THE TRIALS OF GEORGE HOUCK, NOBLE TOWNSHIP

 George Clarence Houck and his bride of 5 or 6 years were firmly settled in Noble Township when they decided in March 1905 to throw a little party for their friends. George was about 33 years old, and he and his wife, Christina (Wolf) had no children yet.  But the party turned into a disaster when a few locals, sons of William Ward, decided to take over the fun.

From the Defiance Weekly Express, March 3, 1905, p. 10;

"COUNTRY DANCE RUDELY BROKEN UP -

BRICKS AND IRONS WERE USED TO DEMOLISH FURNITURE AT GEO. HOUCK'S.

 

The peace of Noble township was rudely disturbed Saturday night in a manner that was crude and barbaric. A country dance was in progress at the home of George Houck, two- and one-half-mile northwest of Brunersburg. About twelve or fifteen couples were tripping to the merry music of the fiddler, when two of the sons of William Ward, also of Noble township, made their appearance, and gave indications to participate in the festivities.

They were, however, invited to leave the premises, as on a former occasion, they had been instrumental in breaking up a dance at the same place, and the dancers did not care for an interruption to their enjoyment. The Ward boys did not take their refusal in a graceful manner, and they left vowing that they would get even.

They returned to their home getting their father, two other brothers and five of their friends in the neighborhood, (and) they started to the scene of the dance with the intention of giving those present substantial evidence that there would be no dance without their presence. The people on whom they were going to wreak vengeance were given no warning, and when they reached the Houck home, they proceeded rapidly and with very little attention to rule of etiquette governing such occasions, to break up the dance.

One or two were stationed at the doors to prevent anyone from escaping and in the kitchen where the dance was going on, the lights were extinguished, and a free for all fight and rough house commenced. Several were armed with bricks, and these were hurled through the windows at people within. Several took effect, for one now in the possession of the sheriff is covered with hair and blood, showing that it came in forcible contact with someone's head.

Joe Kahl, of this city, who was one of the guests, was struck in the stomach with a brick, and temporarily disabled.

Ed Royer, also of this city was hit in the head. George Houck was struck on the head with a clock weight that was attached to a rope. The sheriff has that instrument also in his possession. Frank Beiswenger had a gash over his eye where he was struck with a chair. Only one of the ladies attending was hurt, and she but slightly."

Every window in the Houck kitchen was broken, chairs broken, stove overturned, cupboard doors torn off, and a hole was punched in the wall.

The sheriff was called at about 10 p.m., and he came with Chief of Police Hubbard and several others. They could clearly see the aftermath. That night was a long one for them, but by 3 a.m. warrants were sworn and these men were taken into custody:

William Ward and sons, Henry, Alva, Charles and Arthur, George Stitsel, Charles Steffel, Ed Olson, Henry Stuckey, Frank Warner (Weaner) - all confined to the county jail except Warner, Sr. who was 47 and Ed Olson who was 34.

The courthouse was jammed full all day the next Saturday for the hearing where the charge was assault and battery with intent to kill and willful destruction of property in excess of $100. Judge Costello fined Henry Wilson Ward Sr. $40 and all costs. His two boys, Alva and Henry, were determined to be the brick throwers; Alva was fined $10 and 50 days in Toledo workhouse, while Henry Ward had a $10 fine and 30 days in the workhouse. Charles Ward was fined $5 and the rest of the defendants were discharged.

In 1912, George and Christina Houck were blessed with a baby daughter, Freida, and in 1914, a son, Clarence. But in January 1915, tragedy struck the little Houck family. George worked as a teamster at the Defiance Truck & Transfer Company and was assigned to pick up something at the B & O depot on January 2.

"GEORGE HOUCK IS BADLY INJURED

IN A RUNAWAY OF NEW BUS TEAM OF 

TRANSFER COMPANY SATURDAY NIGHT.

George Houck was seriously injured and in a serious condition as a result of having his leg broken in a couple places in a runaway Saturday night.

