Monday, October 25, 2010

House knocked off Foundation by Automobile

This story was published by The Daily Ypsilanti Press on Monday, October 25, 1920.

The house at 318 N. Huron Street was moved three inches off its foundation, the porch knocked in and the plaster cracked, when a Hudson driven by John Duffy ran directly into it on Sunday afternoon at about two o’clock. The car belongs to Mr. Cavanaugh of Ann Arbor, the house belongs to Eugene E. Kinley and the “third party in the triangle” was John Wortley’s Dodge.

Mr. Wortley was going north on Huron street and Mr. Duffy was going east at a pretty fast rate. He swerved to avoid the Wortley car, but instead of putting his foot on the brake he stepped on the accelerator. The fender and rear wheel on Mr. Wortley’s car were damaged; a mail box on the corner was knocked up in the porch of the house and the house itself was pretty badly shaken and otherwise damaged.

In spite of the great force of the impact the Hudson was not seriously damaged and Mr. Duffy sustained only minor injuries. The lamps were broken on the car and the right front axle was bent to right angles. The windshield was not even cracked.

The damage done to the house was most severe. The shock was felt in all parts of the building and a roomer upstairs was knocked out of his chair. Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Teare and family are now living in the house. They were in the kitchen when the accident occurred and did not see it, but felt the building shake, and went out immediately to see what had happened.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Police Break Up Tire Theft Ring

This story was published by The Ypsilanti Daily Press on Wednesday, October 9, 1935.

An automobile tire and wheel theft ring is believed broken by police with arrest of Nathaniel Harris, 19, 528 Harriet St., a 15 year old companion who also lives on Harriet St., and Benjamin Turner, 25, 531 Second Ave., who alleged to have received the stolen property.

Harris entered a plea of guilty to a charge of simple larceny when arraigned before Justice A. M. Vandersall in municipal court Tuesday afternoon and was sentenced to 60 days in county jail. His young companion was given the opportunity to join colored CCC camp and no other court action was taken against him. He had admitted helping Harris steal three tires and wheels from residents on Monroe Ave. and Hawkins St. here.

Turner was taken before Justice Vandersall on a charge of receiving and buying stolen goods to the value of less than $50, but denied his guilt. He demanded examination which was set for Oct. 15, and when Turner could not furnish bond of $500 he was committed to county jail to await the hearing.

The tires had been stolen in the last three weeks and the arrest of the trio followed a subsequent investigation by Sgt Ernest Klavitter into the theft of approximately 100 chickens from William Campbell, 434 Harris St., this weekend.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Arrested Farmer for making Whiskey

This story was published by The Ypsilanti Record on Thursday, October 7, 1920.

Deputy ?Sheriff Dick Elliott and Chief of Police John F. Connors on Monday evening went to the farm of J. Fred Webb in Pittsfield Township and arrested Fred Pluff, the tenant on a charge of making moonshine whisky. A complete outfit, with boiler, copper coils and all other equipment was secured, together with about nine gallons of ‘hootch’. Tuesday Deputy Sheriff Elliott signed a complaint against Pluff, who asked for an examination, which was set for Oct. 12.

Officers say that Pluff has aided them in securing evidence which will implicate parties higher up. A warrant was also secured for Louis A. Aimy, of Detroit, who is alleged to be implicated in the sale of wet goods. The confiscated liquor and still were taken to Ann Arbor

Farm House Burned Fire is a Mystery

This story was published by The Ypsilanti Record on Thursday, October 7, 1920.

Tuesday at midnight the farm house of Mrs. Florence Signor, west of the city, was burned, together with grains, fruit and vegetables stored in the house. A son of Dr. Darling, of Ann Arbor, was passing at the time and gave the alarm. He says that the first thing he noticed the flames seemed to shoot suddenly from the rear of the house. A nephew of Mrs. Signor was at the farm at 7 o’clock in the evening and a neighbor said that he passed the farm at 11 o’clock and all seemed right.

Mrs. Signor was in Lansing at the time attending a meeting of the motion picture exhibitors. (Mrs. Signor owned the Mather Washington Theater on Washington Street.) The house was empty at the time and it is a mystery how the fire caught. It looks as though the job was of an incendiary nature, as nothing seems to have been taken away. The grain and things stored in the house show plainly to have been burned.

The neighbors turned out and succeeded in saving part of the furniture. The house was insured.

