Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 5, Number 153, Decatur, Adams County, 24 June 1907 — Page 1

DECATUR DAI 1Y DEMOCRAT.

Volume V. Number 153

AN INSTANT DEATH Fast G. R. & I. Train Hit Jacob Miller at crossing south of town Well Known Farmer Killed and His Body Carried Several Blocks on the Engine Pilot. Jacob Miller, an aged and respected pioneer citizen of Monroe township, was hurled into eternity instantly at 5:15 Saturday evening when his rig was struck by the north bound passenger train due here at that time. The accident happened at the crossing just south of John Frisinger's residence and the unfortunate man was strutk with such force that his body lodged upon the pilot of the engine, was carried to the Krick & Tyndall factory, a distance of three or four blocks before the train could be stopped. Mr. Miller had been in the city during the afternoon doing some trading and started home about five o'clock. It is presumed that as he neared the fatal crossing he saw the train approaching, as at that point the track is clear for a mile, and thought he could cross ahead of the train. The horse managed to get across, but the buggy must have been square on the track, when the engine struck it. The horse was cut loose from the rig and trotted on down the road. The buggy was completely demolished and strewn along the track. Mr. Miller's body lodged on the pilot and remained there until the train could be stopped and his already lifeless remains carried tenderly into the baggage car and taken to the G. R. & I. depot. His legs were badly mangled and his skull crushed, the top of his head being torn oft and causing instanteous death. The train was a few minutes late at the time and was traveling at terrific speed. Mr. Miller's body was held at the depot several hours, awaiting the coroner’s inquest, and was cenveyed to his home Sunday. The deceased leaves a wife, three sons, Albert, William and Charles, and three daughters Miss Sadie Miller, Mrs. John Badders and Mrs. Herman Meyers. The coroner's verdict declared the death accidental and it is probable that no blame can be attached to any one. Relatives and friends of Mr. Miller were shocked when they heard the news and many who had talked to the man but a .short time before refused to believe it, but the identification was complete. He was seventy years old. The funeral services will be held at Berne at ten o'clock Tuesday morning.

FATAL OPERATION Mrs. A. Both Died Saturday Evening AT THE ST. JOSEPH HOSPITAL H e r Sad and Sudden Death Followed an Operation Performed Friday for Cancer and Gall Stones. Mrs. Emma Bertha Boch, wife of Abraham Boch, died Saturday evening at the St. Joseph hospital at Ft. Wayne at nine o'clock, the result of an operation performed Friday by Doctors McOscar and Coverdale. The announcement of her demise caused a severe shock among her many friends many of whom had not even known that she had been taken to Ft. Wayne for an operation and they are grief stricken over the sudden turn of affairs. Mrs. Boch had been ill for some time with liver complaint and other troubles and it was only after much persuasion that she consented to an operation. She was taken to Ft. Wayne last Thursday and Friday afternoon the operation was performed, which developed a cancerous growth of the liver and a large gall stone. Both were removed and the patient rallied nicely from the effects of the same, and it was at first thought that she might survive the same. However, Saturday afternoon she took a sudden turn for the worse and gradually grew weaker until death relieved her Saturday evening at nine o'clock. Mrs. Boch was thirty-six years of

