Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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PUBLISHED THREE STATE BANKS Are in a Most Prosperous Con dition Says the EXAMINERS REPORT Many Millions of Dollars Now on Deposit in the Several Banks?Av erages and Comparisons Shown by Mr. Giles L. Wilson With Condi tion Up to June 28. ?Mr. Giles L. Wilson, State bank er aminer, has completed his report on the 240 State banks in this State, ending June 23. and has given some interesting comparative figures. His statement of the assets and liabili ties up to June 23 are as follows: Resources. Loans aud discounts. $3S,522,607.37 Demand loans. 1,491,242.63 Overdrafts. -99,793.81 Bonds and stocks own ed by the bank... 3,730,765.97 Banking house. S27.885.92 Furniture and fixtures ? 412,451.91 Other real estate . . . .353,057.64 Due from banks and trust companies .. 4,701,169.80 Currency. 773,739.00 Gold. 12S.S86.50 Silver and other coin. 277,296.11 Checks and cash items 29S.604.86 Exchanges for the clearing house .... 44,404.11 Othei' resources_ 46,401.85 Total ..;. $52,20S,307.48 Liabilities. Capital stock paid in . $ 9.657,046.16 Surplus fund. 2,140,941.91 Undivided profits, less current expenses and taxes paid. .. 2,793,936.S5 Due to banks and trust companies .. 549.902.74 Dividends unpaid ... 29,941.46 Individual deposits subject to check. . . 15,027,970.34 Savings deposits .... 13,132.525.83 Demand certificates of deposits. 238,992.26 Time certificates of deposit. 2,290,080.71 Certified checks .. .. 20,547.56 Cashier's checks .... 67.320.56 Notes and bills redis counted. 1.222.9S8.07 Bills payable, includ ing certificates for money borrowed . . 4,951,457.01 Other liabilities_ S3,629.02 Total.$52,208,307.48 Some Comparisons. A comparative statement with June, 1908, and April, 1909, gives some figures showing how the finan cial interests in South Carolina have gdown. Those prepared by Mr. Wil son are: Total resources. 1908.|48,694,704.50 Total resources, 1909. 52,208,307.48 Increase in one year.$ 3,513,602.98 Increase'over April, 1909 . ?117,732.31 Total loans and dis counts. 1908.$37,679,095.44 Total loans and dis counts, 1909 . 40,113,850.00 Increase in one ycar$ 2,434,757.56 Increase over April, ( 1909. 1,023.606.09 Total due from banks, 190S. $ 4,862.130.62 Total due from banks, 1 909 . 4.70 1.1 69.SO Decrease in one year.$ 16 0,960. S3 D e c r e a s e from April, 1909. . . . 741.566.44 Total cash in vault, 1908.$ i.597. Total cash in vault, 1 909 .: . 1.522.930.:.S Decrease in one year.$ 74.442.75 ' I) e c r e a s e from April. .1909. . . . 183.955.63 Total capital stock paid In. 19oS.? 9.193,676.67 Total capital stock paid in. 1909 . . , 9.657.046.16 Increase in one year$ 463.369.49 1 n c r a s rrom April. 1 909 .... 6S5.on Total surplus and profus. 1 'his .$ 1.413,907.81 Total surplus and profits. 1909. 1.934.S7S.70 Increase in one year? 520,970.95 [ n e r e a s o from April. 1 909 ... . . 59.54 v 1 0 Total individual de posits. 190s .$29.08R."39S.2 I j Total individual de posits. 190 9.30.S0S.405.72 increase in one y<?ar$ 1,723.007.48 Deere a s e from April. 1909 .... 1.7S9.103.46 Total rediscounts and hills payable. I90S.$ 6.441,281.99 Total rediscounts and bills payable, 1909 6.17 L445.0S Decrease In one year.$ 260.S36.91 Increase f rom Aprii. 1 909. . . .$ 1.SS6.119.35 Total number banks report ing. 1 908 . . . 233 Total number banks TIMES A WEEK. DANIEL ZIMMERMAN AGED BOND CLERK FREED FROM THE PENITENTIARY. Recommendation of Board Approved by Governor?Affective Scenes at Prison When Beneficiary Left. Mr. Daniel Zimmerman, who has served sixteen months of a three year sentence for embezzling State bonds while bond clerk in the office of the State treasury, was granted a full and unconditional pardon by Governor Ansel Friday, who merely adopted the recommendation of the pardon board, which contained an in teresting couple of paragraphs on the Zimmerman case, written by Col. W. I A. Clark, the board's secretary. | The pardon has been expected, as | powerful pressure has been brought to bear on both the governor and the members of the pardon board, who were appealed to by influential people From all parts of the State. In fact the pardon was expected at the last meeting of the board, but the discovery of additional shortage caused postponement of the case. | The first news