Thursday, April 18, 2013

Trial Demanded in Chicken Case

This story was published by The Ypsilanti Daily Press on Monday, April 18, 1938. Charles Long, James Poole and William Duckett, all residents of this city, demanded examination on chicken theft charges when arraigned in Ann Arbor this morning. The trio appeared before Justice Harry Reading and their hearing was set for Apr. 22. In the meantime all are held in county jail in lieu of $1,500 apiece. A fourth Ypsilanti resident, Amos Dew, accused of receiving and disposing of the purloined fowl also demanded trial and examination was set for Apr. 21. AS his alleged offense is a misdemeanor bond of but $500 was required for his release. It has not been provided.

Condemn House and River

This story was published by The Daily Ypsilanti Press on April 17, 1923. The second and third floors of the old brick building at 323 River, corner of E. Cross and River, was last night condemned by the Ypsilanti Board of Health and notice is to be served on the tenants that they must vacate as soon as City Attorney can draw up the necessary papers. Chief Connors today stated that the old building had been a sore spot in the city for years with conditions daily growing worse and that he will serve the notices on the tenants ordering them out of the building as soon as possible.

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Deputy Sheriff Elliott Resigns

This story was published by The Daily Ypsilanti Press on Tuesday, April 17, 1923. Chief Deputy Dick Elliott of the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Department today made public his resignation from the department which takes effect May 1. Mr. Elliott is leaving to accept a position with the Dawson Construction Co. which holds forth much greater inducements in the way of remuneration, he stated this morning. Mr. Elliott has been with the department four years and nine months and in that time he has made an enviable record. He served under Sheriff Lindenschmidt five months, under Sheriff Pack 4 years and this past four months under Sheriff Robinson and each has stated most emphatically that Mr. Elliott was one of the best officers they ever had to work with. Mr. Elliott will be missed in Ypsilanti quite as much as in the county department as he has worked with Chief of Police John Connors, leading his assistance whenever there was need for it. Chief Connors today stated that the department is losing a real officer and that he deeply regrets Mr. Elliott’s move. Mr. Elliott has been instrumental in many of the most important cases the county has handled since he was with the force. Chief among them are the Burk Fulmore slayings of Saline for which Sam Moceri is now serving a life sentence in Marquette and Tony Spino in Jackson and Avivle Hawkes robbery in Whittaker for which Sam Stanich is now serving a term in Jackson. Mr. Elliott was also instrumental in tracing Mrs. May Moreau notorious blackmailer, who some time ago endeavored to secure money from people in this city. “Elliott was a real officer. When he arrested a man he first got ‘goods’ enough on him so the court could convict him. I don’t believe a case was ever lost where Dick Elliott made the Arrest,” Justice Stadtmiller stated today.

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Two Incendiary Fires Started Department Short Handed This story was published by The Ypsilanti Daily Press on Monday, April 2, 1923. Nineteen fires in the past seven days, six calls over the week end, two fires Sunday deliberately set and the fire department handicapped by the illness of Chief Miller who is confined to his home with influenza and the resignation of one man, is the record which the city fire department ha to report today. Whether or not an investigation will be conducted into the two fires which were of incendiary origin, the firemen were unable to say today. Both fires were started in old shacks which were mainly an eye-sore. Because of the absence of the chief no one was able to make an authoritative statement. Damage estimated at around $500 was sustained when the old Jacob Grob barn burned, but the other fire was less serious. The call to Norris St. came about 8:30 in the evening. The fire was discovered before it had gained much of a headway and the men were able to quickly extinguish it. The old shack was not in use. While the men were at Norris St., neighbors discovered the Grob fire. Every effort was made to get word to the men but before the telephone girls could find anyone to take the message to the department, the men saw the fire and went to the rescue. The whole sky was lighted by the flames from this fire and the blaze could be seen for miles around. While the firemen were still working on the Grob fire, a call came from the Lawrence Anderson house, 725 W. Congress St., where a roof fire had started. Small damage was done here. Because of the fact that both the Norris St. shack and the Groh barn are not equipped with telephones, and not in use, it was almost impossible for the telephone girls to let the firemen know of calls which came in after they left the barns for Norris St. A call came in on the Grob barn fire and the girls made every effort to get in touch with the department, but before they were able to send word, the men had seen the flames. The call to West Michigan came at a time the men were at the Grob fire. Chief Miller’s son was passing the fire barns and hearing the bells there took the call to Michigan Ave. The men were able to get to the Anderson house in time to put out the blaze before it had obtained a start. Damage at the Norris St. fire and the Anderson home was slight, the men report. They are today expressing utmost gratitude to the telephone girls for their efforts to locate them and report the fires. The first week end fire occurred Saturday afternoon when the roof of the Gillian house 601 Emmet caught fire from a spark from the chimney. Damage here was probably around $100, firemen state. Sunday morning a roof fire at the William Richter house, 203 Maple, caused considerable damage. This fire is thought to have started from a spark from the chimney. Besides the fires in the city there was a grass fire outside the city limits on Michigan Ave., near the bend, and tow of the men were called out there with chemicals to put it out. The fire occurred Sunday afternoon. It caused no damage. Firemen today stated that only the two barn fires out of the nineteen calls in the past seven have been incendiary. All of the other blazes have started from some known cause, they feel confident. The men today are nearly worn out from the unusual amount of work they have been compelled to do. It was 2:30 this morning before they were through with their work for last night and were able to rest. Because of the fact that the department was short-handed by two men, more difficulty was encountered in combating the fires than would have occurred ordinarily when three calls come in at once. The work of the fire department in meeting this unusual situation so satisfactorily is being highly commended today.
Orphans in need of Clothing for Father’s Rites This story was published by The Ypsilanti Daily Press on Friday, April 1, 1938. The five young children of John Channel, 64-year-old WPA worker, who died Wednesday night unattended by a physician at his home, 540 Jefferson Ave., are in dire need of clothing, Miss Inez Graves, social worker, revealed today. Mrs. Channel has been left with the care of three girls, 8, 12 and 14 years of age and two boys 14 and 17 with no certainty of the future. The boys particularly need trousers Miss Graves said, to attend the funeral of their father. Short knicker pants, size 14, and a long pair of trousers, waist 28 and length 31, would provide the boys with adequate clothing. The girls have dresses, but more could be used to good advantage. Funeral services for Mr. Channel will be Saturday at 2 o’clock at the Church of God. Other Clothing Needed In addition to the Channel family needs, Miss Graves stated, there are others in similar circumstances. There is special need for boys’ blouses, sizes seven to 14, boys stockings, and knickers and long pants for boys. Any material that could be converted into blouses or pants would be appreciated. Miss Graves said. Available women relief workers can make clothing over for use.