The Graphic

March 31, 1921

UNDER THEIR OWN WOOL: Many; Henderson County farmers will soon be sleeping under blankets made from wool from their own flocks, just as their pioneer forefathers used to do. Mr. F. M. Bane, Farm Adviser of Henderson County, has received word from Chicago that 100,000 pounds of the million and a half pounds of wool in the Illinois Agricultural Association wool pool have been sent from the scouring mills in Chicago to the woolen mills in the East and will be made into blankets as fast as the mills can turn them out.

Hundreds of farmers all over the state have placed orders for blankets and auto robes.

People of our own county ordered 65 double blankets, 19 wool batts and 11 auto robes. Four fifths of the wool in the Illinois Agricultural Association wool pool has already been sold and the pool is regarded by agricultural experts as one of the most successful statewide co-operative marketing projects in the farming industry.

WALKER MYSTERY UNSOLVED: Although more than two weeks have elapsed since his mysterious disappearance in Chicago after selling a load of cattle, no clue has been received by any of his friends or those who have been trying to obtain trace of him, C. W. Walker of this vicinity. The fact that he was still alive on March 22nd, a week after he sold his cattle and announced his intention of returning home seems to be established from a check received at the First National Bank here bearing Mr. Walker's signature an dated March 22nd.

This circumstance has served to strengthen the belief held by many that the missing man has not met with foul play, but is remaining away or being detained by reason of some unknown cause.

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY: March 25th marked the 42nd anniversary of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. J.F. Murphy of this village. On that day this worthy couple entertained a company of friends at a six o'clock dinner at their home and amongst the guests was their daughter, Mrs. Edna Hitchner of Dixon, Ill.

After the feast the balance of the delightful social intercourse the group enjoyed reminiscences of the past. Mr. and Mr. Murphy are numbered amongst the oldest of the settlers in Stronghurst and are held in high regard and esteem by the entire community.

COUNTY LITERARY AND ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION ORGANIZED: Some time ago the teachers of the various high schools of Henderson County met at Biggsville to discuss plans for a county Literary and Athletic Association. No definite plans were arranged at that time, but at another meeting in Stronghurst, the organization was practically effected and a decision reached to have the first meet at Terre Haute some time in May. This meet will include the usual track and field events and a declamatory contest for girls only.

All the high schools of the county have joined the association with the exception of Gladstone and Lomax and that these two schools will in all probability also become members of the league.

So far as Henderson county schools are concerned, the county league will supersede the triangular league composed of the La Harpe, Dallas City and Stronghurst schools which have held an annual meet for several years past.

LOCAL AND AREA NEWS: Rae Nordstrom and family of Rushville, Ill., visited Stronghurst friends. Miss Abbie Drew and her niece, Miss Winnifred Drew of Peoria have renewed old friendships. Mr. and Mrs. J.J. Mathers and son, Robert, visited at the home of the lady's mother, Mrs. Paul D. Gibb at Biggsville. Miss Sara McElhinney returned to teachers' training at Normal. Chester Brook was home from Normal to see home folks.

Miss Mary Dixson, Jack Regan and Richard Peasley were home from Knox College for Easter. Miss Esther Marshall who is attending college at Tarkio, Mo, spent Easter vacation with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. R. N. Marshall, southeast of town.

The Novelty Repair Shop is now located in the East room of the new Tom Morgan barber shop building. Miss Pearl Henry and sister, Mrs. Susie Simonson and daughter of Grey, Can., were guests at the J.P. Milliken home southeast of town.

Rev. and Mrs. Nels Olson attended a concert given by the Ladies Oriole Club of Augustana College at the Lutheran church in Burlington. Miss Evelyn Fort is touring the western states with the Monmouth College Girls' Glee Club.; they will visit Shenandoah, Iowa, where Grady Fort is located. Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Amerman are comfortably located in a new home recently purchased at Alpha, Ill where he is engaged in the banking business. W.T. Weir, Henderson County's well known fruit expert, is quoted by the Monmouth Daily Atlas as saying that he believes the peach and plum crop will be seriously affected by the late freeze; and that there may also be some damage to the apple crop. He does not believe that the small fruit was injured to any considerable extent.

Mrs. L. Mabel White of the Biggsville was arrested on the complaint of A. L .Boyd last Saturday on the charge of disturbing the peace at the John White farm south of town. The case was brought before Justice W. E. Hurd of this place but on account of his being ill was taken before Justice W.H. White. On account of lack of sufficient evidence the case was dismissed by the plaintiff. Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Allison and their son, W. F. Allison and family arrived here last week after having spent the winter in the South. They report having enjoyed the balmy Gulf breezes during the sojourn in Dixie, but Mr. H. M. Allison is not in the best of health. W. F. Allison and family will not return to their Missouri home at present but will move out to their farm east of Stronghurst which Will will operate this season.

CHICAGO DESPERADO HERE? Last Sunday night Sheriff McDill at Oquawka received a telephone message from the Burlington police officials stating that a man believed to be O'Connor, the Chicago desperado who is being hunted by the police on the charge of murder, had dropped off a freight train at Gladstone and was hanging about the waiting room in the station there.

The sheriff lost no time in getting out his car and starting for Gladstone. He made the trip in about 20 minutes and going to the station found the waiting room unoccupied. Inquiry of the agent revealed the fact that it was at Biggsville and not Gladstone where the supposed bad man was thought to be lurking. Bob again cranked up his car and the distance between the two villages were soon covered. Entering the ticket office, the sheriff asked the agent if the suspect was still there. He was informed that the man was in the waiting room and was its sole occupant and that there was no question, but that he was O'Connor. Knowing that if this was true, he could afford to take no chances, the sheriff gripped his automatic revolver and pushed open the door between the ticket office and the waiting room. Before the stranger, who was sitting on a bench in the corner, could make a move of any kind, he was looking into the muzzle of Bob's automatic and the command of "hands up" was obeyed with promptitude. The suspect was immediately searched for concealed weapons, but none were found on his person. He was then questioned and soon succeeded in convincing the sheriff that he was not the much wanted O'Connor, but that his name was Frank Brackett and that his home was in Albia, Ia. He also accounted for the fact of his being in Biggsville by saying that he had been in Ottumwa during the day where he had imbibed pretty freely of "hootch" and had afterward fallen asleep and that on awakening, he had dropped off the train at the first opportunity. Telephone communication from Albia convinced the sheriff that the man's story was true and he was released.

The Biggsville agent told the sheriff that when his suspicions were aroused that the stranger was O'Connor, he had feared to telephone Oquawka lest the man should overhear the conversation and that he had adopted the expedient of telegraphing the Burlington police and having them forward the message to Oquawka. It seems that the Burlington officials complicated matters by reporting the suspect to be at Gladstone instead of Biggsville.

The sheriff admits that in view of the stories which have been printed about the desperate character of O'Connor, he was slightly nervous over the possibility of a gun battle taking place if the suspect should prove to be the much wanted bandit; and this nervousness was nothing compared with the scare which Brackett confessed he experienced when he found himself staring into the muzzle of an automatic gun backed up by the grim and visage of our popular and fearless sheriff.