Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 5, Number 136, Decatur, Adams County, 4 June 1907 — Page 1

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT.

Volume V. Number 136

THE SECOND DAY A Busy Session of the Commissioners J. R. GRABER IS REELECTED Some Arch Contracts Given—Bids for Bridges Rejected—Other Business. The viewers' report on the David Fuhrman petition for the vacating of a highway was granted, and the auditor ordered to so notify the township trustee. g John T. Kelley, David Soldner and W. V. Buckmaster were appointed viewers upon the petition of Samantha E. Young et al, for the vacation of a highway. r The Geneva, Ceylon and Wabash township extension number three was ordered sold on the first day of the next commissioners court term, July Hirst. I Jacob R. Graber has again been jchosen as superintendent of the counity infirmary, the term of selection (being for two years, at a salary of SI,OOO a year. Mr. Graber has complied with every requirement of his place, and done it so completely, that his retention has become a matter of •tact. The county infirmary of Adams icounty is a model of neatness and hood order, and excels any similar institution in Indiana. I Taiford Runyun has been appointed superintendent of construction for the Reynolds extension number four. Mr. Runyun has labored lond and hard for macadam road improvement, and deserves the recognition. I The French township macadam road contract was continued. The Berne Witness company was low bidder for the repair of the Beeler bridge in Wabash township, and the Berne Artificial Stone company was low bidder for the Bollinger stone arch on the French and Monroe township lines and they were also low bidder for the Hirschy arch in Hartfold township.

All bids for bridges were rejected, ton account of a faulty affidavit. Bids iwill be received at the next term. AWAIFDEasfON Judge Erwin’s Opinion Awaited in Wells County TO RULE ON NEW ROAD LAW Thirteen Petitions Held up by the Wells County Commissioners for a Day or Two. Owing to Judge Erwin being expected to make a ruling today on the new i highway law, thirteen petitions for ‘ gravel or stone roads under that law were held over by the commissioners until tomorrow, awaiting the outcome : of the decision. If Judge Erwin dei cides that the petition should have I been granted those now on the commissioners’ docket will be granted, I but should he decide that they should : not have been granted the thirteen still pending here will be refused as were the others. Those appealed from the commissioners’ court to circuit court and later taken on change of venue to Adams county, were the I petitions for the Pence road and the Fisher road. When the petitions were heard here ’ County Attorneys Simmons and , Dailey advised that as the law was new and untried, the commissioners ■ should allow some court to pass on the law-. It was also held that there might be some doubt as to the abilitj to sell the bonds on the roads.

A number of petitioners and attorneys interested in the cases at Adams county went to Decatur at noon.—Bluffton News. oMrs. Fred Shafer went to Ft. Wa>ne this morning to visit friends for a few days. ’

i WILL AGAIN BE A CANDIDATE. Congressman Landis Not in the Race for Governor. Congressman Charley Landis, of this district, who has been touted a great deal In connection with the race for governor, has made the public announcement that he will not figure in the fight for the chief executiveship of the state of Indiana. In this connection he says he intends to remain in the Ninth district of Indiana. This is equivalent to saying that he will be a candidate for congress to succeed himself. Throughout the district there are a number of favorite sons in training for this place and it is very probable that Mr. Landis will have some well organized opposition.—Tipton Tribune. OFFICERS ELECTED Interurban Directors Held a Meeting* CHARLES DIRKSON TREASURER Well Fitted for the Position of Trust —Four of the Six Officials Live in Decatur.

