Madison County, IL Newspaper Items

GRANITE CITY, ILL., September 6 – Serena Morris – 20 years old, whose body was believed to have been found in a shallow grave, in a wheat field near Granite City, Ill., and was buried as such by the girl’s grandmother, is alive in Cincinnati, O. She was discovered by the police at the instance of Thomas Gilliland, held in jail in Granite City pending investigation. He said he was with the Morris girl in Cincinnati at the time the body was found. The police verified this fact, thus securing an alibi for Gilliland. The girl will go back to Illinois to clear Gilliland. An insurance policy of $400 had been paid to the grandmother. Police declared that the dead woman bore a remarkable resemblance to Miss Morris. (Augusta Gazette, Monday, September 5, 1921 - Submitted by Peg Thompson)

William B. Whitesides, sheriff of Madison county, Illinois, and Major Sinclair, have been arrested for robbery committed at the house of a Mr. Dixon, an old man living in Green county, Illinois, from whom it is said, they took about twelve hundred dollars After a laborious investigation before judge Reynolds, they were held to bail to appear at the next term of the Circuit Court St Louis Register The Illinois Gazette, (Shawnee-town, IL) Saturday, July 21, 1821

In Wheeling, on Monday evening last, of consumption, Hon. ALEXANDER CALDWELL, Judge of 'the United States Court in the Western District of Virginia. On Saturday last, after a painful illness, in the 30th year of his age, FRANCIS T. LIGHTFOOT, Clerk of the Superior and County Court of Culpepper, Virginia. In Madison county, lllinois on the 9th of March, Mr. DAVID ANDERSON, (formerly of New York,) aged about 70 years of age Daily National Intelligencer, (Washington, DC) Friday, April 12, 1839; Issue 8162;

Frank Moser, Collinsville, filed suit for divorce from Mrs. Mary Moser in the circuit court here Monday, charging desertion. They were married October 16, 1920 and sepavted in December the same year. Moser states that his wife's last known address was Grac, Austria. EDWARDSVILLE INTELLIGENCER, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15,1940 JRICE

he resignation of Miss Ethel Tibbetls, instructor in the local schools for 32 years, was accepted by the board of education at the Qtcober meeting Monday night. Ill health is the cause of the resignation, which had been under consideration on several occasions since the schools opened in September. Superintendent E. L. Alexander said Tuesday that one of the substitute instructors will fill the position until the beginning of the second semester in February. Miss Tibbetts taught geography and English in the junior high school. Husband Given Estate.EDWARDSVILLE INTELLIGENCER, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15,1940 JRICE

The will of Mrs. Ella M. Harrison, who died at Collinsville on August 28, was admitted to probate here Monday. The petition places a value of $11,000 on the estate which is left to her husband/ Dr. M. W. Harrison, mayor of Collinsville.EDWARDSVILLE INTELLIGENCER, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15,1940 JRICE

Former Mayor N. E. Bosen Dies Friday in Hospital in St Louis Former Mayor Nickolas Edward Bosen. aged 30 years. of 203 Brown avenue, expired at 5:20 o'clock last evening at the St Luke's Hospital in St Louis, where he was taken over five weeks ago. for an operation for a cancer of the throat. Mr. Bosen was taken to the hospital for the operation. He improved steadily and was able to be up last week. He had practically recovered from the operation but the disease had too strong a hold on him and had spread too fast. He relapsed into serious condition and daily his condition became worse. Yesterday members of his family here received a message that he was dying and hurried to St Louis. Mrs. Bosen and son Alphonse of this city. Mr. and Mrs. August [Gustav] Bosen of Litchfield. Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Shaffer of Edwardsville and Mrs. Marie Lynch of Thebes, were all present when the end came. Mr. Bosen was conscious up until the last moment. The body will arrived in Edwardsville shortly after 6 o'clock this evening and will be taken to the Bosen residence from whence funeral services will be held Tuesday morning. The funeral will be from the residence to St Boniface's Catholic church at 9 o'clock. Rev. J. D. Metzler. pastor of the church, will conduct services. Interment will be in the Catholic Cemetery.

