Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 6, Number 99, Decatur, Adams County, 24 April 1908 — Page 1

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT.

Volume VI. Number 99

COURT HOUSE NEWS Dore B. Erwin as Commissioner Files Fifteen Thousand Dollar Bond CONCLUDE EVIDENCE Arguments in the Erie Stone Company Case Was Postponed Dore B. Erwin as commissioner in the partition suit of Rebecca Stauf. fer et al vs. John B. Duer et al. filed his bond in the sum of $15,000 which was approved by the Adams circuit court. ln» compliance with tlfts order of the court, the commsisioner will offer for sale at the east door of the court house in this city on Saturday, May 23, eighty acres of Monroe township land, the same being the north half of the southeast quarter of section fifteen. The decks are cleared for more life and business in the circuit court next week. Several cases are already set for trial, and many more awaiting an agreement for time for trial. The evidence in the case of Erie Stone Company vs. Calvin Miller was concluded this forenoon. It was necessary to postpone the arguments, owing to the fact that the case had already transgressed into that arranged for another case. It was perhaps the most stubbornly contested case that has been tried in the superior court of Allen county for a long time, but through it all Judge Heaton displayed his knowledge of the law and rights of the court, and in all deeply impressed the legal minds of the Adams county bar who were engaged in the case. It is not likely that a decision will be handed down for some time. Lawyer Tablet’, of Toledo, Ohio, was here today to make issues in the case of the National Supply Company vs. Cris Hofstetter. Clerk Haefling has received word from Supt. Smith, of the Eastern Indiana Hospital forthe 1 Insane, that he would have room quite soon and would admit Fred L. Watkins, who is now confined in the county jail awaiting admission to East Haven. (Continued on page 2.) RUSHING THE WORK Contractor Adamson is Pushing Work to Completion on Ward Buildings LAYING BRICK FAST Most of the West Wall and South End is Already Completed That Contractor Adamson expects to rush the work or construction of the Ward fence buildings to completion is evidenced by the fact that 135 feet of the west wall and south end of the main building is already finished and the same amount on the east wall will be completed this evening. The entire west side, however, is completed scaffold high and if nothing unforseen happens, the brick work of the Ward Fence buildings will be completed within four weeks at the most. No more anxious is Mr. Adamson to see the last brick laid than are the proprietors of the concern for hopes are entertained to have the machinery removed from Marion and installed by the latter part of May. The business of the institution continues to grow and the facilities at Marion are inadequate to turn out the amount of goods that is in demand. Everybody concerned are awaiting the time when the l\ ard Fence company is comfortably locat-, ed in their new buildings in our city. |

PRESENTS THE OLIVE BRANCH Senator Beveridge Wants to be Good to Congressman Overstreet. Washington, April 24.—Realizing, as his friends say, that he made a mistake from a political standpoint when he invaded Representative Overstreet’s preserves and took his last bit of patronage—the surveyorship of customs—for his political captain, L. G .(Baron) Rothchild. Senator Beveridge has long been seeking an opportunity to extend the olive branch of peace to the Indianapolis congressman. The opportunity has come at last and, the senator’s surrender is complete and graceful. He handed over his sword to Mr. Overstreet and the latter accepted it. The first intimation of the senator’s backdown came when the president sent to the senate the name of Robert H. Bryson to be postmaster of Indianapolis. The news of the appointment spread rapidly, and the first impression was that the senator had capitulated in his long patronage war with Mr. Overstreet. This was confirmed by the later details. SHAKESPEARE CLUB Celebrated Their Annual Closing Last Night by a Fine Program A LITERARY FEAST Was Enjoyed and the Birthday of Shakespeare Was Celebrated—Other Notes The annual closing the ladies Shakespeare meeting was royally celebrated at the home of Mrs. P. G. Hooper last night and a most appropriate program was rendered in commemoration of the occasion. An informal six o'clock dinner was artistically served by the hostess and the keynote of the twenty-sixth annual closing of this popular club was thus sounded. Following the elaborate dinner, a short literary program was rendered, after which interesting papers were read. Mrs. Holloway read a paper on “New Ways of Teaching Elocution;" Mrs. Blossom had for her subject “Club Roast,” and Mrs. J. C. Patterson “Literary, Culinary and Alla-podrica.” These excellent papers were enthusiastically received after which Mrs. Studabaker conducted an auction sale. The series of meetings held by this club always close on the twenty-third day ot April, this being the birthday of Shakespeare, the great writer, whose works they study and the meetings are resumed the first Wednesday of September. Beginning this year’s work, the ladies studied Shakespeare folr two months. The plays of Shakespeare were then taken up and modern music occupied the attention of the club members for some time. Canada was then studied historically and geographically and during the closing weeks current events were discussed. Next year’s work will consist of the study of two Shakespeare plays and a historical study of Mexico. The ladies of the Presbyterian church will hold their market at the gas office o?I Saturday from 10 a. m. till 3p. m. They will have for sale bread, Boston brown bread, ginger bread cinnamon rolls, baked beans with pork and tomato sauce, hoodies, white and dark cake, spice cake, hickory-nut cake, oatmeal wafers, cookies and doughnuts, frosted cream, lemon crackers, chocolate pie. cream pie, lemon pie, blackberry pie, and green grape pie, and fresh eggs. Any one desiring to give an order for any of the above named articles may leave, it with the chairman. The order of Knights of Pythias had a grand meeting at their hall last evening. R. C. Mills was given the third degree work by the third degree team in a most commendable way. There were two visitors'. Mr. Geo. E. Cramer, of Kokomo, and Mr. W. J. Connell, of New Manchester, who gave interesting talks when they were called upon. After the lodge closed the visitors and the newly i (Continued on page 4.)

