Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 6, Number 59, Decatur, Adams County, 9 March 1908 — Page 1

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT.

■Voluuie VI. Number 59

[GREEN VS. COFFEE ■The Case on Trial in the I Jay Circuit Court ■have a jury ■The First Witness Began I His Testimony this Afternoon ■ The Green vs. Coffee case was called ■his morning in the Jay circuit court, ■nd the work of empanelling a jury ■tegan without delay. At eleven ■'clock this usually Idng and tedious of any suit in court was cuii■luded. Both the prosecution and deHense placed their O. K. upon the ■welve men, and in accordance with ■lie law and practice, they were duly ■worn? The jury Is composed of J. R. ■illiman, Samuel Scholer. Harvey ■'ehrley, Charles H. Smith, Wilson A. ■laugh. Thomas Upp. George Harry, K. C. Kinsey, Levi Dull. J. W. Cun■ingham. James Wilkens and Edwin ■urk They are all farmers but two. Hlr. Cunningham being a business ■an and Burk a brick mason. ■ The opening address was made by ■ttorn-y L. C. DeVoss, who stated that ■ey expected to prove that Mayor ■offee was Intoxicated upon numer■us occasions and completely covered Ke complaint in detail as to every ■large contained therein. The first ■itness was called immediately after St t convened this afternoon, and at ■lis hour the case is pretty well ad■anced. S. A. D. Whippie is assisting ■e prosecution, and R. H. Hartford Ke defense. ■ o ■ FTER C. FRANCIS KNOWLTON ■fficers Looking for Well Known Newspaper Man. ■C. Francis Knowlton, the oily■ngued, light-fingered and all around ■nfidence man, is badly wanted by ■e Wolfe Lake. Noble county, onion ■owers, says the Protland Sun. ■C, Francis is well known in this ■Minty where he formerly published ■ newspaper at Pennville and later ■came a railroad and traction line ■omcter. ■ After soaring high in railroad and ■action line promoting circles the ir■pressible C. Francis settled down ■ Wolf Lake, Noble county, where *■ began the publication of a news■per which he termed the "Trolley.'' ■ Francis was always good dressed ■d looked' prosperous. To the deni Bns of Wolfe Lake he imparted the ■formation that he was the chief moBil in a wealthy company whose bustBss it was to build a traction line Boni Fort ■ Wayne to South Bend. Brough Wolfe Lake, an inland town B a rich country. Knowlton looked Bod to the natives and they fairly Brried him around on a chip. ■There was a big, onion display and Bow at Wolfe Lake last fall and ■nowlton was commissioned by ■“y of the onion raisers to sell Beir product. Many of them pooled B°ir interests and it is alleged that B Francis, then, acting as agent, sold ■" onions and after pocketins: the Boney, disappeared, and the farmers B® holding the sack for their money. ■ The experience at Wolfe Lake is to Knowlton’s celebrated corn B 1 glass palace exhibit at Dunkirk years ago. He still owes the band for playing at the Dunshow. ■" o I will move this week. ■ d S e Erwin Will Soon be Located H in Fort Wayne. ■ Richard K. Erwin is cempletV* Arrangements to remove his fam- !■ to Fort Wayne, having secured o f jjj s residence property. c h he recently purchased i” that The real act of moving is scbedf°r Thursday of this week, when the first time in his eventful life IKY 1 b ecome a resident of a county F l ' Oail Adams - Fils law business Wayne has been more than satJ ‘ J Future success as a w the bar in the Summit City Ured - He will continue in close UK'' Decatur and Adams connML,. , expect to greet him fre■i yBB a visitor here.

