James McClellan, Obituary/Death NoticePorter County obituaries and death notices . . . .
James McClellan
Laporte has a murder mystery on its hands. On Friday night of last week a party of men and women of shady character, went to a dance at Kingsbury. On their return home, they went to the saloon of Schoof & Bank, 516 Main st. Shortly afterward there was a row, and during the early hours of the morning night policemen Ceese stumbled over the dead body of James McClellan, which was laying in the yard in the rear of the saloon. He at once notified police headquarters, and a detail of officers went to the saloon, and arrested the proprietors, bartender Mandeville, and two women of ill fame, May Lewis and Bertha Kroll. An investigation of the affair is in progress. Evidence already brought to light indicate that McClellan was murdered in the saloon and his body dragged outside. McClellan's wife lives in Porter. Her first name was Alta Austin. The couple were married several years ago, and had one son, Raymond, who is still living. The couple separated and the woman is now the housekeeper of Sam Menser, of Waverly. McClellan is described as a rough, but industrious fellow. He had been employed in the Laporte Carriage Works, but was laid off, and had packed his goods to move to South Bend, and was taking a farewell spree. He has three brothers, Chas., of Whiting; Henry, whose address is unknown; and Bert of Knox, Ind. Tuesday's Laporte Bulletin contained the following regarding the movements of the wife of McClellan, which will be of interest to Porter people.
"Last night the 10:28 train from the west, brought Mrs. James McClelland, wife of the late James McClellan, to this city from Porter, Ind. Mrs. McClellan came with the intention of getting her little son, who had been living with his father for the past year, and take him back to Porter with her, where she is soon to be married to Samuel Menser. But on reaching this city she found that Chas. McClellan, brother of the deceased, had yesterday afternoon appeared before the township trustees and asked that the son of his brother be put in the orphan's home, he saying that Mrs. McClellan was not a fit woman to take the child, that she run a house of ill fame and that she could not support him. The trustees knowing nothing to the contrary sent him to the Home where he at present is living and being cared for.
This morning when interviewed by a Bulletin representative, at the home of Mrs. Matilda Bywaters on the "Levee," Mrs. McClellan said that she desired very much to get control of the child, that she was able to care for him and would see that he was educated. She denied the statements made by Chas. McClellan that she ran a house of ill fame, saying that she was working in Porter for a responsible man. She also said that no effort to get the boy would be made until Menser arrived from , she expecting him today or tomorrow.
Legally the child can not be kept from his mother, unless sufficient proof can be shown that she is a disreputable woman.
Newspaper: The Chesterton Tribune
Date of Publication: February 26, 1898
Volume Number: 14
Issue Number: 46
Page: 1
Column(s): 6
Key to Newspaper Publication Locations:
Newspapers Published in Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana
Chesterton Tribune
The Tribune
Westchester Tribune
Newspapers Published in Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana
Porter County Vidette
Practical Observer
Valparaiso Practical Observer
Vidette and Republic
Western Ranger
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Obituary/death notice transcribed by Steven R. Shook