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(Continued from Page 1.)bott’s mother, Mrs. Abner Alread, where he had made his home.Craig Not Located.An effort was made this morning to find Craig but up to noon he had not been located. His friends say that he was working out along the traction line. This report was denied by some.Investigation Demanded.The affair created no little excitement in Roanoke and not a few demanded that the circumstances connected with the death of Abbott be thoroughly investigated. The theory of foul play has been considered by a number in Roanoke. When approached by a Herald man this morning Wilson declined to discuss the matter, stating tfcgt he would first be seen by the proper officials.Dr. S. Koontz visited the place of the tragedy early this morqing and after having made an examination of the wounds thought the fatal injuries had been inflicted by a sharp piece of glass striking Abbott in the neck. He is of the opinion that a portion still remained in the wound yet today. Dr. Koontz found the stones in the creek bed with hair still adhering to them. Not a drop of blood was discovered on the bridge. Abbott’s hat still lay in the creek bed, with several cuts in the crown, as if made with some sharp instrument.The Fatal Wound.The wound thought to have been fatal was about an inch long on the right side of the neck and deep. It was not made by a knife. The jugular vein had been pierced. There were also large cuts and abrasions on top of the head and forehead. The back of the head was badly bruised as if struck by a rather blunt Instrument.Relatives of Abbott.The dead man is the son of Dr. Harris Abbott, a respected resident of Blue Grass. A brother is Rev. Nelson Abbott, pastor of the Christian church at Mt. Etna. Fifteen years ago Edward Abbott married Miss Daisy Colclesser of near Roanoke, bbt they were divorced a year later. Abbott was not known as a very industrious man about Roanoke, but had worked occasionally as a well-, driller. He drank freely and .engaged in frequent noisy brawls in the vicinity of Roanoke. According to the ' story told by Watchman Oliver, Ab-! bott had been the source of considerable trouble in recent weeks and he had taken him home numerous times when intoxicated to avoid trouble, j Wilson, who has declined to talk, is a man of family, having a wife and one child. He remained about Roanoke today. Craig is a single man.Both are section men in the employ• .of the Wabash Valley.The action of Prosecutor Jackman- will depend largely upon the verdict of Coroner Morgan, who had not concluded his investigations at 3:30.Further Information.P. B. Settlemyer was in the city ■ from Roanoke this afternoon. He lives next door to the Aired home and j wras called over as soon as Abbott’s | body was brought home and remained j the rest of the night. He says that j the Carpenters, the three men named, j Isaac Wright and others had been ; raising a disturbance in Roanoke from 9:30 until midnight and that Watchman Oliver had given notice j that the streets should be cleared. He believes the death is- due to an ac-l cident and says that Wilson remained ’ about during the night. Craig is no 1 longer employed on the traction line * and Settlemyer suggests that possibly : he went to the home of his parents two miles east of Roanoke. Coroner ' Morgan reached Roanoke at 1:30 this i afternoon, having been obliged to I make a trip to the northern part of- the county before going to Roanoke.Funeral Arrangements.Undertaker M. B. Stults of this C ( city, who was called to Roanoke this I ( morning to take charge of the body, I has completed arrangements for the funeral. It will be held from the M. E.. church at Roanoke Thursday morningcheck cashed there. He had seen Ab-1 bott there. The latter was engaged in playing a game of pool with some one unknown to Wilson. Abbott was beaten and Wilson saw him settle for the game and later saw him playing another game. Wilson played a game of “freeze out” and had several drinks of “hop ale” or “hop tea,” which are only other names for an inferior brew of beer.Recognized Abbott’s Voice.About eleven thirty, according to Wilson’s statement, he and his friend Frank Craig left the* Dailey joint and walked west to the bridge over Cow creek, where Wilson expected to leave Craig and return to his home, Craig going on to his boarding house or to his home in the country. The two had reached the west end of the bridge when they beard some one call behind them and Wilson swore he recognized Abbott’s voice. He said it was too dark to see Abbott, but he believes the latter had come onto the bridge after he and Craig had nearly crossed over.Almost immediately Wilson heard a splash in the water above the bridge and heard Abbott exclaim, “Oh! oh!” Wilson says that he and Craig went down and pulled Abbott out and carried him up on the bank, nearly to the edge of the road, where they left him to sober up, as they supposed. Wilson says that he then went home. His wife got up and let