Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 7, Number 222, Decatur, Adams County, 17 September 1909 — Page 1

Volume VII. Number 222.

FATALLY INJURED George Richards the Victim of an Accident Near the Gravel Pit STRUCK BY CAR When He Waved a Greeting at the Motorman—No Hopes for Recovery George Richards, an old and well known citizen of this place, and who will be seventy-four years old tomorrow, was fatally injured last evening at 4:35 when he was struck by a north bound special interurban car. The traction company were running extras yesterday on account of the Fort Wayne fair, and one of these specials in charge of Motorman Kruel, left here at four o'clock. The story of the accident as told by Mr. Kruel who is one of the most careful men on the line, was as follows: "Our car left the station at just four o'clock. As we approached the gravel pit, and when 500 or 600 feet from the switch, I noticed Mr. Richards, standing near the track. Thinking that he being old, some accident might occur, 1' slowed down until within a few feet of him, when I saw he was clear of the track and opened up again. Just ' as we reached him. Mr. Richards turned half around and threw up his j

right hand, in which he held his din- ; ner pail. The act was similar to that often used by the men as a greeting to the motorman as he passes down the line. The car struck the bucket which was hurled against the unfoi ! tunate man's head with such force that he was thrown away from the track about four feet, alighting on his right side. I stopped the car and we did what we could for him.” The injured man was brought to this city on the 5:15 car, and taken to his home in the south part of the city, where medical attention was given him, but he has never regained consciousness. The right side of his head was crushed, and the skull frac- ’ tured, the physicians stating that there is not he least chance for his recovery, any possible chance being taken away from the fact of his old age. His right arm was also broken and bruised. Mr. Richards was slight(Continuedr on page 4.1

A PLEASANT TRIP Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Lachot Are Home from a Vacation Trip to Michigan SAW THE COUNTRY Visited the Harruff Farm at Fremont and Saw Much Michigan Fruit

J. F. Lachot and wife came home yesterday from a two weeks' vacation . trip to Michigan. They spent some] time at Petoskey and later visited | Oden, Traverse City, Mackinaw City, and several other places which as usual was filled with pleasure seekers from all over the United States. On their return they stopped at Fremont and spent several days in that northern hustling town, and while there visited the country in general and Harvey Harruff s fruit farm in particular. They brought home some fruit from the Harruff farm, which looks mighty good and which they say- is a fair sample of the fruit to be found on their farm. They recently sold their peach crop getting SBOO from a < hi cago commission house, and later on . comes the apple crop which is better | from a remunerative standpoint. The} describe the Harruff farm as being a fine piece of realty, well improved, good fruit, six miles from Fremont on a well improved road. While gone the Lachots had a pleasant trip and a good time from start to finish.

DECATUR DAU A DEMOCRAT.

DEATH OF SAMUEL SPRUNGER Well Known Citizen of Berne Buried Wednesday. I Samuel A. Sprunger, was bom in Adams county, Indiana, on Nov. 21, 1868, and died at Berne, Ind., on Sept. 13, 1909, at the age of 40 years, 9 months and 22 days. He united in holy wedlock with Miss Goldie Schwartz on Dec. 23, 1900. For some time his health has been on the decline. Even though he was able to be up and about, his life was gradually ebbing away. He was fully aware that death was near, and bore his affliction with Christian fortitude. In his declining days he gave full evidence of his faith in Christ and gave assurance of having obtained the pardoning grace of his blessed Master. The funeral services were conducted by his pastor. Rev. H. H. Kattmann at the Reformed church Wednesday afternoon.—Berne Witness.

