Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 6, Number 283, Decatur, Adams County, 27 November 1908 — Page 1

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT.

/olume VI. Number 283.

WAS GREAT EVENT Crowd of Decatur People Attended Dinner at Washington Church AN ALL DAY AFFAIR With Various Features, Including a Big Public Sale Thanksgiving day at Washington church was one that will be remembered for several generations with pleasure hv the many who were there. Dn this occasion the ladies served a big dinner and supper and they are delighted with their success, having Cieared a little over fifty-five dollars. | Jis advertised the people from this oity were given an opportunity to attend, and about a dozen took advantage of same. It was immense Is the only way we can express it. When we arrived we were met by a y of ladies who were loaded down with such articles as aprons, bags ; ot' clothes pins, handkerchiefs, etc., which they proceeded to pin upon us with dire threats it we dared to remove them before they were settled for. Os course we paid the demands, and we were not the only ones for even the Reverend Jones of Monroe, was forced to do likewise. At noon we were ushered to the basement where a dinner —a feast of all the delicacies of this season of the year was served and we eat and eat, then took another bite or two. After a pleasant afternoon a supper no less inviting than the dinner was served. ®Then the ladies proceeded to carry the remnants of foods and the linen irate on hands to the auditorium of . th*- church. There Emerson Beavers Kwae selected as auctioneer and so well gSid be perform his duttoa that it is his advertisement may soon ■Appear in the papers. It required an |jour and a half to dispose of the fcoods. but the time was happily spent ■every one joining in the spirit of the ■Affair. It was a great day and had the Joshua of old been there instead - ol the Joshua who was.he would have jjeommanded the sun to stand still that the day might be longer, but then ?i*e Decaturitcs wouldn’t have reached borne with a cent in our pockets. At * late hour Mr. C. B. Poling drove up to the door with a vehicle that reminded one of the boyhoods happy days down on the farm, and we climbed in and started for home. The only excitement on the way to town was caused when the writer announced the disappearance of a large portion es his stock of bananas, suspicion resting strongly upon Mesdames Shamp ..and Cress, who, however, deny the charge vigorously. The ladies of the church are very thankful to all who assisted them. o — SHIPS CATTLE TO LIVERPOOL D. E. Studabaker, of Bluffton, Sends Thirty-Six Head. D. E. Studabaker has the distinction of being the only man in the county who has shipped cattle direct to the Boston market for Liverpool, England. This morning he sold to I Armour, of Chicago, thirty-six head es cattle, and they were at once ship- | ped to Boston, by order of that c»m- --| pany, to be sent at once to Liverpool. | The Te.presentative of the Chicago | firm was a caller at the farm this g morning and personally superintended i the sending out of the steers. Mr. I Studabaker had the cattle on his farm near Van Buren. He purchased them at the Chicago shock show this summer, and at that time they weighed ■7BO pounds, and brought $4.40 per cwt, lHe has fattened them and today they weighed 1,230, selling at $6.00 per hundred pounds. He has now three car loads that he is fattening for the market. To be sent directly to the foreign market, cattle must be in a fine condition and well fattened. It is rarely this is done here, so the honor conferred upon Mr. Studabaker is complimentary to him, to say the least. — Bluffton Banner. - ■ oA Redkey school teacher has adopted a rule that when the girls miss a word in spelling one of the boys in the class can kiss her, provided he spells the word correctly. It ig said she has a room full of poor girl spellers, but the boys always come up with a one hundred grade.