Saturday afternoon, immediately after the banquet, the newly elected board of directors met at the offices of the Ft. Wayne and Springfield railway company and proceeded to at once elect their officers, who will serve for the causing year, and without any opposition or a dissentive vote the following selections were made: W. H. Fledderjohann, president and general manager; J. H. Koenig, vice president and general counsel; Charles Dirkson, treasurer; B. A. Fledderjohann, secretary; T. W. Shelton, general superintendent and Edwin Fledderjohann, superintendent of construction. The newly elected officers are in every particular save one the same as last year, the new man being Charles Dirkson as treasurer, he taking the place of M. H. Wilson, of Cleveland. Ohio. . In selecting the old officers, the members of the board of directors did a wise thing, ana in connection therewith paid a high tribute to the men who have handled the business of the line so successfully in the past and for the confidence thus bestowed in them the old officers will make renewed efforts for the extension of the line and for the upbuilding of tbc line between this city and Ft. Wayne. In Mr. Dirkson, the directors have chosen a clean cut man, and a man who is held in high esteem by all who know him, and a man who will make an honest, conscientious and upright officer. Mr. Dirkson has been affiliated with the line since its birth, and the board could have paid him no higher tribute than by electing him to this office of trust, which we are confident he will fill with credit to himself and to the company. Out of the six officers elected, four of them are residents of this city and county, which speaks well for Decatur. Owing to the increased stock, four new difectors were added to the board over that of last year, the newly elected directors being Martin Gerke, of Root township; Henry Gallmeyer, of Preble township; Henry Dirkson, of Root township; Louis Lammers, of New Knoxville, 0., and Harry Kirker, of Logan, Ohio. The three new directors frem this county are well known to our citizens and need no introduction, being influential citizens, and prosperous farmers residing in the northern part of our county. They are all heavy stockholders in the company, and the stock holders paid them a nice tribute in selecting them to assist in conducting the business of the line. Louis Lammers, of New Knoxville, 0., is a prosperous farmer in that territory, and is also a heavy stockholder in the company, and is a man who has had considerable business in this line of work, and in selecting him the stockholders have made no mistake. He is an uncle of the Fledderpohann boys and while here Saturday made many friends. Harry Kirker, the other new member of the board, is a native of Ohio, his home being in Logan, Hocking county. He is a manufacturer of wagons and buggies and is held in high esteem in the community in which he lives, and that he will fulfill all promises made for him by his friends as a member of the board we are confident he will do. The board as it now stands is made up of good, (Continued on page 2.)

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday Evening, June 4, 1907.

COURT HOUSE NEWS Another Case Comes From Wells County FORECLOSE CHATTEL MORTGAGE Finding for Defendants in Oil Rental Case—Appeal Taken to the Appellate Court. A new case filed in court on change of venue from Wells county is entitled Gaar Scott and company vs, Thomas Coffield and John Garretson, foreclosure of chattel mortgage, demand $1,650. The complaim says that on July 31, 1905, the defendants gave their note for $1,300 and a chattel mortgage on a traction engine, separator, wagon, stacker and other machinery. In the case of Samuel Stahl et al vs. Illinois Oil company et al, complaint for oil rental, the plaintiffs refuse to plead farther and elect to stand on the complaint. Judgment that plaintiffs take nothing by this complaint and that defendants, the Illnois company recover of the plaintiff their costs herein. An appeal was prayed to the appe|late court and granted. Bond fixed at SIOO. Isaac L. Babcock, guardian for Sarah M. Sprague, and four others, filed his final report as to all wards, which was allowed and the guardian discharged. A marriage license was issued to John Lautenheiser, of Blue Creek township and Gertrude Gause, aged seventeen, of St. Marys. The groom is a farmer, aged twenty and wears a No. 14% collar. E. X. Ehinger, administrator of the Mathias Schafer estate, reported the deed for'the property bought by Mrs. Schafer and same was approved. o_. The ball team goes to Decatur on Tuesday where they play two games with Ralph Behringer’s team, and if they win one of the games the fans will be satisfied with their work, for on account of the wet weather, the team has had no chance to engage in any practice work and is going up against a team that has been favored with better weather. Boyd and McKee, a new left-hander, will pitch the games.—Frankfort Crescent.

OFF TO OKLAHOMA Party of Decatur People Went Today MAY INVEST IN SOUTH LANDS Will Also Visit Oklahoma—Party is in Charge of William Harting of this City. The party that left here this morning sor 1 an extended trip through Texas and Oklahoma for the purpose of investing in some land in that state, is composed of William Harding, Charles Heckman, John Colchin, Otto Henneford and several others. These gentlemen left on the 9 o’clock car for Ft. Wayne, and from there went on the Wabash railroad. Their trip through Texas will be for the purpose of locating good land that can be purchased at a reasonable price, and then they will let it grow into money. Timber land in Texas is remarkably cheap considering the railroad and other advantages that they have, and no doubt the Decatur party will be possessors of some good and prospective land before they return. o Jim Davis, the cement sidewalk contractor, is the happiest man in Decatur today and it is all over the fact that the Portland team gave our boys a flogging yesterday. Jim had predicted our defeat for some time, but we thought he was only kidding, but now we are sure that he was in earnest. Jim had several thousand cigars bet on the result and can now set around and smoke his head off, and while so doing laugh up his sleeve at the suckers he caught. Jim is a sly old dog.

