Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 7, Number 61, Decatur, Adams County, 12 March 1909 — Page 1

Volume VII. Number 61.

I RECEIVED A COPY Clerk Haefling is Figuring Out the New Dope Sheet HAS BEEN THE LAW Hanly’s Veto Says It Was Already the Law Clerk Haefling has received a copy g s of the new clerk’s bill passed by the legislature over the veto of former Governor Hanly. The bill contains J the veto of Governor Hanly, and in that he says he vetoes the bill because supreme court decisions confirm him In the belief that it is the law without this additional bill. The law is a lengthy one and defines more explicitly that which belongs to the officer and the fees which go to the county. It is a great help to the clerk in this county, where they have rigidly followed what they believed to be the law. The additional fees will likely figure something like five hundred dollars a year, and will be a nice nest egg for Clerk Haefling, and his I friends are all glad to see him get it. The treasurer's office is already — daily receiving taxes for the May spring installment, there being many coming in to wipe the slate of this indebtedness. The force in the office are just completing the work of making out the spring receipts and after that they will be prepared to handle the crowds, no matter how strong ■ they come. The auditor’s office is receiving a new coat of wall paper and after the finishing touches are made it will fairly shine with neatness and cleanliness. It was a needed addition and will be appreciated by all that travel into that official sanctum.

THEIR CHILD DEAD Mr. and Mrs. John Dutcher Suffer Bereavement IT IS SAD NEWS Mr. Dutcher is Rapidly Climbing Ladder of Success A communication has reached the city conveying to the many friends of Mr. and Mrs. John Dutcher, who now reside at Philadelphia, Pa., the sad news of the death of Donald, their three months' old child. Incidentally we might say that since leaving this city the success of Mr. Dutcher in ar. educational way has been boundless. Ha now assumes the distinguished capacity of assistant professor of physics and chemistery in the university of Pennsylvania, and he is filling the position with grace. About three years ago he graduated from Indiana University with flying colors attaining the degree of Bachelor of Arts and the year following, the Master of Arts degree. During the year he served as instructor of physics in the school in a manner which reflected much credit to his ability. Mr. Dutcher and family lived in Decatur several years, during which time be was an instructor in the high school. When going to Indiana University he left behind a reputation as a teacher and as a student of educational problems, which thus far in the annals of Adams county history, has been unexcelled. Always conscientious in his work, he has attained a recognition he well deserves and if the hopes of his Decatur admirers find realization, his progress in the future will be as limitless as in the past. The Fort Wayne & Springfield Traction company has contracted to haul several loads of ties from Hoagland to this city.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT.

GOODRICH TO RESIGN THE PLACE Talk Winfield T. Durbin Being Made State Chairman. Indianapolis, March 12.—According to arrangements mode by the Republicans during the session of the legislature a meeting of the Republican state committee will be called some time within the next thirty days, when a state chairman to succeed James P Goodrich will be chosen to fill out the unexpired term, ending in 1910. The preliminary plans for the meeting, it is understood, provide for the election of Winfield T. Durbin to the place. Harry S. New, it is said, is also talked of for the place, although he is reported as not being at all anxious to assume the chair. Durbin, on the other hand, it is said, has signified his willingness to fill out the unexpired term, and has said that he is willing to give it the time and attention required to shape up preliminary affairs for the state campaign of 1910. Charles F. Remy, formerly clerk of the supreme court, also has been mentioned for the place. THE FIRST INNING Petitioners Win First Heat in Monroe Street Case BEFORE ENGLE The Case Will Be Heard on the Nineteenth of April