IS GIVEN TO WIDOW Mrs. E. H. Harriman Worth One Hundred Million WILL PROBATED The Widow is the Wealthiest Woman in the World New York, Sept. 17. —A hundred brief words, weighted each with approximately $1,000,000, and containing in their entirety the last testament of

!E. H. Harriman, make his widow, Mary Averill Harriman, one of the wealthiest women in the world. It is perhaps the briefest will on record for the disposal of an estate of such ’ magnitude. All property is left, to Mrs. Harriman. Wall street estimates that Mrs. Harriman will inherit in realty and personal property between $75,000,600 and $100,000,000. Mr. Harriman's private fortune is supposed to have been greater than this by many millions, but there is reason to believe that his unmarried daughters, Mary and Carol, his married daughter* Mrs. Robert Livingstone Gerry, and his two sons, William Averill and I Roland, a boy of 14, together with his surviving sister, Mrs. Simmons, and other relatives, have all been substantially provided for in gifts out of hand and trust funds set aside by Mr. Harriman during his lifetime. Mrs. Harriman was Miss Mary Averill, ! daughter of W. A. Averill, a wealthy | banker of Rochester, N. Y., who made his money in the Rome, Watertown & Ogdensburg Railroad company. She brought her husband financial aid in his early struggles in the market,when aid was most valuable to him. He never needed it again, for his administrative ability soon won him the support of Kuhn, Loeb & Co., the Na-

tional City Bank and the powerful Standard Oil clique. Their thirty-six years of married life, it has always been said, were ideally happy. On Mrs. Harriman’s shoulders will now rest the management of the 43.000 acres of woodland, pasture land and fertile black bottoms in the Ramapo valley and on the steep sides of Tower Hill: the completion of the great house on which its master had already spent $2,550/100 without living to see it finished, and those forest reservation—which, it is known, Mr. Harriman chesished. If the state measures 'up to expectations Mrs. Harriman, acI cording to common estimate here, is the wealthiest women in the world. J Mrs Hetty Green's holdings have been estimated at $40,000,000; those of Mrs. Frederick Courtland Penfield at s’o,000,000. and those of Mrs. Russell Sage at a like amount. WIJ_L PLAY AT KENDALLVILLE Fast Local Club Will Go to That Place Next Sunday for a Game. The Shamrock ball team of this city will go to Kendallville Sunday, where they will meet the fast aggregation 'from that city and expect to make a good showing against this club which claims the championship of northern '.lndiana. The locals will be strengthened by Tom Railing of the southern Michigan league, who will do the I twirling. The Shamrocks is classed ias one of the fast independent teams of the state, and should draw well .'at Kendallville, having lost but three I games this season.

IT LOOKS ASSURED Plans for Merchants’ Day Are Being Completed and It Looks Good ALL SHOULD HELP ______ ' Pleasant Day for Every One, the People and the Merchant as Well

Merchants' Day in Decatur, Wednesday, September 26th, promises to be a very happy day for every one in this locality, as well as a profitable one. The details are being worked out and it looks like a sure thing, though just how big a program will be arranged depends somewhat on how the people let loose of the money. It is not the purpose to make this a burden to any one. It is to be a day when the people of this community will gather and go through the stores that they may see the new tall goods, the many bargains and realize that it pays to trade in Decatur. The idea is a good one. It means that the people will know what the big stocks of the various stores contain, while to the people it means that they will find many rare bargains and spend a happy and pleasant day. One or two bands will be secured and it is quite likely’ that there will be some free amusements as attractions. The stores will decorate, inside and out and it will be a gala after-harvest day. There are a few business men who are hanging back, but they will probably get into line and the day should be a success if all work together. This is the kind of a day that means much to all of us. If it is a success it is likely the fall festival of next year will be a big one lasting for several days.

One of the largest farm sales ever held in this part of the state was held Wednesday at the J. H. Hogg farm, near Fiat. Over 1,000 people were in attendance during the day. many of them making the trip over the C. B. & C. railroad that made a stop only a short distance from the sale. The sale amounted to nearly $6,000 and everything was sold that had been advertised with the exception of the heavy draft stallion owned by Mr. Hogg on which the bids were too low to make a sale. —Bluffton Banner. AN EXCITING TIME Was That Experienced by A. S. Elzey and Daughter of Ossian I BUGGY WAS WRECKED Horse Became Unmanageable—Occupants Had Lucky Escape