was telephoned to the penitentiary immediately after the governor had acted, by Clerk Brooks of the supreme court, a fel low Confederate Veteran of Mr. Zim merman's, who sympathizes with ev erybody in trouble. Capt Roberts of the penitentiary guard made Mr. Zim merman's heart glad with the first news. Shortly afterward Mrs. Zim merman arrived and there was a tearful meeting. She waited until the papers were brought down and her husband formally released. As clothes the aged pair drove away in clothes the aged pair doe away In a carriage to their home. It is thought that the pardoning of Mr. Zimmerman will make a pardon for his accomplice, Mr. T. J. Gibson, easier to secure. Up to this time there have been indications of much bitterness against Mr. Gibson on the ?art of Mr. Zimmerman's friends. Mr. Gibson has not yet begun ser- j vice of his sentence, being out on bond pending appeal to the supreme .court from the circuit court's order j refusing him a new Jrial on alleged I after-discovered evidence. * ; BURGLAR KILLS WOMAN. Says Attempt to Prevent Robbery of Her Home was Foolish. A dispatch from New York says Frank Schmidt, alias John Smith, the wounded burglar, who admits that he killed Mrs. Sophia Staber in her bed room early Thursday morning, when he was caught robbing the; Staber house at Flat Bush, near New York, said Friday "Mr. Staber and his son are to be blamed for this killing," he said. They were fools to try to stop such men as us when ail we wanted was to make a get-away. If Mr. Staber will take a gun I will let him shoot till I drop dead. That's how much 1 I regret this affair." Schmidt's pal. Carlo Giro, alias] Metzelr, made a confession Friday, in which he tried to lay all the blame on his mate. In a visit Friday night to the rooms which the burglars had oc cupied the police discovered what they said might be a clue to the mur der of Samuel Bersin, a painter, whose dismembered body, wrapped in oil cloth, was found in an East Side street a month ago. The police found a piece of black oilcloth, which they say is of identical quality, col or and make as that in which Ber sin's body was wrapped. IMMUNE TO POISON. New Religious Cull Seeks Bites From Deadly Reptiles. Twenty-three persons in the vicin ity of Hutchinson. Kan., have joined in snake worship and hold regular services, in which deadly reptiles play an important part. The report of the cull comes from H. M. Grubb, assessor of Government township, who is seeking to have the worship ers arrested. According to his story the snake worshipers make a rtgulac. hunt for reptilies. imprison, them and when services are held the snakes .are al lowed to sink their fangs in the arms of believers, who i hink them selves immune to poison. The as sessor reports there are several shriv eled arms among the worshipers and a number of children have had nar row escapes from death due to the bites. * Fear Negro Census Takers. Concerned about what they sup pose to be th'1 possibility that negroes may be sent into the homes of white residents of the South as enumera tors to gather information for the Thirteenth Decennial Federal census. Democratic Congressmen are very ac tive. * reporting. 1909 ... -4 0 Increase in one year 7 No change since April. 1909. One State bank has liquidated since April. 1909. and has been suc ceeded by a new national hank. One new State bank has commenced business since April 28, 1909. o House ORA3S7GEBTJKG, DROWNED IN SURF YOUNG AUGUSTAN DROWNED ON SULLIVAN'S ISLAND. Was Trying to Rescue Miss Bessie Boyle, of Charleston, With Whom He Was in Bathing. In an effort to save the life of Miss Bessie Boyle, of Charleston, Mr. Fulton Kelsey, of Augusta, Ga., lost his life in the surf at Sullivan's Island Friday. The tragedy occur red at about 5 o'clock in the after noon, and a most unusual circum stance was that no one was aware of the fact that Mr. Kelsey had been drowned until Miss Boyle regain ing consciousness after her rescue, asked where Mr. Kelsey was. Miss Boyle, who was in the surf with Mr. Kelsey, narrowly escaped drowning herself, and when rescued was practically unconscious. Her account of the tragedy was therefore very disconnected. II appears that Mr. Kelsey and, Miss Boyle were in hat hing together, and some little dis tance from any other bathers. It was an unusually strong ebb tide and a high east wind