age, being born in this county, where she was reared and received her early education on her father’s farm east of this city on what is known as the old Peterson farm. Seventeen years ago she was united in marriage to Abe Boch, and to this union was born seven children, five of whom survive, two having preceeded her into the great beyond. For. the past several years they had made their home on a farm east of the city, although Mr. Boch had been engaged in business in this city and it is from there that the funeral services will be conducted Tuesday morning at eight-thirty o’clock, Rev. A. B. Haist officiating, and interment will be made in the Decatur cemetery. She leaves a husband, five children, a father, Isaac Peterson, a sister. Mrs. J. M. Frislnger of this city and two brothers namely, Shafter Peterson, of this city and Washington Peterson, of Marion, Ind. The entire community mourns with the grief stricken relatives in this their hour of sad affliction as Mrs. Boch was held in high esteem by all who knew her. o A RAINY FOURTH According to Reverend Ira Hicks THE WEATHER FOR JULY Six Storm Periods—Terrific Storms About the Twenty-Fourth of the Month. Rev. Ira Hicks predicts that July Fourth will be rainy and stormy and that the month will contain a variety of weather calculated to suit all classes. He says: The first storm period, reactionary, will “center on the 2nd and 3rd, w'ith violent July clouds and thunder gusts generally from the 2nd to the 4th Cloudbursts need not surprise any one Watch your barometer — squint at rising clouds —be ready. A very warm wave will cross the country from the 6th to 11th, the barometer will fall to low readings, and blustering thunder storms will reach active to violent culminations on and touching the Bth to 10th. Look for only scattering rains with possible cloud bursts. The third storm period reactionary is central on Saturday. Sunday and Monday, the 13th, 14th and 15th. The seismic and volcanic disturbances will be most naturla lor a period of several days, centering on and about the 10th. the date of a solar eclipse. Low barometer, threatening conditions and probably heavy mid-sum-mer storms will culminate about the 13th, 14th and 15th. Existing causes may prolong storms and other disturbances on through the 16th and 17th. into the next storm period. The fourth storm period, regular, is central on the 2.th, covering the 18th to the 23rd. We fear that the rainfall at this and other central and late July sorn periods will be scattering and light. Very black and blustering storm clouds will almost certainly appear at the culmination of storm periods, and phenomenal “water spouts” may occur here and there. Within forty-eight hours of sunset on the 24th, many storms and marked seismic disturbances will be heard from in many parts of the earth, so that a maximum of such phenomena may be noted. The temperature will fall after these storms. The sixth storm period, regular, falls within a Mercury period. It is central on the 31st and extends from the 29th two days into August. oWe notice in an exchange that the Fowlerton postmaster has been arrested charged with choking his mother-in-law. Now' what do you think of that? It has come to a pretty pass when a man can be arrested for choking his mother-in-law. We are not upholding the Fowlerton postmaster, because he is a postmaster, but because he is a son-in-law. The laws are becoming entirely too stringent! An exchange says: “We should like to see the color of the hair of any mortal being who will reasonably and logically tell why a hotel or a boarding house debt is any more sacred than a doctor’s or printer's bill, and yet a man can be arrested and put in jail for jumping a hotel or boarding house bill, while he can jump the doctor’s or printing bill, tell them to go to the lower regions and that is a receipt in full.” Now ain’t that the truth?

Decatur, Indiana, Monday Evening, June 24, 1907.

HE HAS RETURNED “Bum Killer” Brown the ' the Bad Man SERVED FIVE YEARS IN PRISON Robbed the Amish Near Berne— Seems to be as Bad as Ever— Finds Assistance. Gatthard Brown, an outlaw who was five years ago sentenced to the Michigan City penitentiary for robbing some of the Amish northwest of Berne, is again in the settlement north of town, and from the reports we hear, is just as dangerous a character as ever. From what we have learned the “Bum Killer” as he was formerly known, came back to Adams county, after securing money which was sent to him by the Rev. Jcob Schwartz and others of the Schwartz's, who by the way are the same people that were responsible for his being sent to prison. It will be remembered that at the time he was sent to prison his capture was brought about after Brown had robbed several of the Amish families and had them living in constant fear of being killed. As a last resort they went to the home of Chris Beer and with tearful tones sought aid. Mr. Beer being a good neighbor did all in his power to relieve them from their predicament and it was largely due to his efforts that the cheriff of Adams county was able to capture his man. Brown at that time was heavily armed and would no doubt have defended himself in regular outlaw style, but Sheriff Dan Erwin was too cunning for him and took him by surprise. Brown was given a short trial and was sentenced to prison. He was recently paroled and writing a letter to the Schwartz tribe, he in smooth tones begged for money, which was readily forthcoming, and he at once came back to his old stamping grounds and is said to have been making threats of doing harm to Mr. Beer for what he had done. The latter feels that his Amish neighbors have treated him very shabbily and he says that from all appearances they are now great friends with Brown. Their actions can hardly be accounted for, unless it was done through fear of the desperado. At any rate in our estimation they have done a very foolish act. —Berne Uews. o Joe Murphy, who was to be tried today, in Squire Liddy’s court, on a charge of trespass has taken a change of venue and the case will be tried at Decatur on Tuesday, June 25th. — Berne News. o THE LOT AUCTION Burt House Site Knocked Down for $5,700 STRANGER MADE THE LAST BID Believed that no Sale was Made—D. B. Erwin bid $5,400 for the Three Lots. Quite a crowd assembled at the old Burt House site Saturday afternoon at three o’clock when Col. H. O. Boyer, of Paris, Illinois, as official auctioneer offered for sale to the highest bidder .the three twenty-two foot lots where the famous old hostelry stood for so many years. The lots were bid off separately at first, bringing $3,900, then the entire plat was offered and soon pushed up to $5,400, that amount being offered by D. B. Erwin for one of his clients. Col. Boyer then worked hard for almost an hour but the only bid secured was from a stranger, evidently there for that purpose to whom the entire property was finally “knocked off for $5,700. This probably means that no sale was made, though Mr. Link failed to announce what disposition he would make of the very valuable property. Mr. Link made a statement during the auction that he valued the lots at SB,OOO. The site is a very' desirable one for a business house, fiat or any kind of a public building and some one should utilize it at once.

