Monday, September 28, 2009

Seroiusly hurt in Run-away

This story was published by The Ypsilanti Record on Thursday, September 25, 1919.

Monday morning at about 10 o’clock Mr. Lewis Batterson, aged 66 years, was seriously injured in a runaway while driving one of the dray teams of his son, Vern Batterson. He was at the Lewis Geer Manufacturing company, where he had gone for a load of small wagons that his company manufactures. Some of these became loose and fell down on the horses’ heel, which caused them to start. Mr. Batterson was standing on the loading dock at the time and spoke to the horses and they stopped. It is thought that he then got down and went in behind the horses when they started again, and that he was caught in the whiffletrees. He was dragged across the Michigan Central tracks and when, assistance arrived was lying unconscious in the road. He was taken to the Beyer hospital, where it was found that his jaw was broken in three places, his little tow on his right foot pulled out, bruised about the head and hips and had suffered internal injuries.

His relatives were ntified, and a brother, Henry Batterson, and wife of Kansas, arrived, as alos three sisters, Mrs. M. Ferguson and Mrs. Curtis and Mrs. Alton Batterson, of Bronson.

His son, Vern, for whom he was working, had tried to have his father quit sever times, as he thought the work was too hard for him, but each time the father refused, as he liked to work, and wanted something to do. His injuries are of such a nature it is hard to judge what the outcome will be.

Steals revolver and then seeks to shoot up town

This story was published by the Ypsilanti Daily Press on Saturday, September 25, 1909.

Louis Dinnie, an Italian section hand on the Michigan Central railroad, entered the Ypsilanti Hardware Co.’s store Friday evening and asked to see a revolver.

Mr. Reynolds became suspicious of him as he acted in a queer manner. While Reynolds back was turned Dinnie picked up a gun and left the store.

A few monuments before this occurrence, fellow workmen heard Dinnie making threats as to what he would do to a certain laborer employed by that company.

The police were notified by the hardware firm and Dinne was found in his bunk in a freight car, caressing the gun and muttering Latin curses.

He was taken to the city jail and arraigned before Justice Gunn this morning. He was sentenced to 90 days in the Detroit House of Correction.

Deputy Sheriff Charles Hipp took him to Detroit this noon.

Two dance halls closed by raids, six under arrest

This story was published by The Ypsilanti Daily Press on Monday, September 23, 1929.

Justice Bert Fry this morning fined and gave alternate jail sentences to three disorderly persons taken in raids near Ypsilanti by sheriff’s officers Saturday night and still has three more cases to hear, two on a charge of violating the prohibition law and the second fro operating a dance hall without al license. Two dance halls, Lowell Beach and Gleaner’s Hall were closed.

Six months of investigation by the sheriff’s department culminated Saturday night when the remodeled schoolhouse now operated as a store in Ypsilanti Township on the Townline Road was raided by Deputies Andres, Dailey, Schulpe, Withrow and Dunstan.

About a gallon and a half of alleged moonshine and wine were found and the proprietor, Frank Wyncky, was arrested on the liquor violation charge. His wife, who could not be located Saturday night, this morning was arrested when she came to the county jail to visit her husband.

Benny Kidowski, 4787 Cecil St., Detroit, found in the store, was held on a disorderly count to which he pleaded guilty this morning. He was fined $25 and given a sentence of 30 days in county jail in case of non payment. The same sentence was meted out to Louis Slovak, also held on a disorderly charge.

While officers were still at the store Daniel Alesuk, R. F. D. 2, Belleville, drove into the yard entered the store with a practically empty bottle which officers say he apparently intended to have filled. When he noticed the men form the Sheriff’s department there he stammered out a request for two loves of bread.

He was arrested for driving while intoxicated and this morning vigorously denied being inebriated. When the not guilty plea was entered a trial was held testimony of Deputy Dailey taken. Alesuk protested that he couldn’t have been drunk because he had milked cows until 8 o’clock and had then spent his time in getting dressed up for th evening. When he first began establishing his defense he stated that he never saw the bottle mentioned by Dailey. Later however he recalled that he had been given the container to get vinegar and explained his failure to get it where he brought the bread by saying he intended to proceed to Belleville to make the purchase.

He was found guilty and fined $100. If the money is not paid he is to serve 90 days.

James Cummins, proprietor of the Lowell Beach dance hall which he admitted this morning was operating without a license, was placed on probation for six months and ordered to pay $10 a month until a fine of $50 was paid. In commenting on the case Prosecutor Carl H. Stuhrberg pointed out that immoral conditions in the county were in many instances the direct result public dance halls in the country districts. Cummins was given this lenient sentence because he has a large family and is in straitened circumstances. He also stated, in entering his plea of guilty, that he had been lead to believe that a license was not necessary for the hall he operated.

The second hall which officers entered was on Pontiac Road. The proprietor, Joe Bergl, is to appear later today.

Woman, most of them from Detroit, who were found in the halls were not taken into custody.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Burglars ransack Adams St. house and then set it on fire

This story was published by the Ypsilanti Daily Press on September 20, 1909.

