These century-old historical excerpts were selected from the Looking Backward feature of The Vidette-Messenger newspaper, which are part of the PoCo Muse Collection. Originally, these bits of information appeared as larger stories in the Valparaiso Daily Vidette and The Evening Messenger newspapers.
November 1, 1924
Frank Cochrane, who was shot in the foot during the holdup of the Halfway House near Cedar Lake and was an eyewitness to the slaying of Attorney Thad S. Fancher, of Crown Point, was the state’s star witness against Johnny O’Reilly, of Chicago, on trial for his murder in Porter Circuit Court yesterday. Cochrane identified O’Reilly as one of the holdup men, and said that Alexander McCabe, one of the gangsters, shot Fancher after he had unsuccessfully tried to take Fancher’s diamond ring away from him.
L. T. Ross, who with his father, R. D. Ross, were the pioneer automobile agents in Porter County, have again embarked in the auto business in Valparaiso. He has taken over the Star-Durant Agency at the corner of Lincolnway and Lafayette Street.
November 2, 1924
The lumber yard of the Elkhart Lumber Company at Kouts was destroyed by fire this morning. The mill, 60x150 feet, is located just east of Kouts, near the railroad tower. About 400,000 feet of lumber was destroyed. A pumper from the Valparaiso Fire Department responded and did effective work. Louis Ely, of Valparaiso, is manager of the Kouts plant.
The Porter County Fair Society made its report on finances of the September fair at a meeting held Saturday at the county agent’s office. The report, rendered by Leonard Maxwell, showed receipts of $10,183.00 and expenditures of $9,782.16, leaving a balance of $400.84.
November 3, 1924
A forest fire, which spread on both sides of the Dunes Highway in north Porter County, and threatened destruction to many country homes, raged all Saturday night. Considerable timberland was burned over. Groups of farmers fought the flames. Long furrows were plowed and dug to prevent spread of the fire to the farm homes. Warm weather and a late fall have dried the leaves and shrubbery, making the underbrush tinder for sparks from passing trains. Motorists who fail to stamp out their campfires have also been responsible for several fires.
November 4, 1924
The case of Harry Diamond, convicted wife slayer, now rests with the Indiana State Pardon Board. This was made known when Governor Emmett F. Branch turned over to the board the petition of Diamond’s attorneys for a commutation of sentence. The application to Governor Branch for executive clemency was made in a last desperate attempt to bring about a commutation of the Porter Circuit Court’s sentence of death in the electric chair. Attorneys for Diamond contend that he is insane at the present time.
November 5, 1924
Porter County Republicans scored a smashing victory in yesterday’s election. Coolidge, for President, had majority of 2,700 over John W. Davis and Robert LaFollette. Majorities of county candidates were: W. B. Forney, sheriff 1,313; A. J. Fehrman, treasurer, 610; W. W. Bozarth, prosecutor, 1533; Walter Atwell, county commissioner, 2,782; E. D. Cain, county commissioner, 2,164. The county hospital proposition was defeated by 187 votes, the vote being, 3,962 against, and 3,775 for.
Ed Jackson, Republican, was elected governor of Indiana over Carlton B. McCulloch, Democrat, by a majority, which is expected to reach 100,000. With two-thirds of the precincts heard from, Jackson is leading his opponent by 75,000.
November 6, 1924
Charlotte Crumpacker is in receipt of a telegram from her son, Maurice E. Crumpacker, in which he tells of his election to Congress from the Third Oregon (Portland) District. He was successful by a large majority. His father, the late E. D. Crumpacker, served in Congress from the Tenth Indiana District, for a period of eighteen years.
The state has rested its case in the trial of Johnny O’Reilly, Chicago gangster, in Porter Circuit Court this morning. The defense followed the state action by placing a number of witnesses on the stand to testify as to the character and standing of the defendant. O’Reilly is charged with the slaying of Attorney Thad Fancher in the Halfway House holdup near Crown Point last May.
November 7, 1924
The O’Reilly murder case went over yesterday afternoon until Monday morning when the hearing will be resumed by Judge H. L. Crumpacker. The recess was made necessary by the absence of Special Prosecutor W. J. McAleer, of Hammond, who had to appear before the Indiana State Pardon Board at Indianapolis today in the pardon hearing of Harry Diamond, which came up today before the board.
Complete returns from the state show that Calvin Coolidge led John W. Davis for President by a majority of 210,267 votes. The vote was: Coolidge, 701,946; Davis, 491,679; LaFollette, 68,085. Ed Jackson, Republican, elected governor, over Carlton McCullough, Democrat, ran behind Coolidge by nearly 50,000. The vote was Jackson, 655,505; McCulloch, 571,477.
