Say Sleuth Story Should’t Be Believed

The Daily Ypsilanti Press published this story on Wednesday, October 4, 1916. Report that University of Michigan boys were involved in the blackmail scandal recently unearth in Chicago, and that that the detectives had been in this city in search of a Normal girl also wanted in connection with the matter gained circulation this week, but a careful investigation, at the Norma, and detailed questioning of all whom the affair could in any way affect resulted in confirmation of the belief that no basis for the rumor exists. That it originated in Ann Arbor, and became public through other than reliable channels seems to be the case.

Shoots Ten Year Old Girl In Arm

The Daily Ypsilanti Press published this story on Tuesday, September 12, 1916. Mrs. Mary Segrist was arrested Monday afternoon on complaint of Miss Selita Black, age 10, who charges her with felonious assault. Miss Black stated that Mrs. Segrist shot her in the left arm near the elbow. A petition has been made by Deputy Sheriff Connor to have her examined to test her sanity. The defendant was brought to the jail in an automobile. She yelled on the way and it took three men to get her into the building. She was examined by Doctors Hull and Clark and pronounced mentally unbalanced. They recommended that she be sent to some institution for treatment. She will probably be removed to Pontiac.

Three Washtenaw Women Charge Cruelty

The Daily Ypsilanti Press published this story on Tuesday, September 12, 1916. Bill for divorce filed in Ann Arbor by Mrs. May Rehill through her attorney Floyd Daggett charges extreme and repeated cruelty. She is under $100 bail for carrying concealed weapons. The charge was brought by her husband, August Rehill, city fireman and former member of the police force, when he heard of her action. She claimed the only weapon she carried was a revolver given her by Rehill after they were married and which had in her trunk. Her trial is set for September 15. The Rehills are in court for the second time with in a few months, having ‘made up’ and lived together for a time since March 16. Trouble between the two arose over the management of children of Rehill’s by a former wife, and one child by a former husband of Mrs. Rehill. Judge Kinne issued an injunction restraining Rehill from doing bodily injury to his spouse, and from disposing of his property during the pendency of the suit. Another Ypsilanti case started in the chancery division, is that of Mrs. Nanna Wilkes, who, through Attorney Daggett, her solicitor, chares that when her husband, Emmanuel Silas Joseph Wilkes, left the home of the couple in Ypsilanti more than a year ago, he forgot to pay the rent, or to purchase food for the wife. The name of Pearl Lennox, or Pearl Robinson, was mentioned in the bill as the “affinity” for whom Wilkes left his own home. The bill, according to its statements shows Wilkes to have approached his wife after having left her about March 27, 1916, with offers of reconciliation. She assented and went back to live with him. “But he would not work,” the bill states, and beat her, and had her arrested for disorderly conduct. Another Washtenaw wife who charges cruelty is Mrs. Edith Burton of Saline. Through her attorney, Lee N. Brown she charges interference by members of her husband’s family in affairs of the household. The couple were married in December 1912 and have two children, one 11 months old and the other two years.

Six Intoxicated Put in City Jail

The Daily Ypsilanti Press published this story on Monday, September 6, 1926.

     Officers have been making frequent trips to city jail principally with drunks since Saturday night, and now have seven men lodged there, one of whom is charged with stabbing a man, two with driving while drunk and the rest with drunkenness. Two of the men were too drunk to tell police their names.

     William Ducket, Jefferson Ave., is charged with having stabbed Arthur Robinson, 610 Jefferson Ave., several times in a fight Sunday night at 7 o’clock. Robinson was taken to Beyer Memorial hospital for treatment and was released shortly afterward.

     J. W. Hutchngs, 1221 Watson Street. Detroit, and David M. Keith, 449 First Street, Ann Arbor, are held on charges of driving while intoxicated and D. Ransburg are held for drunkenness.

     Chief of Police Connors stated that the men will be arraigned Tuesday in Justice Court.

Driver Clubbed by Passengers

The Daily Ypsilanti Press published this story on Friday, September 1, 1916.

     According to police theory today Ypsilanti was scheduled Thursday night for a visit by three men with no good purpose. The first part of their plan, officers believe, was to secure an automobile, which they did but the fact that the driver had not been satisfactorily disposed of is believed to have prompted their abandoning the car in Ypsilanti and returning to Detroit.

