Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 7, Number 72, Decatur, Adams County, 25 March 1909 — Page 1

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT.

Volume VII. Number 72.

A FORGERY TRIAL Noah Yoder of Linn Grove is Facing Serious Charge IN CIRCUIT COURT Witnesses Fail to Arrive and Delay is Caused—Comes Up Tomorrow Noah Yoder, a young man aged about twenty-eight, from Linn Grove, is on trial in the Adams circuit court today, charged with forgery. The ease is on a grand jury indictment, num ber four, returned by the November grand jury and charges him twith writing and uttering a promisory note calling for 1100, due in one year from the date, March Ist, 1907. and bearing six per cent interest, to which he signed his own name and that of Emanuel Wanner, and which he cashed to Christian J. Gerber. The fact that the note had been forged was not discovered until after the same became due, more than a year after given and when Mr. Gerber demanded payment from Wanner. The indictment is in two counts, the first charging intent to defraud Mr. Gerber and the second with intent to defraud Mr. Wanner. Prosecutor Henry Heller is appearing for the state and the defense is represented by F. M. Cottrell. The latter filed a motion for a continuance this morning which was overruled and the case ordered to proceed. A delay of several hours was occasioned by the failure of certain important witnesses to arrive, and the case was finally continued until tomorrow: BIG PIPE LINE COMPLETED Last Work Done on 550 Miles of Oil Pipe Laying. Piqua, 0., March 24.—Today marks the completion of the big pipe line that is being laid from Pennsylvania across Oho and Indiana into Illinois by the Tide Water Pipe Line company. ; A stretch of pipe 550 miles long now extends across three states, and will at once be put Into use for the conveyance of oil from the Ilinois fields to the eastern markets. Some six hundred men were used continuously, in the construction of the line. Two miles east of Greenville two hundred and fifty men worked in the close I frcm the west to meet another gang of 275 men southeast of Sidney. The | meeting point was two and one-half miles southwest of Sidney, where the last connection was made today. Two weeks will yet be needed to complete the construction of the telephone line and the proper replacement of the trenches. Why this construction work has progressed so rapidly is answer-: ed by the system used in employing the men. One gang of men went along ahead on the right of way, digging the trenches. Following was a gang who first painted, then connected and laid the pipe In the trenches. Another gang followed and threw the dirt back into the trenches. The telephone line gangs were divided similarly, one gang digging post holes, another setting the poles, and still another following stringing the wire. OFFICIAL NOTICE IS RECEIVED For Extra Mail Carrier—Mr. Rice Will Probably Accept Official notice has been received at the local postoffice, stating that this city has been allowed another mall carrier, effective April Ist as announced yesterday. The notice also specified that the regular substitute .should be tendered the place first and this makes it quite likely that Mr. Clyde Rice will be the new appointee. In case he should not, the next in line Is Will Conrad, and If Mr. Rice dees accept, Mr. Conrad then becomes the regular substitute, his appointment being good for one year. During that time he can work during vacation times of the carriers and in case of a vacancy he would become the regular man as is the case with Mr. Bice now.

