Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 6, Number 309, Decatur, Adams County, 29 December 1908 — Page 1

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT.

Volume VI. Number 309.

[county will pay ■ Amount of Tax Levy for School Purposes in a Few Weeks ■THE BOARD MET ■ Borrowed Money to the Amount of $2,700 Will Be Paid First I At the meeting of the school board ■ a few nights ago, business of initial .■lmportance to the taxpayers was transWacted and the report of Secretary F. ■V. Mills reveals the financial condi■tion of our educational institutions. ■The teachers’ salaries, aggregating ■$ 1.669.09 and janitors’ salaries ■amounting to $l7O, -were allowed and ■orders drawn for same after which ■the following bills were allowed: Peter ■Gnffer, painting blackboard at centra! ■school, $7.50; W. M. Burkhead. dray■age, $.25; Enterprize Foundry and ■ Fence company of Indianapolis, fire ■escape for West Ward, $200; Moses ■and Myers, framing picture, $2; HoltDrug Co., miscellaneous, $18; ■Mann & Christen, repairing at North j ■Ward, s2l. The treasurer was ordered ■to borrow from the Old Adams Coun- ! Hty bank. $560 until January 20 at six cent interest for the special fund. | ■The money appropriated by a levy on | ■the taxable property for school purI ■poses will be paid to the board by the I ■county before January 20, 1909. and | ■this money will be used to defray the I ■expenses of the remainder of the I term. However, the first thing I Bio be done after receiving the levy I ■will be the payment of borrowed monI Key from the local banks which amounts I Bto $2,700. The next money from the I ■ecunty will be paid* to the board in | ■August, 1909. In consideration of the improvements made during the year in the various schools, the are in an excellent financial I Bicndition and the members of the (.■ward are deserving of much credit I the able manner in which they are their duties. The public will re-convene next Monday | a vacation of ten days. ■WARMINWABASH

Local Option Election Cam- ' I • 1 i paign Causes a Big I A t i Stir i i n ■'ARADES PUT ON ■V. C. T. U. Takes a Hand I and School Children I Busy I I Wabash, Ind., Dec. 28. —The election [Bo be held in this county under the I local option law is the all abtopic of conversation at this I Mime. Before the special session of I legislature was called this county I have gone “dry'' by a safe maNow It is conceded doubtful I both sides. In every church in I county yesterday addresses I delivered by officers of the In|^Bi an a Anti-Saloon league and by min- * of Wabash county against sail Tomorrow the county votes on IB 1 proposition of “wet” or “dry.” Yes- | ,r <lay at North Manchester all the 18100 l children, with few exceptions, S aic bed through all the business secII of the city and to every polling They carried flags and ban--8 Mrs with the motto, “Vote 'Yes’ for ffi B E -' They also wore badges with B same words upon them. The pargMe w as arranged by the temperance K M® c es of that town. Tuesday the W. U ■ T- U. promises effective work ■ B’Whout the day. The campaign B boon a hard-fought one, and both ■' M es expect a big vote. H ■ o K Jessie Laugh returned to her B Btte hi Decatur this morning after a few days in the city, the °f friends and Telatives.—BluffBanner.

HIS FIRST VISIT HOME. Gecrge Coppersmith Comes from Leavenworth, Kansas. Mrs. John Ritter was the victim of a most pleasant surprise this morning when her brother George Coppersmith, of Leavenworth, Kansas, walked in upon her unawares. It was the first meeting of the brother and sister for thirty-two years, so it is needless to say that joy was unconfined around around the Ritter home for a time this morning. A family reunion is now being planned, the same to take place at the home of another brother, James Coppersmith, of Rockford, Ohio, on New Year’s day. George Coppersmith lived near Rockford and left here over thirty years ago, and this is his first visit home. He will stay three weeks, and it is safe to say that the time will be pleasantly spent.

