Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 7, Number 227, Decatur, Adams County, 23 September 1909 — Page 1

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT.

Volume VIL Number 227.

CHAS.WOLFE GOES FREE Jury Return Verdict After Thirty Minutes Deliberation ON FIRST BALLOT Case Went to Jury at 2:25, After Long Charge from the Court

After being out just thirty minutes the jury returned a verdict which read: "We, the jury find the defendant not guilty.” It required but one ballot to come to this conclusion and Charles Wolfe and his relatives left the court room, happy and smiling. Judge Merryman discharged those members of the jury not of the regular panel, the others remaining. The Lehman forgery case was called next. The fate of Charles Wolfe, charged with assault and battery on the person of Jacob Mangold, was placed in the hands of the jury at about two o'clock this afternoon. The arguments were concluded at 11:35 when C. J. Lutz made the closing speech for the state. At 1:30 this afternoon, Judge Merryman began his charge to the twelve men, a lengthy one after which they retired. Quite a crowd gathered at the court room this morning and listened attentively to the arguments by the learned attorneys. J. C. Moran closed for the defense. During the time, the defendant sat in his usual place with his wife and children and other relatives near. Near the prosecutor’s table sat Miss Kate Mangold, daughter of the unfortunate man who died forty minutes after the assault charged against the defendant. The case has been hard fought on each side and the public awaits the verdict with much interest?

THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY The Democratic city primary is beginning to warm up, and the announcement column is growing and gives evidence of being healthy in a very short time. Henry Lankenau and E. Burt Lenhart are in the race for mayor, Huber M. DeVoss is announced for clerk, and Isaac Chronister and H, Fred Linn for councilman in the First ward. Other announcements are expected within next few days. LOVE FEAST DATE Arranged by Fifteen Business Men Who Met at Club Rooms Last Night NEXT MONDAY NIGHT

Time for Every One to Get Together and Boost Best Town on Earth Fifteen Decatur business men gathered at the rooms of the Library rooms last evening, to talk over matters pertaining to the interests of the town. For some time there has been a sort of dejected feeling apparent, a lack of pulling together, a shortage of interest, but there was none of that last night. The meeting developed into a small love feast and the boys decided to make an effort to hold a bigger one. If the old spirit of fight for Decatur is established, then will It be easy to move along, and not until then. Accordingly it was decided to make an effort to he'd a love feast at library hall next Monday evening at eight o clock, at which time every person who loves Decatur who has a business interest in her welfare, who wants to see her grow and progress, who will help by word or act to keep her from sliding backward, should be present. This is not a mating for any one concern, not a session for any company, but a general love feast for the purpose of restoring the old “do or die” spirit, (Continued on page 8.)

masonic lodge quit business Huntington Order Surrendered Its Charter—Lack of Interest. After years of association with the fraternal circles of Huntington—in fact, the dean of all fraternal orders »n that city—the MJystic lodge .of Free and Accepted Masons has given up the ghost and several days ago surrendered its charter to the supreme lodge. The end came about through lack of Interest, non-attend-ance and non-growth through the addition of new blood. The Mystic lodge of Masons dated back into the forties and at one time was the most flourishing secret order in Hunting - ton.

COURTHOUSE NEWS August Hirschy Secures License and Was Married at Clerk’s Office REALTY TRANSFERS Quite a Bunch Recorded— Suit on Note Bearing 10 Per Cent. Int. Filed Attorney William Drew filed a new case entitled Vera Taylor vs. Alonzo J. Powers, suit on note, demand $550. The note was given in Hot Springs, Arkansas, December 6, 1908, and calls for $455.22 with ten per cent, interest from date. Aaron K. Mumma vs. Clem J. Keller, cancellation of note, appearance by Peterson & Moran for defendant, rule to answer. Real estate transfers: John Close ,to Sam S. Egley, 40 acres Jefferson tp., $2,600; (James D. Hoffman to William O. Sautbine, 80 acres Kirkland tp., -8,500; Eli W. Steele to Mary E. Steele, inlot 32, Decatur, $2,500; Wm. O. Sautbine to James D. Hoffman, 40 acres Kirkland tp., $3,800; Louisa Homeier to Tri-State Loan Co., 100 acres Preble tp., $5,200; Abraham Kern to William Mesel, pts. I lots 326, 327, 325 Geneva $600; Wm. Mesel to Lida G. Mesel, lots 325, 326, 327, Geneva, SBOO. August Hirschy, 53, a farmer of Monroe township and Rosa Newfer, 30, of this city, were granted a marriage license. The groom was born in Germany and has been married twice before. The bride has also been married and was divorced fourteen years ago. They were married at the clerk’s office by Rev. Imler of the United Brethren church.