j many people VISIT SCHOOLS. And They F|n d Them in Exce||ent Condition. A large number of our citizens paid a visit to the various public schools last week and they are all loud in their praise about the condition thereof. Our instructors are of the best and a deep interest is manifest among the pupils, teachers and parents. During this summer many improvements will be made in the schools, among which will be a new cement floor in th e west ward and new sanitary closets at the same place. Decatur can well boast of having modern education mediums and this is something to be proud of. In speaking of our achievements in an educational way we must attribute the success of our public schools largely to the ceaseless work of the school board. This week is also set apart to visit the schools and no doubt a large number of people will again take advantage of a special invitation to do so. TO BOMBARD THEM President Getting a Few Hot Shot in Readiness RELATIONS STRAINED The Congressional Bosses Not in Line With President Washington, March 8. —There are indications that a war is brewing between the president and the leaders of congress. Politicians who know something of th e strained relations existing between the white house and the congressional bosses predict a row before the present session ends that will add considerable to the gayety of nations. The president does not like the program of inactivity that has been signed and sealed and is about to be delivered by the leaders of the lawmaking branch. The slogan “Pass the appropriation bills and adjourn, quickly as possible.” does not appeal to him. He is getting ready a supply of ammunition with which to bombard congress and it is predicted in wellinformed quarters that by the time the bonfbardment is over the program of the congressional managers will be shot full of holes as a sieve. The president has learned that the appropriation bills are being hurried along through congress so that the decks can be cleared for adjournment within a few weeks. The Aldrich bill, which is the only piece of legislation aside from the supply measures that is favored by the congressional bosses, also is to be pushed with all possible speed. With it and the appropriation bills out of the way the leaders would feel free at any time to pull the string that would adjourn congress. THE JEFFERSON CLUB BANQUET The Event Will Occur on Thursday Evening of this Week. The committe on arrangements for the Jefferson club banquet held a meeting yesterday afternoon and practically completed the details of the affair, which will be held next Thursday instead of Wednesday evening, as erroneously stated yesterday. All those who were invited to speak have accepted and promised to be present. Letters from all parts of the district have been received, which guarantee a large attendance from every county, and the members of the committee say the banquet will eclipse any held by the Jefferson club in the ten years of its history.Owing to the large.number of speakers it has been decided to begin the banquet at 6 ocl ° ck ' , speaking will begin at 7:30 o clockand fls expected to have it over with by U'o'clock in order that those from . other places can catch the latet cars for home. Mr. Warrum, the principal : Xu.—” 11 "'':' , S. «.e . teen minutes each, and the otne Wayne Journal-Gazette.

Decatur, Indiana, Monday Evening March, 9 1908.

AFRAID OF A SLATE Six Lay Delegates to be Chosen at the North Indiana Conference THEY MEET SOON The City of Anderson is Making Preparations of Entertainment Anderson, Ind., March 8. —The members of the various local committees having in charge preparations for entertaining the North Indiana confer ence of the Methodist Episcopal church arc- deeply engrossed in plans for the event. A conservative estimate of the guests to be cared for during the first week in April is 800. There are 216 churches and pastoral charges in the conference, which is divided into six districts. Each charge is entitled to one ministerial and one lay delegate, who with the officers of the various auxiliary organizations, will raise the attendance to at least 800. The North Indiana conference Is entitled to six ministerial and six lay delegates to the general conference of rhe Methodist Episcopal church of America, which meets in Baltimore next May. The selection of delegates to this meeting will be one of the most interesting and important events of tine conference. Among the candidates who are said to be actively interested in securing the appointments are Union B. Hunt, of Winchester. Edgar E. Hendee, of this city, C. M. Kimbrough, of Muncie, Mrs. Daniel Waugh, of Tipton, T. J. Eberhart, of Wishawaka and G. C. Cartwright, of Fortville. Owing to the possibility of a slate being formed and rushed through the laymen's conference a resolution will be introduced recommending that the number of names on each ballot be limited to one candidate. The regular sessions of the conference will be held in the First M. E. church of this city, of which the Rev. C. C. Cissell has been pastor for the last five years. The selection of his successor will be of particular interest, since he has announced that he will not be returned for another year. • o A SILVER WEDDING Mr. and Mrs. Frank W. Dibble Plan a Delightful Event ON ST. PATRICK'S DAY Unique Invitations Issued on Green Ribbon and Wrtten in Poetry Mr. and Mrs. Frank W. Dibble were married twenty-five years ago on St. Patrick's day and their approaching silver anniversary will be duly and properly observed by a celebration in which thirty-five or forty guests will assist. The invitations which were issued today are on St. Patrick’s green ribbon, embossed in silver and read thus: Wedding Anniversary. March seventeenth is Saint Patrick’s day, But ’tis also a day of renown. For the reason that twenty-five years ago We were wed and for life settled down. So at prompt six o’clock on the day above mentioned To the country we invite you to come And help us to celebrate this great event, By eating and frolic and fun. Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Dibble. March 17, 1883. March 17, 1908. The Dibble home is noted for its hospitality and as having been the ■ scene of many good' times, but this happy event is to be the most delightful ever. ___ —o — D. D. Coffee went to Portland this morning where he will engage in a law suit with Edward Green, in which Green has filed sensational charges, i

