Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 7, Number 79, Decatur, Adams County, 2 April 1909 — Page 1

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT.

Volume VII. Number 79.

HABEAS CORPUS Writ is Demand by John Kule Who is Said to Be Insane INSISTS HE IS RIGHT Judge Merryman Will Meet the Parties at Clerks’ Office Tonight Just before noon today. Attorney L C. DeVoss, representing John Kule, filed papers at tne county clerk's office, asking for the release of Kule, on a writ of habeas corpus. Kule was arrested by Marshal Butler a few days ago, after he had caused a disturbance at the Old Adams County bank, where he claimed to have $40,000 which he says was placed there by some stranger. He has been making these demands for some time, and on this occasion was locked up and an insanity inquest held. The members of the board say the man seems perfectly sane on other questions, but his hallucination on this is so strong that they will likely declare him insar.e. The petition filed today says ithat he is sane and asks his Immediate release. It was impossible to i secure action on the writ today as .Judge Merryman is at Portland. He [was communicated with and agreed Ito meet the parties at the clerk's office at 8:30 this evening. Kule will probably be given a hearing in the circuit court within a few days, and !the judge will be allowed to decide whether or not the man is insane. He is a ditcher and is said to be a good worker, but frequently imbibes too freely and during these spells is said to be a little on the mean order.

WERE INTERVIEWED Decatur Teachers Photographed by a Special Star Reporter PUBLISHED TODAY Miss Smith Likes Teaching —Miss Sellemeyer Wants Teachers to Unite j A staff photographer for the Indianapolis, Terre Haute and Muncie Stars, secured a good likeness of two Decatur ladies who are attending the ■ teachers' meeting at Indianapolis. Their pictures appeared in this morning's issues above the following interview: ■ Indianapolis, April 2.—Miss Nora Smith, teacher of English in the high schools of Decatur, is having her first year’s experience in school teaching. “I like it and expect to stick to it,” she said. After graduating from Indi- : ana university Miss Smith took a special course in Wellesley college, coming back to Indiana immediately after 1 she completed her work. Miss Della Sellemeyer, also is a teacher in the 1 Decatur schools. She is one of the: teachers who believe that the north-J ern and southern organizations ought; to be combined. “We have too many, associations in the state,” she said, : “and we ought to have only one.” ' . i

oRANDOLPH COUNTY GRAND JURY In Session Twenty-Two Days and Returned 238 Indictments. Winchester, Ind., April 2.—The relent Randolph county grand jury was a record breaker in point of the ength and diligence of its session. Twenty-two working days were put n and 238 Indictments were returnid, five of which were for felonies ind the remainder for misdemean>rs, nearly all of which were alleged delations of the state's complex 11|uor laws. The cost of the session ya s a little over SSOO and this exceeded the appropriation made by the lounty council, which did not antici »te such an extended meeting.

GRAND JURY ON MONDAY. The Shooting of Alonzo Uptegraft to be Investigated. Samuel J. King has served summons on the six men composing the grand jury drawn for the present term of the circuit court whom Judge LaFollette ordered to report on next Monday morning. One of their first duties will be to investigate all the circumstances connected with the recent shooting of Alonzo Uptegraft, the Jackson township man, by Marshall John Depew of Bryant, who put a bullet in his head as he -was attempting to escape. Another case of serious character, involving a wellknown resident of Madison township, his daughter and brother-in-law, will also receive attention. The case of Dr. Arthur J. Smith, confined in the county jail, awaiting trial for removing mortgaged personal property, will also receive attention.