was blowing. The first intimation that any one had that the bathers were, in distress was the sight of Miss Boyle's outstretch ed arms projecting from the water. Mr. David Huguenin of Charleston, happened to be fishing in the surf nearby, and seeing Miss Boyle's arms in the position they were, realized the gravity of the situation an im mediately went to her rescue. The water was only waist deep where Miss Boyle was found, and Mr. Huguenin had little difficulty in reaching her and bringing her to the shore. Miss Boyle's condition was quite serious when Mr. Huguenin reached her, her face being already discolored and there w?re other in dications of strangulation. After reaching the shore Miss Boyle regained consciousness, and although in a state of collapse, cried, "Where is Mr. Kelsey? Where is Mr. Kelsey?" It was not known until then that Mr. Kelsey was in the surf, and efforts were immediately made to locate him, but the body had al ready gone down and no trace of it was discovered. As soon as Mr. Huguenin was seen bearing Miss Boyle to the beach, Mr. Clarence Rowland and young Mr. Cudworth, of Charleston, immediate ly went to his assistance and helped take Miss Boyle to the cottage of Mrs. Joseph Bignon, when- she was staying. While Miss Boyle is petting along very well, she Is still in a ner vous state, suffering from shock. Miss Boyle washable to state, how ever that when she and Mr. Kelsey discovered their danger, Mr. Kelsey placed her on his back and told her to call for help. Miss Boyle said that she made several cries, but that they were, not heard. The theory in connection with the drowning is that Mr. Kelsey was seized with cramps and was un able to cope with the strong under tow that took him out to sea. It is thought probable that Miss Boyle was first knocked down by the under tow and that Mr. Kelsey went to her assistance; that Mr. Kelsey succeed ed in rescuing her and carried her some little distance to the shore, but was himself stricken and the undertow bore him under. Miss Boyle said that she remembered the break ers coming over their heads, but that the water in which they were standing was only waist deep. AT.TMAX DIES FROM WOUNDS. Ruveuel Man Shot by .1. W. Messer vey. Succumbs to Injuries. A dispateh from Charleston says J. l>. Altman. the citizen of Ravenel who was shot by J. W. Messervey when h" went to the assistance of Dispensary Constable Fishburne sev eral' days ago to prevent M<isservey from carrying away from the depot at Ravenel a package of alleged con traband liquor, died Friday at the Roper hospital in Charleston. Alt man dying in Charleston county the inquest was held tin-re. but Ihe trial of Messervey. who has entered a plea of self-defensp, will of course take place in Col let on county. Ait nian had three sons in Charleston and they were with him when he died. The body was prepared for shipment to Ravenel and left Char leston Saturday morning. The fu neral was held, upon arrival at Rav enel. ? LKAPS FROM HOSPITAL WINDOW Florence Woman Seriously Injured. at Richmond. Mrs. K. J. I!raj. of Florence, S. <".. a patient at the Old 1 ?ominioii Hos pital in Richmond. Va.. was si-ri ou.-ly injured Friday afternoon by leaping from a second story window while suffering from alleged tem porary mental abberation. Mrs. Bray suffered a broken Li in l > and it is said that two Of her ribs are in jured. She is also suffering from sttoek and possibly from internal injuries. Mrs. Bray was carried to the hospital several days ago. Her condition is said to be serious. Her relatives have been notified of her condition. 0 cltt S. C, TUESDAY. JULY SHOOTS WOMAN AND THEN BLOWS OUT WHAT BRAINS HE MAY HAVE nAD. The Desperate Act of a Preacher of the "Unknown Tongue," What ever That Is. A dispatch from Abbeville to The j News and Courier says the Rev. Law I rence Patterson, tho "Unknown I Tongue" preacher, r who rendered ! himself famous recently by shooting I at Grover Cleveland Fritz, on Cotton I Mill Hill, and afterwards defending I himself in the Circuit Court and se I curing an acquittal, broke into the quiet of the cotton mill village again Sunday, by shooting a lady friend of his and then committing suicide. It seems that for some time, Pat terson had been paying attention to a widow by the name of Mrs. Mag Pender. Sunday he called on her and some dispute (arose between : them. Patterson drew his pistol and I fired at the woman as she fled, in flicting two flesh wounds, one in the thigh and the other in the calf of the leg, but neithed being :-;erious. He then placed the point of the're volver in his right ear and fired, the bullet passing out of the top of the head. He died immediately. Upon removing the body, he was found to be armed not only with the pistol, but with a large dirk and other weapons. Patterson had been a Holiness preacher in that place for some time. Lately he had turned painter and had been painting houses about town. It. is believed that his mind was not well balanced. He was seen wander ing about the Seaboard depot about 3 o'clock Sunday morning, and his actions recently led people who have come in contact with him to doubt his sanity. ? 113 ttKKP MYSTERIES. New York Police Working Hard on Latest Tragedy. Police officers in New York city are turning heaven and earth in an effort to lind the murderer of Giu seppe Pogano, who left his gun in the room from which he fired the fatal shot. Commissioner Baker de clares this is the one hundred and thirteenth killing in New York city within a year in which there is no clew to !he muri! rer, not even so much as a clear motive for the kill ing. The known facts surrounding the incident are, Pagano was poor and had been ill for several weeks. On the night of the killing he was home alon<\ his wife and three daughters being out of the house. About an hour before they returned he appears to have entered a rear room to get a drink. A tumbler which he held in his hand was found on the floor. A hole in the window pane and anoth er in his heart indicate how death came. Tn a room in a nearby flat a repeating rilie was found but no occupant of a tenement will acknowl edge that he or she heard the fatal shot. Pogano's assassination is the third within a year in which an Italian was shot through a window. In the same liloek. less than a year aeo, a a butcher named Sferlozza was kill ed, and a few weeks after that there was a similar murder in Rose Gunth er'? alley, off First street, between the Bowery and Second avenue. Both men had received threatening letters, and th^ police ascribed the murders to the "Black Hand." * tit PIRATES SLAIN. Achinese Killed by Smoke by Dutch Troops in Sumatra. The storm methods of the Dutch in tlnir East Indian possessions, found necessary in dealing with the semi-barbarous natives, with whom piraej continues an industry, rather than a crime, were dramatically il 1 list rated in th<> delil?erate suffoca tion to death ?>:' l Achinese men. women and children by a punitive expedition on the Sumatra coasl ear ly in June, according 1,1 news brought to Victoria, B. C. this week bj n Canadian Pacific liner. The victims were supposed to be Hip came daring party that a few weeks previously had attacked and plundered a trading junk of .lapore. killing the majority of its crew. The j pirates, pursued by police boats from! Singapore, took refuge in a cave in Soul hern Sumatra, lo which they were tracked by Dutch troops, assis ted by local guides, whose enmity the fugitives had incurred. Called upon to surrender. Ihe re ply was a shower of spears and .-lints. Orders were thereupon given that no mercy !?? shown. Fires were built at the cavern's month, and when it was thought thai the pirates had! 1m en sufficiently ? smoked" tu be am iable, the soldiers entered the cave. The work of punishment, however, was found to have been complete, for of t he 3 I Achinese not one re maiud alive. Diamond Faker Sent to Jail. Henri Lemoine, who on pretense of being able to make diamonds, de frauded Sir Julius Wernher of a large sum of money, was sentenced, at Paris. Frnnce. this week, to six years imprisonment and a fine of $600. * 13, 1909. takes m mm IX REGARD TO THE RESIGNA TION OF PRES. MELL. Will Establish a Minting Oilice at Clcmson and Teach the "Art Preservative." The meeting of the board of trus tees of Clemson college adjourned Saturday morning without taking any action on the resignation of President Meli other than announc ing that it will be considered at a called meeting of the board to be held at the college on August 12. The resignation was submitted to the board Friday night and with it Dr. Meli presented a statement, ex plaining why he resigned, three main causes being given. The first