Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 7, Number 3, Decatur, Adams County, 4 January 1909 — Page 1

Volume VII. Number 3.

TIPTON SHOCKED By Untimely Death of E. I). Beeler, a Leading Business Man FUNERAL SERVICES Will Be Held from the Home Tuesday—Body Ar - rived Today Tipton. Indiana, Jan. 4.—(Special to I Daily Democrat) —The announcement' of the death of E. D. Beeler, one of the most prominent business men of this city at the Palmer hotel in Chicago Saturday caused a shock in business circles here and among his hundreds of friends. It was known

that he had been acting queerly for about two weeks, the first indications being noticed just before Christmas, but that he would take his own life was never even surmised. It is the general belief here that his condition was brought on by his close attention to business. He was in splendid financial condition, but simply had more to take care of than he could stand. Ac soon as notice of his death was received here a committee of the Elks lodge to which he belonged hasi to Chicago, where they took charge of the remains, arriving with

the body at two o’clock this morning. T he funeral services will be held from the home in this city at 2:30 o’clock Tuesday afternoon, in charge of the Elks and the Knight Templars, Intel ment will be made in this city. His wife is nearly distractel with grief. Edward Beeler, for a number of years

— u nuiuuej 'L J S 3 in business in this city, committed suicide Saturday some time, at the Ptlmer hotel in Chicago. His lifeless bcdy was found Saturday afternoon, after he had been dead for many hours. He had gone to the city presumable to look after busin ss and gcing to his room, stuffed the windows and even the keyhole with cotton and turned on the gas. That his death was caused by his own intent, there seems to be little doubt, as he left three notes, two of which were addressed to his wife and the other to seme person, whose name has not been made public. It is the general opinion that Mr. Beeler’s mind was efiected, as he had acted rather queerly for some time, and for a few weeks last spring it is said he was a patient at a sanitarium. He was a hard worker and the strain of his various lai ge enterprises seem to have been

too great. He was about forty years of age, and had developed a wonderful ability in a business way. Mr. Beeler was reared near the Van Wert county line and when a young man learned the operator's business, serving for the Erie at Wren and Rivarre. About ten years ago he catne to this city and became a partner with Kern & Brittson in the shoe business. Later they bought the Ehit ger & Meyer clothing store and soon they opened the Big Store in the ! Strd"baker-Allison block, where they! conducted the largest retail store In I this section of the country. In June | of 1903 the building and contents v ere totally destroyed by fire, and the ftm dissolved. A few months later, > r. Beeler went to Tipton as manager of a similar store and a few hiontbs later he purchased the store - pnd enlarged it. He has prospered hn<l recently has engaged in the mit- 1 ten factory business, owning factories ' a* Tipton and Alexandria, also con- i tir.i’ing to conduct his big store. A 1 dispatch from Chicago published Sun- t lay said: Chicago, Jan. 3.—A man who has j i

DE CATI!jJ DAILY r -CHAT.

been i ended as Edward Beeler, fity-fiv yet's old. of Tipton, Ind.,was found d ad a a gas-filled room in the Palmer *ios e terday afternoon, , apparet ly > suicide. The keyholes and w do's had been filled with cctton flu man, who registered last night a ''Jin Smith," had been dead several ,0® when the tragedy was I discove d F Mrs. M. A. Medberry, the hoi pk«i><r. Beeler wrote three letters, roof which were addressed to his |fe. One briefly read as follows; "Inch id least- find $45. Good-by. "EDWARD. ’ The die summoned and took charge !tt body and personal eff< cts. Ileums were sent to Mrs. Bee ler. | No ifliwfcr the man’s act has jbeen iflotred. Among the man's I effects fl- loaded revolver.' Mrs. < Mr-dberfc- dect< d the odor of gas i ana nofliii h<* management. Beeler J registefl a- <'clock this morning I and s -oon as his room call was receive fl from li| th.- night. ■ Mr. ifleris ived by his wiffl whe i- & filter o f yir antl Washinfl ■ his county. h. ve ileal -n. His father

near dio. A Cl RE FOR BLU J Elks iov Scheduled fl Tv Nights at Bosfl VS Be Great fl LAUG PROVOfIG Will Bt h Witty Sa — Exce ?nt Music Wfle Rendered —fl