ASK FOR MINISTER Decatur Trustees Return from M. E. Conference at Greenfield YESTERDAY’S WORK Home for Aged at Warren Was Principle Subject of Discussion

Messrs. A. J. Smith and John Niblick have returned from Greenfield, Indiana, where they attended the opening sessions of the North Indiana M. E. conference. They represented the board of trustees of the Decatur church and their mission was to make an effort to secure the services of an able minister to succeed Rev. Wilcox, who has resigned. They met the board at Grenfield, but of course nothing definite has been done toward naming the ministers as yet, and probably no Information can be had before next Monday or Tuesday. While no official announcement has been made, It is known that a large number of the members here would appreciate it, if the conference should send the Rev. Edwards, who has been located at Fort Wayne, to this charge. The conference yesterday discussed plans for beginning work on the new memorial home for the aged to be erected at Warren, Ind., where 360 acres of land have already been set aside by endowment as a site. Work on the first building will begin shortly after the conference adjourns next Monday. The Rev. Mr. Parr paid a glowing tribute to Mr. and Mrs. William Chopson of Warren, who have endowed ! the new home to the extent of $65,000. The citizens of Warren have purchased sixty acres as the building site proper. The remaining 300 acres will be farmed for the support of the institution. The home Is to be maintained by a corporation of several thousand members organized in May, 1908, and now managed by a board of eleven trustees, of which six are ministers and five are laymen. It is likely that the home will ultimately become a largo institution.with the entire state as tributary territory. Tho first building will have a capacity of seventy-five Inmates. The home will be opened at first at least to all aged ministers or laymen, man or woman, in the North Indiana conference.

The reports of the superintendents were resumed and Dr. Wade reported a gain of 552 members in his district during the last year, and that every county was "dry” except Allen, and that all of the saloons were corralled in Fort Wayne. One of the questions to come before the conference tomorrow will be that of recommending the proposed increase in the number of trustees at DePauw university by the addition of ten trustees at large.

WEALTHY FARMER IS DEAD Christ Fisher, late of Mercer county. living just across the Jefferson, j township. Adams county line, died last Saturday at his late home. He suffered a stroke of paralysis which caused his demise. The deceased was a large landholder and was well known over the southern part of Adams county. His funeral was held Monday at which time a large following ’of sorrowing friends paid last rejspects to his memory.

COLONISTS MEET Organizers and Owners of Fort Wayne Section of Texas Held Session IN THIS CITY Hear Report of Secretary Who Has Just Returned from South The Lutheran colony of Adams and Allen counties, composed of men from this section who are planning on making their future homes in Texas, held a meeting at the Grand theater in this city yesterday afternoon. There are about forty members of the association, and they have already purchased about 12,000 acres of land in the great south. Os this number thirty-five were present yesterday to hear the report of the secretary, C. H. Getting, who has just returned from a trip to the property. It has been a matter of great discussion as to whether or not water could be obtained on the land and if so at what depth. During this trip, Mr. Getting had a well drilled on the ground, set apart for the church, and reported that a splendid well of water was the result at 222 feet. A colonists house has been erected on the property and the necessary money was raised yesterday to pay for this and the well. The house is used by the men as a temporary stopping place when they reach Texas and until they have a chance to provide a home for them-

PEOPLE OF PREBLE SHOW PROSPERITY AND PROGRESS

There is not, within the boundaries of the great state of Indiana, an agriculture district nor a people who measure up to the standard of ideality in the various departments of business life more completely than is true in Preble and its township, this fact having been vividly impressed upon the mind of a Democrat representative who yesterday paid a visit to the enterprising village. When the thoughts of the people revert to the early history of Preble, the name of David Werling is associated with its progress, he being the promoter of every enterprise which has since contributed to the advancement of the town. Sixty years since, this venerable gentlemen came with his parents to Adams county and fifteen years later he removed to Preble township,where he purchased land at the nominal cost of six dollars per acre. Roads were then a luxury and the only neighbor to the Werlings was Daniel Weldy, who now resides in Decatur. Mr. Werling after accumulating two hundred acres of land and even before, inaugurated movements for the erection of buildings on his land, and as a consequence the town of Preble is in its entirety located on the land which was once owned by him, In fact he still possesses a goodly portion of the village. In the year 1888 A C. Miller, superintendent of the Standard Oil company was desirous of purchasing land in the county and after being unsuccessful in securing a tract near Decatur he made an offer to Mr. Werling, which was hastily accepted and during the following year a tank was erected on the six acre strip of land located north of the Erie railroad, where now stands a number of the massive receptacles. Within a short time another tank was erected and they have continued to build tanks until they are now seventeen in number, with each one having a capacity of 36,000 barrels of oil. , The tanks are not the only evidence of the existence of the Standard station, and its progressiveness. A boiler house with dimensions 40 ft. by 152 ft. located south of the railroad contains twelve mamoth boilers, four feed pumps, two heaters and a six hundred barrel water purifier. The pump house 55x103 is also well equipped. There are several other buildings, including the office and operator’s room. As an evidence of the value of the Standard to Preble, their pay roll monthly averages more than $1,500. Seventeen men are employed regularly and often there are large forces of extra

