborate
services and programs for the OBJ
seryance of Christmas day. number
of which will be carried out this even
ing.
The most elaborate services will be
held in st. Joseph's church tomorrow.
the day being recognized by the Cath
olics as holiday of obligation and as
one of the principal feast days of the
year.
Solemn high mass will be said to-
morrow morning at ) and 10 o'clock
in st. Joseph's church. Father Fl. NJ.
Plaster will officiate in the first mass
being assisted by Father b. Soengen
as deacon. and Charles Tauschek, who
is theologian in ST. Francis semi
nary in Milwaukee, as subdeacon
Father Plaster will preach the first
sermon and Father Soengen will preach
the sermon at the 10 o'clock mass. In
the latter Father Soengen will be the
celebrant.
At o'clock Father Plaster will say
a low mass at which the boys choir
will sing. At o'clock Father Plaster
will say another low mass at which
the girls choir will sing
Special music has been prepared by
the large choir for the masses tomor-
row. After the last solemn high mass
the benediction will be given. closing
the church services for the day
At All Saints church there will be a
high mass at 6 6Spclock in the morning,
at which Fathg Edward Barrett will
offciate and preach a sermon. This
mass will be followed by a low mass
by Father Barrett At 9 o'clock a
visiting priest will say the children's
mass, at which the children's choir
will sing. Benediction will follow the
high mass at 10 o'clock.
Services at ST. PauPs Episcopal
church tomorrow will be at 1880 and
10 o'clock and will be conducted by
the pastor, Rev. A. S. Smith. Com
will be dealt out to the mem
bers at both services and a sermon will
be given by the pastor at the last ser
vice
Sunday school exercises will be held
at the church on Friday evening.
Special music has been prepared for
the services tomorrow.
The services at st. PauIs Lutheran
Special Christmas service will be held
at 10 o'clock, which viii be followed
by a sermon by the Rev. Theo Claus.
The Sunday school exercises will be
held this evening in the church at
o o'clock. and next Thursday morning at
10 o'clock a former pastor. Rev. W.
Brauer will hold services.
While there will not be special
Christmas service in the Methodist
church tomorrow. the Sunday school
classes will give exercises under a
Christmas tree at the church this even
ng.
Similar services will be held at the
Baptist church this evening. while
those of the Presbyterian church are
already a thing of the past, having
been held last night.
The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-12-24
1000 MEN WILL Be OUT
OF JOBS TEMPORARILY
President Burlington States Layof
Is Only the Customary One, Which
Takes Place Generally at This Sea-
sOn-Work at Gary to Go on As
Rapidly as Weather Will Permit.
Especial to Lake County Times,


South Chicago DEC. 24-The an
nouncement was made today that the
South Chicago plant of the Illinois
Steel company would be closed until
after the holidays. This viii throw
1000 men out Of employment tempo
rarily
President Burlington denied this
action on the part of the company 1T
is customary for US to shut down FOR
several weeks at this time Of the year"
said he, and we do not expect to let
the plant lie idle more than two
weeks"
Some OF the employees understood
that their services would not be needed
until the first Of March and Mr.. Buff
fngtons denial that the shut down
will last longer than two weeks is re-
assuring.
No Significance In IT.
Attorney Knapp of the firm Of Knapp.
Haynie & Campbell, steel company
lawyers, said this morning that there
was no significance in the closing -
tlh South Chicago mills.
oI lie also said that the work at GARY
~ uld go on rapidly as possible
q "a the weather. Will permit He re-
~ rated the statement that has been
ME, so Frequently by steel . ompany
of gciels IL late that no mater what
happened to the country the Gary pro-
ject will be carri "' out without in
reference or dels-
1t was learned today that five of
the eleven blast furnaces at South Chi
eaFo had been shut down.
A dispatch from Spokane. Wash.
states that the Perry Creek Hydraulic
mine. near Cranebrook. British Colum-
bia' has been bought by the Illinois
steel company for 100000 At the Of
noes of the company all. knowledge Of
the mine and the alleged purchase was
dlscIaimed, and It was insisted that
the company had no need Of the gold
mines in its business
The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-12-24
GEIST SELLS GAS PLANT.

The Geist syndicate which owns or
controls gas and electric light plants
in Hammond and other cities IN this
section of the country has disposed Of
his plant at Valparaiso to a group of
Grand Rapids capitalists headed by c.
j. Kelsey CT that city.
The new company viii be known as
the Valparaiso Lighting company and
will make It its policy to develope the
plant and make II first class in every
respect
Not much will be done this winter
however. on account Of the weather
but in the spring many improvements
and extensions will be put in. Sew
eral miles Of pipes viii be laid and a
new engine of greater power will be
installed.
The new management Will retain H d.
Hayden as manager the same Of
nee force Of employee Will be retained.
See what q few lines of type WIZ de
sAv~ard STRENGTHENING out the matter.
The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-12-24
KILLED ON HIS WEDDING TOUR,

Richmond. Ind. Dec. 24-A dispatch
from Wenachee. Wash, TO relatives IN
Wayne county. announces the aeci-
dental death Of Jacob Swearingen in a
railway accident. Swearingen recently
married at Milton, this county. Miss
Ida Ferguson, and they were on their
honeymoon trip.
The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-12-24
KNIGHT TEMPLARS MEET.

\ special call has been issued to all
Knight Templars of the Hammond
Commandery. No. Il. to attend Christ
mas services TO be held in the asylum
tomorrow morning at II o'clock in the
new Masonic temple.
The services this year will be. il
anything, more elaborate than on for
mer occasions. they being the first in
the new asylum. and promise to bring
out all the Knight Templars belonging
TO the local cemmendery.
The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-12-24
LOCOMOTIVE WORKS
CLOSES ITS SHOPS
Boiler and Machine Depart
ments of Fitzhugh Luther
Plant Lay Off.
SHUT DOWN IS INDEFINITE
Repair, Planning, Blacksmith and
Paint Shops to Continue-May
Resume in Spring.

The employees Of the Fitzhugh Luther
Locomotive works were surprised yes
terday when notices were posted TO
the effect that the boiler and machine
shops would shut down indefinitely.
1t has been known for some time
that there We're no new orders coming
in but it was thought there was work
enough on hand to keep the men in
the plant busy for while.
However, the officials OF the plant
decided TO close down indefinitely. and
they will await further developments
before reopening these departments
There were about $50 men employed
and the concern has been considered
one of the growing industries of the
region.
Output This Summer Large.
In fact, besides the manufacture and
repair of locomotives the concern had
begun to build wooden cars and their
output this summer was surprisingly
large.
The closing of this plant will be quite
a loss TO the community. but it is ex-
pected to resume operations in the
spring. when a full force Of men will
be employed.
In an interview with one of the of
ficials of the company 1t was learned
that the car repair shop, the planning
shop, the blacksmith shop and the
paint shop would be kept in operation.
This is made necessary by the large
number of cars that have been recently
received for repairs. About 100 men
will be retained to do this work.
The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-12-24

Terre Haute, Ind. Dec. 24-Oliver
Key shot himself while his wife was
shopping for Christmas She found
him unconscious on sofa. their three
year old child playing on the floor.
thinking its father asleep.
The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-12-24
, %<~~~~~1~~~~~~~~ = = .
NO PAPER TOMORROW.

Following its custom, THE
LAKE COUNTY TIMES viii not is
sue its regular editions on
Christmas day. 1t is the pur-
pose Of THE LAKE COUNTY TINES
10 give its employees and car
riers a holiday on that day. Ex-
tras viii be issued during the
day should important news de-
velopments require.