MAGNATE’S WIDOW MAY WED Mrs. William B. Leeds Reported Engaged to Newport Society Man. New York, Nov. 26. —Mrs. William B. Leeds, widow of the tin plate millionaire, who died a few months ago in Paris, and who inherited the bulk of his >30,000,000 estate for life, is reported engaged to James Dewolf Cutting, the society and club man of Newport and their friends look for an early marriage. It i s said that on account of the recent death of Mr. Leeds, who lavished so much money on his beautiful wife and devoted his life to her, the wedding will be strictly private and will be announced to their friends by newspaer publication after the marriage ceremony has been performed. —o GUILTY OF ARSON Ray Lamphere Gets from Two to Twenty-One Years PRISONER SENTENCED The Jury Deliberated on a Verdict for Nearly Twenty-Four Hours Laporte. Ind., Nov. 26. —Ray Lamphere, charged with the murder of Mrs. Belle Gunness and her three children, by setting fire to the Gunness house April 28, was this evening found guilty of arson by the jury, which had the case since 5:30 o’clock Tuesday night. "Within five minutes after the verdict was reported Judge Richter had sentenced the defendant to the state penitentiary at Michigan City for an indeterminate term of from two ot twenty-one years. Lamphere will be taken to Michigan City tomorrow to begin his sentence. The verdict was reached within, an hour after the jurors had returned from supper. Word that an agreement had been arrived at was conveyed to Bailiff Matz, who telephoned to Judge Richter and the attorneys. The lights in the big court room were turned on and within fifteen minutes the room was packed. Lamphere was brought from the jail and at 7:20 o’clock the jury filed into the court room. Deputy Sheriff Anstiss sat directly back of Lamphere and three baliffs watched him carefully. When Judge Richter asked the jury if a verdict had been reached Foreman Henry' Mill announced the jury had agreed, and with that he passed the white piece of paper to Judge Richter, who, after making the entry on his. docket, read the verdict: “We, the jury, find the defendant guilty of arson, and that he is 38 years old. Henry Mill, Foreman.” There was no demonstration from the crowd, the people having been warned to keep quiet. Judge Richter thereupon asked each juror individually if this was his verdict and the answer in each case was “Yes.” Previous to the handing of the verdict to Judge Richter Foreman Mill said he wished to make a statement to the court, but Judge Richtier informed him that he could not hear any statement until after the verdict had been received and read. After it had been read Judge Richter asked him if he cared to makri the statement, but he said that it would do no good now.

STORMS IN TWO STATES. One Killed, Many People Injured and Property Destroyed. Springfield, Mo., Nov. 26.—A tornado swept through the farming section near Sparta, Christian county, twen-ty-five miles south of here yesterday, destroying fourteen houses and injuring eight persons. The wind attained a velocity of seventy miles an hour. Trees were uprooted, fences blown down and telephone and telegraph service paralyzed. The path of the tornado was lj>o rods wide and extended eight miles. The three-year-old son of Thomas Braden was blown against a red hpt stove when the Broden home was demolished and fatally burned The storm struck Reed Springs and wrecked a large number of buildings, including a hotel. Gertrude Vilesa, the twelve-year-old daughter of the proprietor, was killed by falling timbers. Reed Springs is about thirty miles from Sparta.

WAS PICTURE DAY Hundreds Attended Moving Picture Shows on Thanksgiving ALL WERE GOOD The New Song “Decatur” Hit at Grand—Special Chorus at Crystal Thanksgiving day was a big one for the picture show men who enjoyed perhaps the largest run of business in their history. Each had a special attraction that proved a winner, and as there was no other special entertainment, the theaters were attended by splendid crowds. At the Star, Mr. Stoneburner had appropriate and attractive reels and his place was we 1 filled all day. At the Crystal, the crowds were also large, especially in the evening, when it was almost impossible to handle the people, one drawing card that proved a hit was a splendid chorus by eight young ladies under the spotted lights. Besides this the songs and reels were very interesting. The Grand was also a busy place and from noon until late at night, a seat there was a* a premium. Here also the films were most, appropriate, but the big feature and one that proved the most popular ever offered in Decatur, was the new song “Decatur” composed by Mr. True Fristoe and sang by Miss Verona Niblick. It was accompanied by views of popular places in this city and was a catchy and enlivening song that brought a cheer from every loyal Decaturite. The song will be repeated this evening to accommodate the many who were unable to get into the Grand last evening. It is estimated that the three theaters played to 3,000 people yesterday and that’s some nickels. ———-o— - - MUCH INTEREST Is Manifest at the Convention of Christian Endeavor Societies of District IS BEING HELD HERE