Decatur, Indiana, Friday Evening, April 2, 1909.

selves. The land is located in Parmer county, and the town is to be known as Fort Wayne. Charley Lavall who accompanied Mr. Ooetting south remained and is farming his 160 acres. Herman Reinking will leave soon for the Texas territory and will remain there for the summer, probably returning here in the fall, and leaving his farm in charge of his son. Next autumn, according to present plans, about a hall dozen families will go to the new territory and from then on the members will gradually join the southern colony. The president of the company, William Hockemeyer, ex-commission-er of Allen county, presided at the meeting yesterday. o LOOKING FOR A VACANCY Sweeney StHI Holds onto the Office of Fish and Game Warden. Indianapolis, April 2. —The Democratic aspirants to the office of fish and game commissioner, to succeed Z. T. Sweeney, are somewhat concerned over the fai’ure of the resignation of Mr. fTMcney to appear in the office of the governor. Announcement was made by Mr. Sweeney during the session of the legisislature that he expected to hand in his resignation before long, but thus far it has failed to put in an appearance, and some of those who seek the appointment are wondering whether he has changed his mind. The appointment of the fish and game commissioner rests entirely with the governor, and as Sweeney was reappointed by former Governor Hanly before the expiration of the latter’s term of office, jt is evident that many of the Democratic applicants were informed that he was contemplating sending in his resignation.

By R. Earl Peters men employed. The seventeen tanks located at Preble receive oil from the Indiana, Illinois and Kansas fields principally, and it is pumped from here to other points. Two employes of the Standard have new and up to date homes under construction at the present time. These are Charles Foreman, fireman, and Ora Newhard. an employe of the pump house. The Preble Telephone company is also arranging to erect a residence in which the operator will reside and these buildings will be modern in every respect. A fact which cannot be overlooked in relating the story of the Standard Oil company is their possession of seventy-eight acres of land, sixty of which is located in Kirkland township, and the remaining eighteen in Preble township. Not since the construction of the first building in Preble has the town shown the slightest indication oj retrogression, but she has prospered beyond the fondest hopes of her admirers. While there are but two hundred and fifty inhabitants in the town, they are of th* tried and true type Eighty per cent of the citizenship of Preble township is German, people whose integrity, honesty or loyalty has never been subjected to the sightest criticism. For thrift and enterprise they are unequaled and by arduous labor the Preble township farmers have accumulated neat (fortunes'. Their farms are well improved, they have advantage of telephone service and other conveniences which go to make an ideal country home. The residents are mindful of their duties at all times and this accounts for the scarcity of law suits and other unpleasant happenings emanating from that vicinity. Preble township is a little government of which Adams county can well be proud. The dread scarlet fever which has invaded the homes of fourteen Preble township families is nearly stamped out, there being but two homes under quarantine at the present time. These will be released next Saturday. There are many sufferers from lagrippe in Preble and vicinity. Dr. Grandstaffl has many patients who are suffering from the excruciating ailment. William Jaebker, storekeeper at Treble, is making all preliminary arrangements for the construction of a new store building which will be modern. The structure will be built this spring, and when completed will be a credit to the town. Mr. Jaebker enjoys a wide patronage and he is

