Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 5, Number 310, Decatur, Adams County, 26 December 1907 — Page 1

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT.

Volume V. Number 310

CHRISTMAS DAY IN DECATUR Many Social Events and Dozens of Family Dinners

■ everyone happy I Not a Hungry Mouth in | All the City of Decatur. CHURCH SERVICES Various Delightful Doings as Reported—A Glad Yule Tide. By Perle Burdg. Christmas day. another happy era in the life of young and old in Decatur, has passed into history. It was a most delightful occasion, celebrated in th e usual form in practically every home in the city and county. There were the sacred church services, the family dinners and the usual Yuletide merriment. There were few hungry mouths in Decatur yesterday for those overlooked by Old Santa were well taken care of by the Elks sending out dinners for sixty-eight families, besides there were many other acts of charity. Os the many social events we have been able to report the following:

Mrs. Elma Oliver, of Van Wert. 0. and James Cavanaugh, of Sandusky, Ohio, were in our city this mo.umg to purchase a marriage license, and ln>nd"d to be mi here, rut »s the Ohio laws will not permit It. as Mrs. Oliver has not been a resident of the city, they left for Van Wert where they will be married by ‘he squire. Mr. and Mrs. Cavanaugh will make their future home at Sandusky, Ohio, where he holds a position in the hospital.

The Christmas entertainment of the Lutheran church was held last evening at the church. A main feature was a large Christmas tree, which reached from floor to ceiling. This held a Christmas gift lor every child of the congregation. The songs and' readings were given all in German, w’hich was interesting to the ones who could understand the language. Mr. and Mrs. A. N. Steele were the guests of Mr. and Mrs. S. J. Laman yesterday in response to invitations to kelp celebrate their fifteenth wedding anniversary. Misses Elenora Forblng and Edna Crawford were entertained at a six o’clock dinner given by Mr. and Mrs. H. Franke at their home at Fort Wayne last evening. It was a family gathering of the Franke, Wessel and Crawford families.

The Christmas collection for the orphans at St. Marys church was a very good one in spite of hard times. It amounted to $318.14. ' Mr. and Mrs. Charles True and son Brice were pleasantly entertained at a Christmas dinner given by Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Sawyer and family at their home at Bluffton, Ind. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Helm (delightfully entertained a few relatives at. a dinner given at 12 o'clock Christ, mas day. The guests were: Mr. and Mrs. Jack Slagel. of Marion. Ind.; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Thomas and daughter, Porchia, Jesse Helm. A family reunion was held Christmas day at the home of Mr. and Mrs. V. D. Bell, at Craigvllle, Ind. The guests from this city were: Mr. and Mrs. 0. P. Mills and family, Mr and Mrs. H. S. Steele and family. Mr. and Mrs. George Everett and family. Godfrey Bell and Charles Johnson, of Danville, Ill.; Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Bell from Craigvllle; Charley Bell and family, of Cralgville. A large family dinner at twelve o’clock was given by Mr. and Mrs. L. G. Ellingham yesterday, Christmas day, at their home on Winchester street, to a company from Winches-

j ter, Ind. Holly and flowers were arranged in a very pretty manner throughout the home, and at six o'clock a delicious luncheon was served to the s am e party by the hostess and host. The guests were: Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Thomas, Mr and Mrs. J. Klefeker, Dr. and Mrs. B. S. Hunt, Mr. ana Mrs. George Ward, Mrs. Sarah Miller, Judge A. O. Marsh, W. W. Knecht. The public installation of the Masonic and Eastern Star lodges will be held at the Masonic ha’l on Friday evening. All Masons and their families are invited to attend. Mr. and Mrs. T. J. Durkin entertained at a six o’clock Christmas dinner yesterday. The complimentary guests were: Mrs. Annie Egan, Mrs. Marie Coffee, Mrs. Bernard Coffee, of Fort Wayne; Mr. and Mrs. Dyonis Schmitt and family, Mr. and Mrs. Simeon Hain, Miss Ros e Egan. Mr. and Mrs. Dyonis Schmitt entertained at a six o’clock family Christmas dinner at their beautiful new home on Mercer avenue yesterday. Mrs. L. G. Ellingham is entertaining the Young Matron's club this afternoon. Mrs. Katherine Confer and children Margaret, Mayme. Rose and Franke, Mrs. Joe Smith and daughter were the guests at a family Christmas dinner given by Mrs. A. A. Arnold yesterday. Mrs. Arnold was formerly a Miss Center.

