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❖ Recalls Work of ** the Regulators *♦***♦*************To the Editor of The Sentinel:—Iwas greatly interested in scanning thestory by Frank Dildine on the organization work of the various vigilant committees and organizations of early Indiana days in these northern counties, as described in The Sentinel of 25th inst., largely because as long ago as thirty j'ears I personally came in contact with some of the work of the associations.dust north of Rome City ^and across the small stream which is the outlet of the large artificial lake that now more than any other one thing gives to the pretty little town its chief interest and attraction, and on the hill above is (or was recently,) and old dilapidated “tavern,’- the center of a little settlement marked on the old Indiana maps'reef a Hand-v l n «i i.“Northport.” About twenty rods further north and on the east side of the road is the old graveyard, where lies what is mortal of Gregory McDougal. Th£ grave, when I last saw it, several years ago, was marked by a small marble slab on which were carved the words, “McGregor McDougal,” then followed date of birth and of death and then the suggestive, as it is somewhat amusing sentence, taken with all its connections: “My Husband Rests on Heaven.” When I first stood by this grave, more than thirty years ago, I had just finished the ritual' service at the burial of a very little babe only a few feet from the grave of McDougal, and as I walked away from the burial party with a man who was something of a wag, and as we stood reading the inscription my friend remarked, “Well he had a h—1 of a hard road to ttravel to get there.”I observe that Mr. Dildine calls him “Gregory,” but I feel quite sure that I give the name as it appears on the tombstone. However, Gregory is only a corruption of McGregory. The story told me then, only twenty-two years after the hanging, was that McDougal went to the home of a very aged and humble couple, who were supposed to have a considerable sum of money secreted about their premises, and to compel them to reveal its hidingthe house I saw in the prospective bridegroom a man whose very looks and manner at once suggested to me the rascal that he was. But as I had orv my fears to check my conscience I tied the knot. I remarked to friends afterwards that I had feareu tor the safety of the woman who had taken him “for better or for worse.” Inside of three months he had poisoned her to get about cash tvhich she had realized on ; the sale of a piece of land w'hieh he induced her to sell with the Specious plea that he would make good use of it in a business enterprise. His trial resulted in his conviction and a life sentence to the prison at Michigan, where I once* afterward, saw him at work making wagon wheels. This man was in a way-connected with the gang of horse thieves, cut-throats and robbers of those not very far off days, and I forbear giving names for evident reasons.But the work of the regulators was effective and now all that region, once infested with men of such base propensities and characters is one of the most desirable and attractive places for a home and happiness that can be found anywhere on our great and good com-momvealth—grand old Indiana.C. KING,618 West Jefferson St., Fort Wayne.
Newspaper Details
Fort Wayne Weekly Sentinel
Fort Wayne, Indiana, US
Wed, Dec 04, 1912
Page 12
Full Page
Clipped by
Vigo C.
IN, USA 20 Jul 2021
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