J SHORTAGE AFFAIR IS CLEARED. Deficit of $125 Elucidated by Bluffton Captain. ; Bluffton, Ind.. March 6—The affairs of Company G., second regiment of this city, recently mustered out of the state national guard, will soon be satisfactorily adjusted. When the company was mustered out the department of the adjutant general at Indianapolis, found an alleged shortage of $172 in the equipment returned. Although acting Captain I Locke had been in Texas several months and the company here had been in other hands, he was held responsible for the equipment under his bond. When he returned recently he immediately took up the matter which has been straightened out. It was found that some articles had been overcharged to the company and others lost or destroyed in ways that Captain Locke was not responsible. Affidavits have beeu made out as, to all of this stuff and a showing made to the adjutant general, and there will probably be a very small actual shortage charged if any at all. o_. COURT HOUSE NEWS The Day Was Quiet Here —No Case for Trial Until Thursday ROUTINE AFFAIRS Sheriff Eli Myers Has a Birthday—Judge Merryman to Go to Winchester Judge Merryman will go to Winchester tomorrow morning *to assume jurisdiction in an important case in which he has been appointed special judge. Sheriff Eli Meyers celebrated his birthday Sunday, but refused to state just which milestone it was and the court ruled that the witness did not have to incriminate himself. Ludlow L. Shellne vs. Frank M. Trim et al, suit on note S7OO, appearance for defendants by Peterson & Moran, ruled to answer. Albert A. Butler et al vs. Noah Mango-id et al. Mechanics’ lien, demand $75, appearance by Hooper & Lenhart, for the defendants. John Amspaugh vs. Noah Mangold et al, note S4OO, appearance by Hooper & Lenhart for the d< fendant, suggestion of death of W. D. Rinehart, one of the defendants. Carrie Shoemaker vs. George E. Shoemaker, divorce, for an allowance filed by plaintiff. Old Adams County Bank vs. H. S. Porter lien $125. leave granted plaintiff to amend the complaint. George H. Kelley vs. Otis O. Juday et al, quiet title, cause dismissed at costs of plaintiff, for want of prosecution. . The case of Grant L. Owens vs. Peter Helmrick’. suit on warranty, appealed from justice court, will be tried before the jury Thursday. A suit for divorce was filed at the clerk's office the contesting parties being Carrie Shoemaker as plaintiff, and George Shoemaker as defendant, beth prominent people of Hartford township. The complaint shows that they were married April 27, 1904, and separated April 23. 1907. The complaint alleges cruel and Inhuman treatment, neglect and abuse. A divorce, and $5,000 alimony is prayed for. Snyder & Smith, of Portland, are the plaintiff's attorneys. Charles LeMay, convicted of assault and battery in the Adams circuit court, will serve his sentence in the Adams county jail at the expense of Wells county instad of tjhe Wells county jail, as stated In Saturday's issue. Mr. LeMay must remain under the jurisdiction of the court in w’hich he is tried hence he will not be retuned to our sister county. oMr. C. A. Miller, of Delphos, Ohio, spent Sunday with his uncle, W. J. Craig.

