THE HUNT FOR THE CRIMINAL
A man in a restaurant handed these two stories to me a few months ago. He didn’t know what paper it was from, and said they were found in an old dresser he was clearing out to get ride of. The only thing hand written on the copy paper was the date, September 1926.
Ohmer L. Stewart, former Warren County Sheriff and member of the Weinhardt Detective Agency of Lafayette was on the scene a few minutes after the shooting. As soon as it was evident nothing could be done to revive Mr. Dutcher the matter of hunting down the criminal was given immediate attention.
DOZENS OF CITIZENS volunteered to scout the country. Men armed with guns and fire arms of all kinds were sent out to watch the roads, bridges, and all possible avenues of escape. The National Guard of Attica were summoned. Member of the Horse Thief Detective Association responded to the call. Within two hours of the tragedy guards were on duty for miles around.
A kennel of blood hounds was ordered from Decatur, Ill. This arrived about six o’clock Sunday morning. The utmost precaution was taken that the tracks of the fugitive should not be duplicated before the dogs go the scent. Unmistakable evidence was found of where he had gone down the hill into the ravine near the Wabash depot. At this place the blood hounds were started on the trail. The followed it with eager zest for only a short distance. Then it seemed they became lost in hopeless bewilderment. After several hours of futile effort all hope of accomplishing anything with the blood hounds was abandoned.
A GREAT NUMBER of men then invaded the river bottoms through which Ratcliff is supposed to have fled and where it was thought by some that he might still be hiding. Every foot of ground was carefully gone over without finding any trace of the slayer. Armed me by the dozens were now in evidence everywhere. Every highway in western Indiana was being patrolled Sunday and motorists were being halted by uniformed guards. Automobiles were being searched for Ratcliff to prevent his possible escape from the state. The vigilance was kept up all during the night on Sunday night.
The discomfort and suffering of some of mosquito bites were something terrible. In several cases swollen hands and faces nearly made the persons unrecognizable. Their suffering was something terrible. Hamilton became sheriff by law upon the death of Avis Dutcher until his successor was named. The Warren County Commissioners were in Williamsport Sunday morning by daylight and in conference with the county auditor J.W. Franklin and county attorney Ele Stansbury. Their first action was to offer a $1,000.00 for the capture of Claire Ratcliff, dead or alive. This reward did not concern the local searches but of it was a duty to offer it in that it might stimulate interest in the case a distance in case the fugitive might make his get away.
An S.O.S. call was sent out all over the country to police officers, detective agencies and others. A thousand postal cards have just been printed with a picture and description of Ratcliff and are being mailed out. Instead of interest in the capture of the fugitive abating the determination to get him is growing. Men with set jaws and piercing eyes are saying, "we must get him."
***
POSSEE CONTINUES UNRELENTLESS SEARCH FOR CLARE RATCIFF,
MURDER OF SHERIFF AVIS DUTCHER
Warren County Sheriff Avis Dutcher Killed In The Line of Duty
September 18, 1926
Avis Dutcher, the courageous, honorable Sheriff of Warren County for the past three and a half years was shot to death Saturday night about 11:30 o’clock on the main business street of Williamsport by Claire Ratcliff, a desperate character whom the sheriff was attempting to place under arrest. Ratcliff was out of the reformatory on parole and was not conducting himself as a decent law abiding citizen. Sheriff Dutcher had made previous plans to arrest Ratcliff and his appearance in town Saturday night aroused considerable excitement in anticipation of his arrest.
THE SHERIFF net up with his man about eleven o’clock at night and they engaged in a conversation. Ratcliff demanded to know what charges were against him and who it was that had filed the complaints against him to the grand jury and that he was ready and willing to pay any fine that was against him.
Sheriff Dutcher informed Ratcliff he did not know how much of a fine was against him. While the two men were in conversation over this matter, day Marshall, Lee Brier came upon the scene. The sheriff asked the Marshall to search Ratcliff for fire arms. Marshall Brier passed his hands over the back and hips, and breast of Ratcliff and reported he was not armed.
It was then they agreed they would go up to the McCabe law office and look up the probable fine. The three men walked about 30 feet when Ratcliff protested he would not go up the stairway and declared he would not submit to arrest but would shoot it out with them. He backed up his claim by pointing the barrel of his pistol out through the front of his trousers which was a warning to the officers that they had been mistaken in their examination for fire arms on him.