The mw ~f eveiflch is scheduled a iccur in Dfl this week is e big. ■ laborflscenic mirstrel <!i rithr 'tosse fl house Thursday id Friday niflo' this week. Car ritj special flry for the clever :tt rhe comflof local people, wil' be abi. to flr entertain the a liaces andfl give a quiet tip :l ti; ■■■ veiflsctacular stunts wi ! offlhe chorus girls. T»s|v’ hoflt'us may have them rle v lat flo ■! place

tomorrow- fclhini sdaflfhts performance, all fiayfli for Friday's show. fl fl.- eet par-' ade will la |[ e ->;reflii:' all the animals are M - lictl are advertised nifltl flu Decatur public will haljen <iflfoiry to see a menagerie ||ich fl fade into ir.rigniflca: elk' ■ :'flav.m or any other ; imn till fl.putside of this, the sliotlvli! fl 11 right and phasing to held ifltßining musts. vojal and ißr fl, will add to the s|lend r <lt] flfimance and al’ who are flrflri in missing the slow willlig Remember, fifty terfts wily flged for any seat in th ■ hr. » flthe exception of the gallery, le flfee of twentyfive cents will flflfed. want Iocal1J»m election Huntington Conlfla the Commisr slohers fAflUrivilege. Hiir.rinetnn. T ™Bni;Qrv i — Taim-

nurungrcn, ißsatiary 4. — rem-peran-e work* ■■ Kohave been circulating count yßp petitions reports! tOt t).’Kll obtained 3,050 signa tires in county and tin* ] etllion to: Bpftbn election was filed with the County Commies mers. O''•Bj| signatures are Tenured in th. Btb for the 20 per cent but the had little diffi. ilty in g< v. number nam(ed. Each i, organized and the advisory )B<i' or the county I nan d an exe< Friday I’fit moon and : Bsu other features of the campaig *3l Board of Counity Commission expected to act at once on Butt ion. preferring to call a county council first to get Bwoprhtion. The desire is to a tl legal problems possible. Thu/jßfcection will be delayed a wee tCiLjt the council's ’(’ion. which viß favorable. The election will thß. probably not be held until Twenty three will jh’ affected, th- the county being dry. IB

A SHfl SESSION The Term of the MCourt TWfl EW ROADS Sisk Will Not K Their Macadam fl Roads session of commissionbegan this morning. Marpresident of the board, flbt present, owing to the conflee of the illness which began ■ here a month ago. The business Be term will be light, owing to the I: sessions held the latter part fast month, at which time the af■s of the county were pretty well tied up.

flMichael Miller and William Gallwere appointed viewers and C. fl 1 . Ernest engineer on the Sprunger Knd Habegger macadam road petitions, ■two roads petitioned for in Monroe I township. The East Jefferson and the Geneva. Cej lon & Wabash township extension 4 roads were accepted' by the board, the proper report upon them by the engineer and superintendent in charge having been made. W. R. Wheat, representing the contracting firm of Wheat & Sisk, appeared before the board and refused to contract for five roads bid off by them a’, the December session. Their excuse was that they failed to understand that they were to make up any difference between the amount, the bonds sell for and par, which amount the board has to realize upon them. ' r he board have the matter under advisement and it is likely the roads will be sold again at the February term. The county council are called for a meeting tomorrow at which time all the remaining surplus will be transfer red to the general fund and what is necessary will be used to pay any bills which are remaining unpaid. There will be a surplus after this Is dene, but the exact sum is not nowknown.

o THE DEATH ANGELS Has Called Mrs. Elizabeth Zeser to Her Final Reward WAS 57 YEARS OLD And a Resident of Adams County for Years—Funeral Tuesday ■Months of serious illness from a complication of diseases in which cancerous affections played the important part, culminated in the demise of Mrs. Elizabeth, wife of Peter Zeser Saturday evening at seven o’clock. The deceased for some time suffered untold pain as a consequence of tfie dread ailment and during the past tew weeks of her life she underwent a trying ordeal in a battle against the grim vesper. Semility contrtibuted to the seriousness of the case, and for some time it was known that death was inevitable. The decedent was born in Ohio, although the greater portion of her life has been spent in Adrms county where her children, five sons and three daughters, have been reared. The death of Mrs. Zeser will be deplored by a multitude of sorrowing friends, who knew her as a kind and loving friend. Tne funeral services will be held from the St. Marys church Tuesday morning at 9:30 o’clock, standard time, interment to be made at St. Joseph cemetery. The deceased was 57 years of age.