A marriage license was issued to Thurman A. Gottschalk, age 27, a brick manufacturer, to Nelly Louise Simison, aged 27, both of Berne.

A marriage license was issued to John Link, aged 27. a laborer from Fort Wayne, to Emma Spuhler, aged 25, a seamstress of this city. The wedding occurred at four o’clock this afternoon at the home of the bride’s sister, Mrs. Anna Yahne, Rev. Hessert officiating. Quite a number of guests will be in attendance. Mr. and Mrs. Link will go to Fort Wayne this evening to make their future home.

MASONIC HONOR COMING THICK Joseph Gruber and J. B. Harper Elected to Thirty-Third Degree. Joseph L. Gruber of this city, has been notified by telegraph today of his election by the supreme council of the Scottish Rite in Boston to receive the thirty-third, the highest degree in Masonry. Mr. Grubers election followed closely upon similar honors conferred on James B. Harper of this city yesterday. Mr. Gruber has been prominent in Masonic circles in Fort Wayne for many years. :He was made a Mason in 1870 in Home lodge No. 342; reached the chapter in 1872; the commandery in 1880. and the consistory at Indianapolis in 1882. He has been hign I priest of Fort Wayne chapter; illustrious master of Fort Wayne council 'No. 4; eminent commander of Fort Wayne commandery No. 4 (1891-2) and prelate of the commandery for the past eighteen years, a record attained by no other member in this city.—Fort Wayne Sentinel.

TWO BARNS BURN During the Big Electrical Storm in this Locality Last Evening LOSS ABOUT $2,500 Barney Meyers, South of Town and Chris Conrad Near Freidheim Losers *

Last evening during the electrical storm which passed over Adams county a large barn belonging to Mr. Bernard M]eyers, who lives about three and one-half miles northwest of Decatur, was struck by lightning and with the exception of a few farm implements everything was totally destroyed. The fire occurred at eightthirty o’clock and in a short time the sky was so loomed up that it could be plainly seen for miles around. Most of the neighbors in that vicinity appeared on the scene to give what help they could, but owing to the fast spread of the flames along with the heavy rain that was falling very little could be done. However, they were fortunate in saving one large wagon, three buggies and a corn planter. While twenty-five tons of hay, seven tons of straw, a binder and drill were consumed by the blaze. No stock was in the barn at the time, and the grain which was kept in another building was saved, and Mr. Meyers is considering himself lucky that it was not worse. He figures the loss at twelve hundred dollars, with eight hundred and fifty dollars insurance, leaving him several hundred loser, besides his labor.

Mr. Christ Conrad, who resides about one-half mile south of Poe and a very prominent farmer, is the loser of a fine large barn and its entire contents. Last evening during the storm lightning struck it and in a short time everything was in a mass of flames. The fire started at about seven-thirty o'clock, and it was not long until everything was aheap of (Continued on page 8.)