Thieves this morning fired the home of Mrs. Minnie Milton, 618 N. Adams Street, after ransacking the entire house from cellar to attic.

Mrs. Milton has been visiting at Armeta Lake with her son Claire for the past six weeks and the house has been closed during that period.

On the arrival of the fire department, which was notified of the blaze at 8:50 by neighbors who saw smoke issuing from the windows in the second story, it was necessary to break in the windows to gain access to the house. Dense clouds of smoke and flame were issuing from the upper windows and the efforts of the firemen to gain a fighting hold in the house were futile for some time.

While the blaze did comparatively little damage the fire attacked the bed and dry goods in one of the bedrooms and the combustible material fed the flames.

Within thirty minutes after the alarm was turned in the men had succeeded in checking the flames and were able to fight the blaze from a more advantageous point.

While this fire was at its height, an alarm was sounded from 317 South Huron street, the home of Mrs. H. H. Goodison.

Chief Babcock ordered one wagon back to the barn and the second hose cart was sent to the ire on Huron street.

When the fire men gained entrance to the house on North Adams street it was apparent at once that the blaze was the work of an incendiary.

After the fire had been subdued, Chief Babcock notified the police department and Officer Tom Ryan immediately began an investigation.

Officer Ryan made a thorough examination of the house. He discovered that the burglars had gained entrance through a cellar window, the screen covering the aperture being torn open and footmarks of the intruders being found in the dust of the cellar.

It is not known whether anything of value has been taken.

The window is exceptionally small, possibly 15 inches square, and it is Officer Ryan’s opinion that either boys or small men entered.

The police theory does not include tramps as those who set the house on fire, as many suits of clothing belonging to Claire, the twenty-three year old son of Mrs. Milton, was found undisturbed on hooks in his room.

Drawers were torn from the bureaus, turned upside down and the contents dumped on the floor.

The fire was confined to one or two rooms upstairs and the work of the department was without fault.

The second alarm was the result of alleged carelessness in holding a lighted match near drygoods stored to the attic of the home of Mrs. H. H. Goodison on South Huron street.

The fire did little damage and was easily extinguished by the use of the chemical extinguisher.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

New grocery for Ypsilanti

This story was published by the Ypsilanti Daily Press on Tuesday, September 7, 1909.

Ypsilanti is to have a fine new grocery when the store recently occupied by Mr. Schultz next door to the First National bank on congress street (Michigan Ave.) is opened Wednesday. Mr. Nissly has very successfully conducted a grocery business in Saline for some time past and the many friends who support him there signify the honest business methods which he proposes to follow in Ypsilanti.

Cleanliness and enterprise will be the watchwords of the new store and a fine line of staple and fancy goods will always be on hand. Accommodations for the stock are unique. A sanitary fruit case will keep seasonable vegetables and fruit in first class condition and a large refrigerator of the latest design will hold dairy produce and several kinds of cheese.

A specialty will be made of tea and coffee. A select line of cooked meats will also be carried.

Mr. Nissly announces that business at his store will be conducted on an absolutely fair basis and that perfectly sanitary conditions will be maintained throughout the store at all times. Added to this important phase Push and Enterprise promise to make Mr. Nissly’s undertaking a success. He has this morning requested a regular space in The Daily Press for the purpose of giving local residents correct news from the grocery world every day. Mr. Nissly’s first announcement will appear in this paper tomorrow.

Friday, September 4, 2009

Pours gasoline on fire, burns result in death

This story was published by The Ypsilanti Daily Press on Monday, September 2, 1934.

Burns received Saturday afternoon when he poured gasoline on a rubbish fire, proved fatal Sunday morning to Louis A. Wilson, 54, 6477 Bingham Ave., Dearborn, manager of the newly opened service station at Michigan Ave. and Ballard St.

Mr. Wilson died in Beyer Hospital from severe burns about the chest, face and arms after he was burned, Saturday afternoon at 4 o’clock. Mr. Wilson stood over the smudging fire and poured gasoline on it, according to R. C. DeNike, who with Robert Walders, both of this city, are attendants at the station. Before he could jump back the flames struck Mr. Wilson in the upper part of his body. Fe fell to the ground and the attendants put out the fire with an extinguisher. He regained his feet and walked to the ambulance, which had been summoned, although blood was trickling freely from his body.

Mr. Wilson, who was born Aug. 22, 1880, had operated a gasoline station for the last 32 years. He had owned a station on Schafer Rd. near Ford Rd. in Detroit before opening the one here. Work on the local station has not yet been completed, although the pumps are in and gasoline has been sold for seven weeks.

He is survived by his wife, Lulu, and a daughter, Lucile, who is a teacher in the Dearborn public schools. There are also several brothers and sisters living. Funeral services will be held Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock with burial in Coldwater.

Dr. E. C. Glanzhorn, county coroner, was called but attributed the death to an accident and will not hold an inquest.