Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2015 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= USGenNet Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Ludington Record-Appeal Vol. XXXIX, No. 11 Thursday, October 26, 1905 EXCITEMENT AT MERRITT --------------------- CHICKEN ROAST AND BURNING BEE THE CAUSE WIFE'S MANIA FOR CHICKENS --------------------- Causes M. R. Lovett to Apply Match and Kerosene - Fowls and Buildings Burned - Gun Plays Part --------------------- There was wild excitement at Merritt yesterday by reason of the burning of a chicken farm and dwelling house at that place owned by Mr. and Mrs. M. R. Lovett of Chicago. The burning was of incendiary origin. In fact the buildings were set on fire by Lovett himself. It appears that Lovett and his wife had disagreed for some time on the subject of chickens, the former being opposed to keeping them and the latter having acquired a mania for the birds. Lovett claims that his wife appropriated his money and with it purchased the chicken farm at Merritt valued at between $2,00 and $3,000. They quarreled over the affair and she applied for a divorce, meanwhile engaging John Pearson to look after the chicken farm. Lovett became so incensed that he boarded a train at Chicago and arrived at Merritt yesterday morning where, it is alleged he compelled Pearson at the point of a gun to pour kero- sene on the dwelling house and hennery and set them on fire. The men then stood by and watched the buildings burn including 50 valuable chickens. It is said that various shots were fired during the day by Lovett but no one was injured. Pearson came to Ludington last night at 6 o'clock and accompanied by Tufts and Laidlaw returned to Merritt and found Lovett just boarding the train for Chicago. He was arrested on a warrant charging him with arson and is now confined in the county jail at this place awaiting his examina- tion tomorrow. Lovett declares that the property was his and that he had a right to burn it and that he did not compel Pearson to do the burning at the point of a gun. The affair has created quite a sensation owing to the prominence of the parties. Lovett pro- claims himself a prosperous manufacturer of Chicago and is said to be worth consderable money. =========================================================================== If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access more of our growing collection of FREE online information by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/ ===========================================================================