The petitioners won the first heat in the Monroe street macadam case which was appealed to the circuit court. Arguments were made before Judge James S. Engle of the Randolph circuit court, to whom the trial of the case has been assigned. C. L. Walters and Hooper & Lenhart represented the petitioners, and Peterson & Moran and J- W. Teeple the remonstrators. After being duly argued the court dismissed all motions made by the remonstrators, and assigned the case for trial on Monday, April 19. Th ecase now Comes up for trial just the same as it first came into the commissioner’s court, and evidence will be heard for and against the merits of The improvement. Many spectators were in the court room during the time the case was being considered, denoting interest in its outcome. The petition calls for an improvement beginning on the Root township line coming down Nuttman avenue to Monroe street and then west on Monroe street, connecting with the Decatur & Bluffton macadam road. The road was sold once, Julius Haugk being the contractor, but that is as far as the proceedings ever got, they stopping to get the result of the remonstrance which had been properly filed before the commissioners. After April 19 those interested will know more about their chances of getting the improvement.

SAYS CHARGE IS FALSE. Weldon May Blames Saloon Men for Accusation Involving a Girl. Portland, Ind., March 12. —Because of the defendant’s illness, the case against Weldon May of Powers, charged with assault on Miss Oddie Champ, was postponed until next Monday. It. is alleged by the defendant that his prosecution grows out of the activity of his father, Charles May, against the saloon element in Jefferson township, who had threatened retaliation for his work during the recent local option campaign. It is asserted that the affidavit was not filed until several weeks after the alleged commission of the offense, and this allegation will be prominent throughout the case of the defense. SEN. BEVERIDGE IN HOSPITAL Baltimore. Md., March 11.—Senator Beveridge of Indiana entered Johns Hopkins hospital today for a slight surgical operation. He expects to be in the hospital for only two or three days. About the first of next week the senator and Mrs. Beveridge will leave for a month’s rest at a retreat understood to be in New England. While the operation was delicate, it was said to be not of a serious character. From all indications, the surgeon said, the operation was in every way successful.

HEIS DOWN AND OUT William E. Smith is Now Confined to His Bed AT WIFE’S HOME A Grave Illness Has Enveloped His Body—Recovery Doubtful After a long and tedious career, during which he has been engaged in almost every conceivable line of business, William E. Smith, known to almost every Adams county person, is lying at the home of his wife, located south of the Chicago and Erie railroad, hovering between life and death, and with chances for his recovery most discouraging. The afflicted man has lived an eventful life, he having been on the road during the past few years, during which he has encountered many difficulties. His lungs became badly affected and he appealed to his uncle, Charles Smith, a few weeks ago for financial aid that he might be able to take treatment. This was given him and he Is said to have squandered the money without securing medical attention. The Bluffton Banner has the following to say in regard to the unfortunate man: A few weeks ago William Smith, nephew of Charles Smith, this city, borrowed 1100 of his uncle, stating that he was going to use the money to go to a sanitarium for his health. He was sick and in bad condition and the money was advanced. Instead of using the money to go to the south he went over in Ohio, where he spent it having a good time .This morning Charles Smith received a letter from friends of his relative in Decatur, stating that he is in bad condition there, he being seriously sick. The uncle this time turned a deaf ear to the entreaties, saying that he would probably have been cured by this time If he had not squandered the first money advanced.

WAS LONG SESSION Directors and Stockholders Transact Important Business SELL MORE STOCK Extension of Line Southward Topic of Discussion The meeting of the directors and a number of stockholders of the Fort. Wayne & Springfield Railway company held yesterday was the longest business session conducted by that body for several months. The session began early in the afternoon and continued until about nine o’clock last evening, the Ohio directors and stockholders leaving on the 9:30 car for their homes. The meeting wae of unusual interest, the issue of paramount importance being the discussion relative to the extension of the line southward and the assemblage in its entirety was enthusiastically in favor of the project. Many of the present ones subscribed more stock and a neat sum was raised, consequently. As is known by many Decatur people, the grading from this city to Monroe is practically completed and but three weeks’ time will be required to prepare for the laying of the steel. The company will present its bond to the city council at their next regular meeting and immediately after the acceptance of same, men will be put to work putting cement under the track in the city, and within one month the promoters of the Fort Wayne & Springfield expect to be laying steel inside the corporation. Should no unforeseen difficulties develop the line will be extended to Berne before snow flies next fall,which will meet the hearty approval of the public in general. o— — Gus Sellemeyer and daughter Esther, went to Fort Wayne to spend the afternoon with friends.