November 8, 1924
The Porter County Commissioners yesterday afternoon decided to construct the asphalt-top road across the Forest Park Addition, coming out at the brick house on top of the hill at the old Chicago Road. The road will be built under the county unit law, the city having filed consent for its construction through the part that was recently taken into the city limits. Bids will be received for the work on December 2.
The Albe and Pool Recreation Hall at 55 S. Franklin Street in Valparaiso, known as the Stag Billiard Hall, has been sold to W. R. Boesel, of LeRoy, Ind., who has taken possession of the place. Messrs. Albe and Pool will continue in the wholesale candy and tobacco business.
November 9, 1924
Rev. E. R. and Lena Edwards, of Valparaiso, miraculously escaped death Saturday evening when their car plunged into the ditch near the Jasper Finney Farm, east of the city, while they were enroute from Logansport. The car leaped a ditch 8 feet wide and finally stopped against a tree. Bright lights of another car were held responsible for the crash. Lena Edwards suffered severe scalp wounds. Rev. Edwards assumed the pastorate of the local Christian church on Nov. 2.
John O’Reilly, Chicago gangster, on trial in Porter Circuit Court for the slaying of Attorney Thad S. Fancher, of Crown Point, took the witness stand today and told his story. He said he went into the Halfway House, became involved in an argument with another man and was knocked over the head and rendered unconscious. He finally found his way out of the place and was going to get in his car when someone hit him over the head and dragged him into another car.
November 10, 1924
Peter W. Meyn, of Hammond, through his attorneys, the Crumpacker Brothers, today filed suit in Porter Circuit Court for an appeal from the survey established by Porter County Surveyor Floyd R. McNeice at Waverly Beach. He owns about 400 acres of land, bought from the Morgan Estate, on which is located Waverly Beach. The complaint alleges the survey brought the property back 250 feet from the Lake Michigan water line, when the plats of the property go completely to the waterfront. This survey would deprive the owner of riparian rights.
The Chicago & Erie railroad has bought a strip of land at Elliott, on the Lincolnway Highway, west of Valparaiso, and is building a brick and cinder detour for the Lincolnway Highway across the right-of-way, preparatory to beginning the construction of the subway under the tracks. Work was commenced today by the Indiana State Highway Commission on constructing the grade for the new road leading to the new bridge on the Lincoln Highway at the Malone Turn.
November 11, 1924
Fire which started in a small coal shed used by the Methodist church at 202 Indiana Avenue caused a $150,000 blaze in Chesterton early this morning. Fire departments from Valparaiso and other surrounding places assisted the Chesterton firefighters. Buildings damaged were the Chesterton High School, 212 Indiana Avenue; Bird and Groff Furniture Store, 203 Broadway; Jay Betts’ garage, 205 Broadway; and the Johnson barn. The damage to the school building will amount to $100,000.
November 12, 1924
John O’Reilly, Chicago gangster, was found guilty and given a life sentence by a jury in Porter Circuit Court last night for the slaying of Attorney Thad Fancher, of Crown Point, in the Halfway House holdup near Cedar Lake last May. The jury took 22 ballots before arriving at its decision. The case of Alexander McCabe, also charged with the Fancher killing, will be tried at the next term of court which begins next week.
November 13, 1924
The Chesterton Road, from Valparaiso north to Chesterton, and the Dunes Highway has been included in the state highway system, according to word received from Indianapolis. Chambers of Commerce in Valparaiso and Chesterton, and other civic bodies, have been active in interesting the highway body in taking over the road.
Indiana Governor Emmett Branch yesterday turned down the petition filed by attorneys of Harry Diamond, of Gary, scheduled to die in the electric chair at Michigan City prison Friday morning, for a commutation of sentence to life imprisonment. Diamond was convicted in Porter Circuit Court of the slaying of his wife, Nettie, on Feb. 14, 1922, during an auto ride between Gary and East Chicago.
November 14, 1924
Harry Diamond, of Gary, went to his death in the electric chair at Michigan City this morning for the slaying of his wife. Few men ever faced death more complacently than Diamond. When guards went to his room, they found him asleep. He quickly dressed himself and trudged his way to the death chamber. He did not make any statement. No one was allowed to witness the electrocution. A Porter County jury convicted Diamond. He had slain his wife in cold contemplation of “getting rid of her.” He was 21 and she was twice his age. She was reputed to possess $100,000.
Judge H. H. Loring in Porter Circuit Court dissolved the temporary restraining order issue against the Town of Hebron to prevent it from proceeding with the construction of a sewer drain through the town. The town will now resume work on the project.