WRITES TO HURTY I I Mrs. D. W. Myers Gives the I State Board of Health Some Information WANTS CHICKEN TAX Says They Are a Nuisance When Kept Within the Corporate Limits Mrs D. W. Myers of this city has registered a complaint with the state board of health, according to the Indianapolis Star,of Sunday,which said: To eat fried chicken in Decatur, . Ind., is but to invite sickness and possibly death according to the housewives of that city. So the women have appealed to the state board of health. They want the state board to ' see to it that there is a general clean- | ing in the hen coops and chicken houses in Decatur. Dr. J. N. Hurty, secretary of the board, has received a letter from Mrs. D. W. Myers, of Decatur, advocating a law providing that chickens be taxed when kept within the corporate limits of a city. “Those who do not keep chickens," says Mrs. Myers in her letter, and she claims to speak for several housewives of Decatur, "are always imposed upon. There is nothing that will raise contention so soon as .for a neighbor to complain to another neighbor that her chickens have scratched her flower beds. It surely is hard, when your city officials order you to tear up your macadam streets, which have just been paid for, to put in brick paving, and to tear up your brick walks to put in cement ones, and you go ahead and comply, then you have to contend with so filthy a thing as a bunch of your neghbors chickens, your children being exposed to the germs of disease which they carry from their filthy quarters in the neighbors’ hen house.’’ Mrs. Sarah Burdg, of Geneva, returned homo the latter part of this week.after visiting since Tuesday with her son, Nathan Burdg and family of west High street.—Portland Commer-cial-Review. CARRIED TO JAIL Marshal Bohnke Towed Jesse Anderson to Jail on His Back HE WAS INTOXICATED And Disorderly—John Jones Was Also Jailed on Charge of Drunkeness Marshal Bohnke was called about one o'clock last night by Mrs. Jesse Anderson, who notified him that her divorced husband Jesse, who boards with her was in a drunken condition and was making a disturbance in the stairway leading to her apartments, Mr. Bohnke who had retired for- the night, hastily donned his wearing apparel and went to the scene, where he found Anderson trying to ascend the stairway. The drunken man had only succeeded in getting a portion of the way up, however, when the officer arrived. After being instructed by the woman to incarcerate the drunken man Bohnke asked him to get up and go with him. Anderson’s intuitions were all right but he had such a load on that he could scarcely move and the officer using his body as a lily, packed the man to jail on his back. He was given a hearing before Squire James H- Stone this morning and after pleading guilty to the charge of public intoxication, was fined the usual dose of one dollar and costs, which he was unable to pay and went back to jail. John Jones, whose true name is unknown, who, last Friday night hurled a beer bottle through a window at the Brokaw- saloon in an effort to strike Joe Ostermeyer. was arrested Saturday night by Marshal Bohnke and■ (Continued »n pace 1.) 1

f WAS GOOD AS HIS WORD. Messenger to Governor Sends Music to Decatur Men. : While attending a meeting of the superintendents and members of schcM boards of the state at Indianapolis last November, Professor Beachler and F V. Mills paid a visit to . Gevornor Hanly’s office to see the ex- ‘ ecutive officer of the state. They were, however, informed by John W. Males, a messenger to the governor, ! that Mr. Hanly was not in. In the conversation to the messenger they ascertained that he was composing a piece of music. The messenger asked for the Decatur gentlemen's narpes and informed them that he would send them a copy of the music when completed. In fulfillment of his promise he did so, the same arriving here ■ yesterday morning. It is a song entitled “Indiana" with beautiful music and words. Messrs. Mills and Beachler expect to secure five copies from the comi>oser and the high school ■ quartette will sing same at the time the next lecture is given by the ’ schools. , Q CHILD LABOR LAW Senator Beveridge’s Pet Measure May Pass at this Session RUINED COMPETITION Serious Charge Against the Paper Trust—Lenten Season Washington, March 9. —Ten thousand children are killed, and 250,000 made degenerates every year by the mills and factories of this country, according to Senator Beveridge, of Indiana. This harvest will be reaped every year, he asserts unless congress passes an adequate law which will prohibit the product of factories employing children from passing the borders of the state. Senator Beveridge had a talk with the president, and when he left the executive office he declared that congress would pass the child labor law in spite of all arguments advanced by its opponents. “Those opposed to the bill,’’ said the senator, “are pleading for time on the ground that various states will, if given an opportunity, pass their own laws on the subject, J have yet to see any state law that does away with the evils, and until the United States government takes a firm stand'on tlie subject, the thousands of little victims will be claimed annually.” Washington, March 9. —Charges that the paper trust has stifled competition and has added $60,000,000 a year to the burdens of publishers, together with light on the methods of the trust, are contained in a letter written by Herman Ridder, president of the American Newspaper Publishers’ Association, in reply to Attorney-Gen-eral Bonaparte's request for evidence of an unlawful combination in the paper trade. Mr. Ridder says that seven groups of paper-makers have held a meeting in New York within the last fortnight. These groups, he says, include pulp-makers, makers of boards, tissue, book papers, news print paper, writing, manila and wrapping paper. Washington, March 9. —The curtain has been rung down on all official and formal social affairs in Washington, and the coast is clear now for the entertainment of friends and personal acquaintances without regard to precedence or official position This will attract the small card parties, luncheons, informal dinners and large charity entertainments. The last named are usually reserved for the Lenten season, when the social leaders can devote some time to the arranging of attractive affairs with which to enrich the coffers of hospitals and homes. o The sensational melodrama “A Diamond Robbery,” will be staged at the Bosse opera house tonight by the Jacob’s stock company. Among the principal characters of this famous play will be Dent Spencer. George Massonnee and several other Decatur people, who have made decided hits in the theatrical world. A packed ■ house is expected and all who attend I are promised a rare treat