Decatur, Indiana, Monday Evening, Jani

*************** * THE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE * * President Roosevelt’s message ♦ * to congress, in relation to the * ; * action of congress on secret * * service is presented in full on * * page 4 of this issue. * *************** <j LODGE VISITS WITH TAFT. Augusta, Ga., Jan. 3. —United States Senator Henry Cabot Lodge departed . teday for Washington. In discussing his visit tonight, Mr. Taft said that beside giving him a general idea of the probable organization of the senate committees after March 4, Mr. Ledge had strongly urged the retention in the Taft cabinet of Postmas- • tcr-General Meyer. 'While no partic- . i.lar portfolio for Mr. Meyer was men-tlcr-ed, it is understood that if he is retained it will be either'as secretary o' the navy cr secretary of the treas--1 ury, wth the navy department the J most likely. 1 • ■“ ■ ■"■ AID OF ITALY President Sends a Message r to Congress for Ap- • propriations i CONGRESS PROMPT a 3 Passes Bill for SBOO,OOO for Aid for the Earthquake Victims 3 1 Washington, D. C„ Jan. 4.—(Special to Daily Democrat)—The president >' e sent a special message to congress 1 today concerning the appalling cai. - lamity in southern Italy in which he s f says that it is the immediate duty and a debt of civilization to Italy, the i waim and steadfast friendship of that 1 country to our own to prompt Amt erica to immediate and generous rer lief. The president recommends the • approval of the disbursements of supplies from the steamships Culmoa and Celtic as ordered by the depart- | merit, and now enroute to Messina and for the further appropriation of a half million dollars to be applied to I the relief. Suez battleships Connecticut, Vermont, Minnesota and Kansas started through the Suez canal this morning from here to Port Said. 1 Immediately after hearing the president's message on the earthquake > in Italy the house went him one better and unalmously appropriated the sum of SBOO,OOO for relief of the victims. — o - JURY GIVES MINER SIO,OOO. Vandalia Coat Company Held Responsible for Disastrous Explosion. Brazil, Ind., Jan. 3. —The verdict of J I O,OOO given by the jury in the Yemm damage'suit against the Vandalia Coal company at Greencastle greatly pleased about twenty miners of this city who were injured with Yemm in the Rosebud mine of the company two years ago. The suit was for $15,000 i damages, but the verdict was even larger than the miners expected. The 'I case was fought with unusual vigor by the large array of legal talent on both sides, as it was realized that the result of this trial would have a strong bearing on the other cases filed. The men were injured in an explosion in the mine, but the company held that it was not liable because, it said, the explosion was of gas over which they had no control. ; The miners said the explosion was due to fine dust in the mine, and that the explosion could have been prevented had the company sprinkled the ; mine, as the law requires.

WA * * Our Entf Two * 1 v * as Pos/ * / h / NOT * A IT J Repres holiday Against Zelief of the Italian Earthquake Washington, Jas. 4.—Two Revolutionary war pensioners are on the government lists, according to the report of James R. Garfield, secretary of the interior. They are not veteran soldiers—they did not fight at Bunker Hill, Valley Forge nor Yorktown — they never faced Lord Cornwallis, they never obeyed the battle commands of Washington, Lafayette or Putnam—they are daughters of patriots who aided in wresting the original thirteen colonies from the rule of King George 111. There are no veterans of the war of 1812 on the pension lists, but 471 widows of veterans draw bounty from the government. There are 2,932 survivors of the war with Mexico and 6,914 widows. Os the Indian wars there are 1,820 survivors and 3,018 widow's. Until the civil war widows on the pension list far outnumber the men who fought, but the survivors of that conflict and the war with Spain far outnumber the widows drawing pensions. Washington, Jan. 4. —Representative Holliday, of Indiana, said that he will not vote to appropriate $500,000 for the relief of the Italian earthquake sufferers. He will not make himself corspicuous by voting against the bill unless his vote would defeat it. In that event he would cast his vote against it. As the bill is likely to have an overwhelming majority, Mr. Holliday probably will content himself with not voting at all.