CITY PRIMARY ON APRIL 8. Bluffton, Ind., March 25.— At the meeting of the democratic city committee last night the date for the city primary was set for April 8, just two weeks from tonight. The members of the committee believed that a short campaign before the primary would be the best thing for the candidates Only two announcements were made at the meeting of the committee. Frank Smith, now city clerk, coming out for mayor, and Wilson Grove, now treasurer, announcing himself as a candidate for the nom ination again. A. W. Hamilton, now mayor, will probably be out for mayor again, although he has not announced himself. —— o PLEADS FOR SON Mrs. Nancy Hower Wants Judge Erwin to Sign Pardon Petition TO FREE HER BOY Effort Made to Secure Release of Jesse Hower, Formerly of Decatur Mrs. Nancy Hower went to Fort Wayne today, where she will try and get Richard Erwin, formerly judge of Adams county, and Henry Colerick, formerly prosecutor, to sign papers which will request the state board of pardons to act favorably on the petition to parole Jesse Hower from the state reformatory. Hower was sentenced from Fort Wayne two years ago on a charge of assisting in an abortion, the trial been tried there owing to the fact that the crime was committed there. The doctor who was implicated was not convicted. The two years is now up and the relatives and friends of Hower are trying to procure his release. John A. Miller, living south of this <flty, is interested in the case and has guaranteed the prison officials that he will give the man a job if he Is released. Chris Stogdill, whose daughter Hower married, is also exerting all his influence to get him out. Hower's wife died several months ago and Mfr - . Stogdill has several of the children. The children are wanting to see their father and ask for him nearly every day. Mrs. Hower has secured the signature of ten of the jurymen who convicted Hower, the other two being dead. The board *of pardon meets next week.—Bluffton Banner. o FIRST CALL FOR ADVANCE TAXES State Requests Ten Per Cent of Cash from Counties. Indianapolis, March 24.—The first call for advance payments of taxes owing to the state from the various counties will be issued by Auditor Billheimer tomorrow, and will be payable on April 1. The request will be for 10 per cent of all the taxes paid to the county treasurers for the state, and another call will be issued for May 1, when a request for 20 per cent of the taxes will be made. It was decided to issue the call for the first, payment today when the state board of finance met in the office of Governor Marshall. The advance payments will be made under the provisions of a law passed by the last legislature, which was enacted when Mr. Billheimer and Governor Marshall conferred on the deficiency in the state’s finances. The call Is made necessary because of the lack of sufficient funds to meet the current expenses of the state. The entire amount which the state will receive in the first advance payment will be more than $200,000. o JUDGMENT AGAINST JAKE GRIM

Squire Stone heard the evidence this afteruon in the case of Lavina King vs. Jacob Grim, for possession 1 of real estate. The defendant appear- 1 ed after the case had begun and acted as though he could have paid his 1 rent if he had been so disposed. He > said his children were sick and that ; he didn’t have to move, and wouldn’t, but any way the court rendered i judgment for five dollars and gave ' the defendant until Monday to give : possession of the house, at the end I of which time he will be ejected un- i less some other provision is made. L

WAS KNOWN HERE Peter Lora, an Ohio Auctioneer, Whose Work Has Ceased HAD LARGE FAMILY Was Uncle of Mrs. Eli Sprunger and Brother of Mrs. Eli Reisen Peter Lora, a well known and respected citizen of Blufftpn, Ohio, died at his home at that place recently. The aged man was seventy-seven years of age. He was an uncle of Mrs. Eli Sprunger of this city, and a brother of Mrs. Eli Riesen of Berne. During his long life, the deceased, the only brother of the latter, often visited at Berne. These visits were very enjoyable to his friends In the county, and he had many friends here. He was an auctioneer and stock buyer, and in this way came in contact with a large number of Decatur people. Most of the men connected with the Decatur Horse Sale company were acquaintances. They speak highly of his ability as an auctioneer. Mr. Lora could sell when other auctioneers were unatiie to do anything. Ten children, of a family of fifteen children, survive. They are Theophilas. Samuel, Peter, Eli. Chris, Albert, Amos, Lena, Rena and Susie. Mr. Lora had seventynine grandchildren, fifty-four of whom are living. During the-last few years of his life the old auctioneer discontinued active work, one of his sons taking up his work. o HARRY GROVE HERE Thinks That Texas is About the Best in the Country IS DOING WELL

He is Here to Interest Buyers in Texas % Realty Harry 0. Grove arrived from his home in Texas today and will spend a few days among his Adams county friends. In a brief time he made it plain to a representative of the Democrat that Texas was about the whole thing, and that there was no other state in the. union worth talking about. This in a measure will give his expression of his new Texas home, and will denote the fact that he is more than satisfied with the change from Indiana to the lone stastate. He is here for only a few days and came to interest prospective buyers in the realty there. He pronounces the opportunities as being about ten to one, and says that any one with small capital can go there and make good and all the money he ought to_ make from the investment. The climate is fine, the soil fertile and the seasons favorable, and there is nothing In the way for laying the foundation for a comfortable competence in the future. This Is what Mr. Grove thinks of Jt, and we give it as he would have it. While we think that Indiana is about the ( best place in the wide, wide world, yet we are willing to admit that there are others, and that Texas, or at least parts of it, have many garden spots and whose futures are bright and rosy. o JUDGE PENFIELD IS ILL Washington. March 25.—Judge William L. Penfield is seriously ill in this city. It was thought early yesterday that he could not survive the night, but his condition last evening was improved. Judge Penfield formerly lived at Auburn, Ind., and represented the Twelfth district, on the' republican state committee. For several years he was solicitor of the state department. In 1904 he was a candidate Jfor the republican nomination for governor of Indiana. His ailment is 1 acute indigestion.

