HALL OF FAME FAMILIES
Extended family members gathered last week to celebrate the new Shelbyville High School Hall of Fame inductees, Scott Law and Dan Theobald.
Above, the family of Dan Theobald, following the ceremony: (front, L to R) Macey Parker, Romie Bennett, Rhydian Bennett and Holly Theobald; (back) Travis Theobald, Jenny Theobald, Sullivan Bennett, Dan Theobald, Peggy Theobald, Elizabeth Bennett, Nicaeli Theobald, Emily Parker and Dennis Parker.
photos by JACK BOYCE
Below: Scott Law’s family gathers at the Friday football game: Nick Law, David Law, Debbie Law, Lori Law, Jim Law, Kathy Law, Scott Law, Emma Oppman and Greg Oppman.
LIFE ON MARS
Jacob Callis, Ariana Caballero-Caballero and Abriauna Hatch, students in Mrs. Breanna Hounshell’s Shelbyville Middle School sixth grade English class, discuss their planet poster. Students researched an assigned planet and factors preventing humans from living there, and then created solutions to those barriers. Above, students encouraged each other to move their planet, complete with a “day in the life” view and a map. “Students worked so hard and really enjoyed this project,” Hounshell said. | submitted
NOTEBOOK:
The FBI’s 10-year project of repatriation of 7,000 archeological artifacts owned by the late Don Miller, who lived near Waldron, is complete, CNHI Indiana Statehouse reports. There were over 42,000 artifacts at Miller’s home, and 7,000, including human remains, were deemed to have been obtained illegally. “It marked the largest seizure of cultural artifacts in the FBI’s history, and is likely the largest in the history of U.S. law enforcement,” CNHI reported. More than 100 archeologists, anthropologists, bureau agents and international experts worked the case, and a climate-controlled warehouse storage area was rented in Indianapolis to house items. Miller died in 2015 at the age of 91, still in possession of some 35,000 artifacts. “It remains their personal property,” a Special Agent said. “He had a really exceptional collection of artifacts, so I have to guess it moved on to other collectors.” The complete article, via the Indiana Economic Digest, is available here.
A vehicle went into a ditch on North Riley Highway near Gateway Drive and had to be towed out. The driver said he could not tell where to enter the highway due to construction cones being misplaced and inadvertently went into the construction zone and then the ditch.
Voter Information: Election Day is November 5. Early in-person voting is Oct. 8 - Nov. 4. The voter registration deadline is Oct. 7 and the absentee ballot request deadline is Oct. 24. Absentee ballots must be received by mail or in-person by Nov. 5. Voters can register at indianavoters.in.gov (must have valid Indiana driver’s license or ID). In-person registration is at the Shelby County Clerk’s Office, 407 S. Harrison St., Shelbyville, or at the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, 1826 IN-44, Shelbyville.
Pack Your Local Pantries event, supporting Shelby County Pantry Pals Coalition, is this Saturday, Sept. 28, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., at Kroger. Most needed items include canned chicken and tuna, canned veggies (low or no sodium), canned fruit (low or no sugar), oatmeal and cereal, canned soups, peanut butter, flour, sugar, baking mix, cooking oil and spices.
Editor’s Note: To clarify, our WhatsApp channel is just one more way to get The Addison Times, in addition to the Substack App. These might be helpful for those who can’t get the daily edition via email due to spam filters. That said, the daily email newsletter isn’t going anywhere! It will continue to be our primary means of communication. My apologies for any confusion! - Kristiaan Rawlings
NATIONAL NEWS: The Neon Museum is an attraction in Las Vegas that is a massive, open-air collection of historical neon signs. It’s currently able to display only 35 percent of the roughly 500 signs in its collection on its 2.27-acre campus, which goes back to the 1930s, and also has a collection of 10,000 photographs and postcards in a medium of signage that has gradually been going extinct amid the rise of the LED. The museum will soon start a $45 million expansion and relocation to a space in the Arts District by 2027, with a 60,000-square-foot rooftop and a 47,000-square-foot exhibition space, as well as 35,000 additional square feet nearby. Last year the attraction saw 200,000 visitors, and had to turn away 30,000 due to capacity. (The Art Newspaper/Numlock)
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A Deadly Dispute: The Murder of Charles H. Tindall in Shelbyville, 1911
Editor’s note: The Addison Times has noted the VanPelt trial before, but Young’s version includes important context and details not previously reported.