Price Two Cents

TO ESCAPE COST ? Great Battle Keeps Up in the Fast Ditch CaseDecision Given > - WILL BE APPEALED ■ Petitioners Make Effort to Avoid Paying $7,000 Costs I Judffe O. N. Hpatnn in the superior > court today ruled that under the acts of the last legislature the commissioners of Allen county have no jurisdiction in the Fast ditch case and unless there is a successful appeal to , one of the state courts the petition- . ers will be held liable for the cost that have accrued in seven or eight years of litigation and that now amount to between $6,000 and $7,000. The judge communicated his find ing today to Attorney D. H. Brooks, of Wabash, who represents tre petitioners and who had announced that ; in event of an adverse decision he would take an appeal. A bond for the costs in the action will probably be required and there is a question whether he will make the fight or not. Judge Heaton said that he felt that there would be an appeal from any decision he might make in the matter and that he thought the matter had as well go to the state court now as at any time. He cites in the letter to Mr. Brooks sections 21 and 17 of the last legislative acts and questions whether when they are considered together he can save the action. On this point the judge says: “The language of them is: ‘All drainage laws are hereby repealed provided pending proceedings shall be continued under this act. And provided further that the county commissioners shall have no jurisdiction over any work or drainage where any part thereof or lands to be affected thereby are situated in another county,' language in section 17 is clear and positive and in the absence of express declaration to the contrary, I conclude that 1 must apply it to this pending proceeding and in consequence the board of commissioners had no jurisdiction of this cause at any time after the drainage law enacted in 1907 became effective, therefore by appeal from the acts of that board to superior court obtains no jurisdiction of this cause and the motion to dismiss is sustained.” The Fast or Little River ditch case has been a long legal battle and was instituted in an effort to construct a big drain to take care of the lands between Fort Wayne and Wabash. There was big opposition from the start. Allen. Wells and Huntington counties were included and after one joint conference of the boards of commissioners the men from Wells county decided they had nothing to do with the matter and declined to come to the second meeting. Efforts were made to force them Into the proceedings and failed and the suit has been up time and time again on different issues until the last attempt was made to bring the whole matter within the jurisdiction of the local board. The members decided they had no jurisdiction and Judge Heaton sustained them. The fight now is not so much to establish the ditch as ft is to rid the petitioners of the burden of costs. This has kept the litigation alive and the appeal, if one is taken, will be to accomplish this end. —Fort Wayne Sentinel. The case was in court before Judge Erwin here for a year or two. HAS PROSPERED IN THE WEST. Louis Dolch Returns for a Visit in Adams County Louis Dolch. a former Decatur boy, who for several years has been located in various parts of California, arrived Saturday for a several weeks' visit with relatives and friends. For a year past he has been located at Selby, California, lu the contracting business, and has prospered. He built twelve houses for one firm and says he made more money during the last year than he made in all his previous life added together. He will return to the west shortly.