Mr. Houck and another man were removing the blankets from the new team of grays which was attached to the new bus of the Defiance Truck & Transfer Company at the B & O Depot, when the horses started to run east on Deatrick street

Mr. Houck caught hold of the bits of one of the horses and hung on till the Gunderman grocery was reached when he lost his hold and fell. He was picked up and later cared for by doctors Rigrish and Zellers. The break on one leg is a bad one, a couple bones between the hip and knee protruding from the flesh becoming infected from cloth which was driven into the flesh.

The team continued to run north on Perry, and when at the corner of Fifth and Perry streets, a wheel hit a fire plug and was broken off from the bus. The horses turned east on Fifth street turning at the corner of Fifth and Clinton and running north on Clinton to the front of the City Garage where they were stopped, the team dragging the bus with them.

Robert Packer, of the Defiance Truck & Transfer Company, states that a bob hit the bus which alarmed the horses and caused them to run away."

The "bus" may have looked similar to this.

George was under doctor's care for two days, having also suffered fatal internal hemorrhaging, according to his death certificate. He died on January 4, 1915, at the age of 42. He was buried in Riverside Cemetery.

His wife, Christina Wolf Houck, was left with two very young children, so as his widow and administratix for his estate, she filed a wrongful death suit for $10,000 against the city of Defiance.

The Crescent-News, December 31, 1915, page 1:

"The adverment is made that the team ran about 150 feet with the deceased thus hanging on to the bit, when they ran close to a pile of dirt, ashes and cinders, which the city had carelessly and negligently allowed to remain in the street. The assertion is made that the deceased stumbled on the pile and was thrown under the team and hack and received injures which caused his death. These consisted of a broken leg, broken ribs, serious bruises and internal injuries.

...it was dark at the time, that there was no light on the pile of debris or other warning set out to apprise him of its presence. The deceased left in addition to a widow, two children: one a daughter Freda Viola Houck, aged 3, and one a son, Clarence Michael Houck, aged one."

The trial finally got under way in mid-March 1917, when a jury was chosen and the plaintiff herself, testified. 

So, the city won, and her lawyers did not file in time for a new motion.

The Gypsy Camps in Defiance

 

The first gypsy camps mentioned in the available Defiance newspapers were here in the 1890s.  At that time, the wanderers were camping on the fort grounds, and people from town visited the camp as entertainment.

The Daily Defiance Crescent reported on August 6, 1892:

"The gypsy camp at the fort ground last evening at the fort ground was an attractive one... The costumes of the gypsies were elaborate and were becoming to the wearers.  

Refreshments were daintily served by the young ladies of the Epworth League.  This evening another opportunity is presented to those who desire to visit the camp...You will do well to spend this evening with the gypsies."

In 1894, it was learned that the gypsies would walk through the town selling baskets, horse trading, and telling fortunes in their eye-catching garments.  BUT, in 1898, the overall reputation of the gypsies took a plunge in the city. If anything went missing, it seemed the suspicion fell on the gypsy camp, when they were here.

October 13, 1898, The Defiance Democrat:

"HARNESS STOLEN - NOBLE TOWNSHIP FARMER VICTIM OF PILFERERS WHO ARE UNKNOWN.

Sheldon E. Sanford, of Noble Township, had a set of double work harness stolen Monday evening.  The thieves did not wait for the conventional midnight hour, but got in their work while the family was at supper, entering the barn and getting away without attracting any attention.  Suspicion was directed toward some gypsies who are encamped above Brunersburg, and Mr. Sanford, along with Sheriff Eiser searched the camp yesterday but could find no traces of the missing harness."

July 12, 1899  Defiance Daily Crescent - 

"A DIRTY LOT.  GYPSIES ORDERED TO LEAVE THE CITY.  A camp of Russian gypsies pitched their tents in North Defiance yesterday and the greasy, filthy specimens of humanity scattered to all parts of the city telling fortunes and begging.  Health officer Chapman visited the camp last evening to inspect its sanitary condition, which he found very bad.  Marshall Hull served notice on the gypsies that they must leave the city, so this morning, they pulled stakes and left for other fields."

