Sunday, May 30, 2010

M. C. Depot Burned

This story was published by the Ypsilanti Daily Press of Saturday, May 28, 1910.

Fire was discovered in the roof of the M. C. depot this morning about 10 o'clock. The blaze had evidently been smoldering for some time and when it was final discovered had gained a good start. The cause is not known but it is thought to the have been either poorly insulated wires or a heated chimney.

The first fign of the fire was smoke seen rolling up from the roof. Alarm was quickly sounded and the fire department responded and the fire department responded as soon as possible. Effective fighting was rendered difficult on account of the location and about as much damage was done by the water that came through into the depot as by the fire. Several holes were made in the roof and the rafters and wooden supports were almost completely destroyed.

It was about two hours before the fire was extinguished and the building is in such condition this afternoon that an accurate estimate of the loss is impossible.

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Prisoner fires bed and makes his escape

This story was published by the Ypsilanti Daily Press on Saturday, May 28, 1910.

Edward Frentger, who was this morning arrested for drunkenness effected a clever escape from the city jail (then on Cross Street) shortly afternoon today. Frentger was heard calling for help a short time after he had been lodged in the cell and was going to see what was the trouble Jail Keeper Jackson found the rooms filled with smoke. Frentger had set his bed on fire and seemed to be overcome by the fie he was removed from the clell and Mr. Jackson having more on his hands than he could care for left the prisoner out side while he returned to fight the fire.

Fresh air seemed to be just the thing he needed, at any rate when Mr. Jackson went to look after his prisoner he had recovered sufficiently to make good his escape. Officers started a search but he has not yet been captured.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Says Ypsilanti must be pigless

This story was published by The Daily Ypsilanti Press on Thursday, May 27, 1920.

Ypsilanti’s sanitary inspector says he is going to make Ypsilanti pigless. While nearly all the pigpens are in the First Ward some other localities are not pigless. But no matter where the pigpens are, they must “go.”

For that is the state law.

The last few days a very perceptible odor has been going out from some of these pens. Occasionally a pen is in a fair condition of cleanliness—for pigs, given a chance, will keep fairly decently clean. But as a rule the pens are kept in reckless disregard of all the rules of sanitation.

While no positive date has as yet been set when all lives pigs must be placed outside of the city limits it is certain that the date is not far away.

Friday, May 14, 2010

Couple held up, gun fire riddles gasoline station

This story was published by The Ypsilanti Daily Press on Wednesday, May 14, 1930.

County and municipal authorities are today investigating a hold-up Tuesday night on North River Road, two miles from the city while state and county officials are investigating the “shooting up” Tuesday morning of the Ernest Steffe filling station, Ecorse and Belleville Roads.

John Ward, Kalamazoo, who was riding on the North River Road, with a Ypsilanti woman whose identity was not revealed by officers, was robbed of about $50 when their car was forced into the ditch by two men in a heavy sedan. The woman driver of the car had her purse in the pocket of the automobile and it was not found by the thugs.

After stealing the money, the bandits, believed by officers to be experienced hold-up men, took the distributor head off the victim’s car, and, wrapping it in a handkerchief, told the two it would be dropped in the road one-half mile away. It was later found after Ward and his companion had gone to the nearest farmhouse and notified officer here.

Sergeant Ernest Klavitter and Deputy Lynn Squires responded but by the time they were able to drive to the scene of the hold-up no trace of the bandits could be found. The two men, both of whom were armed were without coats, and were rough looking. One was about 28 years old, weighed 150 pounds and was tall. The other, about 35 years old, weighed 200 pounds, Ward said.

Deputy Squires and Sergeant Bruce McGlone of the Wayne state police are investigating the “shooting up” up the filling station, early Tuesday morning. The destruction was not found until the attendant arrived later in the morning.

Deputy Squires was called and he later called Sergeant McGlone. Windows and lighting fixtures had been shot and the place generally wrecked by the bullets which the officers decided were from a .45 caliber revolver.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Man rides horse into front hall

This story was published by The Ypsilanti Daily Press on Monday, May 13, 1935.