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday Evening, March 25, 1909.

ONLY THIRTY-TWO MAJORITY

Ohio County Has a Close Rub in Local Option Election. Rising Sun, Ind., March 25.—The temperance forces pulled a victory out of the county option fire yesterday by the narrowest sort of a margin, getting a majority of only thirty-two votes in their favor. Coming on the i heels of Montgomery county's reo-' ord-breaking majority of yesterday, I the vote of Ohio county, the state’s ! smallest majority of any county vot-1 Ing under the local option law. There were less than 1,200 votes cast all told in the county. There are only four saloons in the county and temperance sentiment was in many places exceedingly lukewarm, while the rainy day kept many voters at home. o THEY ALL AGREE The Indiana Congressmen Have an Understanding FOR INCOME TAX President Taft a Recent Convert—Clark Speaks Washington, March 25. —The eleven Democratic members of congress from Indiana are in substantial agreement as to the attitude they will take toward the Payne tariff bill. They be- ' lieve the bill does no* measure up to the expectation of the people. Rep- I resentatlve Lincoln Dixon, the ranking , member of the delegation, today gave i out the following statement which represents not only his personal . views, but, in a general way, the views of the eleven members: “The Payne bill is heralded by the Republicans as a complete response to the Republican promise, made in the campaign, for an honest revision of the tariff, with the further pledge that it should be substantially a reduction - thereof. Outside of a very few schedules and slight enlargement, of the free list the hope of the people has not been realized and the campaign promises made to obtain votes have been forgotten at the behest of the manufacturers and special interests. It is very doubtful whether, under, the proposed tariff rate, a consumer will be able to buy any manufactured article a penny cheaper on account of the proposed change in the law. A tariff law that fails to give the consumer any relief from its present exactions does not measure up to the expectations of the people. Washington, March 25,—President Taft is heartily in favor of an income tax and he is bringing his legal knowledge and acumen Into play in assisting in the drafting of an income tax bill which will require persons of swollen fortunes to pay a percentage of their incomes to the federal treasury. In the talk he has had with members of congress, President Taft has made it clear that he does not expect Income tax legislation this session. In fact, if the position of Mr. Taft is correctly understood by those who have been conferring with him, he prefers to have the income tax matter go over for the present, He does not want it complicated with tho tariff, and would prefer consideration of it at the regular session. In the meantime he is anxious to have the matter Investigated and agitated. Washington, March 25. —With sarcasm and biting satire, Champ Clark, minority leader, riddled the Payne tariff bill. He declared it to be even worse than the Dingley bill, the average rate of that bill being 44.16 per cent, and that of the Payne bill 45.72 per cent. He declared the Democrats had not been invited into conference in the final makeup of the bill, and that the result would be a long-drawn-out debate Into the dog days, when congressmen would be so tired they would vote for “any old bill” to get home. o L. C. Justus went to Geneva this morning to look after matters pertaining to the Blufl|ton, Geneva & Celina traction line. It it thought that things will be shaped up ready for work to commence early this spring.—Bluffton News.