Ossian, Ind., Sept. 16. —While out driving A. S. Elzey and daughter Miss 110, experienced one of the reallv thrilling experiences of their lives, and one in which a serious accident was averted by merest good luck. Mr. Elzey and daughter had set out to drive to Five Points for the purpose of showing up the good features of a piano which was on sale. It was dusk and they were driving along at a good gait and had almost reached the Goshorn farm, west of Ossian, when a big heap of ashes showed up at the side of the road. Owing to the peculiar light upon the ashes the horse became badly frightened and practically unmanageable. He backed and twisted, cramping and overturning the buggy and throwing Miss Elzey out. The force of the upset threw Miss Elzey in such away that she was directly endangered by the fall of the buggy. By good fortune, ; however, she managed to avoid serious danger and escaped with a severe ' ! shock and some bruises. After some ' trouble the horse was calmed down, i but owing to the breaking of harness and damage done to the equipment ' and the fact that they had narrowly j escaped consequences which might have been fatal, they gave up their I trip and returned to town.

Decatur, Indiana. Friday Evening, September 17, 1909

BITTEN BY A MAD HORSE Dr. J. E. Laidlaw Taken to the Chicago Pasteur Institute. Dr. J. E. Laidlaw, veterinary surgeon, left Wednesday night for Chicago. where he will take the Pasteur treatment for hydrophobia as the result of getting bit by a horse as was stated in the Banner Wednesday. The well known veterinary was due to arrive in Chicago at an early hour this morning and it is not thought that the bite he received will result seriously after the scientific treatment is used. The brain of the horse taken to Fort Wayne Wednesday afternoon, a short time after the animal had been killed, was examined by Dr. Matney, well known as a specialist in that line. After making a careful analysis he stated that the horse had been suffering from a very severe case of hydrophobia and advised the local man to go at once to Chicago. He came home Wednesday evening and returned to Fort Wayne on the last car Wednesday night, where he got a fast train to Chicago. His many friends in the city are anxiously awaiting word from him in Chicago and are hoping that all form of the rabies will be stamped out. —Bluffton Banner.

MAY GET ANOTHER The Next Census May Rearrange Congressional Districts THE INCREASE May Give the State One More Congressman

Washington. Sept. 17. —A rearrangement of tne congressional districts m Indiana will follow the enumeration of the people of the state by the federal government next year. If the gain in population is as large as it is expected to be, and congress does not increase the ratio of representation too much, an additional member of congress will be provided. The state has had thirteen congressional districts since 1870, when the ratio was one member for each 131,425. The censuses of 1880, 1890 and 1900 showed marked increases in population, but following each census congress increased the ratio of representation just enough to hold the state s number of representatives at thirteen. In 1880 the ratio of representation was fixed at 151,911; in 1890, at 173,901, and in 1900 at 194,182. From 1850 to 1860 the state was allowed eleven representatives: in 1840 the basis of representation allowed ten: in 1830. seven; in 1820, three, and when the state was first organized, one. The appointment under the census of 1890 had to be slightly stretched in order to give the state thirteen members of the lower house. A strict construction would have required a population of 2,524.366 to call for thirteen representatives. The actual population of the state according to the government's count was 2,516,462, or 7,904 short of

the number actually required. The government’s estimate of flie population of Indiana next year is 2,775.000. - Most persons who are acquainted with i the state’s growth feel that this es- ’ timate is too low, but accepting it as , reasonably fair, the state will show : an increase in population of 250,634. Whether an aditional member of Con- , gress will be allowed, will, of course, 1 depend on the new basis of represention fixed by congress. The apportionment made under the last count produced 386 members of the house of representatives, which has been increased to 391 by the admission of Oklahoma. This number has proved to be unwieldy and while there is not much liklihood of its being reduced, the disposition will undoubtedly be to hold it about where it is. o WILL ATTEND FUNERAL Mrs. R. B. Allison and Miss Hattie Studabaker and Mrs. Elizabeth and Mrs. L. C. Miller and daughter Ruby, : Mrs. Dave Gerber and Mrs. L. L. Baumgartner, left this morning for i Linn Grove, where they will attend ! the funeral of Mrs. Albert Kindel, which will be held this afternoon from the Christian church. Mirs. Kindel was a highly respected lady and has a number of relatives in Decatur, along with a large host of friends who will miss her nresence very much.

