Friday, November 28, 2008

In stalled automobile

This story was published by The Ypsilanti Record on Thursday, November 28, 1918.

Sunday Deputy Sheriff Dick Elliott and Policeman Bissell were given a tip that an automobile loaded with whiskey was stalled at the outskirts of the city. A little stroll was taken out South Huron street by the officers, which resulted in the arrest of three men and the finding of about 100 quarts of whiskey in the car

The men arrested were Lester J. Levan, Otto Knope and Ercle Mathews, all of Detroit. They were on a return trip from Toledo and had stalled here by the puncture of a tire. Another auto, said to be similar bound and loaded with the same goods, drove up, and because they could not buy soem of whiskey in the first machine, drove away peeved, and when they drove into the city told parties that there was an automobile loaded with wet goods which would soon be through and to watch for it.

(The sell of liqure in Michigan was made illegal by law in 1918, but was still legal in Ohio. For a time there was great traffic between Ohio and Michigan carrying car loads of liqure.)

The men were taken before Justice Stadtmiller, and Nope; who claimed that he had no knowadgle of the whiskey in the auto and who had only a quart and a half on him, waived examination and was bound over to the December term of court. HIs bail was fixed at $200, which he paid and went on his way.

Levans, who seemed to be the big one in the affair, was returned to the city jail in default of a $500 bail. His chances are good for a sojorn to the county jail.

Ercle Mathews seems to have been a victim of circumstances. He told that he was invited by Levans to ride to Detroit with them, and as he knew something about an auto if anything happened he could help them out.

It is rumored that of late there has been a good deal of Whiskey going through here from Toloedo on its way to Detroit, and that the knowing ones of that city are giving us the laugh; but lest they forget, we will remind them of that old adage, "He who laughs last laughs best."

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Two killed in wreck at Dexter

This story was published by The Daily Ypsilanti Press on Friday, November 22, 1918.

Tweo men were killed and a third so badly injured that he is not expected to live, and three others were seriously injured when an eastbound express train ran into a west bound freight train a mile and a half west of Dexter on the Michigan Central at 4 o'clock this morning.

Anothony Rinshed, Detroit, engineer on the wxpress was taken from the cab of his engine horribly scalded. Death is believed to have been almost instantancous.

The fireman on the express, named Groswell from Chicago, was also fataly burned, but he lived to be taken to a hospital. He died, however, a few minutes after reaching there.

Charles Wells, also a firemand on the express was badly burned and one leg was mangled so that amputation near the knee was necessary. Physicians fear he connot live.

The crew of the freight were more fortunate. Alvin Rogers, engineer from Jackson was badly cut and bruised about the head and shoulders.

Harvey Blanchard, fireman on the freight was also injured about the head. Neither is believed in dangeous condition.

C. A. Casey, conductor, whose home is in Chelsea, was badly brused about the body. His injuries are not believed dangerous.

Wreck is due to failure on part of the freight crew to see a singal to stop at Dexter. The express was running on the left track on account of blocked traffic farther west and the crew had been instructed to get orders at Dexter. The freight crew had not been ordered to stop at Dexter, but a signal wasa given, according to statement today of M. C. offials, to stop. They were well past the station before discovering that they were running past a signal and had only just stopped when the express suddenly swung into sight and crashed into them before they had time to secape.

Thousands of people were on the scene of the wreck within a short time and remained there till well into the morning watching the M. C. wrecking crew clear away the wreckage.