Washington, .Tan. 4. —Representatives who went home before the holidays full of fight over the secret service paragraph in the president’s annual message are returning meek as lambs. The spitfires of congress all have ben cooled off by the talk they heard at home. They found that their constitutents are standing unflinchingly by the president in this controversy, and they are ready to cry quits. DIED AT INFIRMARY “Tommy” McNulty Passed Away Saturday Evening at Seven O’clock AFTER LONG ILLNESS Lived Here Long and Has Many Acquaintances Who. Will Sadly Miss Him A sufferer for months from a complication of ailments, "Tommy" McNulty for many years a resident of Decatur, died Saturday evening at the county infirmary at the age of sev-eut-two years. The aged man who in the early history of Decatur moved to this city was well and favorably known by almost every resident. He worked for a number of masons here in the capacity of a tender, and his services were always in demand. As a consequence of his generousness, however, he failed to provide for the future, and when stricken with an ailment he was forced to seek food and shelter at the county institution, \vhere for ninety days he jR ■hovered between life and deatfl fle deceased was born in Pennfl although he has lived here W Z* entire life. The remains tairen to Fort Wayne .orning via Fort Wayne & SprinßSkd interurban, where he will be burled by a niece who is said to be his only surviving relative. Many Decatur pecp'e will sadly miss the smiling countenance of ‘‘Tommy’’ who has been a favorite among his acquaintances.

Tavy demand on officials Ywnship Trustee Asked to Refund f $40,000 of Public's Money. Warsaw, Ind., Jan. 4. —A suit has been filed in the Kosciusko circuit court by the state on relation of Fremont Tom and John Bender, against Trustee Moses Lantz, of Van Buren township, in which the town of Milfetd is located. The complainants demand that Lantz pay $40,000 back to the township. The advisory board and the trustee’s bondsmen are Pret F. Miles, Edward W. Higbee, Clark Gibson, Perry Hoover and Ziler Grove. It is alleged that Lantz squandered, wasted and disbursed township funds in the sum of $12,000, special school funds of $20,000, road funds of SB,OOO poor funds of $5,000, and additional road funds of $12,000 in a wrongful manner; that he failed to make reports to the advisory board and neglected to Inform the members of the board as to what was purchased with the money and what contracts were made. It is charged that Lantz pin chased township supplies through bis own store and that he charged to te township personal traveling expenses.

A SECRET BALLOT Talk of a Caucus for a Democratic United States Senator OPEN BALLOT Some of the Candidates Would Favor Such a Method Indianapolis. Jan. 4. —The question of an open or secret ballot in the election of a caucus nominee for senator as well as an early caucus, is now being discussed among the senatorial aspirants and the members of the legislture w-ho are coming to the city for the opening of the legislature next Thursday. While most of the senatorial aspirants favor a secret ballot, It is said there are one or two who would like to have an open ballot, the members voting orally in response to the roll call of names. These members, it is said, hope thereby to be able to hold their strength throughout Isletors, however, favor a secret balislators. owever, favor a secret ballot. All of the stronger candidates it appears will have to depend upon their second choice strength to pull them through and in a secret ballot some would be enabled to line up support that they would not receive if an open vote were taken. There iv a feeling also that the senatorial caucus should be held on the Wednesday or Thursday preceding Tuesday. Jan. 19. the day upon which the senatorial election is to occur, in order to insure plenty of time to thrash out the contest, should it be a long one. It is expected that this question wi’l be settled early and also that ar. early agreement as to an open or secret ballot will be reached. State Chairman Stokes Jackson, while in the city yesterday, said he believed an early caucus should be held provided that it it did not give any of the candidates an advantage. There a-e those, however, who profess to see that an early caucus .would be advpntageous to John W. Kern, who at present seems to be in the lead in the contest. Chairman Jackson said he wanted every aspirant for senator to have a fair show. BOYS ROB SCHOOLHOUSE Leader, 14 Years Old, Sent to Reform School, Another Whipped. London, Jan. 4. —Three small boys confessed to a series of robberies at Kingston-on-Thames police court. Tney were Henry Osborne, 13; Daniel Horscraft, 9. whose head was just visible above the dock rails, and Albert Cooper, 14, a cripple, who was alleged to be the leader. Coo*r and Horscraft went through a window into the infants’ school at Bonner Hill read on Oct. 8, and carried off thirtythree rubber balls, a dozen reels of cctton, a dozen tape measures, three dozen ink erasers and three bunches of keys. Cooper is to be sent to a reformatory, Horscraft was discharged after a caution and Osborne was orde:ed six strokes with a birch and one day's imprisonment.