MRS. WIETFELDT BURIED TODAY Last Rites for Allen County Lady Well Known Here. > Mrs. Minnie Wietfeldt, wife of Frederick Wietfeldt, of Madison township, died Friday morning at her home from the results of paralysis. Mrs. Wietfeldt was thirty-six years of 1 age. She is a sister of Mrs. Lawrence Koeneman of this city. Four brothers and three sisters survive. The brothers are Ferdinand Berning, of Renville, Minn.; Wm. Berning, of Hoagland; John Berning, of Decatur, and George Berning who resides with his parents in Madison township. The ’ sisters are Mrs. Lawrence Koeneman, of this city; Mrs. Henry Hodenbeck, J of Decatur; and Mrs. Wm. Gallmeyer, ; of Bingen. The funeral services will ' be held at 10 o’clock Monday morning ’ at the residence and at 10 o'clock l at the Fuelling church.—Ft. Wayne Journal-Gazette. > - SPORTING EVENT Big Athletic Show Here Wednesday Night 1 i CLEAN PROGRAM IS ARRANGED — Satisfaction Guaranteed or Money Refunded —Wrestling Match and Two i Boxing Contests. > The athletic shew to be given Wed- > nesday evening at the Bosse Opera - House promises to be the sporting - feature of the season and the opera I house will no doubt be packed to its ; seating capacity by the lovers of I clean sport. Max Wassen the welI ter weight champion wrestler of the : south has arranged a fine card for • that evening and any one who attends . and is not satisfied with the show ■ can secure their money at the door, i The eight round scientific boxing ■ contest between Chick Long and [ Frank Mason will be one of the feat- ! ures of the evening as both boys are . fast and will put up a contest that will be worth going miles to see. . The boys have a national reputation . and are considered among the fastest . in the business. This contest will be followed by a six round contest be- . tween Frank Mason, of Ft. Wayne. and 4 George Dale, of Indianapolis, and promises to be a hair raising event, j the boys are fast and will no doubt t put up a clean fast contest in the , manly art. The show will then close with a wrestling match between Sam Murbarger, of Ft. Wayne, and Max Wassen, of St. Louis, both of whom have national reputations and this feature :, i I - i ßiGeorge Dale, of Indianapolis. I .1 ■ !■— ■ .. II 1.l I ' ■ "■ — alone will no doubt be a warm affair. Murbarger is the welter weight champion of the United States, while Wassen is the champion of the south and as the boys are evenly matched the contest will be an exciting one. The match will be catch as catch can and will be two falls out of three. The contest is to be clean in every respect and ladies are especially invited to attend as there will be nothing done that will shock even the most fastidious. The curtain will raise promptly at eight-fifteen and the house should be packed by those desiring to see clean, wholesome sport. The ticket sale opened this morning at the usual I place.