ABOVE: A 1911 postcard shows a crowd gathered outside the drugstore where Charles Tindall, 39, lay dying.
by GEORGE YOUNG
It was a typical Hoosier August day in Shelbyville, Indiana: hotter than a firecracker and stickier than a jar of molasses. Tempers flared as high as the thermometer, and this sweltering tension set the stage for a shocking crime that rocked the town and reverberated through the state. On August 25, 1911, Charles Hamilton Tindall, 39, a prominent lawyer and Supreme Director of the Court of Honor lodge, staggered into Conrad Schroeder’s pharmacy after being shot twice on the street in front of the store. Moments before collapsing, he uttered his final words to the pharmacist, Conrad Schroeder: “Cooney, I’m shot; he got me.” Within 15 minutes, Tindall was dead. The man who shot him, Charles Edward VanPelt, was apprehended almost immediately after the shooting, setting the stage for one of the most sensational trials of the time.
A Violent Encounter on South Harrison Street
At 11 a.m., the usually quiet west side of the 100 block of South Harrison Street was disrupted by the sound of gunfire. Witnesses reported that VanPelt, a 60-year-old newspaper solicitor, had been sitting on a bench in front of Schroeder’s drugstore, sheltering from the blazing sun under an awning. As Tindall and Thomas Whitaker, the secretary of the Shelbyville Court of Honor, approached, VanPelt stood up, drew his revolver, and fired without a word. The first bullet grazed Tindall’s arm; the second struck his torso. Tindall jumped behind Whitaker before stumbling into the pharmacy, where he would soon lose his life.
Deputy Sheriff Henry Terry, who witnessed the entire event, quickly apprehended VanPelt as he calmly walked toward the town square. VanPelt handed over his revolver without resistance and was taken to the police station, where he made a chilling statement: “It was all over lodge trouble. Tindall had been mistreating me and my wife for several years. He insulted me numerous times by telling me that my wife was a thief and that she had stolen $1,200 from the lodge.” VanPelt claimed that Tindall’s constant accusations, insults, and signs of contempt on the street had pushed him to the breaking point.
The Court of Honor and Fraternal Societies: A Breeding Ground for Conflict
At the heart of this deadly altercation was the Court of Honor, a fraternal organization that began in 1895 as a splinter group from the Home Forum. The early 20th century saw the rise of fraternal lodges across the United States and Europe, which played significant social and civic roles in their communities. Organizations like the Freemasons, Odd Fellows, and Knights of Pythias attracted millions, offering mutual aid, camaraderie, and a sense of belonging at a time when government welfare programs were nonexistent. Lodges often provided insurance, burial services, and support during illness, making them invaluable to their members.
Shelbyville was no stranger to fraternal groups. The town hosted a wide array of lodges, including the Modern Woodmen of America, Knights of Pythias, Elks, Odd Fellows, and the Grand Army of the Republic. These organizations were more than just social clubs: they were lifelines that connected members to a larger network of support. However, this interconnectedness also made them breeding grounds for personal disputes, rivalries, and sometimes dangerous conflicts, as seen in the tragic case of Tindall and VanPelt.
Charles H. Tindall, Charles E. VanPelt, and Alice VanPelt were all notable members of the Shelbyville Court of Honor. Tindall served as the chairman of the local lodge’s board of directors, while Alice VanPelt was a former recorder of the lodge. Their shared involvement in the fraternal world would ultimately fuel a bitter and deadly conflict.
A Long-Standing Feud Boils Over
According to witnesses, VanPelt had been harboring a deep-seated grudge against Tindall, who had accused his wife, Alice, of embezzling $1,200—equivalent to around $40,000 today—from the lodge. Tindall’s accusations and persistent jabs at the VanPelts had created a simmering tension that boiled over on that fateful August day. Alice VanPelt was not just an ordinary member; she was the sister of U.S. Senator John D. Works of California, adding a layer of political intrigue to the affair.
The feud had started nearly a year earlier, on September 2, 1910, when Tindall publicly questioned the legitimacy of Mrs. VanPelt’s bookkeeping in front of other lodge members. He did not directly accuse her of theft, but the insinuation was enough to tarnish her reputation and put immense strain on her and her husband. Tindall’s allegations, compounded by subtle signs of mockery - such as putting his thumb to his nose, a gesture of derision known as “cocking a snook” - drove VanPelt to the edge of his sanity.
In his defense, VanPelt’s attorneys argued that Tindall’s relentless torment drove him to act irrationally. They claimed that VanPelt’s mind had been slowly unraveling under the pressure of these continuous confrontations. Numerous witnesses testified to VanPelt’s deteriorating mental state. A local grocer noted that VanPelt’s eyes appeared wild and glassy in the weeks leading up to the shooting, as if he were constantly looking over his shoulder, anticipating another encounter with Tindall.