Unusually Good Talks Are Being Made —Closes With Tonight’s Session The coevention of the Christian Endeavor societies of the Fort Wayne district was auspiciously opened at the Presbyterian church last evening and the initial session proved more than interesting. A song and praise service was introductory to the service proper which began by a masterly address on “The Christian Endeavor Training for Service” by Rev. H. H. Elwinger, of Andrews, Ind. This was followed by a discourse on the subject “Why Use the Bible” by Rev. H. T. Sell, D.D. A song and announcements closed the meeting. About sixty delegates from over the district are here for the convention, whieh closes this evening. Today 's program was of unusual interest, as will tonight’s be which will be rendered as follows: FRIDAY EVENING. 7:30. Song Service. Devotional. Address —Persia: It's People; Customs: The Opportunities Miss Lilly Beaber, Missionary at Tabriz, Persia. The Five-Fold Cunpaign —The Opportunities and Purposes in Indiana. Miss Florence Lanham, Indianapolis Consecration Service. Rev. T. B. Terhune, Huntington, Ind. General Theme —“The Individual Member” His Tools and Work: “Our Daily Bible;” “Speak Out;” “Your Best;” “The Master’s Call.” "Christian Endeavor Mistakes”.... ...Miss Anna Biddle “The Soul Winner's Pledge”... .Miss Florence Lanham, State Secy., Indianapolis, Ind. An offering will be made tonight for the purpose of creating a fund to defray incidental expenses.

Decatur, Indiana, Friday Evening, November 27, 1908.

PLAY INTENSELY INTERESTING i Every One Should See the Play—- “ East Lynne.” The remarkable prosperity and won- 1 derful langevity attained by “East Lynne” can be explained only by the fact that the story the play unfolds is intensely human. Although numberless dramas have been written in imitation of this excellent play, not one of them reaches the depths of feeling or sounds the note of human appeal as truly as does this dramatic picture of the joys and sorrows of ] the beautiful, unfortunate Lady Isabel. To adequately portray the varying emotions of this complex character is a task requiring not only the charm of youthful b.eauty, but marked degree of histronic ability as well. The engagement at the Bosse opera house is for Wednesday. Dec. 2. 1 ] HE WANTS REVISION: 1 I Congressman Overstreet Wants the Tariff Revised TO MOVE HIM The Press is Sending W. J. Bryan to the Lone Star State , Washington, Nov. 27.—Representa- . tive Jesse Overstreet, who arrived yes--1 terday afternoon, said he regretted 1 the wholesale criticism heaped upon congress on the assumption it does I not intend to give the country an ; honest revision of the tariff. “While ' I am not informed as to what differ- ' ences, if any, there may be between • Mr. Taft and Speaker Cannoa,” said he, "I am satisfied there will be a good faith revision ot the tariff, and I think it is manifestly unfair to crit- • icise any of the leaders of congress at this preliminary stage. While it is true nearly all of those who have come before the ways and means committee are in favor of retaining ex- ’ isting schedules, the committee has committed no wrong for which it should be judged summarily by giving them a hearing. Personally I would consider the committe very remiss in duty if it did not gather in- , formation from ail available sources, ' and It is perfectly proper to give those whose industries will be affected an opportunity to be heard. I shall ! not be a member of congress at the special session and I will have no part in the revision of the tariff, but if I were a member I would work earnestly for a good-faith revision in conformity with the platform pledges of the Chicago convention. ■ Washington, Nev. 27.—That W. J. ; Bryan is preparing to establish a : home in Texas with a view to rep- • resenting the Lone Star state in the ■ United States senate is asserted by ■ politicians who profess to have an ■ inkling of the Nebraskan’s intentions. • The press dispatches carried a brief notice the other day that Mr. Bryan i has purchased a suburban farm of . twenty acres at Corpus Christi, Tex., , and is arranging to erect a home * i there. This announcement has start- i • ed a lively guessing contest among Democratic congressmen, maay of i whom believe Mr. Bryan’s next move < in the direction of breaking into pub- < lie life will be to seek a senatorial 1 toga via the Lone Star route. Ne- ] braska offers no hope for Mr. Bryan’s i political advancement, and it is con- i ceded that if he ever enters the sen- i ate he will have to establish his cit- t izenship in some state that is both i Democratic and Bryanesque in its po- 1 litical predilections, and Texas is both, f The legislature of Nebraska elected i this year is Democratic, but unfor- j tunately for Mr. Bryan, there is no i senatorial vacancy from that state. Those in touch with Nebraska politics say the legislature two years t hence, which will be called upon to i elect a senator, undoubtedly will be Republican. o t Miss Minta Acker has accepted the 1 position of bookkeeper at Sam. S. I Acker’s store. Mr. Acker is the kind i of fellow that when the business de- t mands it enlarges his capabilities to t handle the tra„e accordingly. He is t always on the alert for more business," e and his efforts are meeting with ex- t traordinary success. —Geneva Herald, t