WILL REDUCE DEBT City Council Have Spirit to Reduce Indebtedness ARE FINANCIERS Each Citizen Should Assume Same Responsibility At the next meeting of the city council the dads will endeavor to release more of the debts which overhang the muncipality. In this art they are certainly the goods. The council realize the essentiality of relieving Decatur of her Indebtedness and they are putting forth every efi fort to that end. By the way their success in this is marked and the gentlemen are gaining for themselves a reputation as financiers. Let every citizen lend his assistance in the ' movement. Get in the harness and assume the responsibility that befalls I a well meaning citizen and the task i will be easy and the burden light. , Decatur has never before enjpyed the prevalenc of optimsim as is the ' case at present. Every indication [ points to future prosperity beyond i precedent and there is a harmony I among the citizenship unequalled in ' the annals of the history of the city. There is not a conscientious American citizen w y ho does not realize the necessity of vigilance, there is not one who does not enjoy the prosi (Continued on page 2.)

one of the men who have done much to make Preble what it is today. Land which was bought by David Werling about forty years ago for six dollars per acre sold to the Standard Oil company later for two hundred dollars per. He still owns much land in that vicinity, which cannot be bought for $125 per acre. This is another of the many evidences of Preble’s advancement. Among those who have figured conspicuously as promoters of the interest of Preble, is Jeff Klopfenstein, who sixteen years ago opened to the public a place of business in a building of small proportions. He did a thriving business, and to keep in pace with his rapidly increasing patronage, he built a beautiful buildng with all modern improvements a few years ago. This structure cost about SIO,OOO, and it has every convenience known. Mr. Klopfenstein immediately after the completion of the building, engaged in the hotel business, and he now owns a livery business, barber shop, meat shop, saloon and hotel. Dr. J. C. Grandstaff, coroner of Adams county, who resides at Preble, went from Hoagland to his present place of abode years ago. He has prospered as he deserved ami today he is one of the leading physicians of the county. Since being there he has been identified with the business interests of the town, and is now secretary of the Preble Telephone company. He is comfortably quartered in a well built and convenient office, and he is enjoying a liberal patronage. John Hoffmann, (representing the Heat and Lighting company which has secured a franchise from the Decatiii council, authorizing them to do business in the city, passed through Preble yesterday. He is making an effort to purchase right of way for the laying of pipes. The saw mill and tile mill are owned by David Werling, and although inactive at the present time, they have in their time turned out much material. In fact the lumber for the construction of most of the houses in Preble was prepared in the saw mill. The scarcity of timber has made it impossible to operate the mill on full time. Albert Huser, proprietor of the elevator, is doing a good business. Several men are in his employ, and he is contributing to the success of, i Preble. I'

THE EVANGELICAL CONFERENCE Has Convened at Elkhart —The Society Officers. Elkhart, Ind., April 1. —The fiftyseventh annual session of the Indiana conference of the Evangelical asso ciation was called to order in the First Evangelical church of this city by Bishop S, C, Breyfogle. of Reading, Pa., today. The Indiana conference embraces all the charges in this state, with a few over the line in southern Illinois. The Missionary society elected officers as follows: President, Levi Newmann, of Rochester; vice president, G. B. Kimmel, of Dayton, O.; secretary, J. W. Metzner, of Huntington; treasurer, P. L. Browns, of Kendallville; delegate to general board, S. H. Baumgartner, of Indianapolis. The Sunday school union elected: P. L. Browns, of Kendallville; vice president, W. E. Snyder, of Ridgeville; secretary-treasurer, M. W. Sunderman, of Evansville.

THE SENATE BOSS Senator Aldrich in Demand by Every One Just Now WON A POINT Duty on Tea and Coffee is to Be Cut Out of New Tariff Washington,, April X—'Nelson W. Aldrich, the senator from Rhode Island —that little state has another senator, but no one ever remembers his name —is the most sought after man in public life today. Up the marble steps to the new senate office building and down the long white corridor moves a constant stream of men looking for this quiet, elusive senator. Why are they seeking him? Because the finance committee is making a tariff bill —the real tariff bill —and he is the finance committee. This committee has taken quarters in the new office building, and the architectural arrangements are such that only the initiated can find the “boss of the senate.” The committee has a suit of eight, ten, twelve, fourteen — no one knows just how many rooms. All that is known definitely is that the man who is making the tariff bill is in the last room in the suit. Washington, April 2. —The backbone of insurgency was broken in the house of representatives and a clear -way was paved for the passage of the Payne tariff bill through the house. This important step in the progress of tariff legislation was not achieved until after the house leaders had made a number of concessions to the element that has been rampant for changes in the Payne bill. Four or five especially important concessions are granted. Coffee and tea will go free of duty. There will be no such tax levied on the “poor man's breakfast table.” Washington, April 2. —Members of the Indiana delegation were surprised to learn that John W. Boehme, representative from the First district has managed to corral a large and assorted supply of documents, maps, etc., for distribution among his constituents. They are wondering how he did it

