"In Today's News..."

"In Today's News..." - 1913

================================================================================================

OHGenWeb NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations.

Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor.

This file was contributed for use in the OHGenWeb Ross County Sandy Holladay

================================================================================================

BONNER ARRESTED ON CHARGE OF CRUELTY

Beat A Horse Unmercifully, Say The Officers Of The Law
Bonner's Defense Is That The Hose Was Unruly Land Had To Be Punished--
He Did Not Punish It--
The Colonel Wanted The Story Suppressed, But This Could Not Be Done In Fairness!

Joseph C. Bonner, better known as Colonel Bonner, got into a serious mix-up with the Humane Society of Ross County, Monday. Humans Officer George Hamm and James I Boulger, attorney for the society, received a telephone message late Monday evening, stating that Col. Bonner was abusing one of his hoses in a shameful manner. Messrs. Hamm and Boulger at once procured a buggy and drove to Bonner's farm, which is just south of the city. They found a horse lying in a deep ditch, which was just wide enough to let the animal down, on its back in a paralyzed condition. They questioned Bonner, and he said that he had beaten the horse because it had failed to work. A big bruise about 12 inches long was found on its shoulder, and it showed other marks of cruelly. The hose was lying in the ditch, which was filled with mud, water and stones, and was unable to move.

At first Bonner said that he had ordered his men to leave the animal in the ditch until morning, but late said that he had ordered them to take it out that evening. Mr. Hamm and Mr. Bulger, with the assistance of three other men worked for two hours trying to get the horse out, but could not move it. Hamm says Bonner admitted that he had beaten the horse with anything that happened to be handy, including a pitchfork.

Mr. Bonner appeared at the Mayor's office Tuesday morning and, through his attorney, Wilby G. Hyde entered a plea of not guilty. He asked for a continuance of the case until Saturday morning, which was granted. Bonner was allowed to go on his own recognizance.

Col. Bonner, was a caller at the Gazette office and asked that notice of the affair be suppressed. He said the horse was unruly and ungovernable, and would not work with another horse. He did punish the hose and turned it loose. That it fell into the ditch was an accident, for which he was not responsible.

ZICKAFOOS GOT TWO CHARGES FILED AGAINST HIM -- The mysterious horse deal which took place Monday between Russell McCorkle and William Zickafoos, took a strange turn late Monday afternoon. Mr. F. N. Betts, from whom the horse was stolen, and McCorkle, who had bought the horse swore out a warrant for Zickafoos, and the police at once got busy looking for the man. Their search was of no avail during the afternoon, although they had a number of tips as to his whereabouts, but when these places were visited he was not there. About 5 o'clock in the evening Patrolman Carville saw Zickafoos crossing Paint Street. He overtook him in front of the Foulke block and placed him under arrest. When searched at the police station a little over three dollars was found on his person, but upon a more though search $13.00 was found concealed in his hat.

The horse was stolen from Betts pasture field sometime Saturday night. Betts reported that Zickafoos had been all through the West end of the city Sunday trying to sell it to McCorkle for $150, but later said that he would take $50. for the horse. As the animal was young and easily worth more than twice the amount, and Zickafoos said that there was no encumbrance on it, McCorkle decided to buy it. He came down town and gave Zickafoos the money and received a receipt for it. When later he sent for the horse, Zickafoos said that the man from whom he had bought it had stolen it and that the owner had come and taken it away. This left McCorkle without a horse and minus $50. He got busy trying to find same way in which to recover his money, as Zickafoos refused to turn it over. He was advised to swear out a warrant for Zickafoos, which he did, with the result that a horse thief was captured before he had a chance to away.

Zickafoos had his preliminary hearing, Tuesday morning before Mayor Cahill on the charge of obtaining money under false pretenses which was filed by McCorkle. He pleased not guilty and was bound over to the grand jury in the sum of $500. A case of horse stealing also stands against him, which was filed by Betts. Betts was not at court Monday morning and Zickafoos was not called upon to plead to this charge at the time, but will be, as soon as Betts can appear at the mayor's court.

MARKS CHARGED WITH CARRYING CONCEALED WEAPONS -- Gideon Marks was arrested Monday night by Patrolman, Williams on a charge of intoxication and carrying concealed weapons. Marks lives on South Hickory Street. He came home early in the evening and stared trouble with his family. Mrs. Mack called the police station and asked that an officer be sent for her husband. When Williams arrived there he found Marks in front of his home arguing with Harry West, who lives near him. He had his hand in his pocket and when searched by Williams a revolver was found on him which was loaded. He said that he was taking the gun to the gunsmith's to have it fixed.

NARROW ESCAPE FROM BEING HIT BY LIGHTNING -- Robert Immell, who lives just across the Scioto River from YellowBud, and who is playing with Twentieth Century Band this week, reports that he had a very narrow escaped from being struck by lightning Thursday afternoon. He was taking in his team from the field, trying to get in ahead of a storm, when the lightning struck a a shock of wheat in the field about ten feet from where he was passing. His horses were stunned, and so was he, but he remained on his feet and kept on. About 15 feet from where the bolt struck stood a large cement watering trough, and just as he got to the through the lightning struck the water tank and tore it into hundreds of fragments, and again he was stunned. The two strokes came within a few minutes of each other and could not have been over fifty feet apart. The rain came down in torrents, and Mr. Immell said he could have ridden a boat all over some of the fields Friday morning, so heavy was the downpour while it lasted.

Scioto Gazette, Chillicothe, Ross Co OH; 01 Jul 1913

Return to the Ross County Homepage