CHANCE FOR FREE READING. Magazines and Daily Papers at the Public Library. The June numbers of thirty-five choice magazines are now on the reading table at the library. The Chicago Recofld-Herald, Indianapolis News, Ft. Wayne Evening News, Muncie Morning Star, Bluffton Daily, Berne Witness, Geneva Herald and Decatur Daily Democrat are received each day. Let the people of our city avail themselves of this rich opportunity for good reading and feel free to come at any hour from 12 o'clock to 9 p. m. SHE WAS FAITHFUL Mrs. Marvin Kuhns Identifies Her Husband AND TAKES THE BODY HOME Story of the Last Hours of the Nerviest Horse Thief of the Middle West. Mrs. Marvin Kuhns arrived at Van Wert yesterday afternoon, identified the body of her husband, and took the remains back to her desolate home four miles from Kendallville, where the funeral will be held today. Kuhns was bom in Noble county, Indiana. May 5, 1867, forty years ago. His mother died some years ago, but he is survived by his father, S. B. Kuhns, of Albion, who is eighty-two years old, and by these brothers and sisters: Mrs. William Kesling and Mrs. Samuel Workman, of Noble county; Joseph Kuhns, of Huntertown, and John Kuhns, of Illinois. The marriage of Marvin Kuhns to Mrs. Kate Hagan took place on December 30, 1905. Kuhns was pardoned on Christmas day of that year and five days later, after hurried preparation, the wedding took place. Mrs. Hagan was a widow when she was married to Kuhns and she had two sons, Charles and John Hagan, aged eighteen and sixteen, respectively, who have resided with the couple since their marriage. The Van Wert Bulletin gave the following story of the desperadoes last hours: Kuhns’ last hours on earth were characteristic of the intrepid criminal that, his long series of crimes and his life both in and out of prison proved him to be. With the assurance from medical men that he was about to die, with the admonition that' he would soon be beyond the reach of a message to relatives and friends, he rode on with sealed lips so far as his personal history, his identity or connections were concerned. Not one word would he utter to the earnest supplications that he confess his identiy and leave at least a brief message for those who stood near and dear to him. His courage never failed him and he kept firm grip on his feelings and emotions to the moment that he breathed his last. With the same quality of mind which enabled him to face without fear a hail of bullets on numerous occasions, he rolled and tossed on a cot in the city prison, violently at first, for his wonderful physical strength was still at his command, but with the lapse of time his power of resistance gradually waned and he finally sank into the state where he heard not nor cared not what was going on about him. To the surprise of the officers and physicians, he never uttered a complaint, not one oath fell from his lips. His only wish was for water to sooth the burning fever which raged within, where the leaden missiles had plowed their way through his vitals and produced hemorrages that brought his life to a close. Only once did he give sign of faltering, in the strong determination to maintain silence. After a physician had held a cup of water to his lips and spoken to him tenderly, expressing a desire to make him more comfortable, Kuhns replied: “I got two swallows.” Quickly, in the hope that he would remove the shadow surrounding his identity, the physician, bending low over his body, called “Marvin, Marvin.” The dying man opened his eyes, looked appealing and turned as if to rise on his elbow. His gaze was centered on the physician for a second. In that brief period he again gained control of himself and sank back on the cot, his lips tightly sealed, to cross the silent river (Continued from page 1.)

