Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 7, Number 175, Decatur, Adams County, 24 July 1909 — Page 1

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT.

Volume VII. Number 175.

ELEVATOR DESTROYED I Niblick & Company’s Big I Grain Elevator Was Completely Destroyed ■THIS AFTERNOON I Loss is SB,OOO With But $3,000 Insurance—May Not Be Rebuilt I “ | A fire originating from a spark ■which fell upon the roof of the NibBlick and Company elevator located on ■west Monroe street, completely devasStated the structure this afternoon, the ■contents as well being totally deHtetroved before the mighty sweep of ■the flames. At two-thirty o’clock this ■afternoon Charles Niblick, who has ■t>een employed at the elevator, dis■covered a blaze and an alarm was imUmediately sent in. The flames, aided ■by a north westerly wind, soon envelBoped the building and before the fire ■department was on the scene the ■warehouse was but a mass of flames, ■the fire giving forth so much heat that ■the laddies could scarcely get close enough to throw the stream upon the figSstructure. Hose were attached at three 3 different dydrants and the laddies Unlade a heroic effort to extinguish Kthe blaze, but the water seemed but a feeder and the roaring flames deyoured building and contents within a very short time. A large quantity "of grain had been stored in the eleE vator and as it burned an awful heat : was shed in every direction, keeping E’pedestrians hundreds of feet from the g burning building. The Hart building, ■ located just east of the elevator, was ■l,on fire several times, as was the roof I of the Hower and Hower grocery, and It was only by timely work that these buildings were saved. The conflagration immediately assumed dangerous proportions, after it was noticed, and It was the biggest fire occurring in Decatur for several years. Fully fifteen hundred people witnessed the burning building. ■ The elevator was owned by the Niblick brothers, as heirs of the late Jesse Niblick, who built it in 1871, Just after the G. R* & I. railroad had Seen completed. Mr. John Niblick estimates the loss at $7,000, with insurance to the amount of $3,000, SI,OOO each in the Royal and National, Gallogly & Lower, agents and SI,OOO in the Security, H. H. Harruff agent. The estimated loss on the building is frtom $5,000 to $6,000 and the contents included 150 bushels of clover seed, about. 300 bushels of wheat, 300 bushels of oats and 100 bushels of corn, besides the machinery and the loss may reach SB,OOO. When asked whether or not they would rebuild, Mr. Niblick said he could not state until after a conference had been held with the other heirs, but it is likely that it| will not be rebuilt at once, as It would be impossible to complete it now for this year's business. Tlie Citizens' Telephone company suffered a loss of about twenty-five dollars, owing to damage to the poles and wires. At three o'clock the big brick livery barn on the east side of the railroad caught fire, but was soon extinguished. ■" ■ o — 1 HAS A POSITION AT FORT WAYNE Wilbur M. Drake Will Sing at the Casino Theater at Fort Wayne. Wilbur M.’ Drake, of Goshen, who until a few weeks ago was employed Eas vocalist and trap player at the new Star theater in this city, has accepted a position at the Casino at Fort Wayne, where he will begin duties tomorrow morning. Dr. Drake is a baritone vocalist of ability, and while here pleased every audience he appeared before. His trap work is also of a high class order and without doubt he will more than make good at Fort Wayne. Mr. Drake was in the’city today after his paraphernalia an dleft this afternoon for the summit city. He is not only a musician, but a perfect gentleman and he has many friends in this city who will wish for him the success he deserves in the new field of labor. ■ Jfiss Marie Kintz who is visiting her brother at Lima, will leave in a few days for Leipsic Ohio.