RATCLIFF PROPOSED that he would go to McCabe’s residence and fix up any charges pending against him. The three men walked to Ratcliff’s Ford Roadster which was parked just in front of Spear’s Grocery. Ratcliff to into the car and Sheriff Dutcher got in next to him. Marshall Brier next got in.
Just then Sheriff Dutcher threw his arms about Ratcliff and said, "Now we’ve got him, com on Lee." The two men struggled in the car for a few moments and Ratcliff threw himself over the car and jerked himself loose from the sheriff who was holding him by the wrist. Marshall Brier reached over Sheriff Dutcher and struck Ratcliff with his club.
When Ratcliff struck the ground he jumped up and exclaimed, "No you haven’t go me," and pulled out his gun and fired at Sheriff Dutcher who was still in the car. Several shots were fired one of which passed through the sheriff’s abdomen and the other entered at the base of his arm and possibly penetrated the heart. Mr. Dutcher rolled out of the car and exclaimed, "get him, he got me; send for the doctor." He walked up the side walk and sank down on a cushion prepared for him on the side walk and died in a few moments.
RATCLIFF RAN DOWN street; ran around the rear of the bank and was seen no more. Marshall Brier fired a few shots at the fugitive as he was rounding the corner but none of the took effect.
The scene at the Dutcher home when the news reached there of the shooting was most heart rending. Mrs. Dutcher had retired and was not aware of the awful tragedy until messengers arrived and informed her that her husband had been shot. She dressed hastily and ran out in to the street without putting on her shoes. She was not aware that her husband’s life was ebbing away as she was fleeing to his side. Sympathic friends did all that was human aid could do to alleviate her grief.
WHEN ALL HOPE WAS gone that the life of Avis Dutcher had departed, loving hands carried his remains to the house where he had been but a few hours before the loving father and husband of the home circle.
The remaining family consists of Mrs. Dora Dutcher who had made the race for Sheriff in the primary last spring; Lola, who just began teaching school the Goodwine school near Five Points last Monday; Thelma, who is a freshman at the Williamsport high school; Arnold, ten years, Dorothy, 5 and Samuel 18 months old.
***
According To Big Al...
"Listen to what I mean... not what I say."
BOWLING
When I moved to Chicago in 1954, I was a newspaper delivery boy. I delivered about 100 papers daily. The paper was the Hearald American, a now defunct paper. It was one of the ways I earned money for my personal needs, wants and desires. My younger brother also had a paper route with about 40 papers. We each knew the others route so we could fill in for the other if the need came up.
This was one of the few pluses that I can remember for living in Chicago. We hated it. We only lived there for a little over a year before we moved to Calumet City. When we moved to Calumet City, we were temporarily out of spending money. Our buddy Marty suggested that we (Sam and I) start setting pins in the local bowling alley.
This was 1955 and there were no automatic pin spotters - it was done by pin boys. Normally each pin boy would set up the pins on 2 alleys. You would set pins for 2 leagues (early and late) and sometimes you had to set pins for open bowlers afterwards if needed. This made for a late schedule (1to2) in the morning for you to get up to go to school in the morning. Needless to say your schoolwork suffered. It also meant that you couldn't participate in extracurricular activities in school.
Marty took Sam and I under his wing and showed us how to set pins. We only set pins on one alley each at first and could cover for each other and sometimes for Marty. It was a very strenuous job - particularly hard on your back. We earned about $3.00 each night per lane for two leagues. We tried to set pins only part time, but then you didn't have a job when you wanted it, so in order to make sure you had a job, you had to set pins nearly every night of the week, especially weekdays. There was a "Relief Setter" most of the time and it was his job to give a break to the setters. Sam and I seldom need this unless we were setting doubles. Most of the time we set single so we wouldn't have to wait on the relief man, and it was a lot less strenuous on us. I was able to set doubles in short order but Sam was 2 years younger than me(13) so most of the time I didn't set doubles so Sam had a job too. After we had been setting for some time we both set doubles.