ARE UP IN ARMS The French Township Insurance Company Have Two Secretaries ELECT A NEW ONE Edward Zimmerman as Assistant Refuses to Turn Over Books Just now the French Township policy holders are up in arms against Ed Zimmerman, a resident of Adams county, living near the Steele school house, and the claim is made that he is a usurper of the office of secretary. The whole trouble has come up since the resignation of Harry D. Grove, a few weeks ago, when he left for his new home in Texas. Mr. Grove was the regularly elected secretary and as soon as his resignation was handed in a meeting was called for April 18th, when Jonas Neuenschwander was chosen to succeed him. The secretary’s books were found in the possession of Ed Zimmerman, but he refused arid still refuses to turn them over to the new secretary, the company claiming that Grove made him assistant. According to the by-laws there is no provision for the appointment of any official and the position taken by Mr. Zimmerman is held illegal by the policy holders. The reason that Zimmerman gives out for holding the books is that the company owes Grove $175 for transcribing the names and amounts of the policies of the 1,100 policy holders into a new book, and that he will not surrender the outfit until the bill is paid. Those who have been looking after the affairs of the company for years claim that the charges are exorbitant and that the transcribing of names could be done in a week or less. Solicitors for the company now hold applications for insurance bitt refuse to send them to Zimmerman as he could not legally fill out and sign the policies, but he holds the books and Neuenschwander the recently chosen secretary has nothing with which to write a policy. A meeting will likely be called soon and steps taken to secure the company’s property from Zimmerman. The company is one of the best and most reliable mutual insurance companies in the state and pays for losses promptly.—Bluffton News. SAVED THE CHILD Miss Adda Barnett Developed Into Quite a Heroine ADAMS COUNTY GIRL She Had a Thrilling Experience With a Kidnapper Mtesi Adds. .well known here, had a thrilling experience Tuesday at Venice, Illionis, at which place she is and has been for four years, teaching in the public schools. Among her pupils w T as seven year old Pearl Evans, whose father and mother ate divorced, and both married again, the former living at Oklahoma City, Okla., and the latter living in Venice. The decree of divorce gave the daughter to the mother, but the arrangements never suited Mr. Evans and he undertook to defy the law. On the day in question he made his appearance unannounced in Miss Barnett’s school room and made a frantic effort to kidnap his daughter. Through the bravery of the teacher, who was knocked down several times the effort at kidnapping was frustrated. In the commotion Mr. Evans was glad to seek rescue in an awaiting carriage, but officers overtook him before he reached East St. Louis, his temporary destination. He is now in the Venice jail in default of a $2,000 bond, and is being held under the serious charge of kidnapping. With him is his second wife, who (Continued on page 4.)

Decatur, Indiana, Friday Evening April 24, 1908.