CHARGE OF MURDER FILED Woman Who Killed Her Baby Now Mourns for Its Loss. Bluffton, Ind., July 24.—Mrs. Gertrude Bump, wife of Ralph Bump, the woman who ten days ago, murdered her four-months-old boy and then attempted to commit suicide by drinking carbolic acid, was today brought from the Lutheran hospital, Fort Wayne, to the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Merchant, near Zanesville, this county. A charge of murder was filed against her in justice’s court at Fort Wayne but she was allowed to furnish bond in the sum of $5,000. She now deeply mourns the death of her child and declares that she did not realize what she was doing. It is not thought likely that she will be convicted of any criminal charge, but the sheriff took the steps he did to hold her for grand jury investigation. FROM TUPIGON Bert Segur Tells How It Feels to Be a Superintendent of Men HE IS DOING FINE While His Work is Hard, He Finds Amusing and Interesting Things Tupigon, P. 1., May 22. Dear Father —Sunday and back here for a day. I have been out in a subcamp all week running the line through to Salape. One of my men got sick the first of the week and another yesterday. The general auditor is here today looking over the paper work and tomorrow the general road committee of P. I. and several other high moguls came along to make a general inspection of the island of Bohol. I saw several amusing things this week. The first meal I ate about 50 Philippinos stood outside watching me eat. That was probably the first time they had ever seen an American eat. I have one of the survey boys as a cook. I have to show him howto cook each dish. We are getting more men now and the work will probably go faster. The hardest job is the drainage. Some of the bridges over some of the innocent looking streams will be 40 foot spans. When it rains here some water descends. I have a new- duty now, sign up all the papers in the office. I spent last Mnoday in the office, was called in again Thursday and had some more today. A fellow feels lots better though I guess the first time he signs as superintendent than after he gets accustomed to it. So long, BERT. o NO MONEY FOR MAINTENANCE Tuberculosis Hospital Commission Disappointed. Indianapolis, July 24.—The tuberculosis hospital commission of Indiana I was bitterly disappointed this afternoon when Governor Marshall informed the members that the appropriation act of the last general assembly does not provide money for the opening and maintaining of the hospital 'after it has been completed. This | means that the hospital which is now being constructed at Rockville, Ind., iand which will be completed about next April, cannot be occupied until the state legislature meets and appropriates money for its maintenance. The commission held a long conference with the governor today. The chief executive decided that it was the business of the commission to spend money for those things set forth in the appropriation act. The last session of the legislature which ' provided funds for the building of the hospital neglected to provide money for opening the institution and paying 'its expenses. “There is no way to 'get around this proposition, gentlemen,” said the governor. “The act is very plain and we could not expend money in starting the institution without violating the law.” o A large number of sisters left on the train south this afternoon for their homes, after making the retreat here this week.

THE CHURCHORGAN Belonging to the Mission People Has Been Attached MAY LOSE MUSIC And Probably the Place to Make It—Rent is Due A new case has been filed in Squire Stone's court entitled H. H. Bremerkamp vs. Isaac Raver in which proceedings for the attachment of the organ at the mission hall have been instituted. Thus the little band of workers are in jeopardy of losing their musical apparatus. The plaintiff has attached the musical instrument to assure the payment of rent which is indebted to him. The mission workers have encountered many difficulties since being organized here. At times they were in a flourishing condition with ample funds to meet their every obligation. However, the membership has dwindled to a very few of the faithful who find it impossible to finance the proposition, hence their future existence is in doubt. Hot summer weather has not proven conducive to good attendances and consequently the collections have not been up to the standard the result being financial disaster. The mission has existed in Decatur for several years. The leadership of the band of workers has changed several times, and although disbandment was threatened frequently, they managed to continue the work. Not since the time one of the prominent members of the mission grabbed her lamps and Bible and hurried home with them has this organization faced such a difficult proposition as do they at the present time, and unless something unforseen occurs within the next week, it is improbable that the sessions will cease indefinitely. o . A BOY’S PROGRAM Will Be Rendered at M. E. Church Tomorrow Night A GREAT TIME Is Anticipated by Those Who Expect to Be in Attendance A program much out of the ordinary will be rendered at the meeting of the M. E. Epworth League tomorrow night, and no doubt many people will be in attendance. The program will be in charge of the boys and each number will be executed by a boymember of the organization. Selections will be rendered by a male quartet, Glen Neptune will render a vocal solo; addresses will be delivered by Don Burk and John Powell, readings will be given by a number of the boys and many other features are on the program. The Epworth league boys have much talent and they have long since established a reputation as royal entertainers, hence those who attend tomorrow- night will be assured a delightful time. This will be the first program rendered in the church in which the boys only will participate and it promises to be veryinteresting. The public is cordia'ly invited to attend and enjoy the festivities of the occasion. o 1 ASKED FOR A RECEIVER Peru, Ind., July 24—The Citizens’ National bank of Peru this afternoon filed application for a receiver for the Wayne hotel of this city. The bank alleges that on last Saturday it advanced $5,000 to Peter J. Coyle, proprietor of the hotel, for him to use in cashing Wabash railroad checks, and that as soon as the cashing of the checks had been completed he was to return the $5,000 to the bank. He has not done so, it is alleged, an<j is absent from the community. Coyle was Democratic chairman of the Eleventh congressional district three years ago.