him into the house, and he said to her, “I Saved Ed. Abbott’s life tonight.” She- inquired how, and he explained that Ed. was drunk and had fallen from the bridge into the creek, and that he and Frank Craig had pulled him out. Going into the kitchen to remove his wet shoes and socks, Wilson says he turned up the light and discovered that his hand and sleeve were covered with blood and he said to his wife that Abbott must be pretty badly injured. He suggested -that they go back and see to him. They secured a lantern and went back to the place where Abbott had been laid on tbe ground, calling the night watchman go with them. When the three reached Abbott they found him dead. Dr. Wilking was summoned and when he arrived found that he could render no service. He immediately notified Coroner Morgan at Huntington, by telephone, and the body was ordered removed to the home of Abner Aired, the stepfather of the deceased.While Wilson’s story lacks corroboration, it made a good impression. Efforts are being made to locate the man Craig, whose story is needed to complete the testimony.Question as to Fall.There seems to be little doubt that young Abbott met his death by falling upon rocks and a broken beer bottle in the bed of the creek. The rocks cut several ugly scalp wounds, and the broken bottle penetrated the neck, severing at least two arteries and possibly the jugular vein. There is some question, however, as to how he came to fall. He may have been Intoxicated, and losing his balance have fallen over of off the rail along tbe bridge. He may have been pushed or knocked off, but there is absolutely no evidence, thug far obtainable, of any motive for murder.There is evidence, though, that some one Is morally responsible for the man’s death. The fact that there are at least two places in Roanoke where men can secure a beverage which makes them drunk and disorderly, is an arraignment of the administration of law and order in that community. Such incidents as those of Monday night will continue so long as the citizens and officials of the town refuse or neglect to co-operate in the rigid enforcement of law. Today’s Official Visit.This morning Coroner F. B. Morgan, Prosecutor C. F. Jackman and Sheriff Mahoney went to Roanoke to complete if possible their investigation in the Abbott case. As Prosecutor Jackman stated: “We learnedsome things which we consider Important and some things we desired to learn we did not find out. Craig has not yet been located and we wish to hear his story of the affair before the coroner can render his verdict and the officers can determine theirwas found is a sharp atone. We think that Che victim fell on the broken bottle and was cut in the neck and the stone inflicted the injury on top. of the head. But, on the other hand, in view of the facts established, I am not satisfied as to how Abbott’s fall wa3 caused. Further investigation will be necessary to complete the evidence, and before an intelligent-Yer-dict can. be rendered.” This verdict is not expected before the last of the week.Joints in Business.The death of Abbott can be laid primarily to one cause—the operation of the alleged “hop ale” joints in Roanoke. There have been two of these so-called dives in operation several weeks and both did a thriving business. One at the corner of First and Commercial streets was tended by Charles Regadanz, the ex-saloon keeper, and another on Commercial street^ was operated by George Dailey. Legally Roanoke has been a dry town since May 6 last, when the license of Carey Rose expired and his place of business was closed. Since the opening of the “hop ale” joints many drunks and drunken carousals havekept up the excitement of the townand were sources of humiliation among the more quiet citizens. It was the impression among the residents and even the operators themselves believed the “hop ale” resorts were immune from laws regulating the sale of intoxicating liquors.Resorts Are Closed.A different light was thrown on the matter this morning during the visit of the officers in Roanoke. By order of Prosecutor Jackman and Sheriff Mahoney, Regadanz and Dailey both discontinued the sale of “hop ale.” Both protested against the instructions to the officers, claiming that they were not governed by the liquor laws, and stated that they had supplies on hand and shipments coming that would have to be disposed of. The officers declined to argue with the proprietors. They took the hint and promised to quit selling the beverage. The officers secured samples of the alleged “ale,” to be used as evidence in case of future legal action.From the Daily of Thursday:Who was the mysterious third man with “Frank Craig and Elmer Wilson on the night of the tragedy at Roanoke standing less than a square away from the bridge over Cow creek on which stood Edward Abbott and Isaac Wright at the time? This is the information desired by Coroner F. B. Morgan and Prosecutor C. F. Jack-man, as it is now intimated in Roan-%oke that foul play is the most plausible