Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 7, Number 85, Decatur, Adams County, 9 April 1909 — Page 1

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT.

Volume VII. Number 85.

TO BUILD NEW CHURCH Evangelical Congregation in Decatur Working Towards That End FUND IS STARTED Modern House of Worship Will Be Erected on Winchester Street The Evangelical congregation of this city are to have a new and handsome church. This is not to happen immediately, but plans which have been under way for some months assure it for the not very distant future. While this may surprise many of our readers, it will not the members, who are manifesting much interest in the project. The idea Is to secure at least a good part of the necessary money for the purpose before any actual steps are taken. With this idea in view, the Sunday school and the Ladies’ Aid Society are quite busy. The members individually are also working to increase the fund by means of the birthday boxes which have been given over to the fund. Beginning last New Years, the Sun- I day school have been giving the first Lords’ day collection in each month to the building fund, and this is growing rapidly. The Aid Society is doing its share by placing sixty per cent of its earnings in the fund and thus every one in the church is working toward the one end —a new house of worship. The church offering and that of the Missionary Society are I retained to pay expenses, but if there; is any surplus, the money will go to. the new project. The present church, i though comfortable, is too small and is Inconvenient. The new one will be a building of architectural beauty, commodoius and modern in every way. with rooms for each department. The present plans are that the' old church and the parsonage be sold, this money converted to the fund and the new edifice erected where these buildings now stand. The effort is most commendable and will be re- • ceived with pleasure and aided in every way possible by the good peo-1 pie of Decatur and vicinity.

SMITH FOR MAYOR Present City Clerk of Bluffton Gets Nomination for Executive THE OTHER WINNERS Hot City Campaign Closes Race for Clerk Was the Closest Bluffton, Ind., April 9.—A Democratic city primary in which interest centered in the races for mayor, clerk and treasurer, resulted in nominations as follows: For mayor—A. W. Hamilton, to succeed himself, 220; Frank Smith, present city clerk, 289; and George Mock, a young attorney, 194. Smith's plurality over Hamilton, 69. For clerk—William Poffenberger, 331, and Thomas J. McDowell, 318. McDowell's plurality 13. For treasurer —Wilson Grove, for re-nomination, 407; John Miller, 138; and Hugh Stout, 154. Grove’s plurality, 253. For councilmen-at-large George Rinear, 373; Arthur Hurd, 341; Morris Edris, 202, and William Cline, 177. Two were to be nominated and Rinear and Hurd are the nominees. Council, First ward—Thomas Bulger (the only candidate), 130. Second ward —Eli Miller, 153, and J. B. Clark, present incumbent, 105. Miller’s plurality, 48. Third ward —Lewis Staver, 121; Arthur Costello, 70, and Jeff Prough, 63. Stayer’s plurality, 58. The Republicans will nominate late in the summer by convention.

GRICE IS GROOMED FOR MAYOR Friends of Former Sheriff Getting Him in the Race. Mr. Jesse Grice, former sheriff of Allen county, will within the next few days enter the race for the republican mayoralty nomination, according to some of his closest intimates. Mr. Grice has been talked of for the nomination for two years, and while he was still serving as sheriff some of the party leaders began a course of grooming for him. More recently, however, Mr. Grice has been undecided and during the past few weeks informed a number of his friends that he w’ould not seek the nomination. But this didn’t suit exPolice Judge Robert B. Dreibelbiss and he has been working hard to get Mr. Grice into the race with, it is said, such a degree of success that Mr. Grice has consented to allow his name to be used, and, if the prospects looks favorable, he will become an active candidate and make his announcement within a week. —Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette.

MRS. MARTZ DEAD Fell from Sled Last January and Sustained a Broken Hip DIED THIS MORNING Other Complications Add to Her Sufferings—Was Well Known Mrs. George H. Martz, one of the best known women of Monroe township, died at six o’clock this morning after suffering for several months from a complication of ailments. On the 14th of January last, while attempting to alight from a sled at the Pleasant Valley church she slipped and fell, sustaining a broken hip. She recovered, but while still on crutcher, fell again and the hip was again fractured. To this injury were added an attack of grippe, sciatic rheumatism and other complications which completely wore her out and death came as a relief today. She was fifty years old, having been born in Union township, this county, December 26, 1850. Her maiden name was Martin, and she was formerly married to 'William Stodgill, her marriage to Mr. Martz occurring April 26, 1877. She is survived by her husband and five children, two sons and three daughters. The funeral services will be held Monday afternoon at one o’clock from the Pleasant Valley church, the Rev. Johnson, probably officiating. Mrs. Martz had many acquaintances over the county, who will be grieved to hear of her death, and who will console with the sorrowing relatives.

