Insulators used at Kirby House hotel as paperweights used as weapon

HIT WITH AN INSULATOR.

Charles Wilgus is Cowardly Attacked

by a Traveling Man.

On May 27, during the Muncie-Anderson ball game, C. J. Wilgus and a traveling man well known in this city, Will Reid, representing Berry Brothers varnish house of De­troit, made a bet of one dollar on the game. After the game closed and Muncie had won Reid claimed he had bet on Muncie, while Wilgus maintained that he (Wilgus) was staking his money on the same team. Reid refused to allow the money to pass into Wilgus' possession and so the matter rested until Saturday night, when Reid made his usual visit to this city. The traveling man stepped up to the bar in the Kirby House, laid down a dollar, and called for a drink. While it was being pre­pared Wilgus came up, took the dol­lar, remarking "Now we’re even," and left the room. Reid made no fuss but walked out of the saloon into the Kirby reading room and sat down. About 1 o’clock Wilgus passed the door, Reid rushed out and hit him a terrible blow between the eyes with a large glass insulator, which are used at the hotel for paper weights. Wilgus weut down like a log. The heavy glass was broken in several pieces. Reid fled and locked himself in his room on the third floor, where some time after Officer James Miller ar­rested him and be was placed under a $50 bond, which J. A. Heinsohn secured.

The assault was a most cowardly one and it is the opinion of the major­ity who know anything of the matter that Wilgus was entitled to the money. Reid was taken before 'Squire Keener this morning, where he plead guilty to the charge of assault and battery, and was fined $15.80.