INCREASE STOCK Bluffton, Berne & Celina Company Will Have $50,000 WILL MEET FRIDAY Stock Was Over Subscribed and Meeting Was Postponed A meeting was held at Berne last night for the purpose of taking up the proposition of organizing a company for the construction of a traction line between. Bluffton and CePna, Ohio, under the name of the Bluffton, Berne & Celina Traction company, but the preliminaries were riot fully prepared and the organization, was postponed until a meeting later in the week, which probably will be called for Friday evening. It; was determined, among other things at the meeting last night, that the new company will be capitalized at $50,000 instead of at $30,000 as at first proposed. It was found, upon an inventory being made, that there has been subscribed already stock to the amount of about $30,000 which does not include stock which many of the farmers have offered to take for right-of-way and for labor. The $30,000 subscribed means stock at a par value of that amount which promoters of the line are willing to take. This shows tht there are many anxious to have the line. The list of subscribers includes many farmers and landowners along the proposed route between this city and Berne and also good sized subscriptions have been made by Bluffton and Berne citizens. At the next meeting it is expected to accomplish the organization with the officers and directors ready for incorporation with the secretary of state. —Bluffton News. THEDAYOBSERVED Thanksgiving Commemorated by Religious Services in the City A UNION SERVICE At M. E. Church and Services at German Reformed and St. Marys Church A large audience gathered at the M. E. church yesterday morning, where a union Thanksgiving service ensued. Rev. Richard Spetnagle eloquently told of the meaning of Thanksgiving and his address was received with pleasure. His talk, powerful and to the point was inspiring to his every auditor. The choir rendered three beautiful anthems during the course of the service and thus religious worship preceded the other festivities of the memorable holiday. Special Thanksgiving services were conducted at the German Reformed church yesterday morning and a very interesting sermon was delivered by Rev. L. C. Hessert. Basing his remarks upon the words “The Song of the Heart” found in Psalm 47:7-8 the minister portrayed the fact that thankfulness is expressed in cheerfulness. He laid special stress upon the fact that singing is the sign of perfection and peace at heart. A large audience heard the dicourse and. enjoyed every sentence uttered. Good music was furnished. Thanksgiving services were held at the St. Marys church yesterday, which i were very inspiring. • | Sunday, December 6, the Elks will : observe their annual memorial day, by an extensive programi, which has been arranged and will be carried out in the Bosse opera house on the as- : ternoon of that date. It is the cus- j tom of the B. P. O. E. order to observe the first Sunday in December for this i event and every chapter in the en- i tire United States will occupy the ] time as do the local members. |,

ALLEGED ROBBERS FINED. Sent to Jail While Police Investigate Bank Robbery. Logansport, Ind., Nov. 26. —Edward Morgan and Fred Kinney, train riders arrested Tuesday on suspicion of having blown the safe of the bank at Clarkshill, near Lafayette, were arraigned in police court Wednesday afternoon on charges of carrying concealed weapons and train riding and were sent to the county jail. Both offered to pay their fines, but this was refused. "While they are in jail the Logansport and Lafayette authorities will endeavor to connect them with the Clarkshill rebbery and ascertain whether or not they are wanted at other places about the country. o SOME GOOD ADVICE State Superintendent of Public Instruction Issues Bulletin TALKS WISELY It Would Be Well for Him to Practice What He Preaches Indianapolis, Nov. 27. —Fassett A. Cotton, state superintendent of public instruction in his November bulletin to the teachers of the state issued yesterday, discusses the organization and operation of Indiana’s school system. In treating of the strength and weakness of the system ' Mr. Cotton says that the schools ot Indiana are sill suffering from the blight of partisan politics. He says that the constant progress of the schools of a county depends upon the “energy, intelligence and sanity of the county superintendent.” Mr. Cotton says further that the schools of Indiana appear to suffer most from politics as encountered in the township, cities and towns. Mr. Cotton asserts that the hope of education in Indiana lies in a divorce from politics. As the system’s greatest strength Mr. Cotton points to its unity of purpose. He also commends it fo r encouraging ability in teachers, for leaving individualism unhampered and the right of initiative unquestioned. In so far as it merely seeks to place its teachers in the treadmill of mere mechanical routine. Mr. Cotton says, the system is to be condemned. The dual nature of the werk of the embers of the state board of- education, Mr. Cotton believes, is another weakness. In part Mr. Cotton says: “Perhaps the greatest weakness of our system is inconi petency in school officials and teachers. With one exception* practically no legal requirements are prescribed for school officials. With incompetent officials, incompetent teachers are more or less common. Probably this defect may be accounted fo r by the fact that the school offices are political. Education in the state still feels the blight of partisan politics. But Indiana is not an exception, as this condition exists in every state in the Union. With the exception of the state board of education, and town and city superintendents, practically all the school offices are political. And sometimes politics decides who shall be city and town superintendent and even extends to the choice of teachers. Party politics should be absolutely eliminated from all school affairs. The qualifications of the state superintendent should be the qualities and scholarship by the best educators the world over, and neither place of residence nor politics should be a bar to choice. Furthermore, the salary should be sufficiently large to secure the best man. Os course, any change in the way of choosing a state superintendent would necessitate a constitutional amendment." The state superintendent also enumerates a number of things which he believes should be regarded as qualifluaUo&S for county superintendents. o— Preparations are well under way for the big doings in Wodcraft which . is scheduled for December 21 at Ftort Wayne. At this time the biggest Modern Woodmen meeting ever held in : northern Indiana will be occasioned. It is expected that a large class of i candidates from here will be adopted, i