REPORTS UNJUST Ohio Man Says Exposition is a Big One GOV. FRANCIS ATTENDS FAIR Pronounces it a Great Show—Buildings Are Complete—GovernPier Nearly Finished. Norfolk, Va., June 22.—Executive Commissioner Bolin, of the Ohio Commission to the Jamestown Exposition, has made an interesting report to the members of the commission regarding affairs at the exposition. Mr. Bolin has been on the grounds for the past two months in daily touch with everything going on. Mr. Bolin says: “The newspaper reports which are being published in the north and west seem to me to be very unjust, and I know in a great many instances the long bow has been drawn pretty freely. The outside work of the exposition building is now, I believe, complete in every detail that is required to make the proper showing. All buildings have been completed and the park about the plaza as well. “The greatest delay is on the government pier and this probably gives a more incomplete effect to the exposition than anything else because the company’s office, tool sheds and other temporary structures are still needed. Work on the pier has reached a stage now where every stroke shows. The pylons on the land end of each arm of the pier, are completed and with all the staff decorated make a very beautiful finish. The balustrade and lines strung along one arm of the pier and the towers are being erected on the sea end of the pier. The pier when completed will be the greatest feature of this or any other exposition, I believe, and should be fully accomplished in all its details by the first of July. “On the 30th of May the war path was formally opened, so that this is now a feature of the exposition. Many of the attractions of the War Path are recognized by those who have seen them and pretend to know to be of the very finest that have ever been shown at any exposition. Mr. Buchanan, the right hand man of Gov. ernor Francis, of the Louisiana Purchase exposition, at St Louis, was here the other day and he pronounced this in many respects the most interesting and well-planned exposition that has ever been shown to the people. He says that it is now further advanced than the one at Buffalo was during the same period after the opening date. “I hope that you will find yourselves many times in position to contradict the unjust criticisms of the newsSPLIT THE MONEY Decatur and Bluffton to Play July Fourth ONE GAME IN EACH CITY Big Crowd Will Witness the First Game of Series Here Wednesday— Will Use Two Umpires. Decatur and Bluffton will play a double header July 4th, one in the morning at one place and the afternoon game at the other. Which game will be played here cannot be announced at this time as it depends on the arrangements that can be made with the ’Glover Lpaf. The entire receipts will be divided equally. The management of the two teams have agreed to all the terms, and will cancel any other dates, thus assuring a big return financially. The gjimes this week will also be played on a fifty per cent basis. The double umpire system will be used, C. O. France and Charles Dailey officiating and it is believed the games will be pulled off without a hitch. No doubt the park will be crow-ded Wednesday when the first battle comes off here, for each team will try to take the first one. It is likely that another series will be arranged after the fourth, though this fact depends on the success of the four games already scheduled. Miss Mary and Amelia Niblick were at Ft. Wayne Sunday at the bedside of Mrs. Dan Niblick, who is seriously ill at the St. Joseph hospital.

papers. The organized Baptists of the north and south met here at the Jamestown exposition for the first time since the war. This is simply one instance of the great good that the exposition may do and will do toward re-establishing the new ties of fraternalism between the two sections if all parties will grasp the opportunity, but if the northern newspapers continue the tactics which they have adopted of criticising the exposition without proper or careful investigation, I fear that the southerners will take it as further evidence of the continued sectional breach between the Americans and the great good which the exposition might otherwise do will be thwarted and this we should all regret to see.” Mr. and Mrs. Saumuel Acker, of Geneva, who have been spending several days at Clear Lake, passed through here today enroute to their home at Geneva. Tlfey were joined here by their children Doris, Caroline and Sanford who have been visiting Mr. Aker’s father, Mi - Irwin Acker. COURTHOUSENEWS Decatur People Seem to be Satisfied WITH REAL ESTATE ASESSMENTS Only One Objection Filed up to Noon —Two Marriage Licenses—Comsioners Next Monday. The citizens of Decatur seem fairly well pleased with their real estate appraisement as but few appeared before the board of review today and this was there Jay for objections. William F. Richard, of Monroe, was summoned before the board but his cause was dismissed. Dallas Butler complained of his real estate assessment and same was continued. H. P. Bradford, of Geneva, was also before the board and his assessment of real estate in that town will be investigated later. The board is about half through with their forty days’ session. Marriage licenses were issued to Elmer Ault, aged twenty-one, and Marie Williams, aged seventeen, both of Decatur; also to Frank Woods, of Ft. Wayne and Emma Hey, of this county, the groom being forty-two years old and the bride twenty. Next Monday morning will be a busy one at the court house, as the county commissioners meet in their regular session and some important matters are to come up. A number of gravel road extensions are to be asked for and various other questions discussed. Q LABORATORY IS A DEATH TRAP Terrible Condition of Affairs Found in Hammond Schools. With two professors in the Hammond high school killed by typhoid fever and eight students stricken with the disease, the health authorities of that city began an investigation into charges that the chemical laboratory of the institution is a veritable death trap. Prof. Jason Elston, instructor of chemistry in the school, died Friday, following a short illness and the news precipitated a panic among the parents of children who attend the school. The death of Prof. Elston came as a climax to a long list of fatalities and strange illnesses, all of which, it is said, are directly traceable to the unsanitary condition of the school's laboratory. Two months ago Prof. James B. Irwin, who was Prof. Elston's predecessor, died. His death was similar to that of Prof. Elston. Both men died after a short but virulent attack of typhoid fever. Eight students who have been using the laboratory daily are now confined to their homes with typhoid, and it is declared that nearly every student in the school has a slight attack of malaria. Shortly after he began work in the school Prof. Elston complained of feeling ill. He declared that the laboratory was unhealthful, but the school authorities, it is said, refused to investigate. Dr. Elston was confined to his bed only one week before he died. It is said that the condition of the school has caused many parents to withdraw their children and the laboratory class is attended by only a small unit.