Two questioned in Disappearance of Harriet St. Woman

This story was published by The Ypsilanti Daily Press on Tuesday, October 7, 1930.

Amos Wright, 31, 209 Buffalo St., and John Robb, alias John Butte, 22, 538 Harriet St., who were arrested for investigation Monday by Officer Coy Rankin are being held in the county jail.

The two were arrested on complaint of Mrs. Corrine Davis, Harriet St., who alleges they are connected with the disappearance of her sister, Mrs. Jesse Foley, 303 Harriet St., who has been missing since Friday night when she disappeared while on her way home from the home of a friend.

The men were to appear before Justice Bert E. Fry in Ann Arbor for questioning this afternoon.

Firemen Rescue Girls from Roof

This story was published by The Ypsilanti Daily Press on Monday, October 7, 1935.

Ypsilanti firemen this morning rescued the three daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Corbellie from the roof of their home, 416 Pearl St., after a fire which broke out in the basement, had spread upstairs and filled the house with smoke.

Soon after Mr. Corbellie built the fire and left for work, Mrs. Corbellie awakened to find the house filled with smoke. She aroused her daughters, the Misses Lillian, Genevieve and Joyce, and then stumbled down the stairway, which by this time was filled with smoke.

Upon reaching the foot of the stairs she remembered the dog, Skippy, imprisoned in one of the bedrooms. She retraced her steps, picked up the tiny pet, and again groped her way to safety.

Meanwhile the girls opened a window and took refuge on the roof. When firemen arrived, they provided a ladder and the girls climbed to safety.

Neighbors gave them shelter and for an hour firemen battled smoke and flames.

The upstairs was a mass of debris, and several of the downstairs rooms were badly damaged. Clothes, furniture, and many personal belongs were ruined. The loss is covered by insurance.

Complete Still Unearthed on Pittsfield Farm

This story was published by The Daily Ypsilanti Press on Tuesday, October 5, 1920.

A complete still, consisting of a wahboiler, coil and all the other accessories, was taken from the farm of Jos. A. Webb, a Detroit lawyer, in Pittsfield Township between five and six miles from Ypsilanti, Monday night, and John Pluff was arrested.

The capture was made by Chief Connors and Deputy Sheriff Dick Connors, who brought the prisoner to the city hall lockup; and this morning continued the journey to the county jail in Ann Arbor.

There was also secured a large quantity of mash, and some jugs of liquor, ready to be shipped out, supposedly to Detroit. There was also a box full of bottles.

From admissions made by Pluff, further developments are expected, and more arrests.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

She Walks, He Rides and Trouble Follows

The story was published by the Ypsilanti Daily Press on October 5, 1910.

Two people resembling gypsies, who gave their names as Mr. and Mrs. Frank Love, were arrested this morning by Deputy Sheriff Hipp on a charge of disturbing the peace on the public highways. They were arraigned before Justice Stadmiller and allowed to go on suspended sentence on condition that they leave the county within 24 hours.

The complaint was made by farmers, living two or three miles west of the city in front of whose homes the couple were having a rather strenuous altercation. The woman did not wish to come to town and the man insisted that she should, and because she refused he was beating and shamefully abusing her and her few months old babe which she was carrying in her arms. She had been walking behind a wagon in which he was riding and it was his strenuous methods employed that brought about his arrest. When they reached the courtroom the woman, of course, said that he had not been ill treating her and the case was accordingly dismissed.

Austin Residence Damaged by Fire

This story was published by The Ypsilanti Daily Press on Monday, October 3, 1910.

About 3:30 o’clock Sunday morning Mr. and Mrs. L:. J. Austin, who reside at 21 Adams Street, were awakened by the falling of a heavy timber. Upon investigation they found the entire rear of the house to be in flames. They sent in a call to the fire department, who were on the scene within three minutes.

The wooden addition to the main part of the house, which is of brick, was burned to the ground. This part of the house was used as a kitchen pantry and woodshed with two rooms on the second floor. These rooms together with their furnishings were burned, and the plaster in the dining room of the main part was ruined by water. There was no insurance on the furniture.

The cause of the fire in unknown. There was no fire for hearting purposes or for any other purposes at the time and the family use neither kerosene or gasoline. The supposition is that the building was set afire but as to whom the guilty party was no one seems to know.