With the death of Mr. Bosen. Edwardsville loses one of its most prominent citizens. "Nic" Bosen was a man who was liked by all. owing to his kind and generous nature. He befriended everyone and was held in the highest esteem by those who gained his friendship. He was a loving husband, a kind father and a dutiful son. At the time of his death Nickolas Bosen was aged 60 years. 7 months and 1 day. He was born April 26, 1855 and died December 10, 1915. His birthplace was in Hellendorf. Germany and he was one of twelve children of Mr. and Mrs. John Bosen. He received his schooling in the schools in Germany and commanded a good education. After completing his education, he went to Paris, France, where he secured employment as a clerk in the big department stores. In France he learned the language and was able to converse fluently in French. When 16 years of age, he immigrated to America by himself and came directly to Edwardsville, where he became a clerk in a general store, operated by Leonard Flacheneker. He was employed in the store here for four years. when he decided to go back to Germany to visit with homefolk, and induce them to come to America. He spent three months in Germany with his parents and then came back to America. His parents came later and settled in Iowa. Mr. Bosen them became a traveling representative for a German newspaper printed in St Louis. He continued to make Edwardsville his home, and after two years service with the paper, he became a clerk in the grocery store of Jacob Heddergott. at the comer of Main and Vandalia streets. He continued to remain in the store and when Adolph Suppiger purchased the establishment some years afterward. Mr. Bosen was employed by him. Mr. Bosen at the age of 32 years purchased the store from Mr. Suppiger and continued to operate the place until the latter part of the year 1903 when he sold the establishment to Fred J Stolze. In 1903 he opened a saloon in the Brown Building. At the time of his death, he was proprietor of a saloon at 109 Hillsboro avenue. On May 4. 1886 he was married to Miss Francis (Frances) Harles. daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Harles of Edwardsville. The ceremonv was performed at St Boniface's Catholic church bv Rev. August Schlegel. Mr. Bosen is survived by his wife. Mrs. Francis [Frances] Bosen and eight children. They are: Edward of Colhnsville; August [Gustav] of Litchfield; Sister M. Joseph of Green Bay. Wisc: Mrs. Ottilia Campbell. Mrs. Frances Shaffer and Alphonse and Wilfred of Edwardsville; and Mrs. Marie Lynch of Thebes. He has 12 brothers and sisters living in different parts of the country. Several reside in Texas. California and Iowa. He has here grandchildren living. He was elected alderman of the 3rd Ward for 3 consecutive times. In 1903 he was elected mayor and served for one term. His friends urged his to run for office again, but Mr. Bosen declined saying someone else ought to have a chance. Submitted by CAK8948 @ aol.com

Quarry Slide Buries Alton Man and Truck
ALTON - Rescuers held little hope for the life of Bernard Wilshire, 24 years old quarry worker, buried under tons of clay in a quarry along the Mississippi river near here. Crews have been digging continuously since 1:30 p.m. yesterday when a mass of clay, believed to be about 80ft feet in diameter, slid away. Wilshire and a truck he was unloading were buried. An electric shovel augmented manual digging in an effort to reach Wilshire. A possibility that the man might have crawled under the truck, thus saving himself from being crushed, was expressed by rescuers. An air pocket around the truck also might save him from suffocation.

A 44-year-old Alton man was charged with first degree murder Tuesday after witnesses fingered him in the shooting of a man in an Alton tavern dispute Monday. William G. Davee of the 2400 block of East Broadway was charged with two counts of first degree murder in the death of William G. Abel, 43. Police said Abel and Davee apparently were arguing with a woman in Ye Ole Tavern, 702 E. Broadway, about 9:30 p.m. The argument continued onto the tavern parking lot, where Davee pulled out a gun and shot Abel several times in front of witnesses, police said. Davee fled, but police captured him on Adams Court behind the tavern. Abel died just after 10 p.m. in the emergency room at St. Joseph's Hospital, Madison County Associate Judge Charles V. Romani set Davee's bond at $200,000. Police said Davee had a history of DUI and other traffic arrests, but knew of no serious offenses. Davee remained in the city jail today, awaiting transfer to the Madison County Jail. Abel, who was employed at Fairfax Co. in East Alton, lived with his mother, Loretta, in their State Street home. Ironically, just six months ago, Abel and his mother were celebrating her $1 million prize in the Illinois State Lottery LOTTO drawing. Source: Alton Telegraph 1987-10-07 Page 5 submitted by Barb Z

JURY SELECTION STARTS: Jury selection for the murder trial of William G. Davee was to begin today in Circuit Court in Edwardsville. Davee, 43, of Litchfield, is charged with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of William G. Abel outside an Alton tavern on Oct. 5. Abel. 43, of the 1200 block of State Street in Alton, was shot in the chest and left arm outside Ye Ole Tavern, 702 E. Broadway. Both men had been inside the tavern earlier. Davee was arrested shortly after the shooting and remains in custody. The Alton Telegraph 1988-04-18 Page 2 submitted by Barb Z