A MUSIC RECITAL Will Be Given at Library Hall, Beginning at 8:15 this Evening A GOOD PROGRAM Delightful Entertainment to Be Given by Miss Moses and Mr. Tucker

1 Tonight at 8:15 at library hall will ! occur a song and piano recital by Miss , Gertrude Moses, at the piano an Aby Mr. Carlisle Tucker baritone. The program as prepared is one that should attract every lover of good music as prepared will be rendered as follows: Prelude and prologue from I. Pagliac-ci-Leoncavallo. Improvisation MacDowell Intermezzo MacDowell Starlight MacDowell Hunting Song Mendelssohn Ich Grolle Nicht Schumann The Two Grenadiers Schumann I Concert Etude Rubinstein When I Awake Wright ] Danny Deever Damrosch Constancy Weber The Indifferent Mariner ....Bullard Packard grand piano furnished for the occasion by Packard company, of Fort Wayne. —o Mr. Wm. Hilgemann, Fred Hilgemann. Mrs. Fred Peters. Mrs. Cath Peters, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Peters, Mr. Henry and Wm. Peters, and Miss Emma and Amelia Peters of Fort Wayne, and Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Farnham and daughters of Terre Haute arrived in the city this morning to attend the funeral of Mr. Henry Peters, which will be held this afternoon.

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday Evening, September 23, 1909

BEGAN WORK ON THE LINES Work Progressing on Pipe Line to Bluffton. Andy McGuldrick. who has been working for the Indiana Lighting company in helping get the city lines in shape at Decatur, says that gas will be turned into the Decatur mains Thursday, when that city will have artificial gas for the first time in its history. Preparations are being made today to have active work started on the line from Kingsland to Bluffton, to supply this city also from the Fort Wayne plant of the Indiana Lighting company. The company advertised for men to report for work this morning, and some were on hand, but they will not do much before tomorrow. Jack Monahan, who has had charge of the work at Decatur, has been ordered to Kingsland, to superintend the laying of the pipe line into this city. It will require three or four weeks.— Bluffton News.

BUSINESS CHANGE Teeple and Dickerson Buy the F. J. Macwhinney General Store DRILLING FOR OIL Natural Gas Will Be a Luxury in Geneva this Winter

Geneva, Ind., Sept. 23. —(Special to the Daily Democrat) —A business deal occurred yesterday when the store for, many years owned by F. J. Macwhinney was transferred to the ownership of Teeple & Dickerson. They will continue the business and will no doubt do a good business. Mr. Macwhinney has been in business here for a long time, and is one of the best known men in the southern part of the county. It is not known what he will do, but it is hoped that he will stay in Geneva.

It looks like there would be some drilling for oil in Adams county this fall and winter. Cochran & Bleakley are drilling on the Sam Rawley farm 1 and the Standard are putting up a rig lon the Jones farm in Blue Creek township. It now looks like the oil business is going to be revived. Natural gas will be a luxury that will be enjoyed by the people of Geneva this winter. W. J. Heeter is piping the fluid from the Joseph Christman wells and proposes to keep I every inhabitant of Geneva good and | warm this winter. 1 John Joseph is fixing up his candy | i Kitchen and when it is completed he will have one of the nicest places in the town. All the boys and girls can hardly wait until he is ready to serve them with the best candy on the market.

RESIGNS POLITICAL OFFICE Huntington, Ind., Sept. 23. —H. L. Bendel resigned as county republican chairman to follow the orders that President Taft sent to all census directors. Mt. Bendel was chairman of the Eleventh congressional district and some time ago he stepped down from this office in compliance with the presiilent’s order. A letter has just been received by him saying he has to give the county chairmanship also before his commission will be sent from Washington. F. I. Stults, who was named successor to Mr. Bendel as district chairman, w>ll i act as county chairman because of , his being vice chairman in the countv.' The selection of a new chairman was postponed until early next year. f o COUNTY COMMISSIONERS’ MEET

Terre Haute, Ind., Sept. 23.—The annual convention of the county commissioners' association of Indiana began in this city yesterday. County auditors and attorneys and many men who have business relations with county officers also are attending the meeting. Governor Marshall spoke to the convention yesterday afternoon. This morning the delegates visited the site of Fort Harrison, which, it is proposed, shall be converted into a historic park, under public ownership.