ANOTHER JUDGE Appointed in the Terrell Case—Judge Leffler of Muncie IS NUMBER FIVE Judge Erwin Declined to Serve Further in the Case Bluffton. Ind., Dec. 28. —Judge C. E. Sturgis, of the Wells circuit court has appointed Judge Joseph G. Leffler, of the Delaware circuit court, to assume jurisdiction as special judge in the celebrated John W. Terrell murder case. In naming the new judge in the case Judge Sturgis did not name any time for a new trial In the case and all future action in the case is left entirely to Judge Leffler. The case cannot come to trial here now however, before the February term of court at the earliest, and it Is a question whether a new trial will even then be the course pursued, as one special judge in the past, Judge R. K Erwin, refused to call the case for trial because he held that Terrell was undoubtedly insane and that a trial under the circumstances was unnecessary. At that time, however, Terrell was in the Easthaven asylum at Richmond, while at present he is in the Wells county jail, having been returned here several weeks ago. Judge Leffler makes the fifth judge who has had a part in the Terrell case. It first came before Judge Vaughn, who in turn appointed Judge John H. Smith, of Portland, who presided at the first trial, which resulted in conviction and a life sentence but met with reversal ■in the supreme court. When the case (came back again for re-trial Judge Smith was no longer judge of the Jay circuit court and Judge R. K. Erwin, of Decatur, was appointed. An effort was made to get the case to L trial before him, but after he visited Terrell at Richmond he gave it as ’ his opinion that Terrell was undoubtedly insane and he refused to take up i the case for a new trial. When Tert rell was finally released from East- , haven asylum and sent back here Judge Erwin had retired from the ' bench as judge of Adams circuit 1 court, and he declined to act further i in she Terrell case, and this led to 3 the appointment of Judge Leffler. Judge Sturgis was disqualified to sit as trial judge because he was an attorney for Terrell in the first trial of the case.

U. B. CHURCH SPECIAL SERVICES Preaching each evening this week. Children’s service each day at 3:0 p m. Each member of the church is expected to be present at the services. This is your opportunity to help do something for the bettering of the moral condition in the city. Can we count on you? All the services in charge of the pastor. Everybody, cordially invited. Members of the other churches of th e city w come and feel perfectly at borne and help all they can. __ County Clerk James P. Haefling has figured it out that all the people the world could be crowded into Adams county, If necessary. Is he correct?

MUSICAL TONIGHT Thirty-Seven Will Receive Diplomas From the Academy A GOOD PROGRAM An Hour and a Half of Delightful and Interesting Entertainment The Bosse opera house will no doubt be crowded this evening at 8:30 o'clock when occurs the second annual musicale to be given by the Sisters of St. Agnes. At this time thir-ty-seven pupils will receive diplomas and the entertainment to be rendered will be a very interesting one. Three quartettes will be interestingly given by Miss Clara Terveer, Mrs. J. Q. Neptune, Dr. J. Q. Neptune and Messrs. H. J.* Yager and L. A. Holthouse. The program as it will be rendered follows: 1. Christmas Bells March Piano Solo 2. Evening Chimes Duet .?. Military March Trio 4. Friendship, Love and Song.... Vocal Quartette u. Congenial Hearts Duet f. The Dying Poet Duet 7. Shooting Stars Trio 8. Silver Trumpets Quartette 9. Charge of The Hussars Duet and Trio 10. Jolly Brothers Duet 11 Come and Join the Merry Dance Vocal Quartette 12. Ventre Terre Speed Galop Quartette 13. Race for Life Galop Duet 14. Midnight Fire Alarm Vocal Quartette DIPLOMA PARTS. 4th and 3d Grades. 1. Morning Prayer, by J. Wiegand Piano Solo 3d and 2nd Grades. 2. Music on the Water ..Piano Solo 2nd Grade. ?. Little Postillion Plano Solo 4. Light Cavalry March... .Quartette Distribution of Diplomas by Rev. Father Wilken.