As you can see, the view of the gypsy encampments changed significantly.  What was once entertaining and acceptable, had now become repugnant to the city people.  Not only were the gypsies blamed for robberies, but it was also rumored that they stole children.

On September 21,1899, the Hicksville Enquirer (reprinted in the Defiance Democrat of Sept. 28)reported that the child of Mrs. H. Carr, "formerly Mrs. Ferguson, who parted from her husband about a year and a half ago, was stolen while at play.  The mother missed its presence, and on going to call the little one, no response came.  Then a search was commenced and nearly every house in town has been thoroughly examined.  The father was in town a week ago.   It is feared by some that gypsies who have been camping near the town, have the child, as part of the camp that left today, and every effort is being made to find them."  No conclusion to this story could be found.

A similar blame on the gypsies was made in September, 1906, when Bessie Speck, a 16 year old, living at 1124 Perry Street, was punished by her mother for her lying ways. The girl told her mother that she would just go kill herself, but instead Bessie ran away.

"Later she was seen following a gypsy wagon, and after that, there is no trace of her.  Fearing that she may have been carried out her threat, or that she had been taken away by the gypsies, the parents and friends instituted a very thorough inquiry."  Bessie was found later in Continental - not a victim of the gypsies.

It evolved until law enforcement actively tried to keep the gypsies moving on out of Defiance.  In September, 1907, a band of seven or eight families camped in the grove across from the Francis Street bridge in south Defiance.  They had been feeding themselves through garden filching, hen coop visiting and sometimes begging.  Chief of Police Hubbard and Sheriff Kopp paid a visit and moved them out while leaving a stern warning not to return.

May, 17,1911. The Defiance Democrat.

"GYPSIES HAD SCRAP, RIG FOR SECURITY.

But for the timely intervention of Constable J. P. Eiser, Joe Davis would probably have been carved up by a couple gypsies on Fifth Street early Thursday evening."

Joe Davis had a disagreement with a group of gypsy men and the result was that Joe was beaten soundly, and in the end was facing a knife and a razor just as Eiser arrived on the scene.

The aggressors were taken before Judge Lamb the next morning, having left their horse and rig after the fight as security to their return.

As they waited for the gypsies to arrive at court, a man from Kentucky came and said that they had "borrowed" the rig from him to haul away some junk and it was not returned.  The gypsies, who were "camping near the Ruehle place in East Defiance" never did show.

As late as 1941, the visits of the gypsies continued, only now they were driving cars. In the Crescent-News, May 22, 1941, page 1:

"SECOND ROBBERY BY GYPSIES BRING APPEAL TO PUBLIC BY BRIDENBAUGH

After gypsies staged a second robbery this spring in Defiance county and made a clean getaway, Sheriff John K. Bridenbaugh today issued an appeal to the public to cooperate with his department in apprehending offenders.

Latest victim was Leslie Mills, 83, Hicksville, who was robbed Monday noon of about $50, including his old age pension money.  Although Mr. Mills was unable to get the license number of the car driven by the gypsies, or its description, Sheriff Bridenbaugh, Marshall Robert Lower, Night Marshall D. M. Driver and Mayor M. H. Bevington, the last three of Hicksville, visited the gypsy camp near Angola, Ind., and also went into Michigan looking for the offenders.  Mr. Mills accompanied the officers but was unable to identify anyone at the camp.  He was cutting weeds when the women snatched his purse...

Another robbery attributed to gypsies occurred about a month ago near Delaware Bend, when an aged man lost about $67, Sheriff Bridenbaugh said.  The gypsy women, he said, asked the victim to put water in the radiator of their car.  While he was doing so, one of the women pushed him while another grabbed his pocket book, officers were told."

Eventually, the visits to Defiance stopped and all could rest easy again.

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