Price Two Cents

SUNDAY WEDDING The Ault-Williams Nuptials Celebrated THE MENU-ATES HELD SESSION Decatur Ladies Will be Entertained at Preble this Evening—Mrs. C. O. France Gave Six O’Clock Dinner. - An usually pretty wedding of yesterday at high noon occurred at the home of Mr. and Mrs. William Williams on Third street, when their daughter Marie became the bride of Elmore Ault, son of Mr. and James Ault. Squire James Knavel, of Root township officiated. Immediately after the ceremony a three-course dinner was served forty-three friends and relatives. The happy young couple will make their future home in Decatur. Miss Marie Berry was the hostess at the meeting of the Menu-Ates Saturday evening. At six o’clock a three course dinner was served by the club. During which Mrs. Chas. Locke and son Chas., Jr., were the honored guests. ( A large party of Decatur ladies will drive to the home of Mrs. Blanche Hoffman at Preble tomorrow evening in response to dainty invitations for an evening party. Mrs. Hoffman was formerly Miss Blanche Reynolds, of Decatur. A dinner which was pretty in its appointments was the one given by Mrs. C. O. France, on Saturday evening at six o’clock in compliment to Mrs. Belle France, of Chicago, and Mr. and Mrs. F. J. Christen and son Stanley. The dinner was nicely served in three courses. The afternoon club w’hich was to meet Tuesday afternoon with Mrs. Chas. Christen has been postponed until Thursday afternoon and will meet then with Mrs. James Haefling. At the grove of Wm. Grote, situated one-half mile north of Preble, was held the Ev. Luth. St. Paul’s congregation annual school picnic, yesterday. An excellent program was rendered by the school children. A large crowd from Decatur attende dthe festival. Sunday afternoon at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Parrish, who reside three quarters of a mile west of Honduras, occurred the marriage of their charming daughter, Gertrude to Mr. Otto Weileman? The marriage ceremony was performed by Rev. C. T. Payne, and was very impressive, after which the guests were invited to the dining room to a most bounteous supper. The happy couple were the recipients of many useful presents, Those present were Rev. C. T. Payne and family, Mr. Joe Pease and family, Mr. H. J. Weileman and family, Mr. Adam Liby and family, Mr. Joshua Parrish and family, Mr. Jesse Parrish and family, Mr. O. P. Mills and family, Mr. H. H. Bell and family, Mr. G. W. Everett and family, Mr. Charles Scheid and wife, Mrs. Rudolph Tshannen and family, Mrs. James Hower and daughters, Mr. Chas. Bowers, Mr. Grover Liby, Mr. Murrell Fulk, Mr. Jake Fulk, Mr. Gaddes Palmer, Mr. Chancey Zerkle, Mr. John Borne. Mr. Rudolph Borne, Miss Minnie Borne, Miss Grace Zerkle, Miss Lizzie Hilge. Mrs. Henry Voglewede, Misses Burt and Dude Voglewede, Mrs. James . Haefling and daughters Kathleen and Helen, held a family dinner at the Robison park, at Ft. Wayne, yesterday. The crowd left on the nine o'clock car and returned on the evening car. The boys’ class of the Presbyterian Sunday school belonging to Miss Kittie Christen will give an ice cream social at the home of Miss Christen s on Thursday evening These boys are the age of twelve and thirteen years and are working very hard in making preparations for this social. So each one ought to patronize this class and encourage the boys for they deserve it. Don’t forget the date, Thursday evening. Miss Elizabeth Patterson will entertain a small company of friends at a six o’clock dinner this evening. o The Richmond base ball team came in this morning on the 8 o'clock G. R. & I. train. They are a husky looking bunch and without doubt a fast.