HAVECALLEDITOFF County Local Option Election in Jay County I Postponed A HARD TASK Sentiment Not Enthusiastic There at This Time A county option election may never be called in Jay county. This is especially true if the coming session of the state legislature should repeal the law enacted at Governor Hanly’s special session held last September. This decision was reached at a joint meeting of the Ministerial association of Portland and the temperance workers of the city held Sunday afternon to discuss the furtherance of the plans formulated at a meeting held last week when it was unanimously decided to prepare and circulate petitions at once in order that the 1,400 names might be secured in time to file the petition at the January session of the board of commissioners. These petitions were drawn and were ready for circulation on Thursday of last week. The time was decidedly short and failing to find persons anxious to circulate the petition and the still harder task of securing signers was responsible for the meeting Sunday and the final postponement of the filing of the petition until the February session of commissioners' court. — Portland Sun. . -o — Mrs. Ellen Dailey went to Decatur this morning, where she will visit relai fives and friends for a few days. Her ’son, Gerald, is also visiting in DeI catur. —Bluffton Banner.

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday Evening, December 29, 1908.

ALFRED ELZEY HAD EXPERIENCE Fellow Traveler Fell Dead on the Train Near Trinidad. Alfred Elzey, a well known farmer from south of this city, who is visiting his daughter at Trinidad, Col., writes us that he had an unusual experience while enroute to that place last week. A man named E. M. Rytber, of Salt Lake City, Utah, who was traveling on the same train, and with who m he had become quite well acquainted, while walking past him in the aisle, suddenly reeled and fell. Mr Elzey and others did all they could for him. but he never regained consciousness and died within a few minutes. Mr. Elzey says he enjoyed Christmas dinner with his daughter and her family and afterward went up to Simpson’s Rest, a spot 600 feet higher than the city. They are planning a trip to Fisher’s Peak, 6,000 feet above the sea level. He states that he has not decided just when he will start home.

AGAINST THE BILL Hoosiers Bombarding the Postal Savings Bill ARE AFTER WILEY His Enemies Want Presiident Roosevelt to Remove Him Washington, Dec. 29.--There never has been another measure before congress within the memory of the oldes’ members of the Hoosier delegation which called forth such vigorous opposition from the bankers of Indiana as the bill of Senator Carter for the establishment of a system of postal savings banks in this country. Telegrams and letters and messages over the long distance telephone from Irdiana are urging members of the senate to stand firm in opposition to this measure, which, in the opinion of nearly all the Indiana bankers and financiers, does not have a single redeeming feature. Big bankers iand little bankers, as well as bankers of medium resources, are joining in the movement against the bill. Not content with voicing their opposition through resolutions adopted by their associations, the Indiana bankers are writing in their individual capacity and expressing their personal protests. The Indiana Bankers’ association heads the list of a long collection of Indiana memorials that have been filed in the senate on the subject within the last two weeks.

Washington, Dec. 29.—The enemies of Dr. Harvey W. Wiley, the Indiana chief of the government bureau of chemistry, whom he has made by his championship of pure food regulations, are making an effort to get his official scalp before President Roosevelt’s term expires. They are bombarding the white house with letters and formal complaints charging him with about all the crimes in the category, but they do not seem to have made much of an impression, and the learned man goes serenely on his way. When informed today of a fresh batch of reports that he is slated for dismissal he hurled defiance at the men who are after him. "My neck is ready.” was his comment. “I have net been asked to resign, but I have been fought at every turn of the road by adulterators of food, and I am ready to go if the government wants to take their side. I will not resign unless I am asked, however, because my Bert is in this work, and I will stay until I am asked to get out, no matter how thick the bullets fly. 1 think that I could support myself i* I were to lose my official head. If they get my scalp they will find they are in a worse pickle than before, for I will make it hotter for tl em than ever.’’ o— Clyde Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Smith, of near Markle, was accidentally shot in the leg Friday while in company with some other boys hunting. A small target rifle in the hands of another lad was discharged, the bullet lodging in the fleshy part of the Smith boy’s leg. The wound was not serious and on the advice of physicians no effort was made to remove the bullet.