LOOKING FOR CALL Treasurer Will Have to Ante Up to the State ARE COMING SLOW Not Rushing to Pay the Spring Installment of Taxes County Treasurer Lachot has not received the call for an advance payment to the state, but is expecting the call on every mall, and then he will have to accede to their demands and send on the cash without delay. Without this method the state would soon go to the bottom of their funds and they would either have to borrow money or lefuse to honor the payments of their debts. Treasurer Lachot reports that payments on the spring installment of taxes as coming in slow, the slump being much more noticeable than ever before. This means that all hands around the treasurer’s office will have to get a good sized hump on themselves during the last days of the taxpaying time. In other words it means a rush at which most every one will be trying to pay their taxes at one and the same time. Deputy Auditor Baumgartner is taking hold of the work in the auditor’s office like one who knew something about it, and it will not be long until he is perfectly familiar with all the details thereabouts. He says that he believes that he will like the work ' real well. WEDDED IN SOUTH Charles Mason, Former Decatur Boy, Takes a Bride

AT JONESBORO, ARK. Has Many Friends Here— Will Operate Factory at Big Bay Charles Mason and Miss Gertrude Webb were united in marriage last evening at the residence of Rev. Father Cattanl who officiated in the presence of Miss Agnes Mason and Joseph Mason, brother and sister of the groom. The bride is the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S. A. Webb and is a most attractive and charming girl of unusual beauty. Mr. Mason is the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Mason, and will be in business with his father at Big Bay where he will make his home. The young couple have the good wishes of a host of friends for a life of niuch happiness. —Jonesboro (Ark.) Evening News. The above young man is, as stated, a son of J. B. Mason, who formerly lived here and has many friends who wish him a happy voyage through life. o THE NEW INDIANA LAWS. It is Thought They Will Be in Force by April 15. It Is expected that county Clerk Haefling will have a copy of the bound volumes of the laws passed at the recent session of the legislature not later April 15. The acts as sent to the printer by the secretary of state make 180 new laws. Two hundred and fifty six pages have been officially O. K'd and 12 of these pages have been run off the press. The volume of the acts of 1907 contained 697 pages and 300 laws. Deputy Secretary of State Frank Grubbs who has charge of the work In the absence of the Secretary of State Fred A. Sims,said that virtually all of this week will be required In preparing the index for the volume. Mr. Grubbs Is doing all the official proofreading. The first volume of th» acts of 1907 was received at hree o’clock on the afternoon of March 23, and it required 17 days to Issue the remainder and to place them in the hands of the county, clerks. I

RECEPTION TO GOV. MARSHALL Indianapolis, March 25, —A recep tion, with Governor Marshall and his wife as the guests of honor, will be given by the Indianapolis board of trade, Wednesday evening, March 31, beginning at 8 o’clock. The reception will be for the members, their families and their friends, and will be held in the social rooms of the board

of trade building. One of the features

of the evening will be the music, for in addition to an orchestra, there will be a chorus of forty trained voices and several soloists. During the evening a buffet luncheon will be served in the dining room. The governing board of the board of trade will serve as a reception committee. TO SEE GERMANY Miss Hermina Wiecking of Bluffton Will Go Abroad SPEND THE SUMMER Will Return With Her Brother Some Time this Fall Miss Hermina Wiecking, a daughter o" Mr. and Mrs. Ernst Wiecking of south Main street, who is now teaching school at Maumee, Ohio, is making preparations to go to Germany shortly after the close of her school for the summer vacation and she will spend three or four months abroad. She will go to Bramsche, Germany, where her brother Fred, is now located while attending a German college. They have two uncles at that place and many othe>r relatives with whom Miss Wiecking will spend a most enjoyable vacation. She does not go to Germany for the purpose of study but for a good visit amid the scenes of her father’s boyhood days. Her brother Fred, went to Germany last summer intending to take a two yea.rs’ course of study following his graduation from the Bluffton high school, but he has made such rapid progress that one year will suffice and he expects to come back to Bluffton with his sister, in September. His uncle, Herman, who has been in Germany for an extended visit, has announced that he also will come home with his niece and nephew in the fall. Miss Hermina will be home Friday from Ohio for a visit of a week during spring vacation. —Bluffton News. o ACQUITTED OF FORGERY. Henry E. Agar Goes Clear at Princeton. Princeton, Ind., March 25. —Henry E. Agar was acquitted of the charge of forgery by a jury in the circuit court. The verdict was given at 4:55 this afternoon after the jury had been out three hours and forty minutes. Agar was seated by his attorney, Judge L. C. Embree, when the clerk read the verdict. His hearing is not perfect but he understood the verdict and his face lighted up as his attorney shook his hand. "It was what I expected.” said Agar to newspaper men, as he was leaving the court room. “I must telegraph my boy s in San Benito, Tex., the glad news.” The case went to the jury at 12:20 o’clock thfs afternoon, land after a short intermission for dinner the jury at ouce retired to deliberate. This is only one of the fifteen cases of forgery and intent to defraud charged ' against Agar, but it is not announced ar. this time whether or not the other cases will be taken up. Agar is still under bond of SSOO on seven of the remaining cases. It is doubtful, however, if any other cases are taken up, as this one was regarded as the strongest. The verdict was generally ' expected. o INFANT DIED THIS MORNING I i Carl Fremond Marhenke,three days’ • old son of Mr. and Mrs. Martin F. I Marhenke, of Root township, died iat 1:40 o’clock this morning, having • been 111 since birth with cramps and spasms. The funeral services will be I ’ held Friday afternoon at 1:30, Rev. j Hessert of this city in charge and! interment will be made at the Mon-1 j mouth cemetery. |