Decatur, Indiana, Friday Evening, March 12, 1909.

WILL BOOST PENNVILLE. The Pennville Improvement Association has filed articles of incorporation with a capital stock of SIO,OOO divided into shares of SSO each. The object of the association is stated to be “to purchase, own and sell real estate, contract for and erect buildings, if desired, for either business or factory- purposes; also to lease, trade or otherwise use for a profit such property as they may own." The incorporators are A. D. Parks, Pennville; Lewis W. Edmundson, Ralbec; Byron P. Carroll, Charles C. Winget, Albert Paxson and Lowell P. Grisell, all of Pennville. The life of the association is to be fifty years. A board of six directors was named for the first year, the officers are A. D. Parks, president; L. W. Edmundson, vicepresident, and Byron P. Carroll, secretary and treasurer. The intention of the new organization, it is said, is to have an active and important part in the rebuilding of the business section of Pennville, destroyed by fire several months ago.

HE LANDS AGAIN John L. Griffith Consul to Liverpool is Given Four Years More STANDARD CASE What Would Happen Were Roosevelt in the White House Washington, March 12.—John L. Griffiths of Indianapolis is the first Indiana man to be recognized with an appointment in the foreign service under the Taft administration. President Taft is so well pleased with the efficient record Mr. Griffiths has made as consul at Liverpool that he decided to tender Mr. Griffiths the office for four years more. Mr. Griffiths was appointed consul at Liverpool on March 8, 1905, and has just rounded his first four years of service. Mr. Taft’s decision to continue him in the position is due in part to the excellent impression he himself formed of Mr. Griffiths and also to the strong recommendation of Secretary of State Knox who presented to his chief that Mr. Griffiths is too valuable a man to let out of the public service. Washington, March 12. —Commenting on Judge Anderson’s decision in the Standard Oil case at Chicago, the Washington Post says: “If the Roosevelt regime were still in power at Washington, it is possible the department of justice building would have been draped in mourning and a piece of crape substituted for the stars and stripes on the flagpole which surmounts it, when the news came from Chicago that the case against the Standard Oil company had been dismissed by the United States court. | The effort to convict the oil trust of ! accepting rebates in violation of the interstate commerce law was distinctly a Roosevelt proceeding. The ex-president virtually took the prosecution out of the hands of the department of justice, so intent was he upon convicting the company of transgressing the law. Washington, March 12. —There was a note of discouragement in former Representative Watsonps comments or- the progress of the fierce warfare j between Spaker Cannon and the house in surgenis. “There is not a bit of use disguising the fact that this a tremendous fight,” said he. “The men we have to fear are the new members. The president is not having as much influence over the new congressmen as we thought he would have. They are holding their lines together better than we had anticipated and are not giving heed to the president’s wishes as we thought they would. o— BOOSTING FOR FORT WAYNE Sixty-fivo prominent Fostoria men, representative of the mercantile, manufacturing and professional interests of the Ohio city, reached Fort Way-ne at 11 o’clock today in a special car over the Ohio electric railway. They are spending a day in Fort Wayne, enjoying an outing, viewing points of interest about the city and cultivating a closer acquaintance with Fort Wayne business ini terests.—Fort Wayne Sentinel.

