Gambling in the Courtroom Oh My

The September 3^rd and 10th, 1880 editions of the local newspapers noted that the beauty of the thoroughfares were hidden and the delightfulness of an evening drive stolen by the clouds of dust which arose.

Earlier this year this blog posted news of the theft of Captain M. O’Donnell hogs  by Edward Gignasky, the butcher in Vincennes.  The case finally went to court and after being out all night the jury returned an acquittal.  “It will be remembered that the prosecuting witness lost a large number of hogs last winter, and suspicion was attached to the defendant in this case. The testimony of John Beard, colored, would have sent almost anybody ‘over the road’ (to Jail) for a short term, provided John was a little more reliable. He said that he was hired by Gignasky to kill the hogs for him.  We understand that Gignasky will retaliate and make it red hot for his alleged malicious prosecutors.”

Deaths:

Died Miss Hattie Norris at Lawrenceville August 24^th, 1880.  Miss Norris had been in Lawrenceville but a very few days when she was attacked with spinal meningitis from which she died last Tuesday. She was 35 years.  She was taken to Freelandville, Indiana for interment, that having been her former home.

Miss Catherine Gines was buried last Sunday August 29, 1880. Annie Funk, a bright and pleasant young lady of Bond Township, died on Thursday after a long illness at the home of her grandmother, Mrs J A Wright. She had had consumption for over a year but few days prior to her death was attacked by measles, that was the cause of her death. Miss Anna W Funk, aged 15 years 11 months and eight days, was a sprightly girl of rare qualities, both mental and social, accompanied by a loving disposition that won her the admiration and friendship of all who knew her. Burial was in Charlottesville cemetery.

The little daughter of Jack Klingler, a prominent merchant of Bird Station died of measles on the 25th. Mr. Klingler himself was seriously ill of the same disease.

The community was shocked by the announcement last Wednesday morning of the death of Mrs. James Benson of Russellville.  She had been ill for some time but was not considered in a dangerous condition and her sudden death was a surprise to all.

Mrs. Jenny Dickerson's little daughter Maggie died. Died August 22nd Estella May, daughter of Isaac F and Amanda M Hall in the third year of her life

Mrs. William Thompson: The death of this excellent old lady occurred at her residence in Allison Township, Lawrence County Illinois in September 10, 1880. She had been suffering several weeks from injuries sustained by a fall, which finally resulted in her death. Mrs. Jane Richardson Thompson was the wife of William Thompson of Lawrence County Illinois and was born in Butler County Ohio February 27th, 1807, and was consequently, at the time of her death, in her 73rd year. She was married to William Thompson in Lawrence County on November 16, 1826.

A most shocking accident happened in Lawrence County on Monday afternoon. A little son of Mr. Lafayette Spencer residing about 3 miles West of Lawrenceville, in company with several other youthful companions of the neighborhood, were playing in an adjoining lot to where a blind horse was grazing. Young Spencer was looking through the cracks of a fence when the animal became frightened, or restless from the annoyance of flies, and started to run. Being blind, the horse ran against the fence where the boy was kneeling, peering through the cracks, knocked the fence down and fell on the lad, killing him outright.

 Russellville: Three  flat boats that had lain at the wharf near Russellville for several weeks floated down the Wabash enroute to Arkansas. Measles made their appearance in Russellville.

Bridgeport: GW Cooper of Sumner moved his drug store to Bridgeport. Oysters were selling for $0.50 a can. Warner Brothers general store of Bridgeport was the biggest advertiser in the county. They advertised underwear at $0.25 to a dollar and up; Glassware six-piece glass sets $0.40; 6 footed-fruit saucers $0.25; $0.60 for £25 sack of flour; and dress goods at $0.05 a yard. They also wanted to buy 10,000 bushels of dried apples and peaches as well as 500 dozen chickens.

Allison Prairie: Jonathan M Storms, son of J J Storms, had been missing for some time and a week ago Mr. HC Storms of Dayton, Ohio received a letter from JN Emory of Allison Township saying that of valise with a lot of clothing had been found at a straw pile near that place and a letter in the valise showed that the articles belonged to young Storms. The condition of the clothes proved that they had been at the straw pile sometime; they were scattered around somewhat, and the valise was torn, indicating rough usage. When he left Dayton Ohio young Storms had about $200 on his person. He was in Washington, Indiana about the 1st of May but left soon after and had not been heard from since.

Miss Bell Flowers, a young school teacher of Sand Ridge vicinity, has bought the Miller farm on Sand Ridge, which contained 200 acres. The price paid was $2200. Miss Flowers was a graduate of Vincennes University.

Sumner: AC Clippinger of Sumner, late editor of the Sumner Democrat, was charged with being the father of an unborn baby by Miss Jenny Hannon. Clippinger became frightened when the charge was made by the girl and gave his note for a sum considered sufficient to repay Miss Hannon for any inconvenience that she might suffer by her misfortune.  Clippinger later made an affidavit stating that he never had criminal intercourse with Miss Jenny and said that the note he gave would not to be paid as it was obtained by fraud.

Forty-five fine monuments of first-class marble in five different colors was sold at HM Wagner's marble works in Sumner at prices low or lower than they could be bought anywhere else. People needing anything in the marble line would do well to make a selection from them at that time.

Birds Station: The town had two hotels. Farmers were getting ready to sell wheat. Mr. Cy White and Isaac Shield were creating a fine dwelling on Main Street. Joseph Johnson of Jefferson County would open a restaurant and butcher shop on Main Street. Charlie McGavin was the druggist. John W Vaught left for Southern Illinois college; Jack Daley of New Albany Indiana was to open a new shoe shop. Mr. Wappler, Mr. Cochran and Mr. Ford were the wheat dealers in town and shipped large amounts of wheat every week paying the highest market price.

County General News: The schools in the county started last Monday. (Labor Day was not celebrated as of yet.)  Several boarders were now at Stivers Springs trying to recuperate their health.

And from the political scandal column: On the 12th day of June at a meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Lawrence County a bill of $13.50 was allowed for the payment of locks as it was stated, to keep gamblers out of the courthouse room. The keys were put in the hands of sheriff and deputy for that purpose.

On the second day of September BL Cunningham, for some reason or other, went up to the courtroom and finding it locked, tried the door very hard, twice, when the voice of John P Scott, the Sheriff, cried out, “what do you want I will let you in”, but Mr. Cunningham paid no attention to this, and kicked the lock off and the door flying open and in he went.

 But lo and behold what did he find! There around a table set the High Sheriff and his deputy Ryan and three other gentlemen engaged in gambling for money. Mr. Scott desired to know what he wanted, and Cunningham said nothing, declining to stay longer, gave no reason for kicking open the door, but left at once going downstairs.

Talking to the prosecuting attorney they went up to Squire Walton’s office, but after talking the manner over, they did not get any arrest Warrants.

Now the newspaper advised that this was only written to show voters that Ryan left the impression with the honest voters of Lawrence County that he had quit all gambling, but he was obviously still guilty and that the place selected for such business was the hall of justice, where the judges of the courts decide cases, and he was there with his superior officer present.  Furthermore the reporter noted, to be caught by a Republican circuit clerk is a rather fortunate thing for the Democrats, as it cannot be put out as just another Democratic lie.

The people of the county took their politics very seriously haveing both a Republican paper published and a Democratic paper published in almost every town. For weeks most of the articles found were those of a political nature,