Decatur, Indiana, Saturday Evening, July 24, 1909.

CAME NEAR DROWNING Miss Ethel Shepherd of Port'and, Fell in the Reservoir. Portland, Ind., July 24. —While Mr. and Mrs. John Iholts and daughter Melba, Miss Ethel Shepherd and Clifford Smith were enjoying a fishing trip on the Grand Reservoir -at Celina, Miss Shepherd accidentally fell from the boat into the water, and but for the cool-headed and quick work of Iholts might have drowned in the twelve feet of water into which she plunged. They had fished all day, and Miss Shepherd, sitting in the end of the boat, became drowsy. A sudden lurch of the boat when Iholts landed a large fish caused her to lose her balance. As she rose the second time, Iholts succeeded in grasping her by the hair, later lifting her back into the boat. The incident broke up the fishing for the day, although Miss Shepherd suffered no ill effects from ner experience. IN DEATH’S SHADOW John Wolford Taken to His Home in the Ambulance HAS MALARIAL FEVER Which He Contracted in Missouri Some Time Ago A victim of a serious case of malarial fever contracted in Missouri and with but slight chances for recovery, John Wolford, of Monmouth, was brought to Decatur last night from where he was conveyed to his Monmouth home in an ambulance. He occupied a cot on the entire trip, and notwithstanding the fact that he stood the trying ordeal of traveling well, the seriousness of his condition has caused much alarm among his friends. Mr. Wolford went to Missouri several months ago where he began work in the employ’ of the Allison Land company. About three weeks ago he was taken ill from the excruciating malady and has since grown rapidly worse. Physicians advised his removal from that climate and 'he wasj brought back to old Adams county, where he will fight the battle against death. Hopes are not abandoned for his recovery’, although at this time his case is extremely critical. The many friends of the afflicted man join in hoping that he will immediately and ultimately recover. Mr. Wolford was accompanied from Missouri to his home by his wife. ’ 0 CONSIDER LEGISLATIVE TOPICS Five Well Known Indiana Lawyers Recognized by Appointment. Indianapolis, July 24.—Governor Marshall yesterday named five well known Indiana men as members of a national committee which will meet to consider legislative topics to be taken up at the meeting of the American Bar Association, which will convene in Detroit on August 21. The governor of each state will name five members of this national committee. One of the important questions to be considered by the committee is the uniformity’ of laws in the different states. Governor Marshall named James W. .Noel, S. O. Pickens and Merrill Moores of Indianapolis, and E. B. Sellers of Monticello and A. A. Adams of Columbia City. The legislative committe will meet on August 19, 20, 21 and 23 at Detroit. — WILL SPEAK TO OLD SETTLERS Washington, July 24. —Representative Adair, of the Eighth congressional district, has accepted an invitation to speak at the old settlers’ reunion at Ridgeville, on August 12. He has spoken there at similar meetings for a number of years. Having accepted this engagement, he has been compelled to decline invitations to speak at the St. Johns meeting at Eaton and also at the soldiers’ home at Lafayette, all three meetings coming on the same date. Mr. Adair has also accepted an invitation to speak at Winchester on September 15 at an old soldiers’ reunion.

