The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-09-17
Butcher Knife Flashed 10
Face Of The Sick Man
Who Was Asked To Give
Mortgage On Ills Home
Man Now has 4 Gun II Ills
Side All The Time
Utica Herald)

Floyd Elben, who has been confined
TO his bed at his home In the Wash.
more addition for many months past.
by illness, tells a story Of happenings
at his residence which equals those OF
the most sensational novels.
Mr.. Elben says that on Tuesday af.
ternoon of last week there came q
knock at his door, and after he had
called Come In" several times he
heard footsteps on the floor and he
was confronted by two young men
whom he recognized though he had
not seen them for several years. Al
ter few minutes talk about his condi-
tion, one of the visitors asked him
about $500 which they claimed he
owed the young men and their sis
. tiers, az coming from the estate Of their
mother who died a score Of years ago.
Floyd replied that he had no money
belonging to them; that the estate
mentioned had been attended to by an
administrator, who was also guardian
: OF the children; that he had simply
bought the former home Of their moth
err, at the administrators sale, and
had paid for 1t, and had nothing fur
ther TO do with the matter.
Thereupon. Floyd says, one OF the
men went to the kitchen and procured
q butcher knife, and coming to the bed
he prodded the mattress and pillows
with It and demanded that the sick
man write them check for $500 Up
on his declaring that he had no money
to give or check upou. he says the
young men demanded that he raise
money for them by mortgaging his
home. and one of them left the house.
ostensibly to come over into town and
have "A mortgage written In favor OF
some one who would make a loan on
the place.
The party returned, having been un'
able to find w. B Vance whom he
was looking for to ask for the loan
and he was sent back TO look for some
other person. While he was gone
Floyd says the one guarding him
placed small chain. similar to n dol
chain, about his neck and twisted It
In an attempt to strangle him.
Finally, being uneasy at the long alb
sence OF his brother, the man on guard
left the house, and Mr.. islben managed
20 get out OF bed and lock the door
.and he called to n young man named
Farley who was passing, and sent FOL
Ed Kempton. Mr.. KemptOn respond
ed, and upon learning the story of the
outrage he notified Marshal Hobb,
who found and arrested the fellow who
had gone TO seek the loan, and tool
him to the Elben home.
The young man abused Elben shame
fully, but denied that he had used vio
ilence or threats. He said that II HI
was allowed to 20 he would never re
turn or again molest Elben He wal
allowed to depart, aud he and hI'
brother are said to have left town Oi
the noon train Wednesday.
Dr. Smith IL one OF the persons from
who the fellow solicited a loan on th'
Elben property.
Mayor Smoots investigated soon ai
ter the marshal was there. lie cOul'
plainly see the marks OF the chain OF
F'loyd's neck, and holes that had beel
made In the mattress by the butche
knife. He had confidence In the COT
rectness OF the sick mans story. am
advised him to shoot the lining" ou
of the fellows II they attempt any fu,
ther funny business.
When the Herald man called at tn
Elben home he found Floyd lying o
The bed with a. gun at his side,