cause named by Dr. Meli was the frequent interference in the administration of his duties by the trustees; the second was the plan of selecting faculty members with out allowing the president a larg? influence, and the third was the need of reorganization of the military de partment. The latter cause was responsible for the rupture of the past year between Dr. Meli and Com mandant Minus. Changes in Faculty. Resides approving the annual budget for the coming year and at tending to other matters of more or less importance, the board took ac tion as follows: Dr. H. R. Barrow, director of agri culture, elected one year ago, re signed to take effect September 1. His successor will be elected in Au gust. Mr., John Hook, assistant professor in engineering department, resigned. Prof. A. B. Gardner of the same de partment was promoted to succeed Mr. Hook. Mr. J. D. Littlejohn, graduate of Clemson in 1908, was elected assistant professor in engin eering department to succeed Mr. Gardner. Dr. II. C. Shattuck, professor of botany and forestry, resigned to ac cept a similar position with the Uni versity of Idaho. This chair will be; filled in August. Prof. D. D. Foiling of the Missis sippi Agricultural and Mechanical college was elected to the chair of horticulture in the agriculture de partment. This chair has been va cant some time. Mr. F. R. Sweeney, graduate of Clemson in 1906, was elected assis tant instructor in the civil engineer ing department. The hoard made the studies of Gorman and bookkeeping optional with the student. To Teach Printing. The printing office recently estab lished at the college, was placed on a firm financial basis. A linotype ma chine will be installed and printing will he taught as suggested by sev eral newspapers of*' the State. The office will do all the college print ing. Prof. A. M. Burges was given sev eral months' leave of absence to take a special course in animal husban dry. According to a ruling of the hoard all members of faculty and employes of the college are elected for one year, and as soon as the first year's service expires the board considers the names for permanent elections. Under this ruling the following elec tions were made permanent: Qr. R. O. Seeley, assistant State veterinarian, under Dr. M. Ray Pow ers; Prof. G. G. Ainsley. chair of en tomology; W. A. Thomas. State en tomologist; S. W. Evans, assistant chemist; L. A. Sease, head of pre paratory department: L. (). Waters, assistant professor of chemistry. Mr. Richard I. Manning of Smnter. recently electe."" a life trustee, at tended the meeting antf took at; ac tive part in al! the deliberations ol the beard. * EX-SENATOR In DEAD. Aged and Prominent Furnier !>???> at Union. Mr. Glenn !>. Pea fa died a- his home i' ii miles west ol Union ui an early hour Friday morning. Mr. Peake was in Union Wednes day la.-t and se< ins In have b> i n tali en ili immediately on returning home. Rom oil -Iinto 1. 1 ^'?'??>. ho A*as in his Stull year, and while he has always led his active lit.-. for some time past he has been ver> fee Mr. Peaks was an extensive farm er;, owning lands in several sec lions of this county, and hi others. He has for years heeil in the habit of spending a large part of Iiis Lim*" on the road, traveling to and from his various farms, a liabii lie kept up in ihe day of his death. NEW :\UTO IS RUINED. Rock Hill Mao Fills Tank War Lighted Lamp?Sorry Now. Mr Burton Massey lost hi- nice, new Maxwell runabout in a peculiar manner this past week. He and a friend werf attempt int; to fill the gasoline reservoir by the light of a lamp, which was sitting near by, when the fumes from the gasoline ignited. This carried the fire t-> the tank, with the result that noth ing of the auto but the steel was left. [MX TV FAKE SACKS OPENED NEGROES' FAITH IN "CONJURE" MEN IS UNSHAKEN. Prisoner in .Missouri Works the Slier iiV for $1 and His Charge is Light ened. The average Southern negro pre fers the services of a "conjure" man to those of a lawyer when he is ar rested and placed in prison. It cost Sheriff Hall, of Macon, Mo., $1 to learn this fact, and now he is invest ing another dollar to lind how far the "conjure" man and his charms can go. George Christian, an Ala bama negro, was arrested and plac ed in a cell. Sheriff Hall went to him to ask if he desired a lawyer. The negro replied that he did not, but