The  Shelbyville  Democrat
Thursday February 26, 1925
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MRS. MAZE GRANTED
DIVORCE IN ILLINOIS
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          Mrs. Pearl O. Maze, of Danville, Illinois, formerly of Shelby county, has been granted a divorce from  Carl Maze  a resident of Flat Rock, according to word received here.  The divorce was granted by Judge John Marshall of the civil court at Danville, Illinois.
          The charge in the complaint filed by Mrs. Maze, were cruelty, failure to provide and infidelity.  Mrs. Maze named as correspondent, a woman now living in Flat Rock.  Mr. and Mrs. Maze have been separated for sometime and she went to Danville, Illinois, where she established her residence.
Contributed by Barb Huff

The  Shelby  Republican
Thursday December 20, 1923
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DIVORCE  WAS  GRANTED
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          John W. Mays was granted a divorce in the Shelby circuit court today from  Jessie A. Mays.  The plaintiff was also awarded the custody of their three children.  Mrs. Mays did not appear for the trial of the case.
Contributed by Barb Huff

The  Shelby  Democrat
Thursday July 26, 1923
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CHARGES  DESERTION
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          John W. Mays, 638 west Franklin street, charges his wife,  Jessie A. Mays, deserted him on April 25, 1920, and has not lived with him since.  A complaint for divorce was filed today in the Shelby circuit court by Mr. Mays against his wife.  He also demands custody of three children of the couple.  The couple was married January 28, 1902, and lived together for more than eighteen years.  Cheney & Tolen are attorneys for Mr. Mays.
Contributed by Barb Huff