GRAND LARCENY Is the Charge Filed Againer John Dodson of “Hoochie” Fame Here ROBBED A COMRADE, According to Affidavit by 1 1 Charles MacDonald of Carnival Company John Dodson, the big chief of the outfit who produced a sensation here last Saturday _ evening by giving a houchie-coochie performance on Madison street, and who was landed in jail and later fined, was again in custody, this time on a more serious charge, that of grand larceny. Several days ago Charles H. MacDonald, who operates the candy stand at the carnival grounds, appeared before Mayor C. O. France and signed his name to an affidavit charging Dodson, whose true name is by the way unknown, also John Doe and Jesse James, real names equally a mystery, had robbed him of fifty cold plunks on last Saturday night. He said that late in the evening he was standing in front of the Meyer & Moses furniture store when the three men approached him and while two talked to him in an endearing way, the third, Mr. Dodson, reached into his pocket and extracted his roll of fifty dollars. He was located yesterday at Montpelier, Indiana, and was arrested. Marshal Butler was to have left for Montpelier this morning to bring the man home, but he was called over the phone late last evening hnd told by the Montpelier marshal that the men had escaped, but that they expected to land them again during the night, and if they did so would send word, and if not, would write and explain how it happened. However, no further word was received today, and it is supposed they are still at liberty. o— — FOR DISSECTION Body of Unknown and Undentified Tramp Goes to State University ORDERS FROM STATE Will Be Shipped to Bloomington—Something About the Indiana Law The body of John Jones, the unknown tramp, will be used as a specimen for dissecting purposes at the state university at Bloomington. The body is that of the man found dead along the Erie tracks yesterday morning, and about which there hovered for a few hours a suspicion that murder had been committed. During the day Coroner J. C. Grandstaff as required by law, notified the anatomical board at Indianapolis, and this morning received a message from the chairman, J. E. Morris, directing him to have the body shipped to B. D. Meyers of the state university, where it will be used in the college work. As may be known by some there is a law in this and nearly every state requiring that this action be taken where tramps or others die and the bodies are not claimed or identified, that the anatomical board be notified. If they have any applications from the colleges for bodies they are sent to one of them, at the expense of the college, and if not the body is turned over to the township. The body of this man was embalmed and today presented the features of a fine looking, well proportioned man. It will be shipped to the university today. H. H. Harruff, the real estate man, is arranging to leave in a few days for Michigan .where he will look after some important land deals, and will remain in that country about a month, during which time he will be glad to be to any service possible to the people of Adams county, who are interested in properties in that section or who care to be.

FLEW THE COOP AGAIN Rev. McCarty Failed to Give Testimony to Opposing Counsel. W. H. Eichhorn, of Bluffton, was in the city Friday morning for the purpose of taking the deposition of Rev. W. E. McCarty in the suit brought by the aged minister against his divorced wife, Mrs. Isabella Williams, asking an accounting under an ante- . nuptial contract, but again, on the • grounds that he had not been properly summoned. Rev. McCarty failed to show up and the attorneys for the defense will ask the court to set aside the complaint. The rule in case a party to a suit does not submit to an , examination by the opposition, providing he has been properly called, is the striking out of the pleading, and Judge LaFollette must decide whether or not 1 the subpoenaing of the minister was regular. McCarty was summoned through a notary public and his contention is that he need not submit to an examination unless required to do so by court. —Portland Sun. 1 JUST A HALF LOAF 1 ’ < But Few Reductions Will 1 Be Made in the < I Tariff t - ( 1 ARE UP IN THE AIR < i • • • I' ’• '■ i The Senate Insurgents Don’t Know Exactly Where t They Are At - -r-i—- --■ i Washington, July 24. —“Well, it ' looks like a half-loaf compromise,” said the progressive Republicans in 1 the senate and house yesterday. “Per- 1 haps it is the best the president can ’ get,’> they continued. “We know now that he is just as much of a downward revisionist as any one of the ' ten Republican senators who voted i against the bill, but he evidently real- 1 izes that he must accept about the ' sort of a report that is soon to be brought out, or see this special session of congress end without any tariff 1 legislation.” The conferees could re- 1 port within ten hours if they wanted to do it. They are now in substantial i agreement on every item. Such slight l differences of opinion as still exist < are to be submitted to the president 1 for decision. The president is not < satisfied, the progressive Republican 1 senators and representatives are not ’ satisfied, the country is not Satisfied, I but members of the conference com- i mittee were saying today that the 1 struggle must be brought to an end 1 at once. If the report shall be de- : layed beyond tomorrow, it will be be- 1 cause the “whips” in the senate and t house advise that the votes to adopt f a compromise conference report are 1 not in sight. The various camps of 1 insurgents were resting on their arms 1 today. They are unable to say what j they will do because they do not know, I except from hearsay, what the agree- i ment is to be. If hides, iron ore and t oil go on the free list, and substantial t reductions are made on other raw ma- i terials, and the extortionate, duty on f manufactured products is shaved down 1 in a good many instances, the pro- f gressive Republicans will vote for the < bill, and some of the ultra protec- < tiojjists will vote against it. If, on 1 the other hand, the compromise leaves ; a duty of 7% cents on hides, puts even i a small duty on iron ore, and does ; not make substantial reductions on manufactured goods, the progressives will fight the bill to the end. The president is using his good offices to get all the concessions possible and at the same time is doing all he can to obtain a united party vote for the conference report. One hour he talks with a senator or representative who is “insurging’> against free hides or free iron ore, and the next hour he is closeted with a progressive, who declares that he w’ill not support the bill unless it shall afford reductions all along the line. There is still mystery as to just what the conferees have done with refernce to rates on I many manufactured articles. The The progressives, who at no time have been taken into the confidence , of the members of the conference com- ; mittee, have been unable to get any light on this phase of the situation. I They were saying today that whether l they will support the bill will depend ■ largely on the concessions made on i articles that enter into the food, rai- 1 ment and shelter problem—-the realp problem in which the people are inter- j 1 ested. I

