Postmark:
December 27, 1912, Indianapolis, Indiana, 630 PM
Addressed to:
Mrs. John W. Hackleman
Connersville
Indiana
R.F.D.
Message:
Dear Sister: Etta has been very near the danger line. Is now much better, and sat up much Christmas and yesterday. Got your card Thanksgiving but have been over loaded with many things
Love to all
Eugene
12.28.12
©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/03/26/lenas-postcards-19/
Postmark:
December 23, 1912, Indianapolis, Indiana, 830 PM
Addressed to:
Mrs. J. W. Hackleman
Connersville,
Ind.
Message:
Dec-23-1912
Your card received but did not think we would go away from home this Xmas. Indications are for snow & cold. Wishing you all a Merry Christmas & thanking you for the invitation to come
Sincerely yours,
Grace U.
©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/03/25/lenas-postcards-18/
HAD SMALLPOX
But Worked All the Time – R.S. Van
Pelt Now Has the Disease
Dr. Ferguson, of the City Board of Health, yesterday discovered a case of smallpox in the home of R. S. Van Pelt, No. 124 Hermann street. His residence was quarantined and with it three other members of his family. He is thought to have taken the disease from his son-in-law, John Zener, living at No. 404 North Pine street. Investigation showed that Zener has had the smallpox and has completely recovered. During the time of his illness he kept at work at the Atkins saw works, where he is employed. He said he thought he had the grip.
“Had Smallpox,” The Indianapolis Journal (Indianapolis, Indiana), 1 May 1900, p. 6, col. 1; digital image, Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ : accessed 3 March 2015).
SMALLPOX SITUATION.
Rumors of a Case at Alliance Investi-
gated.
Dr. J. N. Hurty, secretary of the State Board of Health, received word yesterday morning of three deaths which have occurred from smallpox. Two of the deaths occurred in Washington county and one in Posey county. Another patient, smitten with the disease, is reported dying in Owen county.
Dr. Hurty said yesterday he had received a report of a new case of smallpox in Worthington, Owen county, and he was inclined to believe that an investigation would show that it was not the only case there.
The health officer of Clay City reported yesterday that all the cases which had been quarantined were doing well, and that the quarantine regulations were being generally observed.
Dr. Ridpath, secretary of the County Board of Health, was sent to Alliance, a small town six miles northwest of this city, yesterday to investigate a supposed case of smallpox, but on his return last night reported that the patient was attacked with a case of blood poisoning.
A telegram received by the State Board of Health yesterday from Bloomington states that there were five cases of smallpox among the students of the Indiana University. Dr. Hurty will make an effort to get official returns from that city.
Veterans Will Be Vaccinated.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
MARION, Ind., Jan 24. – As a precautionary measure against smallpox it has been decided to begin a general vaccination at the Soldier’s Home. Surgeon A. D. Kimball, assisted by Dr. Scott, began on the colored members in barrack No. 1, which has several new acquisitions lately. The home authorities will prepare for any emergency, and, if necessary, will establish a rigid quarantine.
“Smallpox Situation,” The Indianapolis Journal (Indianapolis, Indiana), 25 January 1900, p. 4, col. 7; digital image, Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ : accessed 6 December 2014).
STATE BOARD INDORSED.
Resolutions Adopted by the Marion
County Medical Society.
The Marion County Medical Society held its regular monthly meeting last night and there was some discussion of the smallpox situation in the State. Dr. Cline offered the following resolution, which was adopted, to be presented to Dr. J. N. Hurty and the members of the State Board of Health:
“Resolved, That the Marion County Medical Society extends to Dr. J. N. Hurty and the State Board of Health its hearty approval of their efforts to prevent the spread of the prevailing epidemic of smallpox throughout the State.”
Dr. Loren Hyde read an interesting paper on “Anesthetics: Chloroform or Ether. Which is Preferable?” This subject opened a lively discussion and it seemed to be the voice of the surgeons present that in certain cases chloroform was the proper anesthetic while in other cases either should be used.
New Cases in Clay County.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
BRAZIL, Ind., Jan. 23 – Five cases of smallpox are reported from Ashboro and vicinity to-day, and some new cases have developed in Clay City, notwithstanding the quarantine. The secretary of the City Board of Health, Dr. Glasgo, has given orders for everyone to be vaccinated at once to prevent the spread of the disease to this city. Seven hundred tubes of virus have been purchased by physicians here.