A joint entertainment was held by the Jacob and Prairie schools at the Mt. Hope church in Blue Creek township. It was a rousing success. The choir and music was conducted by Mr. W. H. Miller. The teacher of the Jacob school. The program was in charge of Mr. Wm. Noll, the teacher of the Prairie school. At the close of the exercises, a free will offering was taken and everybody seemed to give freely. Then the presents were distributed by the members of each school. At this time Mr. Miller was presented with an elegant rocking chair by his pupils and Mr. Noll was (Continued on page 2.)

WERE SIXTY-FIVE The Elks Delivered That Many Baskets on Christmas Eve. MUCH GOOD DONE Many Kind Words of Praise for the Charity of the Elks.

Sixty-five homes were made happy, bright and cheerful Christmas by the local order of Elks, the result of the distribution of their Christmas dinner and many who never before had cause to give thanks returned the same yesterday. The Elks’ delivery wagons started lat e Tuesday afternoon with their baskets of good cheer and the task of supplying those on the list was not completed unil early Christmas morning. The committee in charge did their duty in a proficient manner and reached every hom e that they had on their list and if any were slighted it was because their name had not been turned in by those requested so to do. The cause was one of the best moves ever made by a local order, and the Elks are to be congratulated upon their method of bringing relief to those who need it most. The Elks lodge is founded upon charity and every order in the country does all in its power to carry out the workings of the order to the letter and as a result much good is done, and many who are worthy and in need are thus bridged over until the atmosphere brightens up and they can see their way clearer.

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday Evening December 26, 1907

HE WAS ON A BIG Spree. Clifford Doth Spent Christmas Eve in Jail. Clifford Deth, of southeast of the city was given a Christmas present a little ahead of time Tuesday night when he was found on the streets in a drunken condition. He was arrested by a policeman and placed in the county jail, where he remained during the night. In the morning he was arnflgned before Mayor Coffee and plead guilty to the charge of public intoxication, whereupon he was assessed the usual fine and trimmings. Deth staid the docket and after wishing him a merry Christmas and a happy new year, he was discharged by the mayor.

USED PUBLIC FUNDS » Charles Lovelace, Former Newspaper Man of Indiana is in Trouble. IN CALIFORNIA Charged With Stealing a Large Sum—ls Postmaster at Ocean Park.

A dispatch from Ocean Park, Cal., tells of th e arrest of Charles Lovelace, postmaster at that place, who is accused of the embezzlement of between SIO,OOO and $12,000. He surrendered himself into the United States court and Christmas day and was released after furnishing $4,000 bond. Until four years ago when he went west, Lovelace was one of the best known editors in this section of the state. H e was owner and editor of the Huntington News-D|emocrat for several years, later started the Wabash Star which he sold out and established the Huntington Morning Journal, which was suspended after a few months, when Lovelace went west, accompanied by James Slack a wealthy and retired stock dealer of Huntington county. He was a brilliant writer and has hundreds of friends in Indiana who hope he will be able to clear himself of these ugly charges.

