The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1908-07-25
AFFIDAVIT FILED
IN CITY COURT
Defendant Is Bound Over In $500
Bonds for Preliminary Hearing
Next Tuesday and Doctors Are In
Controversy Over Condition of
Relatrix.

Mrs. Anna b. Geib swore out an affi-
davit in the court of City Judge w.
w. Mcmahon this morning, charging
Charles f. COOns, a well known con-
tractor, with having unnatural reIa-
tions with his daughter, Mary f. Geib,
who had been adopted by Mrs. Geib,
and has lived with her for a number of
years.
A warrant was sworn out for the
arrest of Mr.. COOns, and he appeared
this morning in court where he was
placed under $500 bonds to appear mt
the preliminary hearing which was set
for next Tuesday.
There are certain circumstances con-
nected with the case which make it
one of the most remarka BILE of it's
kind that has ever been brought to
the attention of Hammond court.
GIRLS REMARKABLE STORY.
The story involves the whole sixteen
years of the life of Mary E. Geib. It
reveals the fact that the girl was born
to a former wife of Mr.. Coons at Blue
Island. Ill The mother died shortly
after the birth of the child and ac-
cording to the story which Mr.. Coons
tells, the fact that a bitter enemy of
his had threatened to kidnap the baby.
made it necessary for him to secure
the aid of a confederate. who took the
child TO the Foundling's Hospital of
the Sisters of Charity in New York.
Here 1t was given a fictitious name and
markable chain of circumstances, by
Anna B. Geib of this city, who did not
know at the time that it was the
daughter of Charles Coons of this city
The father afterwards recalled the
fact TO Mrs. Geib that it was his child
and as the girl grew older he became
very much attached to her. Mrs. Geib
the foster mother, objected to this, and
it is understood that there was CON
siderable jealousy between the two.
PROSECUTING WITNESS.
When Mrs. Geib became aware OF
her daughters condition. she had 6
warrant sworn out for Mr.. Coons ar
rest. The girl is said to have admit
ted to Judge Mcmahon that her father
was the guilty person. and she made {
similar confession to Mrs. Geib.
The arrest created & sensation il
Hammond when the news became
noised about and the case involved Sc
much of the history of the two
known people in Hammond that tn,
trial will be sensational in the ex
/ treme.
| Mr.. Coons emphatically denies hi
guilt. He denies that the girl is in
serious condition and offers in sup
port of his contention the statement o
/ a doctor who has been treating he1
! There is said. however. to be a differ
! ence Of opinion between this docto
and one whom Mrs. Geib employed an
whose statement led TO the arrest 0
4 Mr.. Coons.
The story which Mr.. Coons tells o
; the life Of Mary f. Geib is remarkable
! His wife, who was living in Blue Is
land at the time Of the daughter
birth. died within twenty-four hour
after the birth of the child.
FIRES REVOLVER AT MIR. COONS.
In Blue Island there was a man b
| the name Of Charles Wilbur. who wa
known as There Wilbur This mar
accorning to Mr.. Coons. was a bite
enemy Of his wife. and made severa
efforts to Kill him. He nearly sue
ceeded one time when he fired a Re
volver at him and the bullet passe
through Mr.. CoOns ear
When he learned that a child ha
! been born to Mr.. and Mrs. COons h
declared that he wauld kidnap it. NJ
Coons talked the matter over with
friend by the name of Edward Pulve
and Mr.. Pulver said that he woul
take the child where Mr- Wilbur coul