THEYWANT BIG TOM Fort Wayne Fans Think Tom Railing a Winner AS A TWIRLER Negotiations Are on for the Purchase of His Services The Fort Wayne baseball enthusiasts are anxious that big Tom Railing of this city be given a tryout on the summit city Central League club and we understand that negotiations are now under way for his purchase from the Southern Michigan league. If given a chance there is no question about the big twirler making good at Fort Wayne, for they did not have any center mound decorators last season that has anything on Tom in pitching, hitting or base running. Then, too, Tom would draw big crowds from Decatur to Fort Wayne, as his following here is large and unswerving. A dispatch from Fort Wayne has the following to say in regard to the proposed purchase of the Decatur pitchier: Tom Railing, the lanky pitcher who is under contract to the Flint club, of the Southern Michigan league, would like to get a berth with Varnell's Central league club, and has written the local owner to attempt to secure his release from Flint. Railing was one of the best in the Wolverine league last year, hitting at the top of the heap with an average of .333, and fielding .965. He was used all year in the outfield mainly on account of his , hitting, but at that is a pitcher that :has enough to hold him with any (minor league club. He pitched several games In this city against the I Shamrocks for VanWert,and for some i time was with Mart Cleary’s aggre'gation. His work here was high class ■and a number of the fans would like to see him given a tryout with the local club. IS BACK FOR VISIT 'Arthur Beery Leaves U. S. Barracks to Visit With Relatives BE HERE FIVE DAYS He is Enjoying Service in Government Employ Very Much Arthur Beery is here for a week’s visit with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Dan Beery. He has been for the past ■three months quartered at the U. S. (barracks at Camp Chase in Columbus. The commodious buildings at the bar- [ racks are very beautiful. The lawn is smooth and well-kept. The officers are very strict, the privates rise at an early hour and go to bed on schedule time. If a command is given an array of soldiers drill. Everything is done systematically and to any one , who has seen the maneuvers it is very fascinating. Such is the effect ■it has on the Decatur young man. He likes the life very much. Already he has been promoted and now holds the office of sergeant, which is an honor and more pleasant. Instead of bunking with the others, he may now, with a companion, have a room of his own and enjoy more privileges generally. Mr. Beery will remain in the city until next Sunday, his furlough extending but five days. Jacob Stultz of Decatur, is also stationed at Columbus, and he is enjoying the service immensely. Much experience goes with life in the government service and the Decatur young man will gladly come in for their share. — o Miss Lois Meyers, of Preble, is visiting her grandmother, Mrs. Irvin Acker today. Miss Pearl Bobelia, of Willshire, who is well known here, having visited with Miss Alice Dailey, will leave for North Manchester, where she has ' accepted a position. An entertain -| ment was given in her honor last!, night. li