Dr. Modesitt Is Doing His Duty.
To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
The imputation of some newspaper correspondents that the health officer here, Dr. Modesitt, is disregarding the quarantine order, needs to be refuted. I think I reflect the opinion of 99 per cent, of the citizens when I say the charge is untrue. The doctor has five assistants of sterling character, and, together, they are doing their best to prevent the spread of the disease (co-called smallpox.) Every house where it exists, or where it is supposed to exist, is promptly quarantined, and every suspected case kept in. Every person known to come from infected neighborhood is closely scrutinized and questioned, and if suspected is given order to go in and stay in till further orders. Dr. Modesitt is to[o] well known in this county for any of the citizens to believe he would neglect so important a trust. No safer man could be found for the position.
M. MARKLE
Clay City, Ind., Jan 23.
“State Board Indorsed,” The Indianapolis Journal (Indianapolis, Indiana), 24 January 1900, p. 8, col. 4; digital image, Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ : accessed 6 December 2014).
“The men are well treated,” he said. “Their food is good. It is utterly false that Edward Franklin, the night turnkey, has been intoxicated. I know he has not touched a drop in ten years. As to the complaint about the filth, they are expected to clean their own quarters. I announced to them in criminal court, where some of them were arraigned, that none would get a bite to eat until the cells were thoroughly cleaned.
“Yes, Judge Alford asked me about the complaint, and I showed him the evidences of the plot to escape. They made the complaint in order to escape punishment.”
Inspection of Ward.
County Commissioner McGregor and a representative of The Sun visited the jail Thursday, inspected the United States ward, and talked to the prisoners, who were house-cleaning very industriously, by applying streams of water from the hose to the cell floors. They said they were required to mop the floors every morning, but complained that there was a thorough cleaning ordered only once in about three weeks.
“Everything in that letter was true,” said Attorney William B. Schwartz, the counterfeiter, looking through the bars “Our bed-clothing is full of vermin, which is the worst things we have to bear.”
Prisoners Were Beaten
“Is it true that Jack Blake and L. Knauss were seriously beaten because they did not wish to sign the letter” he was asked.
“They were not hurt,” Schwartz replied, smiling, but he admitted they had been punished by the “Kangaroo court.”
Knauss cried when asked about his experience. “The ‘Kangaroo court’ said that I could not have a cot unless I paid for it,” he said, “and after the first night I had to sleep on the floor. They beat me up when I refused to sign the letter of complaint. I was whipped with a strap. Boys, it wasn’t right.”
Court Must Be Stopped.
Sheriff Sourbler is taking strenuous measures to break up the sessions of the court. John Smith and a prisoner named Greeley, two officers of the court, have been confined with the negro prisoners as a punishment, but the men in the dungeon are thought to have been the ringleaders.
Commissioner McGregor suggested to the sheriff that a garbage can be provided for the prisoners and that the cells be washed out oftener. Otherwise, he thought the prisoners had no right to complain, and will so report to Judge Alford.
“Jail Plot Exposed,” Indianapolis Sun (Indianapolis, Indiana), 20 September 1906, p. 8, col. 3-4; digital image, Newspaper Archive (http://www.newspaperarchive.com : accessed 7 April 2014).
Meals for Sunday.
“At this meal the sirup is not diluted. The dinner meal is served at 2 o’clock in the afternoon and is the same as any other day, with the addition of boiled potatoes. No supper is served Sundays. The condition of the table and cutlery used by the prisoners, so far as filth is concerned, is in keeping with the other surroundings. Apparently no attempt is made to removed the corrosive and rusty substance from the cutlery, which time and inattention allow to accumulate.
Men Lost Their Breakfast.
“The occasion of this complaint is the outcome of a long series of the abuses embodied in this letter, and brought to a climax by the further unbearable treatment of the night turnkey in depriving all men in the United States ward of their breakfast, without the slightest provocation, and after he had repeatedly, and without cause, threatened to make life unbearable for all men in this ward. There are men here who are actually starving, unreasonable as it may seem, and unless something is done for the relief of these men the outcome will be serious, in some cases where the men are fit subjects for the hospital.
Ready to Make Affidavits.