SOME DISCUSSION The Legislature Will Convene on the Seventh of January THE NEW GOVERNOR He Will Assume the Place of Chief Executive January 11th Indianapolis, December 28. —There has .been considerable discussion recently as to how long after the legislature convenes Governor Hanly will serve as governor and Hugh T. Miller as lieutenant-governor. Lt has been announced that the legislature will ccnvene January 7, and that Thomas R. Marshall will be inaugurated as governor and Frank J. Hall as lleuten-

, ant-governor on January 11. Thus, during four days of the session Hugh T. Miller will preside in the senate as lieutenant-governor. Some have iccked on this as an innovation and have characterized it as a trick of the Republicans to allow Mr. Miller to ’ appoint the committees in th e senate. As a matter of fact, the constitution o r the state specifically provides when the legislature shall convene and when the official terms of the governor and tie lieutenant-governor shall begin. The constitution provides that the legislature shall convene on the first Thursday after the first Monday in Jmuary every two years, and that r the official terms of the governor and lieutenant-governor shall begin on the second Monday in January every four years. This rule has been followed • ever since the present constitution 8 was adopted. Four years ago Gover- . rcr Durbin was the executive of the r state for four days after the session of the legislature was convened. It has never been customary, though, for ■ the legislature to take up any work 3 o' consequence until after the govi en.or and lieutenant-governor had s been inaugurated. Usually the com- ’ mittees are not appointed in either i blanch until after the inauguration. 1 and, as a rule, no bills or resolutions • are introduced before the inauguration. WHOSE HORSE BEST ________ ■ Thqtt Question Was Decided in Rather Stringent Manner Last Eve BY WEBBER & SMITH Dr. Smith, of Hoagland and Leo Webber Have Altercation The protracted silence in police court was at last broken last night when Dr. W .0. Smith, of Hoagland, and Leo Webber of this city were called upon to pay a fine of $9.30 each to Squire Smith, the former on the charge of provoke, the latter for assault and battery. Dr. Smith had come to Decatur during the day on a business mission and quartered his rig at the Fashion stables. When he went to call for the outfit, Webber was at the barn and the question as to the speed of Smith’s race horse arose. Webber stated that he had an anima! that could outstep Smith’s. This statement evoked a proposition for a bet of |lO from Smith and when Webber produced his money, Smith drew a check for the stipulated amount,which, however, did not suit the fancy of Webber, who said he must cast his lamps on the hard cold. A word combat ensued in which remarks not complimentary in the extreme, were parsed back and forth and which so enraged Webber that he struck the doctor and administered severe pun- i ishment to him. Smith filed an affl- i davit against the aggressor charging i assault and battery and Squire Smith 1 pr< mptly fined him. Webber retaliat- 1 ed by filing a charge of provoke ( against Smith and he was fined after t which the participants went on their i way, shaking hands with themselves ( that the fines were not sls. I

TMINKS ASSESSMENT TOO HIGH Alex Woods, of Ridgeville, is Here on Business. Alex Woods, of Ridgeville, Indiana, is here for a day or two attending to bur iness affairs. Mr. Woods has lived in Ridgeville for over seventy years and owns a large farm just north of that town. His wife who died some twenty years ago, was a daughter of the old Dr. Jeleff who practiced here a third of a century ago, and she was a sister of Dr. Charles Jeleff. Mr. Woods through her death became the owner of one-third of the Jeleff property which lies just east of the old protestant cemetery and this land was assessed $112.50 on the Elm street sewer. Mr. Woods believes his assessment was exorbitant and is objecting strenuously to the payment of same, claiming that he drains his land in another direction. He has employed an attorney and will try to effect some kind of a settlement before leaving the city.

FROM FORT WAYNE Prof. W. H. Kruse Wants Tariff Removed from Scientific Works v WRITES COMMITTEE Says the Best Foreign Publications Kept Out by a Tariff Duty Washington, December 29. —Generally speaking, Indiana has remained silent during the tariff hearings by the ways and means committee. A few manufacturing concerns and one or two individuals only have communicated with the committee. Prof. W. H. Kruse, of Concordia college, Ft. Mayne, has sent on a plea for duty free scientific works. He says in part, in his letter to the committee: ‘ No doubt thousands of men engaged in intellectual pursuits feel exactly as I do in this matter, but they are likely to let this thing go by default and to come with their protests when it is too late. Whether we like it or not, the most minutely specialized work and research is still done in Europe, and it is the sheerest folly to try to change this by a duty on such books. Whenever, in our reading and study, we reach a point that puzzles us we glance over the catalogues of European publishers, and usually find a few pamphlets and monographs restricted absolutely to this one point. This places at our disposal the very latest ar,d best information that the world possesses. No encyclopedia can go so thoroughly into details and treat a subject so fully in all its bearings, to say nothing of the fact that they are, necessarily, from five to fifteen and more years behind the advance guard of the scientists. Just to give yon an Illustration: A physician o! my acquaintance wished to get the very latest Information on bleeding of the lungs (pulmonary hemorrhages) in four weeks he had a pamphlet of about two hundred pages that absolutely covered the subject and gave him all that the foremost men of Europe know. This same condition obtains in all branches of knowledge, particularly natural science and mathematics. It seems to me a very shortsighted policy to obstruct even to tbe smallest extent the importation of ideas."