he knew a man who could help him more than all the lawyers in the world put together and that all he needed was $1 to bring the help. The sheriff gave the dollar and Chris tian wrote to Blue Jacket for help. In a few days he received a small sack, to be hanged in the center of his cell. The district attorney has reduced the charge from one of bur glary to petit larceny. Now Oeorge i:- after another $1 in the hope that it may be the means of purchasing his freedom. Sheriff Hall has agreed to purchase the experience. The "conjure" man or the "doc tor" as he is sometimes called, is a most important man in some colored communities and once he gets a rep utation he is sufe to have his own way for years to come. One day last spring Blue Jacket was called by a distressed client to charm away the evil spirit that led his wife to re ceive attentions from another. Blue .Jacket sniffed around the premises, remarked that it would cost $20.60 to remove the cause of trouble and stated there was a rusty nail prevent ing a house vine from growing. He found the nail, removed it and the client was happy. All would have gone well had not the man's wife eloped that uight with the man who was to have been charmed away, t Blue Jacket made another hit in Macon when he caught the man who was stealing coan from the Baptist I church. Tracks and loose coal were his clews. Mrs. Hopkins, a widow, in the same city, was an unlucky and re ligious woman. Her calf died with out an appareut reason, one of her child reu was inj.t.vd oj the railroad and other mishaps caused her no end of trouble. Finally she called the "conjure" man, a sort of oasis , iu a desert, a rock in a weary land, or a lighthouse to a shipwrecked sai I lor. For $30 she revived a sack which was to charm away the evil spirit tiiat beset her. But her cow was killed and the "conjure" man declared some devil had been in her house. The contents of the sack showed a stiek of pine and a slice of Irish pot;.to. ?"It is remarkable how strong a hold the 'conjure' man has upon some of the negroes, particularly iu tin- South," remarked the Rev. A. P. Jenkins, who was formerly pastor of the African .Methodist Episcopal church, at Keota, another mining town of Macon county. "One of the most noted whom I recall just now was known as Doctor' George Jones-. "He practiced all through Missis sippi, Alabama and Louisiana. A 'conjure' man with a reputation gets calls from a wider territory than mos' physicians, and he charges just what he wants and generally gets his monej down before he turns a peg. Once he turn-- a trick which gives him standing It is mighty hard to discredit him." On om- occasion the Rev. Mr. Jenk ins tells how he challenged "Dr." Joms to liring down all Iiis worst cures upon him. "Brother Jenkins," he said in a pitying tone, "I have the greatest ambiguity for you, I,really has. You will be given a while for accelera tion, and If you don't submit to the tergiversation of the spheriods you will !>?? struck dead - next year!" EN!? OF WORLD NEAR. "Elijah" Saiulford Says Earth WfH lie Destroyed Sept. 15. The Holy Ghost and Ts society, ' whose principal base of operations is tat Shiloh. Me., has received advices J thai the end or ih< world is to come I at ro:?0 a. in. Wednesday, Septem : b? ' I.".. : Tl ?? Rev. Frank Sand ford, who originated Hie sect and calls himself "Elijah." says that this will happen. The Holy Ghost and Us society at Shiloh i.. making preparations to dou the pure while robes, pass to the ! housetops of I heir villages, and there await the dread moment. When it ! come.- they i.xpeel to s-c the sky fall, and the earth, moon, and sun disappear, and tin ;, themselves trans planted iu:? ? the realms of eternal bliss, while t;i others pass into de struction. , * Xogin Hanged iu Georgia. Washington Ga.. was the scene of the hangln; of Ed Fallin. a neuro. Friday, for the murder of Robert Johnson, another negro. Fallin was twice respited that the pardon com mission might pass upon his case, but the authorities would not interfere. The murder was a cold-blooded one. * TO CENTS PER COPY A GHOST STORY Mysterious Doings at Log House On a Farm -1 IN INDIANA The Aboding Place of Aged Woman and a Girl?Ceiling There Ls Said to Drip Water?Comity Officers Visit Scene and Find Bricks in the Bed. For miles .around the little hamlet of Petit, seven