     George H. Webber who is employed at a garage at 910 Fort Street, Detroit, was the driver and according to his story he was engaged by the three men to drive them to Ann Arbor. He described them as short and young, dressed like students and carrying a suitcase and small grip. Webber drove a Cadillac eight and stated that he left Detroit about 5 o’clock. As they came through Ypsilanti the men had him stop while they got drinks at one of the saloons here. They then continued on their way to Ann Arbor and stopped at the Allenel Hotel. Webber and one of the men went out and got a lunch and after they returned the other two went out. He thinks that the plans for the holdup were concocted in this hotel. While he was taking lunch with one of the men he was asked a great many questions which caused him to grow suspicious, whereupon he turned his diamond ring so that the set was on the inside of his hand.

     They started to return about 8 o’clock. On account of the grading west of Ypsilanti on the middle road from Ann Arbor they had to make a detour. As they reached the Lake

Shore crossing one of the tires was punctured. Webber repaired it and was about to start the car when he received a vicious blow back of his right ear. He threw up his hand to ward off another blow and was struck on his middle finger, which was crushed. Realizing his helpless position he jumped from the car and made for a barbed wire fence. One of the men who was following him fell allowing him to get over into a cornfield where he easily hid himself. Webber heard the men start the car and drive away. Then he cried for help and found it in the person of Clarence Holmes who brought him to Ypsilanti for surgical attention. At the fire department they stopped and asked that the Detroit police be notified. The local police were notified at the same time.

     Deputy Sheriff Esslinger took him to Detroit after his wounds had been dressed by Dr. Breakey.

     The thugs left the car on Ellis Street (now Washtenaw) where it was found by Patrolman Bataway and afterwards taken to Weidman’s garage.

     Three men who answer to the description of the bandits inquired the way to the Michigan Central depot of Mrs. Charles Schrepper about the time that the men would arrive in the city and she is now confident that they are the three men wanted. Others state that they saw them riding about town and that the activity of Deputy Sheriff John Connor, who had been called, frightened them away.

     A bottle of chloroform and a sponge were found in the car. From this fact some draw the conclusion that the men were after the life of Webber. Webber states that he doses not know the men. Some unknown enemy may have hired the men to do the deed. A man from this same garage was murdered about a year ago, he said.

     Another explanation for the presence of the chloroform is that the use for it was predicted in work in Ypsilanti, during the night which they had hoped to accomplish had Webber been disposed of so that no alarm could have been started to interfere

     Detroit officers are busy today on the case.

New Plant at Geddes

The Daily Ypsilanti Press published this story on Wednesday, August 30, 1916.

     Plans are well under way for a new power plant at Geddes. The present building, which for years has been a landmark, is to be replaced by a new and modern plant, the entire building, machinery and dam being replaced by new structures. Permanent camps which will accommodate 50 men are now installed at Geddes with electric lights, hot and cold water, talking machines and every modern convenience. Several carloads of machinery are now being unloaded on the site, and within a couple of months a new plant will replace the one which for years has been one of the landmarks of the Huron River.

     Originally, the plant was a pulp mill and was taken over by the Edison company. The engineer of the plant was on the job when the construction of the original plant was in progress, and the story of oh his life is the story of the changes, which have taken place at Geddes.

     The river at this point is practically dry, stated one of the local officials, and were all the water to be let out at one time, absolutely no damage would result. Of course this step is not contemplated and the water will be let out in the usual manner, the Superior dam catching what little is not backed up by the Geddes dam,

Robbery Foiled by Local Clerk

The Ypsilanti Daily Press published this story on Tuesday, August 25, 1936.

     A man who gave his as George Lawtter, no address, and who was declared, by Dr. Bradley Harris, city health officer, to be under the influence of narcotics, was locked up in city jail after an attempt to rob the Nulan Hardware Store at 26 North Washington Street this afternoon.

     After taking $30 and other articles from the safe and depositing them in a handbag, he escaped into the street but was collared on Pearl Street by Larry Wren, who works in the store and was the only person in the place at the time.

     Entering at about 112:30, Lawtter asked Wren for a piece of glass and some wire, and when the latter went into the basement for the articles, he proceeded to loot the safe, which he had found open. When Wren returned upstairs Lawtter was in the act of running out of the store.

     After Wren captured him, he was taken back to the store, where the police were called to place him under arrest.

     Lawtter was found to have over $98 in his possession when searched.

     Arraignment will be at 10 o’clock tomorrow morning before Justice Vandersall.