THEY TALK OF SECOND PLACE Chandler, of New York, and Conrad, of Montana, are Mentioned. New York, April 24. —The three days’ visit of William J. Bryan came to a close last night. His last function was the annual banquet of the Associated Press arid the American Newapsper Publishers’ association. Mr. Bryan was the principal guest and delivered a speech, which was cheered by 800 editors and publishers with their guests. Told that Lieutenant Governor Chandler of this state was being talked of as his running mate on the ticket, Mr. Brayn said that Chanler was one of several available men who were considered for the nomination for the vice-pres-idency. There was a great deal of talk about the Hoffman House that W. G. Conrad, the millionaire mine owner and banker of Montana, had a pretty good chance of landing the second place' on the Democratic ticket. Conrad has millions and is said to be willing to spend it. Southern Democrats here say that Conrad is the choice for the vice presidency and they think he will be nominated. Conrad has had several conferences with Bryan. THE TENTH ANNUAL Geneva High School Commencement on May 2 SEVEN GRADUATES The Bacalaureate Sermon to Be Delivered Next Sunday The program is out for the tenth annual commencement of the Geneva high school, and it bears the credentials of being the best ever given, by the progressive schools of that southern metropolis. The date of the commencement is Saturday, May 2, the same to be held in the handsome Methodist church of that place. The baccalaureate sermon will be delivered next Sunday by the Rev. Myers, pastor of the United Brethren church. He will discourse from the theme “The Universal Inheritance." There are seven graduates this year, they being Hazel Macklin, Pearl Totten, Julia Wegmiller. Charles Shepherd. Harry Gregg, William Egly and Blance Shepherd. The program -'for commencement follows: Class March Mrs. Grace Green Invocation Rev. C. King “The Belfry Tower” Chorus “The Modern Tendency to Specialize’’ Harry Gregg “Luck and Labor” ....Pearl Totten “The Needing of Choosing a Prosession” Charles Shepherd “The Odds and Ends of Life".... Blanche Shepherd “Good Bye”—Tosti.Mrs. O. M. Graham “The Universal Lot” Julia Wegmiller “Had I a Sword of Keener Steel”.. William Egly “At the Fork of the Road" Hazel Macklin “Amorosa” Chorus “The Weight of a Man"... .Prof. A. J. Aley, of the State University. Presentation of Diplomas Pres. Board of Education Benediction Rev. Myers ,— -o ILLINOIS INSTRUCTS FOR BRYAN They Are to Use All Honorable Means to Secure His Nomination. Springfield, 111.. April 24. —The Illinois Democracy adopted the unit rule and instructed its delegates to the national convention at Denver to vote for William J. Bryan “use all honorable means" to secure his nomination. After a hot fight in the resolutions committee, which was carried into the convention, the party adopted a platform plank declaring in favor of the “greatest possible personal liberty” to individuals, provided such liberty did not infringe upon the rights of other people. Instead of naming the usual four delegates and alternates at large to the national convention, it w-as decided to send eight, allowing each man one-half of a vote. The presidential electors at large were also chosen.

BREWERY SALOON The Attorney General Will Put it Out of Business TO ANNUL CHARTER Two-Thirds of the Saloons in Indiana Belong to the Breweries IN INDIANA. Total of saloons ...5,000 Brewery saloons /...3,750 Independent saloonsl,2so IN INDIANAPOLIS. Total of saloons 735 Brewery saloons 575 Independent saloons 160 These figures are estimates, big are approximately correct. Indianapolis, Ind., April 24. —The alliance between the brewery and the brewery saloons to be attacked by James Bingham, attorney general of Indiana, in a number of test cases which he has under contemplation. The details of the plan, however, have not yet been worked out, and Mr. Bingham Is yet to be supplied with information which he expects to use in drawing up the complaints. Mr. Bingham made the statement last night that he had not yet fully decided upon his course of action and could not say whether the proposed suits would be filed in Marion county, or elsewhere. Marion county, however, it is believed, would be the field of action. Governor Hanly, through the state bureau of statistics, has been gathering data on the number of saloons in the state that are owned by breweries; the number of licenses issued to brewery salons since July 1, 1907, and the number of saloons that have been put out of business in the various counties of the state. The governor is said to entertain the opinion that brewery saloon is entirely illegal and can be put out of business through action looking to the revocation of the brewery charter. It is not only a direct attack on the saloon itself that Attorney General Bingham is contemplating, but he is expected to go after the brewery with a test case, and. if possible, wipe out, under a sweeping decision of the courts, a host of saloons at one stroke. — o THE DATE IS SET Herman Miller to Be Tried on May 28 for Murder A SPECIAL VENIRE Judge Erwin, Formerly of This City, is Attorney for the Defense Herman Miller was formally arraigned in the circuit court yesterday afternoon on the charge of having murdered" Marshal Columbus Croy, at Woodburn, on June 7. of last year, and after he had entered a plea of not guilty through Erwin and Underwood, his attorneys, the case was set for trial on May 28. On account of the widespread publicity given the case the attorneys joined in a request for a special venire of 100 men from which to select the jury. It is estimated that ten days to two weeks will be necessary to secure a panel and submit the evidence and arguments. Miller is impatient and w-ants an early trial. He has been sending word to his attorneys every the confinement at, the jail is getting unbearable and tha’t he wants to submit his case and have it over with. He is confident of an acquittal. His attorneys will rely upon the establishment ofl an alibi as the strongest point in the defense although the developments that are brought about during the introduction of the testimony of the state will govern them to a great extent. The pris(Continued on page 4.)