GOT TEN DAYS IN JALL Tramp Who Has Been on a Spree Here Was Taken Up. A drunken knife and scissor sharpener, who has been on a spree here for several days, was picked up last evening by Shriff Meyer and taken to jail after causing considerable trouble by his insulting remarks. He was arraigned before Squire Smith this morning and plead gulty to the charge of plain drunk, and was fined a dollar and costs amounting to $9.30. He went to jail and the only bad feature of the affair is that this is just what the reprobate wanted, a chance to spend a few days indoors until the weather warms up again.

SOLD SOME FINE CATTLE The County Receives a Fat Check for Cattle Sold Today. Jacob Graber, the superintendent of the county infirmary, this morning sold ten head of fine steers, and in payment therefor received a check for $956.40. This but again demonstrates the management of affairs at the infirmary. Mr. Graber is great on raising good stock, and the markets each year gets the best that Is raised. W. 11. Rupright made the purchase and ■will ship the cattle east, where he will get the top price.

Decatur, Indiana, Friday Evening, April 9, 1909.

A GREAT SYSTEM In Railroad Lines Has Been Organized—Clover Leaf a Part of It NEARLY 5,000 MILES Reaches from East Coast to the Dakotas, Through Rich Country The Clover Leaf railroad, which comparatively a few years ago, was a narrow guage, and the laughing stock of the railroad and traveling world, is now to become a part of one of the greatest systems in the entire country, extending from the Atlantic coast to the Missouri river and on to the Dakotas, with a probability in the future of reaching from coast to coast. Behind this enterprise stand the Hawley interest, allied with which are John W. Gates, Theodore P. Shonts, Paul Morton and a number of other influential capitalists. These interests already have acquired control of the Chesapeake & Ohio, the Toledo, St. Louis and Western, the Chicago & Alton, the lowa Central and the Minneapolis & St. Louis. It is reported on reliable authority that they have also obtained fiontrol of the Chicago, Cincinnati & Louisville road, which has been in the market for some time and which will form a direct connecting link between the Alton-Clover Leaf lines and the Chesapeake & Ohio, over which the Atlantic coast will be reached. The combination thus formed will constitute a system of 4,892 miles of main track, representing a total capitalization of $358,908,549. It will reach tidewater at Portsmouth and extend to the Missouri river at Kansas City on the south and at Le Beau, S. D., on the north, passing through the Twin Cities. The lines of this system traverse some of the largest and most productive agricultural sections in the country, having tributary to them the wheat fields of the Dakotas, the great corn belts of lowa, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. They tap rich coal fields in every section of country J touched by them, and have located on various parts of the system large and varied industrial establishments that ship a vast tonnage of manufactured articles.

TO WED NEXTWEEK Announcement of the Approaching Marriage of Miss Kittie Smith WILL VISIT HERE The Groom is Mr. Albert Laughtnot, an Electrician of Hammond The announcement has been received here that Miss Katherine Smith, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William R. Smith, of this county, will be united In marriage on next Wednesday evening to Mr. Albert Laughtnot, of Hammond, Indiana. The wedding will occur in that city, and will be followed by a reception to their friends. They will come to this city on Thursday and at six o’clock that evening, according to Invitations issued today will be the guests of honor at a reception to be given at the home of the bride’s parents, east of the city. They will visit here about two weeks, after which they will return to Hammond and make their future home there. Mr. Laughtnot is an electrician, a popular and prosperous young man and we congratulate him on securing so charming a young lady as his bride. Miss Kittle, as she is known here, has a host of friends who join us in offering best wishes. Two well known girls, clerks at one of the stores in the city, are soon to be married. They are very reticent concerning the subject, however, and have requested that their names be withhld till after the event occurs.

WILL PREACH ON NEXT SUNDAY Rev. Valentine Has Three Assignments on the Decatur Circuit. The old Decatur Methodist circuit is composed of the Washington, Beulah, Pleasant Valley, Mt. Pleasant and Alpha churches. At the Greenfield conference Rev. J. C. Valentine was assigned to the pastorate of these congregations and on next Sunday he will preach at Beulah at 10:30 in the morning, at 3:00 in the afternoon at Washington, and at 7:30 in the evening at Pleasant Valley. Rev. Valentine is a good preacher, an exceptionally good pastor, and the congregations comprising this circuit are more than pleased with the assignment.