OPEN RESTAURANT AT MONROE A. B. Bailey Sells His Drygoods and Notion Department, Not Grocery. A. B. Bailey, of Monroe was in town today on his way to Fort Wayne, where he will attend to business, purchasing the necessary supplies and stock to open a first-class restaurant at Monroe. He has sold the dry goods and notion department of his store i to W. L. Keller, but Bert retains I the grocery line, and will in addition | operate a restaurant and eating house. I He will serve hot lunch, lots of it, and all kinds at any hour of the] day, and it is safe to say that he|< will enjoy a good patronage. j;

Price Two Cents

WILL BE IN DEMAND L. A. Holthouse and M. Leavell Apply for Patent IT LOOKS GOOD A New Idea in Bracing Shafts on Vehicles Through their attorneys, Peterson & Moran, Milt Leavell and L. A. Holthouse have applied for a patent on a shaft brace which these gentlemen have invented and which will be in great demand when placed on the market. Those who use vehicles with shafts attached will readily see the merits of the new invention when they are informed that the newly invented shaft rod consists of three circular bends with no welds therein. It is placed on the shaft and extends to the cross rod in such a manner as will hold secure the cross rods and shafts, thus doing laway with the re-welding of the rods now in use. Mr. Leavell has made two models which will be forwarded to the patent authorities and without a doubt the patent will be granted without hesitation. Before making application the Decatur gentlemen had an examination made of the records which revealed the fact that no other similar device has been acted upon, hence it is patentable. The new shaft brace has been given a trial and it proves very satisfactory and without doubt Messrs. Leavell and Holthouse will reap a bountiful reward for their inventive ability.

THE HORSES SOLD At Bid Auction Today But Prices Were Off COST TOO MUCH Two Hundred and Fifty Head Find New Homes Another horse sale was held today by the Decatur Horse company and more than two hundred and fifty head of excellent animals were disposed of to the highest bidders. The buyers for the local company experienced difficulty in purchasing the horses from the farmers at a price that will justify their shipment to the eastern market as was clearly proven today when many animals brought less than their first cost. A good representation of eastern buyers were here and placed bids on the horses, but the prices were twenty-five dollars off on nearly all that were sold. The Decatur Horse company has done a big business. They have disposed of many horses and handled much money, but this is not proof of their success financially. Horses are rather scarce and are extremely hard to buy. Several more sales will be held before the season closes unless local buyers fail to buy animals at right prices. Mr. McNabb, of Ashland, Ohio, held the hammer and as usual he did well.

KING’S DAUGHTERS ELECT. j Fort Wayne Ladies Among Those Chosen at Terre Haute. Terre Haute, Ind., April 1. —The 1 King’s Daughters of Indiana elected ’ the following officers today: State secretary. Miss Nellie Filbeck, Terre 1 Haute; assistant secretary, Miss Mart garet Vesey, Fort Wayne; recording ; I secretary, Miss Clara Lock. Terre , I Haute; treasurer, Mrs. T. E. Heiz, I Madison; executive board, Mrs. Lewis j Orth, Terre Haute; Mrs. Charles IWodruff. Ligonier; Mrs. Frank Wall, | Logansport; Mrs. J. Ellsworth Monroe. Connersville; Mrs. Robert Hardring, Fort Wayne. Indianapolis was chowen as the place for meeting next i yea?.