AFTER TRUANT DELINQUENT, State Tax Board are Going to Collect Delinquencies. “If the young men of Jndiana. who have been dedging their taxes, know what is good for them, they will settle their delinquencies at once. If they do not settle them, they will find their Sunday clothes attached. The authorities are going to see that delinquent taxes are paid and in the crusade they are going to make on the delinquents they will play no favorites.’:’ The state board expects to know the name of every delinquent in every county after May 10. On that date the county treasurers are going to be required to certify to the state board the name of every delinquent and the amount he owes. Then the state will see what it can do toward collecting the amount. It will have no hestitancy about going after a delinquent. The state holds that the law gives it the right to collect delinquent taxes by attaching any kind of property the delinquent possesses and that is the plan upon which the campaign of collection will be conducted. A TRUST BUSTER Speaker Cannon Being Ridiculed by the Press FAIRBANKS BOOM Encouragement from the South—Dope About Denver Washington, April 23. —The special committee appointed by Joseph G. Cannon, speaker of the house, to investigate the print paper trust, is being made-the butt of so much ridicule that it may not find the heart to make the investigation. Representative Mann, chairman of the committee, said today, that he supposed the committee would get down to work in a few days. The charge of the Newspaper Publishers’ association, in session in New York, that the creation of the committee was a subterfuge, is amply borne out by the facts. It is common talk here that the print paper trust inspired the resolution which resulted in the appointment of the committee. The "whereases” of the resolution contain phrases almost identical with those which appear in statements given out by the representatives of the trust who have been here for ten days trying to head off the movement to pass a bill putting print paper and wood pulp on the free list. Washington. April 24.—Fairbanks, according to the opinion of L. W. C. Blalock, of Columbia. S. C., who arrived here today, will receive the indorsement of the Republican state convention of South Carolina, which is to meet next Tuesday. Mr. Blalock is in this city on a political errand, the nature of which he declines to divulge. “Fairbanks has gained much strength recently,” continued Mr. Blalock. “It strikes me he will be indorsed by the state convention. Foraker is popular in our state. I don’t think he will figure in the convention seriously. It is known he will not have any chance of being nominated. He has many friends, though, in the state. There are over one hundred colored delegates in that convention to about twenty whites. You may know the colored delegates are going to have almost everything their own way. Roosevelt is not as popular in our state as he seems to be elsewhere." Washington. April 24. —The developments from week to week indicate that by June 16. the date of the meeting of the Republican national convention, there may be enough uncertainty about what tbe Democratic party will do at Denver in July to make the Republicans exercise great care in nominating a ticket and in submitting a platform to the country. Until recently the Republicans have assumed that the Democrats would nominate William J. Bryan for president. Most of the influential men in the party still cling to this view, but a good many men are half inclined to believe the Nebraskan may be forced to give way for another.

Price Two Cents

TWENTY HELD UP A Chance to Get Macadam Roads in Adams County MORTGAGES EXEMPT Nearly All Country Schools Are Closed—No Berne Graduates this Year There are twenty odd macadam roads in Adams county that were blocked by the failure of the bonding houses to raise the wind for the bonds. Concessions have been made by these bonding concerns to handle this entire issue, but it can only be done at a small discount. If the people along the line of these various roads, together with the contractors, will make up this difference, they can get the roads. Under the law rhe bonds must sell at par, so the only way to overcome the difficulty is to make the difference good. Here is a chance for those who are energetic and want this road improvement. The recording of the mortgage exemptions in a public record especially for that purpose, is one of the principal things being done at the county auditor's office. The number of exemptions filed this year will perhaps reach two thousand, an increase over any year since the law has been in force. Each one is good for an exemption of S7OO from the appraised value of realty, providing there is a mortgage of that amount recorded against said real estate. County Superintendent Opliger is again located at his office in the court house, after having vacated the same for ten days in order that the grand jury could use it for their deliberations. All the township schools are closed, except one or two in Blue Creek, and they have not long to live. It was a successful year with them all. The Berne schools will have no graduates this year, owing to the fact that they changed their course of study, making the high school work four years instead of three. It was this change that gave them a commissioned high school, with all the attending rights that go with commissioned schools, mention of which has previously been made. NEARDEATH’SDOOR A. J. Beery, Residing on Tenth Street, Can But Live a Few Days IS NOW UNCONSCIOUS And While He May Live a Week His Death is Momentarily Expected A. J. Beery of Tenth street, one of the oldest pioneers ot this county, who has passed his eighty-seventh milestone, is lying at his home at the point of death. The aged man has been ailing for several years, but nothing serious was anticipated until a short time ago. when he was the victim of a paralytic stroke, which rendered his right arm and leg absolutely helpless. Since that time he has gradually grown weaker until his life is all but extinct. A few days ago the afflicted man became unconscious and his mind has been practically unbalanced since. He imagines that he is away from home at times, and repeatedly requested that he be taken to his own place of abode. The aged man is known by nearly every person in the county and he has innumerable friends who will regret to bear of his unfortunate condition. The attending physician states that while he may survive a week longer, his death may occur at any moment. Mrs. P. W. Smith, of Richmond, daughter of the afflicted man, is at his bedside as is his only son. Joseph D. Beery. Sr.