Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on March 2, 1931.
SHERIFF MAXWELL IS NOW THE OWNER OF FARM THAT HAS BEEN FAMILY ESTATE FOR 80 YEARS
A realty transaction that had many unique features surrounding it was consummated Saturday in this city when deed to fifty acres of land in Pleasant township, owned by James A. Hollandsworth, was acquired by Burney Maxwell, sheriff of Porter county.
The land in question had been in the Hollandsworth family for nearly eighty years, Mr. Hollandsworth’s mother buying it and entering the government patent when she obtained title.
During those four score years the land has never been encumbered with a mortgage, no judgements have been entered against it, and there have been no delinquent taxes or liens of any kind.
Sheriff Maxwell’s home is in Pleasant township. He has owned a small tract near the Hollandsworth property for a number of years. Whether the sheriff is looking ahead to the time he will retire from office, planning to take up farming, or merely purchased the old homestead as an investment, is not known. Right now the sheriff is so busy handly the Kirkland trial that he can’t be approached on incidental subjects.
Mother and Father At Kirkland’s Side
Rough as has been the going of his trial, which today entered its second week, with the state still placing witness after witness on the stand to condemn him and perhaps send him to the electric chair for his part in the murder of Arlene Drives, pretty Gary school girl, Virgil Kirkland, the first of the five Gary youngmen of the five Gary young men to face a jury as the result of the wild gin party of last November, has the consolation of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Kirkland, pictured here in the Porter county circuit court chambers here during a recess. To the Kirklands, Virgil is still “their boy,” the victim of prohibition liquor and the “loose times.” pictured below is Mrs. David Thompson, at whose home, in Glen Park, Gary, the fatal party was held. Her husband is one of the four other defendants, awaiting trial for their parts in the death of the Draves girl.