theory of the death.At the time of the conference of Wilson, Craig and this third man, Wright was in such a state of intoxication that he fairly reeled and was unconscious of what was going on about him. Abbott was leaning against the railing at the side of the bridge with both arms over the rail to support his body. The two had j been in previous trouble Monday night, but had continued drinking at the “hop ale” joints and were in a still worse plight when seen together on the bridge. Wright does not remember how he left the bridge, with whom or how he got to his home. He does not remember any of the movements of Abbott.It was rumored about Roanoke that parties had been found who had overheard certain parties making threats that they would “get that man Abbott and his bunch” for trouble in which their gang had been implicated. These statements were not made for publication but have since offered an important clue to the officers. The location of the unknown third man of the trio conference may clear up at least a part of the mystery of the cause of Abbott’s fall over the rail of the bridge.•Frank Craig, the individual who was wanted by the coroner and prosecutor for the purpose of offering evidence in the matter, and who could not be located, turned up in Roanoke Wednesday afternoon. He would not discuss the affair with which hisnoma hflQ hppn P.nnnaotart statinff. iCraig Wit Ftund.Frank Craig was in Roanoke early thia morning but had left when the prosecutor and coroner had arrived. Securing a rig they drove to within a mile of Zanesville, where they located him and secured bis evidence. At three this afternoon Mr. Jackman stated to a Herald representative that his testimony essentially corroborates that of Wilson. This afternoon the testimony of Isaac Wright was taken, but practically nothing was learned-The prosecutor also told the Herald that the day had brought forth nothing of startling importance, though several names remained,on his list, and he did not expect to complete his Investigation today. Nothing was found to substantiate the suspicions mentioned in the opening paragraph of this article.ROANOKE.PAU-L T. HACKETT, Representative.Mr. Ha.rk=tt U authorized to receipt for subscription accouats.Miss Jessie Koontz was in Fort Wayne Tuesday.C. J. Fausz moved from the Atwood property on Fourth street to theSimon Peigh property on Third streetTuesday.Rev. Josiah Simons of Chicago is the guest of his brother, John Simons, who lives west of town.The barn of John Spohahauer, who resides in Jefferson township, Whitley county, burned in the storm Tuesday evening. All of his hay, oats and wheat and some of his farm implements were destroyed. The loss is estimated at $2,000. He carries $800 insurance with the Whitley County Farmers’ Mutual.Melvin Yahne moved from Agnes Bucher’s property on Commercial street to Elsie Rupert’s house on Coe street Wednesday. Mr. Rupert has moved to a farm in Lafayette township, Allen county.John Feighner was in Fort Wayne v Thursday morning.Mrs. John DeArmitt was a Huntington visitor Thursday.Ed. Keefer, whose foot was badly hurt last week, is recovering nicely.Elden Yahne was in Huntington Sunday.Mrs. Susan Koontz visited in Fort Wayne Monday.John E. Miller, who resides six miles west of town, has purchased new Aermotor wind pump. The mill will have the new. removable arm* and the tower is of the popular heavy trussed tripod pattern and forty feet in height. The outfit will be erected next week by A. Wasmuth Sons Co., who are Aermotor agents at Roanoke and Andrews. witE. L. Dagus moved Thursday to Fort Wayne, where he has employment in the Fort Wayne electric works.Mr. and Mrs. L. D. Fast and daughter, Miriam, of Fort Wayne spent Wednesday at the I. O. O. F. picnic.Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Callison returned Tuesday from a week’s vaca-, tion at Winona lake. ,Mr. and Mrs. William Leeper and Mrs. A. L. Leverton and daughter of Fort Wayne are visiting at the Forrest Leeper home south of town.H. M. Lambert of Andrews stopped here a few hours Monday afternoon on his way to Niagara Falls. Ernest Gray accompanied him.Rev. and Mrs. A. F. Knepp left Monday for a ten-days’ visit ait Cold-water, Mich. They will stop on their way and visit Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Clemmens at Auburn.Mrs. Rosa Hix of Marion is visiting at the home of her father, Daniel Debbitt, east of town.Thomas Morris is building cement walks in front of his property on Seminary street.The O. O. Or F. picnic in SWaid-ner’s grove Wednesday was attended by from 500 to 600 people. Many were present from Huntington, Zanesville and Laud. Rev. James Pyle of Marlon delivered a masterful address on Oddfellowship. The day was a source of pleasure to all there. Clarence Wohlford is sick with
Newspaper Details
Huntington Weekly Herald
Huntington, Indiana, US
Fri, Aug 24, 1906
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Steve W.
USA 05 Apr 2018
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