400 HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

Benjamin F. Elkin, Oswell Thomas, John Eckard and Fergus Snoddy, of
Washington township. The verdict of the jury was rendered as follows:
“We, the jury, find for the plaintiff and assess his damages at one dollar.
“THOMAS J. HADDEN, Foreman.”

    It should he added that Williams still survives, having outlived his
accusers, the court officers, the attorneys, the jury and the witness in
the case.
Phenomenal Fatalities in Campaign of 1888.
    In the Cleveland-Harrison campaign of 1888 a strange dual fatality
befell two locally prominent residents of Clay City, coincident, in a sense.
In the organization of the two opposing parties in Harrison township,
Casper Rader was made chairman of the Democratic committee and
Joseph Wilbur of the Republican committee.
    On the 18th day of September, on the occasion of a Republican cam-
paign rally at Coal City, Chairman Rader drove over to that place to
observe the doings of the day. On the return drive, accompanied by
Henry Smith, of Clay City, Rader attempted to pass the big, long coupled
campaign wagon, running onto sideling ground between the wagon and
the fence, when his vehicle was turned over, throwing out the occupants,
Rader falling under the heavily loaded wagon, a hind wheel passing
directly across his head, crushing the skull, death ensuing instantaneously.
    On the night of October 5th an excursion was run over the Evansville
& Indianapolis Railroad from Clay City to Brazil, on the occasion of the
Governor Porter meeting at the wigwam. In this party was Chairman
Wilbur On the return home, as is frequently the case on such occasions,
under the influence of campaign enthusiasm, members of the party moved
about, exchanging seats, and passing from coach to coach. In stepping
from one platform to another Wilbur lost his balance and fell between the
cars to the track. He was not seen to fall from the platform, but was soon
missed, when the train was brought to a standstill and reversed, finding
him lying on the track between the railing, violently injured, from the
effects of which he survived but a few days. Both were men of families,
Rader aged thirty-six years and Wilbur aged thirty-five years.
    Mrs. Mary Wilbur, widow of Joseph Wilbur, instituted suit in the
Clay circuit court against the railroad company for personal damages,
which was tried at the January term, 1891, the jury finding in her favor
and fixing the damages at $5,000. This judgment was set aside by Judge
S. M. McGregor as an erroneous finding, on the ground of contributory
negligence.
Interesting Old-Time Election Incident.
    At the presidential election of 1828, when Andrew Jackson was first
elected, a number of young men in Harrison township voted for him who
were not then yet twenty-one years of age. There was at that time an
organized company of militia in the township, of which these young men
were members. Before closing the polls for the day, David White, who
was the inspector, appeared at the door and made the call for all young
men past eighteen years who were members of the militia to come up and
vote for Jackson, all of them accepting the invitation and casting their
ballots as requested. David White, who was the father of Edward White,
well known at a later day, was himself an ardent Whig, but was a soldier
under Jackson at New Orleans, whose election to the presidency he de-
clared necessary to the welfare and safety of the country. The last sur-