APPOINTMENTS BY HANLY. Governor Names Members of Boards of State Institutions. Indianapolis, Ind.. Dec. 24. —Governor Hanly today announced the following appointments on boards of state institutions: Northern Insane hospital—Henry A. Barnhart, Democrat. Rochester. Eastern Insane hospital—John W. Honan, Demoor'at, LaJGrange. Central Insane hospital—Eli Marvin, Democrat, Frankfort. Southern Insane hospital—Fred T. Bays, Democrat, Sullivan. Institution for the Deaf —W. P. Herron, Democrat, Crawfordsville. Institution for the Blind —A. C. Pilkenton, Republican, Greenfield. State Normal School —W. H. Armstrong, Republican, Indianapolis and Joshua Jump, Democrat, Terr e Haute. The following were re-appointed on Metropolitan police boards: W. T. Dobbins, Republican, Lafayette.

A. B. Beshore, Republican, Marion. F. N. Watt, Democrat, Richmond. J. J. Sheerin. Democrat, Logansport. J. V. Murphy, Democrat, Jeffersonville. Thomas Bogot, Democrat. Anderson. T. F. Gerhardt, Democrat, Kokomo. Mr. and Mrs. Gug Majors were attending the theater last evening. They returned home this morning to Monroe. Charles Merryman, of Jonesboro, Ark., who has been visiting with his parents for a few' days, expects to return to his work tomorrow morning. Mrs. Catherine Confer and family returned yesterday afternoon from Ft. Wayne, where they were guests of Mrs. Center’s daughter, Mrs. A. A. Arnold. Mr. and Mrs. Erman Mentzer, of Bluffton, returned to their home last night after spending Christmas with th e latter’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Peters. Rose Tonnelller and Mrs. Margaret Meibers will leave Saturday for Louisville, Ky.. where they will spend the winter. They are going on account of ! their health.

THE WEDDING VOW A Young Bluffton Banker and Craigville Teacher Tried to Fool Friends. STORY LEAKED OUT Arrived Here Tuesday— Were Married During Afternoon by Rev. Paine. Mr. F. C. Waugh, one of the most prominent young men of Bluffton and employee of the Wells county bank, and Miss Sadie Miller, a popular young school teacher of Craigville, arrived here Tuesday afternoon and soon afterward accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. 0. D. 'Weldy, drove to the home of Rev. C. T. Paine, of St. Paul church, south of the city, where they were married. They left for Bluffton Tuesday evening, where they were entertained over Christmas. The Bluff, ton Banner said of the affair: It had been the intention of the ccuple to keep the wedding a secret, at least until Christmas day, and to further their plans each went to Decatur by a different route; but the ab. senc e of Mr. Waugh from the Wells County bank, where he is employed, aroused the suspicions of his friends, and the truth became known. They will live in the property on east Central avenue recently purchased by the groom, moving there immediately after it is vacated by the present tenant. The bride is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Miller, of Craigville, and at present a teacher in one of the county schools. She will finish her term of teaching, however. Both the young people are highly respected among a large circle of friends, and they have th e heartiest wishes of all for a happy future.

THE HOUR SCHEDULE QUESTION W. H. Fledderjohann, president of the interurban is at Fort Wayne today attending a conference which it is expected will decide whether or not the one hour schedule will be put in operation on the road January Ist. It is quite likely this plan will be tested for a while at least and if found satisfactory will be continued. A SAD ACCIDENT Miss Katie Teeple, of Bucyrus, Ohio, and Well Known Here Was Drowned. ON CHRISTMAS DAY Was a Nephew of Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Gay of this City and Had Visited Here. James L. Gay received a message this morning from Bucyrus, Ohio, announcing that the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Z. T. Teeple of that city had accidentally met death by drowning Christmas day, while enroute to attend a skating party. The accident was due to the fact that the levee upon whcih the couple were driving gave way, hurling th e rig into the river, which was out of its banks owing to the recent heavy rains, and before assistance could arrive, both were drowned. The young lady s name was Katie Teeple and she had visited here with the Gay family upon several occasions and was quite well known among th e younger generation. The message did not give the full particulars, other than those stated above, and Mr. Gay was unable to state when the funeral would be held. This will depend upon when the body is found and as we go to press no additional word had been received. Mrs. Teeple is a sister of J. L. Gay and Mr. Teeple Is a brother of Mrs. J. A. L. Gay and have visited here frequently. Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Gay' left this afternoon for Bucyrus, where .they will remain until after the funeral services.