The  Shelby  Republican
Monday, February 1, 1892
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          Marriage licenses have been issued to  John H. Hewitt  and  Joanna White;   Harry J. Hine  and  Mina Eads;   George Maze  and  Anna Adams;   Edward Croley  and  Ida Swango;   Ivery R. Spurlin  and  Sarah Dill.
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The  Shelby  Democrat
October 8, 1891
Page 3
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          The will of the late  David Maze,  deceased, has been probated.  Squire  William M. Deiwert  is mentioned as administrator.
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The  Shelby  Volunteer
September 27, 1866
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A  DISGRACEFUL  RIOT.
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Lawlesness[sic] and Mobocracy Rampant
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          This city was the scene, on Saturday night of one of those disgraceful and lawless outbreaks that of late years have become of too frequent occurrence to ensure the stability of any lawful government or safety to person or property.  Mobocracy and lawful authority are so diametrically antagonistic that the two cannot exsist together --- one or the other must predominate over and utterly crush out the other, for there is no division of authority between them; and therefore the people of this country may as well array themselves on the one side or the other --- resolve to annul the laws, let society drift into a state of anarchy and chaos --- submit the country to the rule of might makes right --- let a drunken mob composed of the debris of society, who have all to gain and nothing to lose, become the arbitrators of all disputes and the judges of right and wrong --- or else they must array themselves on the side of law and order --- that every man should be protected in his right of person and property --- that order, fraternal feeling and a respect of the rights and privileges of others shall pervade the community.  These are two alternatives the people of this and every other locality throughout the land are now called upon to decide between --- for that a contest between lawless mobocracy and lawful authority is rapidly approaching, is too apparent to admit of doubt or argument.
          The mob on Saturday night last was the legitimate result of the teachings of such men as Morton, Trussler, Willich, Oglesby, Kimball, Brownlow, Thad Stevens, and others of that ilk.  It was called into existence without any apparent or justifiable cause, in fact was a mere outdoor demonstration of a secret organization, aided by outsiders of like viciousness, styled the "Grand Army of the Republic," which met at their hall on that evening and after a short conclave adjourned to the street --- the leaders of the one were the principal leaders and instigators of the other --- the privates in the one made up the assemblage, in connection with outside sympathizers, of the other.  It was a lawless and disgraceful mob, a disgrace to the community, a disgrace to civilization, and in fact a disgrace to everything and everybody, and if such a thing were possible, a disgrace to those engaged in it.
           The assault on Thos. J. Cherry in the afternoon by  Jo. Maze, was evidently one of the preconcerted episodes of the affair, for at an early hour in the evening the spirit of lawlessness began to exhibit itself in various ways --- first by an assault on some young gentlemen from St. Paul by a gang of roughs, led by one Fred. Colescott, who had just returned from serving out his third term in the Penitentiary, and is now in jail for the commission of another robbery, which will doubtless send him up for the fourth time. ---- They followed the young men to the depot, who had ladies in company, and their conduct became so violent that David Louden came up after Sheriff Amsden to protect them.  He immediately went down to the Depot, and having a process for the arrest of Colescott, took him into custody just as the train from Indianapolis arrived, and handed him over to his deputies, Harvey and  Porter, The cry was at once raised "he has arrested Colescott," and the crowd headed by John C. Maze,  M. P. Barger,  H. A. Gilbert  and others, made a rush for the Sheriff, for the purpose of rescuing the prisoner.
          The Sheriff again and again notified the crowd that he had a warrant for the arrest of the prisoner, and told them to stand back and continued to retreat.  The crowd continued to advance, Maze asserting, "you have no five thousand men now at your back, and you can't take any man out of this crowd --- come on boys," and advanced about thirty feet with the mob at his heels, shouting and yelling.  The Sheriff then struck Maze with his cane, turning him around.  M. P. Barger then advanced upon the Sheriff, who threw him back.  Maze then made a charge upon John Harvey, a Deputy, to whom the Sheriff had previously handed over the prisoner, Colescott, who knocked Maze down.  As soon as Maze fell Barger then made an attack upon Harvey with a drawn knife, and was again caught and thrown back by the Sheriff.  The sheriff then noticed H. A. Gilbert flourishing a revolver, and immediately caught him by the wrist of the hand containing the pistol, and said "come on boys," and started off. One of his Deputies then remarked, "they have rescued the prisoner" --- but the sheriff remarked "come on, we will save this man," and proceeded a short distance, when he took the revolver from him, and lodged him in jail.
          A. J. Winterrowd then came to the jail and propsed to bail Gilbert.  It was then arranged the the Sheriff should file an affidavit, the Clerk issue the warrant, and the prisoner be admitted to bail. Winterrowd, Blair and Amsden then started for the District Attorneys office, Wintrrrowd[sic] assuring them that he could control his partisan friends, who had assembled in a crowd on the square, having rescued Colescott from the officer, and gave evidence of considerable excitement, which was being fanned by men who would like to be considered exemplary citizens.  They had started across the Square when one of the mob named Jim Neal, ran up and took Winterrowd by the arm, and said, "Get out of the way Andy, we are going to kill the d--d s--s of  b----s."  Andy obeyed the command and made himself scarce.  Sheriff Amsden drew his revolver and warned them to stand back --- and kept the howling jackals at bay until he got into one of the saloons in the basement of the Ray House, where they besieged him for about four hours, making every species of threats and indulging in the most incendiary language against various individuals and their property, this office included.
          About half past eleven o'clock a part of the mob proceeded to the jail, and iwth the assistance of chisels, sledge hammers, &c., opened the doors and released Gilbert.
          The mob continued to make the air hideous with their shouts and yells until a late [top line of type is missing on the microfilm] an early hour in the morning, when they dispersed, but re-assembled on the Public Square on Sabbath morning, and began to talk rather loud and threatening, but observing that forces were assembling to preserve the peace and vindicate the outraged laws, like jackals they dispersed and hunted their holes, and it is well for them that they took fright as soon as they did.
          We have refrained from giving the names of the rioters, as the whole affair will undergo a legal investigationn, and to those who participated will be meeted out the punishment they deserve, regardless of position or monied influence.  Against these outlaws the law will be inforced to the letter.
          We understand the Mr. Gilbert avers that he was under the impression that it was Col. Wm. H. Colescott the Sheriff had in custody, and really regrets the entire occurrence.
          The windows of the cars were smashed in by rocks thrown by the mob, and several persons severly injured, among them one or two women and children, as we are informed.
          Colescott, the prisoner rescued at the depot, was re-arrested by the Sheriff on Sunday afternoon and placed in jail.  On the same evening one Bill Reed, attempted to re-organize the mob ostensibly for his rescue, but it is much more probable that his real object was to make another raise by a system of wholesale robbery, as he is about dead broke.  A few of the more reckless assembled on the out skirts of the city, but soon dispersed.  They would have met with a warm reception had they visited the jail.
          There are many other features of lawless brutality connected with this disgraceful riot, but our space precludes the possibility of our giving them an airing at present.
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