Price Two Cents

COURT HOUSE NEWS Judge Macy Will Hear the Telephone Damage Law Suit THE AMISH CASE Has Been Postponed— the Scott vs. Graham Case Set for Trial Citizens’ Telephone Co. vs. Fort Wayne & Springfield Ry. Co., plaintiff having struck off name of Judge LaFollette and defendant having struck off name of Judge Sturgis, the court appointed Hon. John W. Macy, of Winchester as special judge to hear the cause. David E. Scott vs. L A. Graham, cause set for trial for Monday, December 28th. Charles D. Krick vs. Julia A. Elliott et al, partition, final vouchers filed and commission discharged. Arguments were heard on motion for a new trial in the case of Daniel B. Ford vs. Smith Shoemaker and William Anderson. A bench warrant was issued in grand jury number four, ordered returnable forthwith The name of defendant was not placed on the docket.

Ex-Judge D. D. Heller, of Decatur, one of the counsel in the George E. Faille vs. Joseph A. Swartz et al suit in which the plaintiff seeks damages in the sum of $5,000 for the alleged alienation of his wife’s affections, was in the city Wednesday to argue the issues in the case but , on account of the inability of Attorney A. P. Beatty to attend, the post- , ponement of the case was made necessary. The case was sent to this court on change of venue from the • Adams circuit court. All parties to [ the suit are residents of near Berne. . —Portland Sun. i A marriage license was issued Wednesday evening to Lawrence Johnson, 21, of Van Wert county, Ohio, to May Woridnger, 24, of this county. Real estate transfers —Albert Smith ■ to Peter J. Eicher. 63 acres in Wabash township. $3,500; Daniel Brewster to Edwin Kocher, 40 acres in Monroe township. $2,600; John F. Snow et, al to Albert Smith, 20 acres in Wabash township, quiet title deed. $1; Wm. Mersman to H. L. Conter, lot 852 Decatur. $250. —o■ - — MAY HAVE PIE TO SLICE UP Proposed Bill Would Give Adair Some Appointments. If Congressman Crumpacker’s bill goes through Congressman Adair may have a nice slice of pie to cut. Crumpacker, who is a republican, wants the appointments for the coming census to be made by the democratic congressmen elected over the country. In the counties of the eighth district there will be over a hundred and fifty census takers to appoint, besides a district supervisor, a position held by A. L. Sharpe at the last census taking. Besides there will be six clerical positions at Washington, one for each county. The clerical places at Washington will pay an average of one hundred dollars a month and transfer to the permanent civil service is possible at the end of the one to three years period of service in connection with the census of 1910. The bureau will be reorganized for the census of 1910 about July Ist of next year. The local enumerators are paid on a per capita basis. The compensation is unusually good, as the allowance is liberal. o The public may as well prepare for real winter now, as we are not prom ised any more Intervening warm weather. In fact such drastic an sudden changes are very unwelcome, in that sickness usually follows. I would be much better if we cou en Joy a steady cold than rising and falling temperature. We canno to be pessimistic, however, even in regard to prevailing wea er tions ,and it is P° Ucj 0 done in Germany, take the weather as it comes.