WERE HAPPILY WEDDED. Blue Creek Township Couple Make Their Vows. Yesterday noon at the home of the bride’s parents. Miss Eva Workinger and Leroy Ray, both of Blue Creek township, were happily wedded by Rev. Betz, of Rockford. The ceremony was impressively performed and this happy couple start on their matrimonial career under the most pleasant auspices. After the ceremony was performed, the bride and groom and the invited guests enjoyed a wedding breakfast which was elaborate indeed, and they were the recipients of many beautiful presents. They will reside in Blue Creek township, and their innumerable friends join in wishing for them all success th e future can hold. OSBORN PARDONED Governor Hanly Presents Christmas Gift to the Life Prisoners. HOME FOR CHRISTMAS Joe Was Convicted Christmas Eve Four Years Ago —Peculiar Coincident. Four years ago, at eleven o’clock on Christmas eve, Joe Orbom, then on trial for the murder of his father-in-law, John Busenbark, stood with bowed head and heavy heart in the Adams circuit court room and heard the verdict which pronounced him guilty of murder in the second degree and fixed his punishement at imprisonment for life. The scene was one of the saddest ever witnessed in that old justice hall, and will never be forgotten by the few who stood there. On Christmas eve this year in his prison cell at Michigan City, Joe received the glad news that Governor Hanly had confirmed the report of the pardon board and that he was free to join his relatives in Grant county for a Christmas dinner. It is indeed a peculiar co-incident that a Christmas eve should mark the saddest and happiest moments of Osborn’s life. There are few people who believe other than that Joe has suffered even mor e than he deserved for his unlucky fit of anger. His little fortune of a few thousand dollars was swept away by the costs of his trial and a forced sale, his home was broken up and his wife has remarried. He will start life anew and with always a heavy heart. His freedomn is due to the efforts of his brother and other relatives and friends who were asisted by Attorney Amsden, of Marion, and Smith and. Heller of this city. The petition presented to the board of pardons two weeks ago, contained the names of the judge, prosecuting attorney, jurors and thousands of the best citizens of Adams and Grant counties. The board of pardons in making its recommendation, said that the crime for which Osborn was convicted, that of killing John Busnbark, his father-in-law was committeed on the impulse of the moment and without apparent premeditation; that prior to the commission of the act, Osborn was peaceable, quiet, steady and temperate and honest. The board stated, also, that there was trac e of insanity in Osborn’s family, and that he was of weak Intel, lect. It was shown that at least two members of Osborn’s family had been afflicted mentally. At the same time Tuesday, Governor Hanly pardoned Samuel Hannan, aged 73, sent from Clay county in 1901, for murder in the second degree. He also pardoned William H. Walsiffer, convicted in Johnson county in 1906 of grand larceny. The paroles granted in both the cases of Osborn and Harmon have the usual conditions which surround such decrees. The paroles are granted on the condition that the men abstain from the use of intoxicating liquor and from frequenting places where in. toxicating liquor is kept for sale and that they be peaceable, honest and law-abiding citizens.

C. M. Hower and wife went to Craigvllle today to assist in celebrating the former’s mothers sixty-fourth birthday anniversary. Several people from Ohio attended and B. F. Hower of Craigville was present and aa/x---cellent time was enjoyed.

COURT MOUSE NEWS County Treasurer Lachot Takes Nearly Twenty-Four Thousand Dollars. SETTLE WITH STATE For Fall Taxes—Suit Filed to Obtain Possession of Child—Joke on Clerks. County treasurer John Lachot left his morning for Indianapolis, where he will settle with the state tomorrow for the fall installment of the taxes paid in 1907. He carried with him the very neat sum of $17,866.22, which with $6,000 previously forwarded, makes a total of state tax for the last half of $23,866.22. Mr. Lachot was accompanied to Indianapolis by his son, Dwight.