November 15, 1924
Promise that he would do all in his power to establish a state park in the dunes of north Porter County was made today by Col. Richard Lieber of Indianapolis, Director of the Department of Conservation, following a tour of the dune country yesterday afternoon. Col. Lieber pointed out that one of the drawbacks to the purchase of the land required for park purposes was that the legislative act providing for raising of funds extended the time for collection over a period of five years. He said that a move was on foot to collect a sizeable sum from private donors to assist in buying the land needed.
The Valparaiso City Council will not purchase a new police car at the present time. The regular car recently figured in a crash and is of little use. Several members were against buying a new car because the city finances would not justify it. City Attorney E. Guy Osborne agreed to loan the city his car. Alderman Louis Gast opposed the move saying the city did not need a police car. The council, however, agreed to accept Mr. Osborne’s offer.
November 16, 1924
Nora Kovan, of Porter, died by suicide Saturday evening about 7:30 o’clock when she shot herself through the heart. Fear that the Ku Klux Klan was going to “get her” was given as the reason for the rash act. Just before killing herself, she had put her five children to bed. Coroner H. O. Seipel conducted an inquest.
*Nora and her husband John don’t appear in Polk’s Valparaiso City Directory for 1924, which includes all Porter County locations. The 1920 census places the Kovans in East Chicago.
Central Michigan Normal defeated Valparaiso University in a football game played at Gleason Park, Gary, Saturday before a crowd of 2,000 persons. Michigan Normal scored both touchdowns on forward passes. Valparaiso advanced the ball three times to the Michigan goal line and lost it on downs. Valparaiso players were suffering from injuries and severe colds received in the LaCrosse State Normal game on Armistice Day.
November 17, 1924
H. I. Barnett, of Washington Township, was elected president of the Porter County Fair Board at a meeting held last night. Other officers named were: Thomas Turner, Boone Township, vice-president; John R. Burch, Center Township, secretary; Bryce Lantz, Porter Township, treasurer; J. W. Whitaker, Center Township, general superintendent.
November 18, 1924
The trial of Alexander McCabe, of Chicago charged with the murder of Attorney Thad Fancher, of Crown Point, at the Halfway Roadhouse between Crown Point and Cedar Lake, will commence in the Porter Superior Court Wednesday. McCabe has been in the Porter County Jail in Valparaiso pending the transference of his case from Lake County.
November 19, 1924
Manager Wallace Sutter, of the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce, is back from Indianapolis where he was informed by the State Highway Commission officials that Porter County is to get another main state road. The road will run through Porter County at the LaPorte County line near Westville and shoot across the county in a straight line to connect with the Ridge Road in Gary. A large amount of new right-of-way will have to be obtained. Manager Sutter was also informed that the Chesterton Road and the road maintained to the Dunes Highway would be taken over on Jan. 1. Paving of Yellowstone Trail from Plymouth to Valparaiso will not be undertaken until 1926, it was announced by the commission.
The R. L. Polk 1924 Directory for Valparaiso and Porter County is now being delivered. The book is a handsome one, similar to the Bumstead Directory, which was distributed here for many years by F. K. Bumstead & Company, of Chicago.
November 20, 1924
Edward Brobeck, age 68 years, was found dead in the hallway of the Court Hotel at 4½ Indiana Avenue in Valparaiso last evening about 8 o’clock. Coroner H. O. Seipel who held an inquest rendered a verdict that death was due to heart failure. He was a signal maintainer on the Grand Trunk Railroad.
Three youths, ranging in ages from 17 to 23 years, were arrested yesterday in the Dunes Park region by Sheriff William Pennington and Deputy Sheriff W. B. Forney, charged with robbery of a number of summer cottages in the dunes. The youths, apparently on a trapping expedition, entered the homes and took a large amount of loot, aggregating a value of about $1,000.
November 21, 1924
Three youths, ranging in ages from 17 to 23 years, arrested in the Dunes region of north Porter County yesterday for looting summer cottages were given prison terms this afternoon by Judge H. H. Loring in Porter Circuit Court. John Harncair and Martin Ribinkar were sentenced to 1 to 8 years in the state reformatory and Raymond Canter was given six months in the state penal farm.
Peter Fernekes and Clayton Nichols left this afternoon for Florida, where they will remain until April. Fernekes has a fishing camp and has charge of the pier and boats at Gulfport. He says it is the usual thing for between 800 to 1,000 people to go fishing every Tuesday and Friday, the big fish days.
November 22, 1924
Evan Taylor and Glenn Newsom, of Wheeler, while hunting geese the other night, shot into a flock of what they believed to be geese. They wounded several of the birds which set up an unearthly yell causing the remainder of the flock to attack the boys. They beat away the attackers and captured one. It proved to be a barn owl, white in color and beautifully marked in brown.