IT’S THE SECOND Adams County Commencement to Be Held in June DIPLOMA “EXAM” Second Diploma Examination Will Be on April 17 All the township trustees were in the city yesterday attending a meeting with County Superintendent Opliger. At this meeting it was settled and sealed by the unanimous voice and vote of every trustee in the county that the second Adams county commencement would occur this year in June, perhaps the 10th. This news will please every public school in the county, and besides that, it will please a large number of the patrons and others who are interested in the education of the American youth. It is likely, too, that the commencement will be held in this city, as the one last year was at Berne and the north half of the county may lay claim to the honor and distinction of entertaining this commencement, and have all the argument for such a claim. There are also many from this part !of the county who will be in the class of graduates. The first county commencement was held last year and 'it was the greatest success ever attained by any similar event. At the meeting yesterday many matters appertaining to the schools, the school laws, and school matters in general were discussed. Much time was given to the enumeration of school children and the manner and method of taking such enumeration. The trustees are all new in their official work and this meeting equipped them for the numeration work. They will begin their work tomorrow and will complete the same within twenty days. An effort will be made to get a perfect enumeration this year. County Superintendent Opliger wants it announced that the second diploma examination will be held at the central school building in this city on Saturday, April 17. A similar examination which was held on March 20, will be known the last of this week or the first of next. Mr. Opliger says that forty per cent of the country pupils were successful in that examination. This speaks for itself in denoting the efficient work that is’ being done in the public schools, and about doubles the .per cent of success over last year.

FILED MOTION FOR NEW TRIAL Anderson, Ind., April 9. —Mrs. Lydia McTurnan, wife of ex-Asslstant Superinendent of Public Instruction Lawrence McTurnan, filed a motion for a new trial in the divorce proceedings recently passed on in the circuit court, in whch Mr. McTurnan was granted a divorce and the custody of the child. The motion was overruled and the case may be carried to the supreme court. Mrs. McTurnan has been in California for the past year and was not present in court at the time of the hearing of the case. o Although he refused to say good-by to his mother and brother, Leonard Sebastian Board, a Wells county boy arrested for incorrigibility, wept bitterly because he was compelled to leave a small cur dog behind. He has been sent to the Julia Work Industrial home.

TWO APPOINTED Appointments for State House Custodian is Made GET TO COURTS T. F. Colbert the Lucky Democrat if He Gets It Indianapolis, April 9. —Otway Baker, custodian of the state house, will be called upon on the morning of April 15 by two men, both of whom will demand the keys of the state capltol. One will be Thomas F. Colbert, former chief of police of Indianapolis, and a Democrat; the other will be Charles J. Wheeler of Noblesville, a Republics. Both Wheeler and Colbert were appointed to the custodianship yesterday, the latter by Governor Marshall and the former by Fred A. Sims, secretary of state, and John C. Billheimer auditor of state, who make up the Republican members of the boaid.

which, they contend, has the power to make the appointment. The appointee who fails to get the keys will likely file quo warranto proceedings in the Marion county courts and the matter will be rushed through to the supreme court without delay. It is altogether probable that Baker will recognize the authority of Wheeler and give him the keys. The announcement of the selection of Wheeler to succeed Baker came as a surprise. His appointment was a compromise ’on four or five applicants for the position. Mr. Sims desired the appointment of Mr. Wheeler in preference to some others, but Mr. Billheirner held out for the re-appoint-ment of Baker. A commission was issued to Mr. Colbert by Governor Marshall shortly before the latter’s departure for the east. It will be held in the govenor’s office until April 15, at which time Baker’s term expires, and on that day it will be presented to the Democratic appointee. A certificate of appointment was issued to Wheeler, signed by Sims and Billheimer, and it will be this upon which he will demand the keys to the state house, toopenTgarage Fred Harris, of Warren, Will Probably Locate in Decatur FIELD IS GOOD

And Mr. Harris Being a Good Fellow is Sure to Make Good Fred Harris, of Warren, and one of the best boys who ever wore the “goggles” or tooted the “honk’’ on an auto, was here, yesterday on a business errand of importance to himself and to this community. He is contemplating the opening of a garage in this city. He has his eye on the Weber livery building on north Sec- • ond street, now occupied by the Scheiman & Butler stable and who are closing out. If he can secure this place he will likely open here, his business being to take care of cars, repair them and handle the necessary supplies. He is also the agent for the Overland automobile, made by the company located at Indianapolis, and who recently bought the Pbpe-Toledo plant at Toledo, one of the largest factories in the world. Wc would like to see Mr. Harris locate in Decatur. ' He is a prince of good fellows, a gentleman and would make a most desirable citizen. Come on in, Fred, r move to the best town in the state. I We need you and you need us. r O Miss Helen Walters is quite sick > at her home. She was not able to > attend school yesterday or today. But by Monday she will no doubt be able to resume her duties there.