WEDDING AT BERNE Hon. Thurman Gottschalk and Miss Nellie Simison Are Married A WEDDING TRIP Married this Morning—A Wedding Trip to Toledo and Detroit Berne, Ind., Sept. 23. —(Special to the Daily Democrat) —At the home of the bride’s parents this morning at 8:30 occurred the marriage of Hon. Thurman Gottschalk and Miss Nellie Simisbn, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Simison. The house was beautifully decorated, and but only the immediate families of the bride and

groom were present and witnessed the beautiful cermony which was performed by Rev. C. P. Maas, pastor of the Evangelical church in this place. Following Rhe ' ceremony a wedding breakfast was served and then the bridal couple came to this city and were passengers over the noon Clover Leaf for Toledo, and from there will see Detroit and many other lake cities. They will be absent a week or longer, and then will return to Berne and go to housekeeping in a home already prepared on Jefferson street. Both bride and groom are well known, Miss Simison having lived here all her life except when away to school. She is not only highly respected but admired by her I every acquaintance. Mr. Gottschalk has long occupied a prominent place in business and society here, and during the last session of the legisla- : ture represented Adams county and where too, he was a favorite among all the members of that body. Both have many friends and they all unite I in wishing them a happy future and a [successful married life. The Demu- ■ crat extends congratulations.

A PRETTY SIGHT St. Marys Church Steeple a Wireless Telegraph Station Last Night DOTS AND FLASHES Illuminated the Spire for Two Hours and Was Witnessed by Many

An electric phenomenon occurred during the thunder storm between six and eight o’clock last evening, and was noticed by a number of citizens who are willing to attest to the truth of the story. Banker Charles S. Niblick and City Electrician M. J. Mylott were walking along Monroe street when they noticed a strange play of electricity far up on the steeple of the St. Marys church. The electrician could not figure the cause ( and went over to the church where he made a thorough examination, but' the display did not come from any local causes. Father Wilken and several others witnessed the strange antics of the electricity, and it was fin-1 ally figured out that the steeple must have been in the line of a wireless message. TO prove this all the lights cut off, but the display continued, in the church and parsonage were even more vividly and gave every evidence of being a message from some .’wireless station. It was a beautiful sight, the flashes coming in dots and long and short signals and only some one who understood the, wireless code was necessary to have i given full knowledge and complete I proof. I

Kit Cowan of Bobo, was in the city today on business. I Chas. Vbglewede and Clem Uhl, of | Toledo, went to Fort Wayne this as-j ternoon to spend the day with friends.

LITTLE JOHNNY JONES COMING Mr, Bosse Lands One of the Big Musical Comedies for Opera HouseTheater goers of Decatur will be glad to learn that Manager Bosse has secured one of the biggest hits of the season, to be here in the near future. It is George Cohnes famous musical comedy, “Little Johnny Jones.” The company carried fifty people and were secured for this place only because of a break in their trip to Dayton, Ohio, where they play three nights. The date will be announced soon. This is the biggest attraction ever in Decatur.and the opera house should be packed for this show.

UNCLE NATE AGAIN He Wants to Be United States Treasurer at Washington HAS NO CHANCE President Taft Has Decided the Appointment in Favor of Another

Wednesday morning dispatches to ( the metropolitan newspapers, sent to the metropolitan press convey the in-! telligence that Senator N. B. Hawkins,' a republican banker and politician of 'this city and defeated in the congressional race last fall, is now an aspirant for the important position of treasurer of the United States to suc,l ceed Charles H. Treat, who has tendered his resignation to President ,! Taft. The dispatch further says that • Senator Hawkins has absolutely* no chance of securing the appointment at 1 the hands of the president as the suc- ’ cessor to Treasurer Treat has already 1 been chosen and that he will be an Ohio man. The dispatch says: ' “Charles H. Treat, United States treasurer, today called attention to the fact that the portraits of three Indiana men adorn the walls of the treasurer’s office, all of them having served in the office of treasurer. The portraits are of John C. New, James N. Huston and E. H. Nebeker. It is said here that a number of Indiana men are striving to add a fourth portrait to the group by aspiring to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Mr. Treat. N. B. Hawkins, a well known banker of Portland, who was the republican nominee for congress from the Eighth district last year, is the most conspicuous name mentioned. It is well understood in Washington that the place will not go to Indiana. The successor of Mr.

