Glancing Back for Nov. 7: Shelbyville lawyer found dead in office
Nov. 7, 1924
SHELBYVILLE — John E. Crockett, city attorney of Shelbyville and prominent lawyer, was found by searchers sitting in a chair before a desk in his law office in the Cook Estate building Thursday night about 11:45 p.m. Mr. Crockett was stretched back in the revolving chair with his feet resting in another chair, his arms were folded and he appeared to have passed away without a struggle. The cause of death is being investigated, as it is thought possible to have been self-inflicted. On a nearby chair was a box containing four aspirin tablets. Investigation showed that during the afternoon, Mr. Crockett had purchased a dozen tablets of this drug from a local druggist... SHELBYVILLE — Sheriff Harry Riley and the Thornton heirs lost from $12,000 to $15,000 Wednesday evening, in a fire which destroyed the big barn, double crib, granary and contents on the Thornton heirs farm a mile south of the city. Among the losses were two sets of farm machinery, including a tractor, five sets of new harnesses and several sets of older harnesses, twenty-five tons of bailed soybean hay, six tons of timothy hay, 500 bushels of oats, wheat, rye and soybeans, and eight tons of broomcorn that was being made ready Wednesday for bailing on Thursday. A new wagon loaded with corn that stood about 100 yard from the burning buildings also was destroyed as the heat was so intense no one could get close to it to rescue it... MATTOON — Raymond Wise and Elmer Stiff were arrested by Patrolman Cutright on Thursday midnight at the corner of Nineteenth street and Broadway and charges of disorderly conduct by fighting were lodged against them. The case was brought before Justice Ashworth this afternoon but a continuance was taken until Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. The trouble is said to have been due to an argument over the outcome of a wrestling match and boxing exhibition at Sullivan on Thursday night.
CHARLESTON — The county farm adviser has estimated that half of the area corn crop has been harvested. Farm Adviser Louis Christen told the Journal Gazette rainy, cool weather the county has experienced during the past week has brought harvesting to a "complete stop." "If we get some clear, sunny days, farmers should get back in their fields by the weekend," said Christen... MATTOON — Bad weather will delay the enclosure of the new Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center, a spokesman said Wednesday afternoon, but whether the setback will affect the completion date is not yet determined. Jack Wilt, construction supervisor at the site near the Coles County Airport on Illinois Route 16, said bad weather will prevent the structure from being enclosed by Christmas. Construction officials had hoped to get the building enclosed by the holiday...A local democratic precinct committeeman has described Tuesday's county election as a "farce." Larry Moore, committeeman in Ward 1, Pct. 1, told the JG, "We have several indications that the county elections in Coles County may have been stolen. I think we have a lot of strong indications, all pointing in the same direction," said Moore. "At this point, I don't think we can prove it," he admitted. The JG has learned that Democratic headquarters in Charleston questioned county precinct committeemen Tuesday night to check on widespread reports that many of the new voting machines had malfunctioned causing votes to be lost. Democrat William Paris, a Charleston attorney, who was defeated by Thomas Burke in the race for circuit clerk from the Fifth Judicial District, told the Journal he thought the country should not have purchased the voting machines. "This was the first time the machines had ever been used in an election and Coles County was the guinea pig."
No paper, Sunday.
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