ENDLESS CHAIN LETTERS AGAIN Contain a Foolish Threat—May be Violation of Postal Laws. Some crank is again sending out his series of endless chain letters and numerous Decatur women receive them each day 1 . The letters seem to have started from Chicago, and in the form used several years ago, asking a prayer and adding that the lady who receives same must send out one letter each day for nine days. If she don’t the epistle goes on to say she will suffer some terrible calamity and if she does on the ninth day she will receive some great blessing. (Such letters are almost too silly to receive notice, and no person will, of course, pay any attention to them except the very foolish. It is quite probable that in sending such a letter to your friends as requested you are violating the postal laws and might have to answer to Uncle Sam, for it is a direct violation of law to send a threat through the mails and these letters can be classed as that. We advise you to pay no attention to any such letters. o MORE GOOD PLACES Plans Looking Good for a Permanent Tariff Commission IN THE SENATE Tariff Fight Only Begun— Representative Barnhart Tells Them Something Washington, April 9. —The plans for the creation of a permanent tariff 1 commission at this session of congress are taking definite form. The commission ayiow proposed by those are shaping the legislation is to consist of seven men, each of whom is to receive a salary of SIO,OOO a year. The members of the commission are to be appointed by the president and it is intended that two of them shall be tariff experts. The others are to be level-headed men of affairs, who have a comprehensive grasp of tariff problems. Washington, April 9. —Competent observers here have an impression that the real fight over tariff revision has hardly begun. They seem to be I led to this impression }>y certain manifestations in the senate. Within the last few days Republican senators of the progressive type,who would like an opportunity to assist in breaking the spell which Senator Aldrich seems to have cast over the senate, have been quietly holding conferences with the view of agreeing on some program to be carried out when the new tariff bill is brought into the senate.

Washington. April 9. —Representative Henry A. Barnhart of Indiana delivered some very pointed, remarks on the tariff to the house of representatives yesterday. He scored the vigorous lobbies that are here and incidentally paid his respects to congressmen who legislate “for their districts” without regard to the country at large. He warned the opponents of free hides that they will be in danger of losing their own political hides. •r © • ANOTHER ADAMS CO. WRITER The story of the Catacombs, by Edythe Blake-Hedges, is a new book just placed on the market. We have not had the pleasure of its perusal, but have seen the book and it is attractively bound, finely Illustrated and printed. The authoress is the daughter of Rev. and Mrs. C. King of this place. The fact that the book was introduced into conference at Greenfield and placed on sale at the conference book store, speaks very creditably for the publication.—Geneva Herald. L. R. Blossom, now a resident of Willshire, was in the city on business today. Mr. Blossom has lived all his life in this county until the first of last month, when he moved to Willshire, and Intends to live there the remainder of his life. For a time he thought of coming here, but later! changed hs mind and flirted with ourl neighboring little town across the », state line. I 1

Price Two Cents

BIDDERS ARE HERE Several Concerns Want the Contract for Steel Tubed Boilers BUILDING CONTRACT Bids for the City Building Will Be Opened on April 20 A Representatives of some of the large boiler concerns in the country are in the city figuring on the plans and specifications for two new boilers for the electric light plant. The new boilers are to be steel tubed four hundred horse power each, and to in every way conform to the specifications. These boilers have been needed for some time and when they have been placed in position the electric light plant will be ready to serve the people and to give them the best service that is going. In the meantime the patrons .vill have to overlook good light, as the condition of the boilers in use, will not permit any better service than is now being given. ■ On the following Tuesday evening. April 20, bids will be opened for the new city building that will be erected on the city lots on Monroe street. Local contractors are now busy with the plans, and it is expected that several bids will be filed for it. According to the plans the building will be a beauty, and will contain offices for all the city officials and a council chamber that will accommodate all who attend the sessions of the council. The building will be erected during the summer. On April 27, the council will again received bids for the $12,000 worth of building bonds for the contemplated city building. The bonds are desirable property and will be bid in by a more reliable bank or bonding concern than the last one. o Mrs.' Sarah B. Schafer of this city has gone to West Philadelphia, Pa., where she will visit for several months. o IS PINCHED AGAIN Frank Cotton. Wanted at Huntington, Arrested Here ON FORGERY CHARGE Sheriff of Huntington County Arrives to Take Prisoner There

Frank Cotton, the Bluffton despar- ’ ado, who has the record for having cashed more worthless checks, forged more papdr and then dodged the prison more times than any man in the state of Indiana, was again captured this afternoon, Deputy Sheriff Ed Green making the arrest at the Harmon saloon. It is said Cotton has been here for two or three days, but [ has kept under cover. He is wanted at Huntington where he cashed a worthless check, a forgery on his ‘ father, calling for five dollars. The , sheriff of Huntington county arr rived this afternoon and will take the - prisoner back with him. He is willing to wager a little that the young man won't be so lucky there as he f has been elsewhere, but there are 31 some who will not believe it until I Frank has really been sent up. He : seems to bear a sort of charmed life when it comes to keeping out of prison, but then he may break in if he keeps up the lick. There was a time when he had the sympathy of | many, but his persistent crimes have 'ended that, and it is doubtful if his father wll even aid him thia time.