After the leagues were finished up and there was little or no open bowlers, some of the pin boys would bowl. This was normally 1 to 2 in the morning and I was too tired to participate so I sat pins for over a year before I even tried to bowl. I would always watch the good bowlers to see how they bowled, their form and style. In those days a 180 average bowler was a very good bowler. This was in the days of hard rubber balls with little to no hook. You bowled off the corner with speed into the pocket. When I finally did bowl a game, I bowled a 150 game. I never improved much from this. Later in my life when I started bowling on a league, I had a 150 plus average. I bowled for many years at this level. My buddy Marty said I need to buy a finger tip ball to improve my game and learn to throw a curve. Well I bought a finger tip with side weight, but I still couldn't throw a curve. With more practice and different balls, I finally managed to get into the 160's. Finally after bowling for many years I purchased a "Cobra" wrist support and after much practice and futility, I finally managed to throw a small hook. The problem then was and still is I might add, is I had a real problem of picking up the 10 pin.
When I worked at Cargill I sponsored and was captain of our team for at least 5 years. At this time it was very hard to get a spot on a league and especially hard to get on an early league. Once you secured a spot you didn't want to vacate it. This was in the 70's and 80's. How different it is today when you have a hard time to get someone to bowl. During all these years of bowling, I was never a very accomplished bowler. My highest average ever was a 185 at a house that was known for 300 games and stacked lanes. This means if you threw a ball anywhere between the 2nd and 3rd arrow, it was almost surely a strike. Today I have about a 165 average and have had that for about the last 20 years. I guess I should be happy to maintain that, but then one should never sit on his laurels. I have had to go to a lighter weight ball now (14 and 15lbs) instead of the old time standard of 16 lbs. I believe that I should still be able to be a 200 average bowler and one day shoot my 300 game which has eluded me my whole life - Maybe if I would learn to pick up the 10 pin consistently?
Big Al
***
Willows Garden
By: Willow
"Let your food be your medicine, and your medicine be your food." Hippocrates
As you get to know the true nature of herbs, and the lore and legends that reveal their healing properties, you’ll find that you have a down to earth bounty in you kitchen garden and even in your floral garden.
As you become an informed consumer of herbs you find several tools you can use. Each profile of the herb contains the common name of the herb and where its appropriate, other names in common use that the herb might be called.
The Latin name of the herb signifies the official use of the herb. Such as rosemary, there are many varieties of rosemary, not all of them are medicinal, only the rosemarianus officinalisis considered medicinal herb. Seeing the Latin name ‘officinalisis’ in a list of ingredients insures you that you are getting the herbal remedy. This also protects you from false claims. Any prepackaged herbal tea or form of herbal can say it uses a particular herb, but if it uses the official name then you can check that name against the official medical variety to be sure they match.
The Latin name is very important when you are seeking additional information about herbs in scientific literature, or surfing the internet for more research about herbs, as many use do today, the Latin name is very often the only name used.
The profile of each herb gives you a picture of the herb and its first-best uses. This can save you time and confusion, because so many herbs can have similar common names and similar uses. But there are only certain herbs that have the well-rounded nature that might be best for a specific use. For example, many herbs have mild diuretic properties that will help stabilize you body’s fluid balance, but the dandelion is a diuretic that also carries potassium and protects you from the loss of potassium. When you focus on the herb’s best use, you can then be more confident in choosing an effective remedy.
Caution: Herbs are a medicine, and everyone is different. An herb may be considered effective for some, but it also has properties that can be unsuitable for certain people. Just like the warning on some of the ads, be aware of the side effects of certain herbs, and since everyone is different the herb may act differently on you than it did your friend. It is better to proceed with caution and do a taste test first. Most information about herbs will carry the side effect symptoms that you should watch for. It is as important to know the reason for not taking the herb as is to know the reason to take the herb. For instance I can’t take Melatonin. Herbs that have this ingredient help to stimulate you bodies own melatonin in the sleep center of your brain, but when I take it, it is like I have taken a very strong sedative and I have trouble waking from it. I go through the day feeling sluggish and drained. When in doubt, choose the most wholesome herb with the fewest cautions or none, or just don’t take the herb until you are surer of it.
There are only certain parts of an herb that are used for medicinal purposes, and that varies from herb to herb. Get to know the herbs that you grow in your garden and their uses and the parts used, then you can be sure you are getting the part of the plant for the remedy you need.
You will be surprised to discover the rich nutrient content of many herbs, or the properties in an herb that you might not need or want. By knowing the properties of herbs you can rely on personal information instead of the ‘word of mouth’ techniques used by so many today. By knowing the herbs you want to use you can avoid pitfalls and use your herbs for their best qualities.