Price Two Cents

BLOUNTS AFFAIR Mrs. Blount Willing to Accept Mr. Miller’s Offer for a Horne HUSBAND IN JAIL Taken to Portland—Has Sent a Few Dollars to Wife Mrs. Asa Blunt, who has gained more or less notoriety recently on account of the escapades of her husband, and tvho was offered a home by a Mr. Miller in the columns of this paper, called at this office a few moments after the paper was out and expressed a desire to accept the kind offer. She immediately sent word to Mr. Miller, and it is probable that she will have a good home so long as she cares to do her part. In response to a telephone message from the chief of police at Lima, Ohio, announcing the arrest and detainment tnere of Asa Blount, wanted here on a grand jury indictment, chargign him with the serious crime of criminal assault on Fay Layman, a fourteen-year-old girl from Blackford county, Shdriff S. J. King went to Lima, on the early morning train Saturday and arrested Blount returning with him to this city at noon. Immediately upon arrival the prisoner was taken before Judge L> Follette, who placed his bond at SI,OOO and in default of bail he was committed to jail to await arraignment. The date upon which the alleged offense was committeed,as stated in the Indictment, was November 17,when the Layman girl was a guest in this city at the home of her sister, Mrs. Isaac Blount. She with her sister had gone to the home of Mrs. Flora Leennn. They found Blount there and at a time w'hen others were not in the house it is alleged that the accused man induced the girl to accompany him into another room of the Lennon home where the criminal assault was committed. When interviewed at the county jail Saturday afternoon by a representative of the Daily Sun, Blount declared his innocence of the crime and said that he thought that he 'would have no difficulty proving that he was wrongly accused. He said he was not aware of being charged with the crime of criminal assault whe he left this city and did not find it out until after his arrest at Lima. Shortly after he left this city he was at Decatur where he became entagled in a fight with a James Harman. The latter knocked him down with a chair and afterwards pounced upon him and bit off the end of his nosel He said that he had some fear of being arrested for his part in this affair and when Policeman J. D. Neeley attempted to arrest him he thought he was wanted for assault and battery. Blount still wears a plaster over his nose which has not yet healed from the effects of the Decatur injury. One week ago he went to Lima where he secured employment in the coal docks. Saturday before leaving there with Sheriff King he turned over to the chief of police of that city all the money he had, amounting to about five dollars, together with an Older for the unpaid salary which was due him for labor at the docks and requested the officer to send the money to his wife, who is now’ at Decatur with her mother, Mrs. McConnehey. who keeps house for Harman. the man who bested Blount in the fistic encounter. Blount is the first prisoner to be taken into custody under the administration of Sheriff King.—Portland Sun.

THE U. B. CHURCH REVIVAL. Yesterday was a good day for the U. Fl. church. Largest number in Sunday school for years. House crowded at the preaching services. Five splendid young people joined the church during the day. The meetings will continue during the week. Servces each evening, commencing at 7’oo o’clock. All are invited to come end help us in the good work. o —— BOARD OF CHARITY TO MEET Notice is hereby given that the Hoard of Children’s Guardians meet on Monday at the catur library at seven oVlock to traMHr act business of importance member is requested ti? UHf