INMONROE-L Archives

From: Randi Richardson <>
Subject: [INMONROE] Mrs. Rice/ John Bird
Date: Tue, 05 Sep 2000 16:09:09 -0500

Bloomington (IN) Republican Progress, May 19 1869, p. 3.

The Adventures of a Bird

A widow named Rice, (made a widow by the operations of the divorce law)
came to Bloomington from New Albany, some time ago, having in her
possession $700, the amount given her as alimony, by the court. While on
the train she discovered that a young man, John Bird, who had been in the
employ of her husband, was also a passenger, "by chance." Mrs. Rice was
intending a visit to her relatives, living some distance in the country,
and although Bird was on his way to Chicago, he made it convenient to stop
off at Bloomington, and go with Mrs. Rice to a hotel. Next morning a
conveyance was procured to go into the country, and Mrs. Rice concluded she
ought to deposit her money in bank, as it was unsafe to carry it. Bird
kindly volunteered to deposit it, and although Mrs. R. objected, Bird
insisted, and finally carried his point--took the money, was gone a short
time, and returned with a sealed envelope, which he informed the confiding
old woman, (who, by the way, could not read) contained a certificate of
deposit for the seven hundred dollars. The old lady made no further
inquiries about the matter until five or six months had passed, when she
came to Bloomington and insisted that Buskirk & Hunter should pay a
certificate which read:

Received this day, on deposit, seven hundred dollars. John Bird

To made a long story short, Bird was indicted, arrested, gave bail,
forfeited it, and was again arrested in Clarke Co., last week, brought to
Bloomington, and will be introduced to Judge Eckels, at the next Term of
Circuit Court, when the Bird will doubtless be sent to Jeffersonville where
he may beat his wings against the iron bars of the State cage and ruminate
upon the mutability of the things of earth.

This thread:

• [INMONROE] Mrs. Rice/ John Bird by Randi Richardson <>