Leo Smith, 7 East Michigan Avenue was today admonished by Chief of Police Ralph Southard, against riding his horse into the homes of friends.

Smith, with a companion whom he addressed as “Bob” and his horse, “Dannie”, about midnight Saturday appeared unexpectedly in the front hall of a Parsons Street home, and only after the man of the house had been awakened by the screams of his wife and daughter, was he ejected.

Previously Smith had attempted to enter another house in the neighborhood, but found the doors securely fastened. After the frightened horse had been backed down the front hall stairs and out of the building by the owner, horse and rider moved on to Park Street where another resident’s front lawn was trampled upon.

“If person whom Smith has been annoying will sign a complaint, a charge can be placed against him and court action started,” Chief of Police Ralph Southard said today. “Otherwise, the police department can do nothing except warn such offenders not to repeat their misdemeanors.”

Two men face serious charge

This story was published by The Ypsilanti Record on Thursday, May 13, 1920.

Sunday night, at Ann Arbor, Ethel McGuire, a student nurse, died under suspicious circumstances, and as a result two men are being held at the county jail under suspicion of being implicated in a crime that caused the girls death. One of the men held is a barber on State Street and the other is a medical student from Detroit.

The two men in question were implicated by a statement of the girl before her death, which was believed to have been caused by the taking of a powerful drug.

No charges have been preferred against the men and will not be until after the inquest, which will be held today (Thursday). Should sufficient evidence be found it is probable that they will have to stand trial for manslaughter.

Later—The two men implicated in the death of Ethel McGuire at Ann Arbor, Harry Harper, a barber on State Street, and Stanley Sitko, a junior medical student, were arraigned before Justice Thomas Monday and Wednesday on a manslaughter charge. Harper demanded an examination, which was set for May 17 at 2 o’clock. Harper’s bail was fixed at $25,000 and in default of same he was remanded to jail.

Sitko faced the justice Tuesday afternoon and he also demanded an examination for May 17. His bail was fixed the same as Harper’s, and in default of same was remanded to jail. Sitko admits that he wrote the prescription for the tablets, but denies having any intention of doing harm.

It is rumored that a third arrest will be made today.

May face imprisonment

This story was published by The Ypsilanti Daily Press on Thursday, May 12, 1910.

On the morning of April 26, Arthur Staenke, at 704 West Congress Street ( now Michigan Avenue) told his wife Myrtle that he was going down town, and she has not seen him since. Mr. Staenke, who is twenty years old, had been in the employ of the construction department of the D. J & C. R. R. Company until recently. After he lost that position he would go frequently into Detroit, coming home very late. He would act disagreeably sullen after these trips and would vent his ill nature on the seven months old baby. His wife he married about a year and a half ago and until the advent of the child had been a kind and affectionate husband.

His desertion left his wife destitute. When fuel and food were exhausted, she applied to Justice Gunn for a warrant charging her husband with desertion. She applied for relief also to Poor Commissioner Milo Gage, who assisted her. Kind hearted neighbors also came to her relief.

On May 9 Mrs. Staenke heard at last from her recreant husband. The first news came on a card giving views of the United States Navy, on which was written: “May 9. Dear Myrtle: This is the place I will be in a few weeks. May never see you again Yours A. Staenke” to the baby he addressed a card reading: “May 9, I leave here today and am going to Texas. Good bye. From so and so” The mother, Mrs. Frank Staenke, like wise was the recipient of a card which ran: “May 9. Dear mother: I leave today for the west. Good bye. A. Staenke.”

Deputy Sheriff Charles Hipp went to Detroit and at Delray and River Rouge made a thorough search for the missing man. He had had worked in that vicinity, but had not been seen for several days. He had been in the habit of staying at the Central hotel. Mr. Hipp notified the Detroit police of the case and was promised assistance. If arrested in Detroit, Deputy Sheriff Hipp will go after him, and in this event, the man Staenke will face a charge of desertion and a possible state prison sentence.