ENLISTS IN THE U. S. NAVY Leon Locke, of Bluffton, Left Yesterday to Report for Duty. Leon Locke, only son of Landlord Dell Locke, of the Bliss hotel, was in Ft. Wayne yesterday accompanied by his mother, and completed all details of enlistment in the United States navy. He came home to spend the night and this morning reported back at Fort Wayne and took charge of a squad of ten men whom he will take to Norfolk, Virginia, where all of them report for duty. They passed through this city on the south bound 11:57 train over the Lake Erie and all appeared to be happy in anticipation of their navy service. Mr. Locke will doubtless prove a good man in the service and will doubtless receive advancement as he has had experience as a member of the state militia and 1.: well versed in rules and regulations, tactics, etc. He probably will be on a training ship for a short time and then assigned to some battleship. —Bluffton News. HE TAKESTWIFE James Harmon Will Claim Decatur Woman as Bride A LONG COURTSHIP , Will Have a Fitting Ending —Will Live at Rivarre i 1 After a courtship of several years' duration which, by the way, was not one of continued bliss. Cupid’s dart has lodged in the bosom of James Harmon, of Rivarre and Mrs. Alice I McConnehey, of this city, who today properly answered questions necessary ’ to secure a license to wed. It -was the bride to be who figured conspicuously in the nose biting affray at the Harmon Ihome some time (ago 1 , in which Asa Blount, now imprisoned.1 suffered the loss of his smelling member and he, too, is a son-in-law of Mrs. McConnehey. The woman kept house for Harmon for several years and it was during this period that the fire of love found inception. It appeared for a time, subsequent to the n ixup of Harmon and Blount, that the compact between Mrs. McConnehey and Harmon would end prematurely, as a consequence of the latter's mys- , terious departure from this vicinity, ' but fate has returned him to his own, and the wedding bells will soon ring out as lan evidence of their l unity. Now that Blount, who threatened his life, is safely behind prison bars, and that ideas of prosecuting Harmon have been abandoned, if there were any, the groom-to-be can walk out in the open and hand the captain of the belling gang a quarter with as much dignity and peace of conscience ; as could John Doe or any other person of moderate means. o MAY REDUCE THE DELINQUENCY ' Personal Property in Any Amount is I Collectable. Legislators who have just returned from Indianapolis, believe the new law passed by the legislature regarding the collection of delinquent taxes will reduce delinquencies to a minimum. Under the old law’ the penalty for deliquencies was 6 per cent, but if delinquents did not have personal property to the value of SIOO it was impossible to collect their delinquent taxes. The new law eliminates the SIOO exemption feature and provides for a fee of 50 cents for the collection of delinquent taxes. This, they say. is not a fee for the treasurer, but will allow the treasurer to employ a collector to go out and gather tn delinquent taxes to the collector, the new law authorizes prosecutions to collect. o— JAMES ELI TO BE TAKEN IN Washington. March 12. —James E. Watson may be the next governor of Porto Rico. President Taft, it is understood. does not intend to make a| j change in the office immediately, per-1 haps not for nine months or a year. | As things stand today Watson can 11: I have the place when the vacancy oc-1 b jours if he wants it. Charles B. Lan-|tl jdis has been mentioned, but Watson'p |is the man slated. |d

Price Two Cents

EXPRESS DELIGHT Glad That the Three Mile Gravel Road Law Still Stands WORK TO CONTINUE Many Miles of Road Will Be Constructed During this Year This office has been called from all parts of the county today expressing delight over our published statement that the three mile gravel road law still stands, and that it was only amended instead of repealed. While there are many petitions pending and they would not have been repealed, yet there are many petitions that have not been made, but in the course of time, when the finances of the various townships will permit, petitions will be made and the roads built. Two years will see many more miles of good macadam roads added to the long list of good roads now on the tax duplicate. There is not a county in the state that has made the progress in road building as has this county, an<f they have done it too, with good will to every one concerned. This Washington township, is perhaps the best macadamed township in the county, there being but a few miles that is yet unimproved. But every township in the county has to a more or less extent taken advantage of the three mile law and made great progress with their roads. Several will be built this year, there being four contracts already made awaiting the sale of the bonds for completion, and one road will be sold at the next term of commissioner's court. Besides these, six roads were sold at the December session and they will be built during the coming summer. Other petitions are on the way, and we expect to see no letup in the macadamization of the roads in the county. o — IN CIRCUIT COURT The Runyun Divorce Case Comes Up Monday THE GALLMEYER Prospects Good for a Busy Finish of this Court Term Joseph H. Voglewede, guardian, vs. John Glutting, a petition was filed by the plaintiff for an order for the defendant to show cause why monthly allowance has not been paid. The order was made. The lona Runyun vs. Daniel Runyun divorce case is scheduled for Monday, and some of the boys are already looking ahead for the big show. It promises to be rich, rare and racy. The Gailmeyer case, which comes up Tuesday, will be a warm member. It will likely take the remainder of the week to complete the hearing and get a verdict Four jury cases are calendared for the week following, and all this means the Adams circuit court promises to be a busy place for the remainder of the term. James C. Harmon and Alice McConnehey have taken out the necessary license to marry. The groom is thir-ty-nine years old, and the bride is thirty. Louis Bracht has purchased of William Hilgeroan eighty acres in Kirkland township, the consideration be- | ing $6,200. It is very important that every member of the Woodmen foresters team be present at the hall tonight for practice drill work. The’ team is on the program next Wednesday night for drill work.