ABOVE: Charles Edward VanPelt’s mugshot.
The Trial: Insanity or Premeditation?
VanPelt’s trial began on November 6, 1911, and quickly became a spectacle. The courtroom was packed with spectators eager to see the outcome of this shocking case. The defense centered on VanPelt’s mental state, arguing that he was temporarily insane at the time of the shooting, driven mad by Tindall’s relentless provocations. They presented a string of witnesses who described VanPelt’s erratic behavior and obsession with the perceived wrongs done to him and his wife. VanPelt’s job as a solicitor for the Democrat newspaper required him to collect money from advertisers and subscribers of the paper. During his route, he had lots of time to exchange conversations with people in town about the charges against his wife.
Doctors testified that VanPelt was under severe mental strain, constantly brooding over his troubles with Tindall. One physician recounted conversations in which VanPelt expressed fear that his wife would lose her mind from the stress of the accusations. The defense painted a picture of a man pushed beyond his limits, a devoted husband trying to protect his wife’s honor.
On the prosecution’s side, the argument was clear: this was not the act of an insane man but a premeditated murder fueled by malice. They called 12 eyewitnesses who described the calm, deliberate manner in which VanPelt approached and shot Tindall. The prosecution’s strongest evidence was VanPelt’s purchase of the revolver used in the crime just days before the shooting. Witnesses from local hardware stores testified that VanPelt had inspected several guns, ultimately selecting a second-hand Iver-Johnson .32 caliber revolver, claiming he needed it for protection.
Despite these compelling testimonies, the defense’s argument that VanPelt was not in his right mind during the shooting held significant sway. After two weeks of intense deliberation, the jury returned a verdict on November 21: guilty of manslaughter. VanPelt was sentenced to serve two to twenty-one years at Michigan City prison, expressing to friends and a local reporter, “I am going to prison, boys, but I do not feel that I leave here disgraced. It was for the sake of my wife. When you have a good woman, stick to her to the last.”
A Tragic End and a Legacy of Loss
VanPelt served his sentence and was paroled after two years and one month, but the tragedy that began on that hot August morning continued to haunt those involved. VanPelt lived out the rest of his life quietly, working various jobs, including as a finisher in a furniture factory. He died in 1934 at the age of 83, succumbing to injuries from a car accident in downtown Shelbyville. He suffered a fractured skull as he stepped into the street from between two parked cars. Ironically, his death occurred blocks from where he had taken Tindall’s life years earlier.
Charles H. Tindall’s death left a void in the community. He was remembered not just as a lawyer but as a leading figure in the fraternal circles of Shelbyville, a man whose dedication to his lodges and community was overshadowed by the tragic circumstances of his demise. Tindall’s efforts in the 1902 publication “Picturesque Shelbyville” feature many pages of the lodges of the era.
Today, the story of the Tindall-VanPelt feud stands as a poignant chapter in Shelbyville’s history, capturing the volatile mix of pride, honor, and human frailty. It serves as a testament to the powerful, often destructive, emotions that fraternal allegiances and personal grievances can unleash, reminding us that even the most tight-knit communities are not immune to tragedy.
The 1911 postcard (top of the article) depicts a crowd gathered outside the drugstore where Tindall lay dying. In contrast, a 1902 photograph of the Court of Honor (see below) reflects a more joyful time, with Alice VanPelt appearing in the upper right corner, serving as a lodge officer and team member. Opinions were divided, with half believing Alice was innocent and half thinking she was guilty. Despite at least three investigations by the Court of Honor, no charges were ever brought against her. By 1920, she was working as a bookkeeper. VanPelt's prison mugshot starkly contrasts with the image of Tindall alongside his fellow members of the Modern Woodmen of America.
SHS Courier Archive Highlights:
May 1984, Part II
The Courier reviewed highlights of the class of 1984. The class had won the float competition freshman year. “Our sophomore year we had a super float, but the competition was cancelled due to a catastrophe to the freshmen float. At first they thought they had lost their float, but it turned out it had been covered with black paint,” the article said. The next year, the competition was changed from building floats to decorating hallways. The Class of ’84 won. The class had also won the canned food drive freshman and sophomore years. The class did not win their junior year, but accused the seniors of adding the underclassmen’s cans to their total. Their senior year, the Class of ’84 had more cans than the other three classes combined. Also, the class “has had its share of inmates to have been admitted into the Behavior Modification Center. We’ve had convicts put in for fights and busted lights, chew and a little brew, smoking cigs and being pigs, for being rude and throwing food, for vulgarities in the bleachers and quarrels with teachers, and for causing hurts with our “Party Shirts.” The “Party” shirts had led to a ban on others wearing club t-shirts, the article said. “This brought about the painting, writing, carrying, hanging and yelling the phrase ‘The Party’ in parking lots, on posters and desks, on walls and throughout the halls.” Mr. Craft eventually shut “The Party” down, although it’s not specified how that was accomplished.
