INMONROE-L Archives

From: "Randi" <>
Subject: [INMONROE] Vleet Shot by Charles Hicks
Date: Thu, 26 Oct 2006 08:59:41 -0400

Bloomington (Monroe County, Indiana) World, Sep. 2, 1899, p. 1.



DEMENTED MAN SHOT



A shooting affray occurred in the north part of the county near the Morgan
County line yesterday afternoon. The past few days a stranger-evidently
deranged-has been frequenting that neighborhood begging "handouts" at the
various farm houses. Yesterday he showed unmistakable signs of being crazy,
and on several occasions disrobed, or began to, in the presence of various
ladies of the neighborhood. He wandered to the vicinity of a farm house in
which dwelt the family of John Hicks, a prominent farmer just over the
Monroe county line. Here he made his presence very obnoxious to the ladies
and especially Mrs. Hicks. About four o'clock Charley Hicks, the
15-year-old son of Mrs. Hicks, returned home and his mother informed him of
the stranger's actions. In company with his mother, young Hicks went to the
field where the man was and ordered him away. The fellow made some
insulting remark and young Hicks returned to the house and secured a double
shotgun to enforce his demands. On returning to where the stranger was he
repeated his mother's command to depart and, this being refused, he fired
both barrels at the stranger producing what the physician's claim was a
fatal wound.



Investigation as to the wounded man's identity disclosed the fact that his
name was Vleet, and his home is near Ellettsville where he has relatives.
Several years ago he terrorized that neighborhood by his insane actions and
was with difficulty captured and placed in jail here during Sheriff Adams'
administration but escaped one evening. He is known to be demented and was
considered a dangerous character.

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