The Fort Dodge Messenger: June 14, 1904

Strong Line in Police Court

Mayor Northrup Has a Busy Session This Morning – Hines Heaves a Brick.

Fellow Boarders in a Fight

Otis Felky Refuses to Help Officer Make Arest (sic) and is Himself Arrested.

Mayor Northup had a good sized line-up to go through when he convened court this morning. Eight defendants were arraigned and a total of $78.65 assessed in fines. Of this amount, however, by no means all of it was collected.

John Hines was arrested for heaving a brick at Harry Wilson, a young man who makes his home at the Tremont House. Hines lives at that same place and it was there that the trouble started that ended in his arrest. The complainant testified that defendant had started a war of words when he entered the hotel and finally dared Wilson to follow him into the street. The young man refused to take the dare but he forgot to dodge a brick which Hines hurled at him. The missile bounded off his head and drew first blood.

Officer Pete Ditmer was called to the rescue and Hines was conveyed to the “jug.” The prisoner claimed that the young man was bothering him and other testimony showed that the defendant was not all to blame. He was fined $1 and costs, but afterwards discharged on his promise to keep out of trouble.

Otis Felky was fined $5 and costs and sent back to jail because he refused to assist an officer in arresting Ed Gannon and Pete Coyne Monday night. Gannon, Coyle and Felky were in the John Koll saloon. They started a fight and were ejected from the place. Gannon and Coyne were “mixing it” when a policeman came along and attempted to arrest them. He called on Felky to help him, but Felky merely advised him to journey to a warmer climate. A bystander assisted the officer and after the arrest was made Felky was hunted up and given a berth with his companions. Gannon and Coyne were each fined $10 and costs.

John Strand imbibed a quantity of Milwaukee buttermilk Monday night and went to his home in West Fort Dodge where he was later arrested for disturbing the quiet. He explained that when he arrived home his wife accused him of stealing a bottle of medicine and he became indignant at the accusation and found it impossible to keep his indignation to himself.

John Pool, a cripple, was arrested for being drunk. Pool said his home is in Rapid City, S.D., and that he was only passing through Fort Dodge when arrested. He was fined $1 and costs. Michael Carroll, another cripple, giving Omaha as his residence, blew in from Waterloo and took an overdose of Fort Dodge liquid barb wire. He was given the minimum.

J.A. Hay was arrested Monday for dumping rubbish on North Sixteenth street. He was fined $1 and costs.

Tags: 1904, Carroll, Coyne, Ditmer, Felky, Gannon, Hay, Hines, Northrup, Pool, Strand, Wilson

The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 7, 1903

In Memoriam

John Walter Bennett was born in Seghill, Northumberlandshire England March 31st, 1829, and died at kalo, Ia., March 29th, 1903.

He was married at Vinegar Hill, Jo Davis county, Ill., January 7th, 1852, to Margaret Ward, who died June 14th, 1856. He was married again to Jane Anderson at Center, Lafayette county, Wisconsin, Feb. 3rd, 1858. To them were born eight children, one of whom, Robert William died in childhood. The other seven are all married, residing, Cordelia Jane Hay, at Sioux City, Walter Bennett at Pittsburg, Kansas, Mary F. Williams at Pleasant Lake, N.D., William F. Bennett, Benton, Washington, J. Wesley Bennett Kalo, Ida May Williams, West Bend, and Elizebeth E. Chilgren, of Fort Dodge. Five of these were present at the funeral.

In young manhood he lived in Pana, Ill., and Wisconsin. For the past 33 years he lived in Iowa. He settled in Kossuth county with the early pioneers and endured with his family much hardship during the grasshopper scourge. Twenty-eight years ago he came to Coalville and has lived in Kalo since 1880. Probably no man has received more of the regard and respect of the community than he. A man of great integrity, he was true to his convictions in all departments of life. No one ever thought of doubting his fidelity to what he conceived to be right.

In early life he became an active Christian. For a while he was a member of the Primitive Methodist church. But most of his life he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which he was greatly attached. The Methodist itinerant was always sure of a hearty welcome in his home. He was well read in the doctrines of history and policy of his church. For at least thirty years he was class leader and had special qualifications for this work.

Before his wife died and all the five years he has lived with his son, Wesley, he has been a great sufferer and suffered to the end. A good man has left the community who will be long remembered. But he has gone to his reward, for he died in the Lord.

Rev. John Cook, of Epworth, Iowa, preached the sermon from the text, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.” He preached Mr. Bennett’s father’s funeral sermon 30 years ago. Rev. Cook had with him on the platform Rev. Francis Fawks, pastor of the Congregational church and Rev. Jones of the Otho Methodist church. Mr. Fawks made the opening prayer. The services were very impressive and were attended by a very large part of the community.

Tags: 1903, Bennett, Chilgren, Cook, Fawks, Hay, Ward