Price Two Cents

HELDINCLEVELAND The Boyles Will Be Indicted There But Tried in Pennsylvania PENALTY IS SEVERE A Woman Suspect Killed Herself—lnterest Continues Cleveland .Ohio, March 25—The Willie Whitla kidnapping case and the capture of the bold perpetrators, continues to be an absorbing topic here, although new developments are rather slow in culminating. There Is not the least doubt as to the guilt of the parties under arrest and it is likely that a few weeks will find them landed in the Pennsylvania prison, safe for many years to come. Boyle insists the woman taken with him is his wife, and though she said that her capture would cause a sensation in Sharon, she seems but slightly known. When the identification was completed Mr. Whitla would say nothing regarding the woman. He said he knew Boyle slightly. Immediately after Willie had seen the man and woman at the central station they were taken to the county court house and there appeared before the grand jury. They were examined for the purpose of aiding the jury in its attempt to find an Indictment against the man and woman. If an indictment is found it will be blackmail. This is based upon the payment of the SIO,OOO ransom paid by Mr. Whitla.

As Boyle and his wife are held by the police on suspicion an indictment will afford a means of placing them under arrest formally and then they can be held indefinitely. Immediately after leaving the grand jury room Mr. and Mrs. Whitla, Willie and the janitor of the Sharon school which Willie attended left for Sharon. As the prisoners have not waived extradition they will be held here for two or three days until the necessary papers for their removal to Sharon can be arranged between the governors of Ohio and Pennsylvania. A woman known as Mary Diner,who the police say may have been an associate of the kidnappers or was implicated in the plot, committed suicide today by drinking morphine. The woman drank the poison while standing in front of a drug store in the east end not far from the house in which Willie Whitla was detained here. She died in an ambulance while beng taken to a hospitable. County Prosecutor Cline, who is in charge of the grand jury, said that while he could not say what the grand jury would do, the man and woman could be held in Ohio on the charge of .blackmail. The prosecutor also said that the grand jury was taking the matter up merely as a precaution, as there were no present intentions of prosecuting the prisoners here. It would be better if they were tried in Pennsylvania, as the laws in that state are much more,,severe, the extreme penalty for kidnapping being life imprisonment, the prosecutor said. That is what they deserve if guilty. For that reason they will be taken to Sharon for trial first. If for any reason they escape punishment there they cannot escape entirely as we could arrest them and try them on the charge of blackmail. We shall watch the case closely.

MR. LEPPER DECLINES POSITION As Agent for the Wells-Fargo—Ben Elzey Wants the Job. Mr. Lepper, who came here yesterday from Fort Wayne to take the ; place of Harold Wilson, as agent for ' the Wells-Fargo express company, today decided that he did not care to assume the responsibility of an agency and declined the offer. He will prob- ’ ably return to Fort Wayne. The route . agent of the company was here today, checking up Mr. Wilson’s, accounts, and it was not known who would succeed Mr. Wilson. Ben Elzey who has been driving the wagon for a year I past, is making an effort toHand the Hob, and his selection would prove la popular one, as he is an industrious and clever young man.