“We, therefore, beseech your honor to cause such investigation as you may deem necessary and proper to verify the truth of these statements and to effect a long needed reform.
“Respectfully submitted by the prisoners of the United States ward who stand ready to make affidavit to these and more serious abuses.”
After reading this letter in commissioners court, Thursday, Sheriff Sourbler declared it to be a tissue of lies from beginning to end.
“Jail Plot Exposed,” Indianapolis Sun (Indianapolis, Indiana), 20 September 1906, p. 8, col. 3; digital image, Newspaper Archive (http://www.newspaperarchive.com : accessed 7 April 2014).
Accused a Negro Jailer.
“There are men confined here who have enjoyed every social and home environment which tends to elevate, and who know and can fully appreciate the rank injustice and demoralizing abuse heaped upon them in a most deplorable way. The writer has reference to the conduct of a deputy sheriff, a negro, whose delight seems to be the application of language which can not be even hinted at here, so vile and foul it is. This is not an exaggeration, but a true recital of facts made in a very conservative way. Men are called names which, anywhere else, would be resented in a very forcible way. When men such as are here have to listen to the blasphemous abuse of a negro which reflects upon the honor and virtue of their mothers, it seems it is high time to call the attention of those who strive for the honest administration of law to correct and prohibit such abuses.
Called It Public Disgrace.
“These are but a few of the true facts, and an investigation would show a state of affairs, a disgrace to any civilized community, and more especially so in a city like Indianapolis, noted for its educational and religious influences.
“It is a notorious fact that the night turnkey, on several occasions, has been so disgracefully under the influence of liquor that he fell prostrate on the floor in the effect to discharge his duties. This occurred once to our knowledge. This man’s language in addressing the prisoners is one continual string of profanity and abuse, and his delight seems to be just how much suffering he can cause the men in every possible way.
Appeals Were Not Heeded.
“We have previous to this appealed to the sheriff with no noticeable change for the better. Refusal has been made of a common garbage can, in which to deposit the natural accumulations of dirt, which, in a place like this, borders on filth. A visit to this ward a 9 o’clock at night will show a condition of affairs worse than has been described.
“The bill of fare of the jail will, no doubt, be interesting to the taxpayers of Marion county, who pay 40 centers per day for the keeping of each inmate. Six mornings a week, sirup, diluted with water; three slices of small loaves of bakers’ bread, with a small cup of coffee, which is invariably cold, compose the breakfast meal. For dinner, either hominy or beans, with meat in a small quantity, and three slices of bread, and water compose the meal. Supper consists of either soup, which, in most cases, is not touched, or diluted sirup and bread with coffee. On Sunday the men eat their breakfast at 8 o’clock.
“Jail Plot Exposed,” Indianapolis Sun (Indianapolis, Indiana), 20 September 1906, p. 8, col. 3; digital image, Newspaper Archive (http://www.newspaperarchive.com : accessed 7 April 2014).
W. B. Schwartz’s Circular.
The following circular letter that was written by W. B. Schwartz, an attorney, and circulated among taxpayers has come to the attention of County Auditor Smith. “As you perhaps already know, the mortgage exception law has recently been declared unconstitutional by the Circuit Court in the case of Martha Lewis and Benjamin Lewis on the relation of the State of Indiana vs. the auditor of Marion county.
“Following this decision the probability is that you will receive no further exemption or deduction from your taxes on account of your mortgage indebtedness, and that within twelve months you will be required to pay back to the county the taxes from which the auditor has already exempted you under the mortgage exemption law.
“There is, however, one opportunity for you to keep from paying back the taxes from which you have already been exempted, and which may also entitled you to exemption on the taxes payable this year and next. If advantage is taken of this opportunity, however, it must be done not later than Jan. 31, 1902.
“If you will call at my office I can explain to you more fully the situation and instruct you what steps will be necessary for you to take in order to avail yourself of the deductions mentioned and avoid paying back any and all exemptions for which you have already received credit.”
County Auditor Smith said yesterday that no such attempt would be made, that the books in the office showed taxes paid in full, and that he could not go back and collect exemptions allowed. Schwartz says he will stand by his circular.
“W. B. Schwartz’s Circular,” The Indianapolis Journal (Indianapolis, Indiana), 13 February 1902, p. 12, col. 2-3; digital image, Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ : accessed 25 March 2014).
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