So sit back, make yourself comfortable and try and invigorating cup of peppermint tea and explore the wonders of herbs around you. By the way, in England, peppermint tea is considered a cure-all.
Be Blessed
Willow
***
Herbed Chicken Nuggets
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
2 eggs, beaten
1 tablespoon water
1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 cup dried seasoned bread crumbs,
1/2 cup wheat germ
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Spray a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.
2. Trim any fat from chicken and cut into 1 inch cubes.
3. In a bowl beat the eggs with the water and add the chicken.
4. Combine the parsley, thyme, red pepper, bread crumbs, wheat germ, basil and ground pepper. Stir in the oil with a fork and mix well to distribute evenly. Pour seasoning mixture into a resealable plastic bag and the chicken pieces to coat.
Place coated chicken pieces on the prepared baking sheet and bake at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) for 10 minutes, turn the pieces and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
***
THE MURDER OF VICTOR BRIGGS
By Donna Sullivan
On Wednesday, in October of 1928 about 9:30 in the morning the town of Williamsport was thrown into excitement b y the discovery of the body of Victor M. Briggs.
Mr. Briggs was a 64 year old wealthy farmer and stockman, he was found by and Otterbein Watkins salesman. He had been called to the home to solicit business.
Mr. Brigg’s home was located at 1/8th of a mile from the main highway. The house was partially concealed by a cornfield situated between the house and the road.
The salesman did not see the body on the porch until he was inside the fenced in yard. At first he thought someone had fainted. It wasn’t until he reached the edge of the front porch and saw the pool of blood. He hurried to town and notified the Marshall, J. V. Jordon and Sheriff Sam Cole.
The Sheriff and Marshall and the Deputy Coroner, Joe Biggs, the Coroner Van Hamilton was out of town, hurried to the Briggs home. The body was ordered removed by the Sheriff and Deputy Coroner and was taken to the Boyd Undertaking establishment in Williamsport.
The body was clothed in underclothing, socks, and leather slippers, but no shirt. The front door to the house was standing open with newspapers with part of it on the porch and part of it inside the front door.
The body was lying just outside the front door with the feet about 2 feet from the screen door. It was lying at the angle from the front door with the head toward the southwest and partially on its side. The pool of blood had formed under the face and streamed down over the edge of the front porch onto the ground. Blood was still running from the nose and ears.
A .32 caliber shell was from an automatic revolver was found directly in front of the body. Another shell was found to the east end of the porch on the ground. Two more shells were found just beyond the porch. Mr. Briggs’ body was riddled with bullets. About 6-7 bullets had entered the body, one of them probably after he had fallen to the floor of the porch.
On Tuesday, the night before the murder, Victor Briggs and three young ladies attended the Messner Theater in Attica. He and the 3 ladies were seen later that nigh at 10:30 at the Cottage Inn which was a small restaurant at the south end of Attica. From the time frame it was evident to the local authorities that the shooting did not happen before 11:00 P.M. The body was rigid when discovered on Wednesday morning.
It was evident that robbery was not the motive, although the safe inside the home was found open. It was a well fact that Victor Briggs did not keep any large sums of money in the house. He also still a valuable diamond ting and there was still cash in his pocket when he found.
THE MURDER INVESTIGATION CONTINUES
Who killed Victor Briggs in 1928
Mr. Briggs was found shot to death, Wednesday, October 3, 1928. It was clearly not a robbery. But it was a well know fact that Mr. Briggs’ life was in danger. One evening about a year before he had been fired on as he was going from his barn to the house.
Victor Briggs was the son of Joel Briggs who had died just two years before. Victor was a widower; his wife had died four years before. His father Joel was a wealthy man and when he died Victor and two of Joel’s grandson’s became the sole heirs. Archie Joel Briggs lived in St. Louis and Clarence "Billy" Briggs lived in Danville, Illinois. The estate consisted of about 1700 acres of land and about $50,000.00 in bonds and cash. The grandsons received about 500 acres of land each, and the inheritance of the two grandsons was put in trust. The land that Victor received was bequeathed in a life estate and upon his death would pass to his nephews.
Victor Briggs was a familiar figure on the streets of Williamsport. He was in town practically every day unless he was away on a trip.