A new case filed on Christmas day was entitled Milton S. Hilpert vs. Leota B. Gottschalk, a suit to modify < an order of court. Plaintiff and defendant were formerly husband and wife, were granted a divorce several ■ years ago, when the wife was given custody of the only child. Now comes the father and asks the court to grant him the custody charging the defendant with treating the child in a cruel manner and with refusing to permit plaintiff to see the child as was ordered by the court. DeVoss and Sut. ton are attorneys for the plaintiff. Court convened Christmas morning but no business other than the filing of the above case was transacted. Deputy Clerks James P. Haefling and Dannie Roop were the victims of an unusual joke this morning, when Will Fraizier and Miss Pruda Danner, a popular young couple from Blue Creek township appeared at the office and asked for a marriage license. The officials smiled In that pleased and happy manner, stereotyped for such occasions and produced the necessary blanks, when the couple, after a few whispered words and a smile and a glance, announced they were only joking. Just what caused the sudden change of plans could not be ascertained. A marriage license was Issued to Jehu W. Gerber, aged thirty-four and Lydia S. Mailer, .aged twenty-two. Another license issued last this afternoon was to Lena Riesen, aged thirty, a dressmaker of Berne, and Sylvester A. Grove, aged twenty-nine, a laborer, of Pennville. 0 HOME FROM JEFFERSONVILLE. Floyd Leßrun has arrived home after serving a short sentence at the Jeffersonville reformatory and has accepted a position at the old Weber livery barn. He is a young man of ' good qualifications, is determined to < live an upright, honest life and his one error should not be held against him. He can and will prove his i right to the confidence of the people. ' 1

_£ ; ~| 1 j <■- ■ ■. ’■* ; ! W Wy I S HUnkr; JMT■/..■ vJKite.- , ,3(a. w-'-W a Joseph Oborn, convicted December 24, 1903, for the murder of his father-in-law, John Busenbark, of this county —pardoned by Governor Hanly Dec. 24, 1907. .

Price Two Cents

! ARBOR AND BIRD DAY ANNUAL- — Has Been Issued Under Direction of Prof. Cotton. The Arbor and Bird Day annual is issued by the state under the direction of F. A. Cotton, state superintendent of public instruction and has been printed and copies sent to County Superintendent L. E. Opliger for distribution. Besides the proclamation of the governor relating to Arbor and Bird Day, and communications from President Roosevelt and Superintendent Cotton the pamphlet contains many matters of valuable information. One of the communications printed and made part of the pamphlet is by W. H. Kellogg, a state authority on birds. He writes of companionship with birds and tells of many pleasures to be obtained by cultivating acquaintance with the feathered visitors. It is probably his last contribution to the annual. Regret for this fact is expressed by Superintendent Cotton. Some of the most interesting reproductions printed in the pamphlet are the work of children of the school for feeble-minded youth, at Fort Wayne.

JACOB HAY DIES Well Known Pioneer Died at Home of His Son in This City. ILL MANY MONTHS Was Seventy-Six Years Old —Funeral Services to be Held Saturday. Jacob Hay, aged seventy-six years, died this morning at seven o’clock at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Hay on Adams street, after an illness dating back several months, death result, ing from old age and other complications. Mr. Hay for years followed the trade of a blacksmith until his de. clining years and feeble condition forced him to cease work. During the past six or seven years he has made his home with his son, Maurice Hay, where he has been well cared for and given a comfortable home. He took bedfast several weeks ago and from that time he failed rapidly, death relieving him this morning. The funeral will be held Saturday afternoon at th e house. Rev. Hessert will o'fficiate, and interment will be made in the Decatur cemetery. — o The office of county surveyor L. L. Baumgartner, which has been located in the Allison block for a number of years, was moved across the street in the room which was occupied by the interurban people befor e taking their new quarters. The new location for the surveyor’s office is quite convenient and Mr. Baumgartner is elated over his change. o • — Charles Knapp witnessed the show at the Majestic theater last night and returned on the last car.