A DOUBLE WEDDING Happy Time at the Home of Jacob Koos REV. R. C. JONES OFFICIATED Four Prominent Young People Take the Marriage Vows—Happy Time at the Warner Home. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Koos, of Union township, was the scene of a very pretty double wedding Sunday afternoon at four o’clock When Rev. R. C. Jones, of Selma, Ind., joined Miss Mae Warner and Clyde M. Rice, and Miss Alive Koos and Glen W. Warner in the holy bonds of w'edlock. The event was a very pretty affair and was witnessed by a large crowd of the relatives and friends of the contracting parties and the ceremony was simple but impressive. Immediately following the happy event an elaborate wedding dinner was served and the guests did ample justice to this part of the program. The contracting parties are all well known in this city, being public school teachers in which work they made most enviable records for themselves. Clyde M. Rice, one of the grooms, is a resident of this city, having acted in the capacity of principal of the north ward school for several years last past and is considered and held as one of our best citizens. Miss Warner, the bride, is avery attractive young lady and is held in high esteem in the community in which she resides and for several years past has taught school in that vicinity. Glen W. Warner, the other groom, is a resident of Adams county, having for the past several years made his home at Peterson, Ind., where he had been acting in the capacity of principal of the schools. He is popular among his associates and is held in high esteem by all who know him. The bride, Miss Alice Koos, is a resident of Union township, being a pretty and accomplished young lady, who, for years, has been a leader in society in her community, and like her husband, for several years has been engaged in teaching school. Mr. and Mrs. Rice will make their future home in this city, while Mr. and Mrs. Warner expect to go to Marion, Ind., where he will attend the normal school, Where they will make their future home they are as yet undecided. The Democrat extends congratulations. - o TELEPHONE MEN Are Meeting in the Windy City Today PROTEST AGAINST U. S. ORDER Which Forbids Postmasters to Install Telephones Unless in Direct Connection with Washington. Chicago, June 4.—Resolutions denouncing the United States government as unfair in its treatment of $350,000,000 invested capital have been prepared for introduction at the convention of the International Independent Telephone association, which convenes at the Auditorium hotel in Chicago today. Demand is to be made for nullification of an order forbidding, postmasters all over the country to install telephones in their offices unless the instruments have direct connection with Washington. The rule is declared by 1,000 delegates to the convention to be working injustice to 3,000,000 telephone subscribers, patrons of the 7,000 independent companies of the United States and Canada. The attack upon the government is to be led by Charles E. Sumner, of Portland, ( Ore., founder of telephone companies in twenty cities of Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana. Delegates from all the twenty-nine other states represented at the convention, are expected to join in discussion of the situation at the national capital. Next in interest to the executive order held to be aiding the “Bell monopoly,” the convention will be interested in consideration of government ownership of telephone lines. Fran(Continued on page 2.)

GAME WAS CALLED OFF. Frankfort Will Play Here Tomorrow Afternoon. The baseb all game scheduled between Frankfort and Decatur this afternoon was called off, owing to wet grounds, the park resembling a lake after the heavy rains that fell all morning. The tw r o teams will meet tomorrow and a battle royal is promised the fans as the teams are evenly matched. The grounds will be in good shape if the sun should take a notion to shine tomorrow morning and the park should be well filled as Frankfort is an old time favorite. NOT THIS YEAR Taft Will Await the Regular Political Order ASKING FOR A TEST CASE Whiskey Interests Want a Few Interpretations —President Not to Interfere in Illinois. Washington, June 4. —The friends of Secretary Taft will not ask that a state convention be held in Ohio this year to indorse the secretary for president. The situation was canvassed by the secretary and his lieutenants in Columbus, last Saturday, and the decision was that it would not be best to ask for a convention this year. The secretary, who was back at his desk in the war department, while refusing to talk politics, indicated that he is well satisfied with the situation in his state. Some of his supporters wanted to press for a state convention at once, but the argument against such a course was that some opposition to the indorsement of the secretary might appear, and thus discredit the work of the convention before the country at large. Furthermore, it was pointed out that the work of a convention held this summer would have to be done over at the regular state convention next year for the selection of delegates-at-large to the national convention. The final decision of the Taft people is to let things run along as they are until the regular course of political events in the state next year.