Treat had been selected before his resignation was made public and it is understood here that the new treasurer w’ill come from the state of Ohio. The names of Myron T. Herrick, Arthur I. Vorys and Elmer Dover have been suggested.” Since the overwhelming defeat sustained by Senator Hawkins last fall in his congressional aspirations he has at different times made the announcement to his personal friends and others that he was out of the political game, but hre has evidently had a change of mind if the Washington dispatches speak correctly. Mr. Hawkins, together with his family, is now making an automobile tour of the east and It is believed by many since his aspirations to be United States treasurer have been made public that this is the star that guided him on his eastern journey.—Portland Sun.

LANDED A THIRTEEN POUNDER Charles Colter Brought a Good One Home from North Part of State. Charles Colter, of the Smith & Bell company, is at home from a business trip to Pleasant Lake in the north part of the state. Tester-j

day he had an hour or two to spare 'after business hours and devoted the: I time to a fishing trip. He rowed into/ a little by-iake, called Mud lake, an i about the first cast he “«de fa e got * strike that almost frightened him to

(pieces. After a great battle he landled a thirteen pound pickerel, which, he brought home. The head will be ' mounted by D. M. Hensley, while Charles will look after the rest of the fish.

Price Two Cents

GAS TURNED ON Offices in the Niblick Block Was a Busy Place All During the Day SHOWING STOVES John S. Bowers Signed the First Application Here Last Evening

At nine o'clock this morning, precisely as promised, the gas was turned into the mains by the Indiana Lighting company and the offices, in the Niblick building, next door south of this office, has been a busy place today. Mr. Mulholland of Fort Wayne arrived last evening and placed a force of men in charge of the rooms here, where they will exhibit a car load of stoves and hot plates. It has been some years since Decatur was first given the use of gas, nearly eighteen, and there was almost as much interest manifested today as on that occasion. The natural gas was shut off here about a year ago and since that time the people of Decatur have been hoping for artificial gas to use as fuel. The people here have a high regard for the Indiana company for they have done every--1 thing they promised. It has always , been the announcement of the comj pany that they would give this city gas first and would then proceed to complete the lines to Bluffton, where [they also hold a franchise. Manager |S. E. Mulholland stated last evening ' that a force of men will be put to i work at once at Kingsland, and will build the line six miles south to Bluffton, and he hopes to be supplying that town with gas in a very short .'time. Mr. Jack Monyhan will be in [charge of the lines here temporarily. ' i In the office Miss Gladys Bowers will : be in charge for the present, while ■ Miss Johns will be here for a week ' demonstrating the stoves and appliances and will give pointers in the economical use of artificial gas that will be of much benefit to all house- > wives. She will also give lessons in . domestic science and she wishes to 1 meet every lady in Decatur during the next week. The first contract for gas was signed last evening, when John S. Bowers, who, for years served as the manager of the local gas plant, signed the necessary, application which entitle him to the use of the fluid. A number of contracts were signed up today and beginning with tomorrow the men will be busy setting meters and getting ready for the use of gas.

BITTEN BY A DOG Big Black Canine Attacks Harry Knapp and Harry Bohnke this Morning SERIOUS RESULTS Lads Were Torn from Their Bicycles and Received Ugly Wounds

Two lads aged nine years, were badly bitten by a big black dog at about eight o’clock this morning, receiving painful injuries. The two boys, Harry Knapp, son of Henry Knapp the machine man, and Harry Bohnke, son of H. Fred Bohnke, were coming down street on their bicycles, and were near the Schlickmann feed yards on Third street, when the dog which was following a wagon, ran up

and attacked them. The boys were torn from the wheels and both badly bitten. Harry Bohnke received ugly wounds on the leg. while Harry

“ Knapp was bitten on the hip. each receiving ugly and deep wounds showling the imprint of the dogs teeth. The boys were taken to the office of 'Drs. Clark, where the wounds were cauterized and carefully attended to. ,

It is hoped that no serious results I will follow. While enroute home the dog again spied the boys and tried to attack them. The canine it is said 'belongs to Bert Bailor and will be killed.