COURTHOUSE NEWS I Looks Like a Record Breaker in Marriage License Business this Month NEW CASE FILED Partition Case Submitted— Action as Taken in Various Causes Today Attorney Dore B. Erwin filed a new case entitled Henry Knapp vs. Samuel A. and Abraham Debolt, suit on note, demand $75. So far this month fourteen marriage licenses have been issued in Adams county, which is one more than was issued during the entire month of September last year. The case of the city of Decatur vs. Andrew and Charles Baxter, on appeal from the mayor, has reached circuit court.

James Touhey vs. City of Decai or, damages, SIO,OOO. demurrer overruled, motion for order on plaintiff to appear at office of L. C. DeVoss Saturday, September 25, for the purpose of hax - ing his deposition taken; motion was overruled. Adda M. & W. J. Hahnert vs. Martha Deintner„ partition, submit ed. finding for plaintiff, sale ordered; J, C. Sutton appointed commissioner, bond fixed at $1,500. Rosie Passwater vs. Charles Passwater, divorce, demurrer filed to complaint. Henry A. & Sarah A. Tindall vs. Jacob Fogle, partition. All depositions on file ordered published. Real estate transfers: F. H. Nichols to Samantha R. Nichols, lot 229. Decatur, $100; Joseph J. Tonnellier to Frederick Thieme, 20 acres Union tp., $1,650; F. M. Schirmeyer to James P. Haefling, lot 38, Decatur. $240. Q . Rev. and Mrs. Nathan Vitz of Defiance, 0.. are here for a visit with the latter's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Sellemeyer and family and other relatives.

THEY STOPPED IT Van Wert Wouldn’t Stand for Delivery of Mail Order Catalogues THEY TELL WHY Season is at Hand for this Business to Thrive and They are After It

The season for mail order houses Is at hand, and the usual grist is being distributed over the country. It is said that a sucker is born every minute, and as long as this rate keeps up it is likely that the mail orderhouse will continue to thrive, but they received a little setback yesterday at Van Wert, when the distribution of their catalogues was stopped by the officers. Speaking of the affair tne Times of that city said: The catalogue is of the usual type, which in a glowing manner exhibits some tempting and wonderful bargains, just the kind of get up that will mislead even the most credulous, and after going up against the figuring the total expense of the purchase, and then comparing with the same articles such as may be had of our local merchants, there is a difference both in quality and the net price, not to mention the guarantee of a citizen that has had much to do with your career. It is not necessary to harp on ‘ home trade’’

first, but stop and consider if the mail order people are settling any taxes or how- they figure with the recent improvements in our city, which ca only be traced to the merchants of, this town.

ANDERSON GETS NEXT ONE The Federated Commercial Clubs Meeting at Gary. Gary, Ind.. Sept. 17. —One hundred and fifty delegates to the second annual convention of the Federated Commercial Clubs of Indiana assembled in Gary yesterday. The feature of the first day of the convention was an automobile tour about the city, in which the Hoosiers were shown Indiana's infant city of steel. In the afternoon Anderson was chosen as the next meeting place of the organization. Nearly every part of the state is represented by one or more delegates. Among the big commercial clubs of the state which sent delegates are those at Indianapolis, Crawfordsville, Kokomo, Fort Wayne, Anderson. Warsaw’, Muncie, Richmond Goshen, Elkhart, Hammond, South Bend. Newcastle, Warsaw, Clinton and Terre Haute.

HAD A GREAT DAY Chicago Paid Honor to the Nation’s Chief Executive HE ENJOYED IT He is Being Entertained in Milwaukee Today Chicago, Sept. 17.—President Taft, during a stay of twelve eventful hours in Chicago, plunged with a will into the long program of entertaining that awaits him on his long western and southern itinerary. With perfect weather and crowds that fairly fought to catch a glimpse of the chief executive, this, the first city to be visited, set a high mark of enthusiastic welcome which the president seemed deeply to appreciate. From the moment he stepped off the rear platform of his private car at a temporary station on the outskirts of the city, until he retired late on board the train | which will take him to Milwaukee this morning, the president’s journeys of thirty miles or more over the city's streets and parkways led him through lanes of massed humanity that were kept open with the greatest difficulty on the part of the police. Beginning with an automobile trip in review of 150,000 school children, four deep on either side of the park boulevards, the president's day was replete briefly with incident. He attended and spoke briefly at a luncheon of the Commercial Club, viewed an exhibit of ambitious plans for the improvement and