BOWLERS TO OPEN ELKS HOME Lccal Team Will Go to Fort Wayne Tomorrow Evening. The Decatur Elks bowling team will gc to Fort Wayne tomorrow evening where they will open the new alleys in the Elks home, with a contest against the Fort Wayne Elks who claim to be the champions of the state. The local lads have a strong tea m and are going to win. They have secured handsome new shirts for the occasion, bearing the lodge emblem and will be otherwise fitted up appropriately for the occasion. The team includes Mayor Bones France, Postmaster Dyke Frisinger, Dr. Earl G Coverdaie, Manager Tom Peterson of the Palace bowling alleys, Fred Vnughn and David E. Studabaker. Guess this bunch should make the Fort Wayne bowlers bop along some.

Price Two Cents

THE SESSION ENDS County Commissioners Complete Their Labors and Adjourn WILL MEET FRIDAY They Will Organize and Make Annual Invoice The commissioners completed the business of the special session and have adjourned. The affairs of the county for the year of 1908 are now adjusted so far as the board is concerned. All that Is necessary is for the proper executive officers to carry out and execute the orders of the board. There is many things to do in closing the business of a county like Adams but by the time the old year ends this will all be attended to in the proper way. The commissioners will meet again Friday the first day of the new year. Their first business will be the organization which is made by electing a president of the board who serves during the year. Following the organization the first, duty involving upon them is the taking of an invoice of the personal property at the county farm, and this will be done as usual this year. This is no small matter and means the listing of several thousand dollars worth of proptry. This also means a New Year’s dinner with Sv.pt. and Mrs. Graher and this is a privilege all like to enjoy. Those dinners have become famous and we know of several thousand other Adams county people with a good appetite that wish they were a county commissioner for this one day at least.

Auditor-elect Michaud who has been •• diligent in his application at the audif tor’s office for the last month will as--1 sume charge on Friday the first day : of the year. Mr. Michaud already j gives evidence of properly filling the s place. It will not be long until he y is onto all the curves and will serve 3 the people of Adams county faithfully s and well as auditor of Adams county. —o ‘ ELECT OFFICERS ) > National Union Held a Reorganization Meeting 1 Last Night J t > INSURANCE ORDER I And One of the Best —Effort Will Be Made to Increase Membership ! _ The National Union, an insurance ’ order which has perhaps paid more policies in Decatur than any other fraternal order, and which is considered one of the best that does business today, held a meeting at the office of D. B. Erwin last evening, when the officers were chosen for the ensuing year. A representative from headquarters will soon be here and an effort will be made to increase the membership of the local lodge, which now numbers about fifty- The new officers as elected are: W. J. Myers, president; Henry Krlck.vlce president. John H. Heller, speaker; James P. Haefling, secretary, Fred V. Mills, financial secretary; R- K. Allison, treasurer; D. B. Erwin, usher, A. C. Sellemeyer, chaplain; J. A Smith, ser-gennt-at-arms; D. M. Hensley, doorkeper; Dr. W r . W. P- McMillen, L. G. Ellingham and J- T. Merryman trustees; auditing committee who wi go over the books of the officers for the past year and report at the n< x meeting, J. H. Heller, W. J- My ers aB Dr. McMillen. They will meet nex Tuesday evening at Erwins office install. _____ As a result of several Decatur yo .ng men giving whiskey to a youth, resides in the south part of ' c ’' it is not unlikely that several a • will bp filed. The officers expect to stop this practice.