miles east of Lafay ette, Ind., the residents are in a state of great excitement over the strange happenings at the home of Rosanne Ritenour. An alleged haunted house, dreary and desolate, infested by evil spirits, who hur! bricks aud stones through solid walls without leaving a hole, thro, ' -inks of dried clay about the rooms t.jlii invisible sources and pour wafer through ceilings upon the heads of unsuspecting persons beneath?these are the conditions that are attracting hundreds of peo ple to the farm every day. And while several persons have made rigid inquiries they offer no other explanation than to accuse the old woman and her little grand daughter, who live alone in the house, of concocting the scheme to keep the old home from being sold by relatives who seek to remove Mrs. Ritenour from her dreary, dilapi dated surroundings and dispose of the property. It is only since a recent evening that the Ritenour house has come into the limelight as the abode of ghosts. The house and its surround ings from an ideal setting for a ghost story and to the superstitious mind they appeal with great force as a fit ting rendezvous of spirit forms. The house is a mile north of Pet tit. Ind, and stands back from the road in a clump of trees and shrub bery. It is an old log house, built in 1832, with weather-boards on two side?. Between the logs is a clay plastering that, furnishes the "ghost" with ammunition. For forty-nine years Mrs. Riten our has lived in the house. She is 75 years old and since the death of. her husband, a civil war veteran, in May. l?0S. she has lived alone with littie Rosie Julian, aged 14 years. Rosie is the daughter of Mrs. Ritenonr's daughter, who has been missing for several years, leaving home and never returning. Five oth er daughters, all married, are liv ing within a few miles of the so called haunted house. Since the memorable Friday night, on which the manifestation of ma terial activity of unearthly power was first noted in the house, many 1 remarkable ihlngs have come to pass. I Mrs. Riteuour declares, that large i stones and bricks have been hurled ! at her and her grand-daughter by un seen hands, coming through walls without leaving a mark. She says the pelting with stones begins each evening at "> o'clock and continues at intervals until mid night, when all is quiet. Both she and her grand-daughter, she says, have been struck repeatedly with stones and pieces of dried clay, wa ter has been poured on them from the kitchen ceiling, Pricks have been hurled with great force from above the house, crashing into a stove and tearing it to pieces. In the yard, she say:4., she and the I girl have been pelted with corncobs without a ,>??!?.-<.n being visible except themselves. One brick, covered yith l mos-, she says, came into the house the other night and landed <e.i the I bed of her grand-daughter, striking Ion the pillow a few inches from the girl's head. Every ekij since Mrs Riteuour first reiMirted thai the house was haunted i hundreds of curious people have vis j lied the farm and remained through the evening. Many report that they I saw the stcuies cntue crashing into the rooms and beard the water splash. i Mrs. Kmniu Ranch, a neighlior, says she was with Mrs. Ritonour and tie- Uii!.- girl the other night and a. large piece of clay hit In r on the head and bruised he.- s- verely. She says .'at the time the aged woman ami the \u.\'.'i we-,, in fron: of her. There j was nobody else in the house, she said. She also saw water come from the ceiling There is nothing b it an Iempty lot; above the living rooms. Mrs. Frances Meyers, another ! neighbor, was also struck on the j hip with a stone and slightly injur ed. She -ays Mrs. Ritenour and the5 girl could not have thrown the stone. Roth Mrs. Ritenour and her grand daughter have marks on iheir bodies to show that 'ley have been struck by missiles. For tin purpose of "laTyihg" lb" ^'n^;. a party of Lafayette men headed by Noah T. Roger-, deputy sheriff, and Perry M.ton, made ;? trip to Hie Riteuour home. They ques tioned the aged woman and girl close ly Tllev looker! into tile beds OC rupied by the woman and gir! and found lumps of clay concealed be neath the covers. Mrs. Ranch and Mrs. Meyers, bow ever, are willing to make affidavit? To the effect that neither Mrs. Rifen our nor her daughter threw the miK siles and water.