Price Two Cents

SUSPECTS RELEASED Frank Wilson and Charles Williams Sent on Their Way Rejoicing WILLIAMS TOLD TALE Convincing Officers That the Unknown Died from Alcoholic Effects Frank Wilson and Charles Williams, held pending the investigation of the death of the unknown man who was fouxd Friday morning along the Chicago & Erie tracks, were released at six o’clock last evening. The previous plans were changed and the coroner’s inquest, continuing at three o’clock yesterday, continuing about three hours and resulting in a verdict by the coroner that the man whose name will appear on the records as John Jones, true name unknown, had come to his death from the effects of alcoholic intoxication. The first witness called at the inquest was Frank Wilson, a man wh» is sixty years old, and who has been on the road for thirty-five years, according to his story, leaving his home at Hartford, Conn., in 1873, and has not been home since, and has not heard a word from home since 1882. He had at the time he left home a sister, several brothers and his parents were alive. Now he does not know which are alive or dead. He told his story of meeting the unknown man, but it developed that a part of his story at least was false and he so admitted afterwards. Joe Toops, conductor on the local freight, was called, and said that the man’s, body was discovered by a brakeman named Pence on through freight number fifty, who notified the tower man and he phoned to the station. Toop, H. R. Motz and Mr. Fleming went to the place and found the man and notified the officers. Jesse Cole, operator at the tower said he had seen the three men going west about six o’clock last evening and that one of them had a beer bottle in his hand, Mr Femlng corroborated what had been sa'd and tr.ea Charles Williams the other suspect, held was called, and toJ.l what is believed by the officials to have been a truthful story of the affair. He said tnat he was bom in Johnstown, Pa., tl.lrty years ago, that his parents died when he was five years old, that he left there in IBS'* just befi’-e the big flood and had since drived over ’he country. He is a tinner by trade, but for twelve years has been an umbrella mender. Hi was in Huatiagton yesterday and. met a number of in? “profesh," among then? being W 'son. He had some money and gave a pal $1.2", and he went to the drug store of Schaefer & Schaefer and bought a quart of ’.lcohol. He and Wilson then caught a \ freight to this city, while the others of the crowd missed it from some cause or other. Arriving here Williams went to the Wells Fargo office and got. a package containing some umbrella covers, and wnere he signed as Charles Williams. His statement as to this was corroborated by Pen Elzey, the agent, Williams and Wilson then went to a saloon where they had three glasses of beer each and then started for a spot west of town, inear the Erie tank, where Williams had left his kit and a grip containing the alcohol. On the way they met i the stranger and Williams invited ' him to go along and partake of the s beverage and he readily agreed. Ar- > riving at the spot, the unknown went J after some water and after his return ? they mixed the water and alcohol and - all drank liberally. The unknown man 3 he said drank a half pint or more and 1 then apparently in a stupor, laid down “ and went to sleep. WiilUams had ■ some lunch and he and Wilson ate > of this. Just about dark they decided to seek shelter In the old Lynch building, as it looked like rain. Williams tried to rouse their companion, shook him, but got no response and supposing he had a good drunken sleep on, left him and never gave him a thought afterwards, as the rule of knights of the road is “let every devil look out for himself.” Williams said | (Continue don page 4.)