Although Victor Briggs was a wealthy man he never flaunted his wealth in public. He recently purchased a new sports deluxe Model Buick sedan. The car was in the shed at the time of the murder, but it was later searched by the Sheriff and then brought into Williamsport. All that was found in the car was an old revolver and some papers.
An examination of the bullets that were found at the scene and in the body of Victor Briggs were revealed that they came from an old .32 caliber Colt automatic pistol. Sheriff Cole had been in charge of training soldiers in small arms and had since made a study of guns. All the technical charts and data he had collected told him that the only .32 caliber gun had the same number of grooves and had a left twist rifling was the Colt automatic.
The Sheriff and Special Prosecutor for the investigation, Cecil Haupt went back out to the Briggs farm for another look around. It was the Sheriff’s theory that Victor had come home from his date, parked the sedan in the shed and went in the house He removed his shoes and shirt and remembered he had left something in the car. So he took a lantern and went out to the car. On returning to the house he reached for the screen door and the killer shot him twice from behind. As Victor stooped over he was shot three more times. The last shot, the killer put the gun to Victor’s head and pulled the trigger. The Sheriff told Haupt that he had several suspects but would elaborate on them.
When sheriff Cole and Cecil Haupt arrived at the Briggs farm his deputy handed the Sheriff a seventh bullet. From the markings the Sheriff knew it came from a .32 Colt. But the pullet head had different markings, so the Sheriff thought there had to be two shooters, or at least two guns were present.
At an unused gate, north of the main gate, in the sandy-clay soil, Sheriff Cole found the print of a shoe. He fenced in the area around the print and covered it to use as a comparison to the shoes of some suspect. The print was extremely small and the depth of the print indicated that the person weighed about a hundred pounds.
Outside the yard was over grown with weeds. Southwest of the house, they found two places where the weeds had been flattened and showed impressions about the size of two men’s bodies
Two separate paths led off in a westerly direction from the impressions. About fifty yards south of the lane they came to a gravel road it appeared the suspects had headed down the road toward West Lebanon. About twenty yards west of the intersection they found prints made by two opposite wheels of a car in the sandy loam. The Sheriff knew that a vehicle traveling in a straight line only leaves the prints of the rear tires. The left tire was very worn and the right had a perfect BAR-U-BAR tread. Cole said the tires were 30x3 ½ which was the tire size of a Model T Ford.
The two men searched the area, for more clues and found a small empty pack of cigarettes under an oak tree. The pack had been opened in a unique way. Instead of opening on one end, the pack had been split down the side.
The other set of prints were larger and deeper, indicating a larger heavier person. They looked like a man’s work shoe, about a size eight. The Sheriff discovered the prints and covered them to protect them until he could send someone to make a moulage.
In canvassing the local farms the Sheriff learned that three members of a local family who lived the closest to Victor Briggs had heard several shots about 11:15 or 11:15 the night of the murder.
He questioned about a dozen teenagers, who had been in Attica at the basketball game that night. They said they were returning to West Lebanon after the game and had seen an old turtle-backed Model T Ford Roadster parked under the oak tree sometime between 9:30 and 10:15 p.m. It was a 1924-25 with a torn curtain in the rear.
More Next Week
***
CRYTOQUOTE
RVZTLFR
EXAMPLE
To solve the puzzle, one letter stands for another. As in the word "EXAMPLE" above "R" stands for "E". Sentence structure and grammar rules and sentence structure are another clue.
VB ZNB ZQQ RW XKB DPXXBN YPX MSGB SJ PM ZNB QSSHRWD
ZX XKB MXZNM. - SMTZN VRQFB
Last Weeks Answer
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined.
-- Henry David Thoreau
Here's a tip on this weeks puzzle: Z = E
DISCLAIMER:
The Articles written here do not necessarily reflect the opinions of all the writers or the owners of this publication. The articles are the opinions of each individual writer. They are not meant to cast judgment or take away from anyone else's opinion. If you would like to have your open stated here, submit you article By e-mail alittlebit@willowenterprises.net,and state your own opinion. It will be printed according to content, language and availability of space. All articles must be signed by the writer.
Also, the staff of A Little Bit News Publ. does not claim to be experts in the topics they write about. No one claims to be in the medical field. The herbal and medical articles written here are what we personally have found to work for us. We write these articles for your information and to pique your curiosity. It is up to the individual to critique the information and decide what steps to take.