Washington, June 4.—Following the suggestion of the attorney-general that the whiskey interests which object to his interpretation of the food and drugs act make a test case of the matter, John W. Y T erkes, of the firm of Hamilton, Colbert & Yerkes, attorneys, will file with Attorney-General Bonaparte a request that he name an early date when Mr. Yerkes may call and confer with him concerning the best methods of presenting a test case and of obtaining a speedy determination of the question of labeling. Washington, June 3. —According to former senator William E. Mason, of Illinois, who was at the White House the president will kepp hands off Illinois politics. “As you know, I am a candidate for the senate to succeed Senator Hopkins,” said Mr. Mason. “I have been hearing that the president intended to interfere in behalf of Hopkins. I find such is not the case. He intends to keep hands off. He will not interfere in any way in the politics of our state.” o BLACK BEAR BECAME VICIOUS. Elmer Johnson’s Pet Had to Be Killed. The big black bear that Elmer Johnson brought home with him recently from Pittsburg, now Jays cold in death, the result of a thirty-two caliber rifle ball being fired through his head. The animal was a first considered harmless until a few days ago, when it became wild and threatened to do violence, and was tied up in the barn for safe keeping. Saturday night the animal broke loose and tried to kill several horses and a cow and before it could be killed had forced the hired hand to crawl up a tree to escape injury. The animal was buried on the Johnson farm. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Opliger, of Linn Grove, were at Decatur yesterday witnessing the election of their son Lawrence to the county superintendency for a term of four years.— Berne Witness.

Price Two Cents

WHAT IS WRONG? — Has the World Slipped on Its Axis? FEBRUARY WEATHER IN JUNE This is the Coldest Spring in TwentyFive Years—Perhaps in Several Times That. The weather bureau is trying to make believe that this is not the coldest spring that ever was. Back in 1882, we are told, the weather was colder than it is now, spring more backward and everybody more uncomfortable. That may be, but it is doubtful. We remember the spring of 1882 perfectly well, because of events that happened then, but our memory does not include recollection of excessive cold. And it is sure that if the spring w r as anything like as disagreeable as this spring is we should have remembered it. However, that does not matter. Whether this spring is the coldest that ever w’as or only the coldest in twenty-five years, it is certainly plenty cold. Here it is the first of June and a stranger would think it was some time in February, but for the few feeble leaves that float disconsolate on the shivering trees. We have had only three warm and pleasant days this year, and since the beginning of November, seven months ago, it has been winter all the time except for them. Think of it —the first of June and men are seen in overcoats on the streets. Nobody knows what is the matter, why the earth is so inhospitable, whether we shall have any summer at all. The head of the weather bureau in Washington surmises that there have been heavy snowfalls in Siberia and that the winds blowing on us from across the Pacific bring the icy feeling. Perhaps this is true, it only removes the difficulty one step further. Why should there have been such heavy snowstorms in Siberia? Has the earth slipped off its axis? Is there something wrong with the sun? Has our climate changed, as geology tells us it has changed before in the history of the world? The man who can explain the weather will do the public a service by throwing light on the subject.—Hartford City News. gaveT¥nner Prof, and Mrs. Opliger Entertain Trustees MISS CRAMER PLEASING HOSTESS At a Happy Dinner Party—the C. W. B. M. Program—Other Society News. By Pearl Burdg. A very delightful affair of yesterday was the twelve o'clock dinner served by Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence E. Opliger at their home on Third street, to all of the trustees and wives. There were no special decorations, but the dinner which was nicely served in four courses, was elegant. The guests were Mr. and Mrs. Ed Luttman, Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Bebout, Mr. and Mrs. Cline, Mr. and Mrs. Pease, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Augsburger, Mr. and Mrs. C. D. Lewton, Mr. and Mrs. Teeple, Mr. M. Augsburger, Mr. Raudenbush. Mr. Decker, Mr. Barkley, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Oplinger, of Linn Grove, Mrs. R. Baumgartner, Mrs. L. L. Baumgartner and daughter Bessie, Mr. Harlow Mann and Mr. Henry Hite. The meeting of the Christian Endeavor Society of the German Reformed church will be postponed until Tuesday evening, June 11th. L. C. Hessert, Vice-Pres. Another pleasant evening party of yesterday was when Miss Dessy Berry entertained a small company of friends in honor of her birthday anniversary. A popcorn contest was the main feature of the evening in which Miss Anna Bowser won a pretty prize, after which dainty refreshments were (Continued on page 3.)