Arthur J. Bowser, for years editor and owner of The Chesterton Tribune, and now actively engaged in the editorial department of the paper, has decided to make Valparaiso his home. He has closed the deal for the purchase of the C. F. Pearce property, corner of Greenwich and Jefferson Streets, and will move here as soon as the house can be placed in condition. Mr. Bowser will continue his work in Chesterton.
November 23, 1924
Lombard College defeated Valparaiso University Saturday at Galesburg, Ill., by a score of 14 to 7. Two long runs by Lamb placed the ball in scoring position for Lombard. Valparaiso scored its touchdown in the fourth quarter with a pass from halfback Harold “Beanie” Harris to halfback Ralph “Swede” Surface. Another Harris-to-Surface short pass failed when the ball sailed over Surface’s head to back of the goal. White, Valpo fullback, was injured in the first period and had to leave the game. Harris took his place.
Tom Morony, of Valparaiso, suffered a double skull fracture early Saturday when his automobile rammed into the rear of a truck near Elgin, Ill., which carried no lights. Morony was rushed to a hospital in Oak Park, Ill. He was enroute from Madison, Wisc., to Chicago to attend a football game. He is a senior at the University of Wisconsin.
November 24, 1924
B. C. Stockman, Valparaiso attorney and member of the Valparaiso Abstract Company, died suddenly at his home on East Monroe Street last night. He came to Valparaiso in 1902 and has lived here ever since. In 1911, with Attorney Mark B. Rockwell, with whom he was engaged in the law practice, he organized the Valparaiso Abstract Company. He was prominent in Masonic Lodge affairs.
November 25, 1924
Tom Morony, of Valparaiso, who suffered a fractured skull in an automobile accident near Elgin, Ill., on Saturday is reported to be much improved in the Oak Park, Ill., hospital, where he was taken after the accident. He is still in a semi-conscious condition.
November 26, 1924
The Valparaiso Hotel Company took over management of the Hotel Lembke according to an announcement made today. L. M. Pierce is president of the new company; Ralph Marimon, vice-president; J. E. Dreschoff, secretary-treasurer. L. M. Pierce, Ralph Marimon, Louis G. Horn, Harry R. Ball, Anna Dreschoff and J. E. Dreschoff, directors.
The jury to try Alexander McCabe, Chicago gangster, for the slaying of Attorney Thad Fancher, of Crown Point, in the Halfway House holdup near Cedar Lake last May, was selected in Porter Circuit Court today. Those on the jury are: William Henry, George Martin, Herman Baker, John DeWitt, Sam Wheeler, William St. Clair, William Weidman, Clarence Fisher, James Rigg, Reuben Freer, Vernon Shurr, and George Quinn.
November 27, 1924
William and Mary Turner, of Leroy, were instantly killed Thanksgiving Day when their automobile was struck by a Pan Handle passenger train at the Henderson Crossing between Hebron and Crown Point. The Turners were enroute home from Hebron where they had spent Thanksgiving. Surviving are four sons and one daughter.
Valparaiso University defeated Dubuque University before 3,000 shivering fans on Brown Field Thanksgiving Day by a score of 10 to 0. Valpo scored its first points when George “Pumpkins” Close kicked a pretty field goal from the 35-yard line. The one touchdown of the game was scored when James “Jimmie” Doran blocked a Dubuque punt and Valpo recovered. A series of plays carried the ball to the Dubuque 8-yard line, where Harold “Beanie” Harris shot a pass to Ralph “Swede” Surface for the touchdown. Close kicked the goal.
November 28, 1924
George Sheeks was elected a member of the school board at a meeting of the Valparaiso City Council last evening. He takes the place of G. Leonard Maxwell, who was elected some time ago, but resigned because of other business.
Valparaiso may have a new sewer system if members of the city council go through with their plans discussed at a meeting of the body last night. It was consensus of opinion among the council that the city expends enough money trying to keep the present system in operation in twenty-five years to build a new sewer. A survey of the present system and the future needs of the city will probably be made.
November 29, 1924
Lynn M. Whipple, of Niles, Mich., has purchased a half interest in The Evening Messenger of H. F. Strother, and will come to Valparaiso and assume the editorship of the paper. Whipple has been editor of the Niles Daily Star, and was also employed by Benton Harbor, Mich., newspapers.
November 30, 1924
The formal opening of the new Valparaiso National Bank building Saturday was attended by a large crowd of patrons of the bank and others. The officers and employees of the bank extended a cordial welcome to all who called. The interior of the bank was beautifully decorated with flowers from various banking institutions and local firms. Music was furnished by an orchestra, and in the evening, a radio arranged by M. E. Packman and an electric piano by the Fidler Piano House added to the entertainment of the changing crowds.