Tom Hession had been serving in the state legislature. During session, his teaching and coaching duties were handed off to others. Steve Drake had taken on Hession’s baseball coaching role. A substitute was brought in for classes, which The Courier noted caused challengse for grading final exams at the end of the semester.
Coach Karen Bowman’s track team was performing well. Seniors Ruth Fordham and Roberta Nuthak, along with sophomore Shelly Caplinger were three-fourths of the 1,600 relay team which ran at the previous year’s state finals. They would be joined by freshman Amy Byrd. Michelle Meal and Ann Vardaman had previously set records in the 100-meter hurdles and 200-meter sprint, respectively. Dena Brown and Val Morrison were also key performers on the team.
Mark Gould left a parting poem on behalf of the seniors: “Starting the 20th day of May, We will be leaving and on our way, Learning more than up until today, As for the faulty, they’ve nothing to say, So now it’s time to say goodbye, To the good ol’ times of Shelby High, Without us there, troubles will do, I kinda doubt the faculty will cry!”
This Day in Shelby County History
News around Shelbyville and the surrounding area as reported on or about this date in history. Selections are curated from the Shelby County Public Library Genealogy Department.
2014: Triton Central Middle School’s seventh-grade volleyball team defeated Waldron to claim the Shelby County Volleyball Tournament championship. Members of the team were Kamryn Garner, Kelsie Jefferson, Halle Beatty, Madysen Williams, Makayla Johnson-Hiott, Olivia Floyd, Emily LeMasters, Lydia Lee and Sydney Tracy. Amber Gehlhausen was the coach.
2004: City officials began discussing a conference center to be included in the Intelliplex.
1994: Shelbyville attorney Mark W. McNeely reached a settlement worth almost $300,000 for a client injured at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. In 1987, security guards had thrown the man down a flight of stairs while ejecting him for spilling food and drink on people in front of him. The man suffered a broken leg and dislocated ankle.
Starting October 1, the public would be welcome to play golf at Elks Country Club.
1984: Every school system in the county except Southwestern saw declining student enrollment in the fall, according to the recent count. Total enrollment for Shelbyville Central Schools was 3,493. SHS had 1,095 and the junior high had 595 students.
1974: Grand opening was held at McDonald’s. Ronald McDonald was part of the festivities.
Malcolm Reed Clay, 64, 941 Windsor Dr., a Shelbyville High School teacher and current guidance director, died. Clay was a graduate of Waldron High School. He had served as an assistant coach here and formerly taught at Moral Township, St. Paul and Sugar Creek Township before coming to SHS in 1942. He had served as guidance director since 1956.
1964: A petition for union representation at the General Electric Company’s Shelbyville plant was filed with the Indianapolis office of the National Labor Relations Board.
Beginners Ballroom Dance classes were taught by Miss Lee Harris, hosted at St. Joseph Catholic Church.
Bags designed to hold five pounds of corn meal were being produced by KCL as part of the federal government’s foreign aid program and Alliance for Progress program. The bags were made and printed here. The government bought the grain and a firm filled 100-pound bags with the corn meal and enclosed 20 KCL-made empty bags for shipment overseas.
1954: The Home Telephone Company of Waldron began operation of the Cave (Geneva) and St. Paul telephone exchanges. Home Telephone Company had been in the process of buying the exchanges for two years.
1944: Local “housewives” were having a hard time coming up with butter, The Republican reported. Civilian butter supplies were at their lowest in 29 years, and at about one-fifteenth of the levels available before the war.
1934: A big sale was held to celebrate Goodman’s 14th anniversary on Public Square. The store had been open 23 years, first in the old Lockwood hotel. Goodman’s then moved to S. Harrison St. In 1919, A. Goodman purchased the business lot on the corner of the Square and built the new building.
1924: Sam Metcalf, owner of a barber shop at Five Points, had limited his customers to men and boys. He said he would no longer “bob or shingle” hair for girls or women.
1914: Charles Parrish fell while installing the interurban bridge over Brandywine near Fairland. He was seriously injured after striking the stone abutment of the bridge and rolling off, landing in the river.
Three boys, ages 10 to 13, were arrested for smoking cigarettes and “cursing so loudly that they could be heard all over that end of the city,” The Republican reported. The boys and their parents were ordered to appear before the mayor.
OBITUARIES
None today.