beautification of Chicago —plans which the president said he hoped would be realized by Chicago pluck and energy —attended the regular national league base ball game between the Chicago champion Cubs and the famous New York Giants, dined quietly with the Hamilton Club at the Congress Hotel, made a notable address to a mass meeting in Orchestra Hail this evening and as a finale attended for a few minutes the ball of the American Bankers' association at the Auditorium. Mr. Taft was deeply impressed by the greeting of the school I children, each one of whom waved a little American flag and sang and cheered as he passed. The president referred at the Commercial Club luncheon to the impression the smiling faces and the fresh young voices of the children had made upon him and declared it was not often given to a man —be he president or not — to receive such a welcome. At the national league grounds this afternoon the president saw his biggest base ball crowd. There were more than 30,600 people packed into the stands and bleachers and overflowing into the playing field. The president sat in one of the open section of the double - decked stands and thoroughly enjoyed a brilliant game in which the two greatest pitchers of the league— Mathewson of New York and Brown of Chicago—faced each other. NewYork won, but the crowd had some compensation in cheering the president who remained to the end and ,

waited to wave a farewell to the bleacher throngs that poured across tbefield in a perfect cavalieade when the last Cub had struck out

I Chas. Voglewede made a business - 'trip to Fort Wayno on the noon car ,'and will return some time this even-1 ing.

Price Two Cents

SLIGHTLY BETTER Governor Johnson is Not Yet Out of Danger but is Better FRIENDS ANXIOUS The Next Few Hours Will Decide Whether it is Life or Death Rochester, Minn., Sept. 17.—(Special to the Daily Democrat) —The condition of Governor Johnson is reported as being slightly better, but not yet out of danger. The crisis was supposed to have been reached during last night or early this morning, and while the fact that he has survived this long greatly encourages those in charge as well as a multitude of friends, yet the fates of the next few hours are being awaited with breathless anxiety. A gradual improvement I is noted during the last twenty-four hours, but it is not of the kind that entirely removes all chances of doubt. Several times since the operation he , was brought back to life from the i 5 brink of death, by the prompt action j ■ of the doctors. He has suffered much t| j from gas pains, and in all he has been t and is yet a mighty sick man.

DEE DEVINNEY IN TROUBLE Muncie, Ind., Sept. 27. —Before Sheriff Stafford B. Perdiue can bring Dee Devinney. now under arrest at Lima, Ohio, and wanted here on a charge of child desertion, back to Delaware county for prosecution, the result of the habeas corpus proceedings instituted in Devinney's behalf at Lima must be ascertained. The hearing of the case will be held today. Sheriff Perdiue, Mrs. Devinney and her attorney are in Lima now. Sheriff Perdiue left Muncie Wednesday morning for Indianapolis and Columbus to secure requisition papers for Devinney’s return. The man had agreed to come but when ready to start with the sheriff at Lima he refused to go without the necessary papers. While Sheriff Perdiue was securing them habeas corpus proceedings were instituted in an effort to liberate Devinney.

THAT’S THE TRUTH M. A. Ripley Tells Why the West is a Great and Prosperous Country IEVERYONE A BOOSTER There is No Knocking and the Fact is Evident on Every Hand M. A. Ripley and wife returned home Friday evening from a month's trip through the west, says the Willshire Herald. They visited at the Seattle exposition, Spokane, Fayetteville, Ark., and other points. They w - ere very much pleased with the climate in Washington, but are not very much taken up with the land values. Much of the land there is being cut up into five acre tracts and sold for fruit lands, the prices ranging from S2OO to SI,OOO an acre. Lots of fruit is raised there, but it also takes a lot of work and money to get started fn Tn Arkansas ft has been very dry and hot. and things are not doing very well. One thing that very much im-

pressed Mr. Ripley in the western ; country was that every -one was a l booster, and he says that only once lin his trip he came across a kicker, and by the way that is one thing that is the matter with this country. With Jess kicking every one would get along better and make more money.