Days Gone By In

Thursday, May 17, 1923 -- RATHER AN EXCITING TRIP -- The passengers on the McKinley car, northbound, which passes thru Staunton at about 10 o'clock p.m., on Monday evening had rather an exciting time. After coming out of the Mooney valley, a short distance north of Edwardsville, the car ran into a number of poles which had been blown down by the storm. The high tension wires were down and the trolley pole was broken off the car, which in falling knocked the glass out of several of the windows, slightly injuring some of the passengers.

Word of the accident was sent to Staunton and another car went to the relief of the disabled one, pulling it from its precarious position, after which the passengers were transferred. This car, in backing up to Worden, ran into some cattle which were on the track and killed four of them.

The passengers reached Staunton at about 2 a.m. Tuesday and had rather an exciting time of it in their short journey.

CONSIDERING SEWER PROJECT -- According to information we have secured during the past week the Board of Local Improvements of the City of Staunton is at present considering plans for the installation of a system of sewers in our city.

The sewage problem is one of long standing and a great number of our citizens will be glad to learn that steps toward the only real solution are now under consideration.

We have not been able to learn whether it is the intention to construct a sanitary sewer only or, whether a sanitary sewer and storm water sewer combination are contemplated. The former will probably meet with more favor as it will take care of the greatest needs of the community and will get away from the more expensive construction necessary for the latter.

Quite a few engineers have visited our city within the past few days and it appears that the Board of Local Improvements can secure much valuable information from these gentlemen if they desire it.

The Star-Times believes that the Board of Local Improvements will meet with but very little opposition in their plans for the construction of a sewage system. It is something which our city needs and should have had long ago and most of our people are aware of the fact that such is the case.

Meetings of the Board will no doubt be held in the near future at which the preliminary steps toward getting the proposition under way will be taken.

SHOOTS WIFE - KILLS SELF -- There was considerable excitement at White City Wednesday, when Joe Sainer sent a .38 revolver bullet into his wife's head and then put a bullet through his own brain.

The woman was immediately hurried to the Litchfield hospital, as she was badly wounded, although the bullet did not hit her brain. Sainer himself died instantly, as the bullet passed clean through the head. Sainer resided near White City, and after shooting his wife he went to the home of his sister to bid her farewell, but not finding her in, went into the yard and shot himself.

He was 25 years, 10 months and 16 days of age while the wife is about 26 years old. She is still in a serious condition at the hospital. The bullet injured the eye and the eye had to be removed.

The funeral of Sainer is being held this afternoon, services being conducted at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph Schwab at White City. The Mt. Olive Band will lead the funeral procession to the cemetery.

Reports from the hospital are to the effect that Mrs. Sainer is recuperating and her recovery is expected. According to information given us, Mrs. Sainer is said to have made a statement substantially as follows regarding the shooting: Mrs. Sainer was in the bed room, making up the beds, when her husband entered and complained that he was tired of living with no work and constantly mounting indebtedness. She suggested that he go to Livingston and get work on the hard road there and he asked her to accompany him and go at once to attempt to get a job there. This she refused to do on account of her small children and necessary work about the place. Mrs. Sainer stepped into the dining room and her husband, still arguing, followed her. From the dining room she started for the kitchen and as she looked hack over her shoulder, noticed her husband levelling a revolver at her. The next instant he fired. The weapon used was a U.S. .38 calibre revolver.

THE EDITOR'S CHAIR -- A lawyer charges a man $10 for ten minutes' conversation–the man insists on paying it. A doctor charges $1 for a prescription and the patient says, "Oh, pshaw–is that enough?" An undertaker conducts a funeral and charges $100 and he is perfectly lovely with everybody inside and outside the family. A man buys a gold brick and apologizes for not having bitten sooner. An editor walks a mile in the hot sun to get the facts of a sudden death or wedding or social function and spends three hours in writing it up and tells lies and praises people till he hates himself. Then if he makes an insignificant omission or error or charges 5 cents straight for three extra papers he is a stingy cuss who never gets anything right and charges four times the price of city papers twice as large. In short he is a confounded most-any-old-thing and ought to be run out of town. Talk about the ice man! How would you like to run a newspaper?

Thursday, May 31, 1923 -- THE WANDERING NOMADS -- A crowd of wandering nomads, commonly called gypsies, were encamped on the county line on the Livingston road, just south of Staunton, the forepart of this week. These wanderers were traveling in modern style, their equippage consisting of a Hudson touring car, two Dodge touring cars and a Dodge truck. Members of the outfit were seen in our city at different times, purchasing supplies and offering to forecast the future for those who believe in such things. In the latter proceeding, however, they found but few customers.

RECOVER CAR; NAB SUSPECT -- The big Cadillac car stolen Friday night at Mt. Olive from the garage of Emil Jubelt after the house had been robbed of many valuables, was recovered Saturday night at Sorento and John Zar, Jr., arrested charged with the deed. The finding of the car and the arrest of Zar is due to the work of officers of Mt. Olive, Chief Delbert and Antor Sajovets. They are new officers and their friends are delighted with their success. The Jubelt home was robbed of many valuables and a collection of coins included. All valuable papers and in fact all the loot was recovered. State's Atty. L.M. Harlan who resides in Mt. Olive says Zar has been out of jail just a week.