Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 7, Number 228, Decatur, Adams County, 24 September 1909 — Page 1

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT.

Volume VII. Number 228.

HURLED MANY FEET Dr. McKean and Family in Exciting Accident Along Country Road ESCAPED LUCKILY Rig Goes Down Steep Embankment—Mrs. McKean Received Broken Arm

Dr. Thomas J. McKean, formerly of this city and of Monroe, now practicing medicine at Linn Grove, had a terrible experience Wednesday night, when he with his wife and baby were the central figures in a most exciting runaway acicdent. The story is told by the Bluffton News as follows: Dr. McKean, the Linn Grove physician, his wife and little year-old baby had a frightful experience in a runaway accident Wednesday night whl’e on their way home from the Bluffton street fair, and their escape from fatal, injuries was little short of the mir-1 aculous. They were driving along the road near the John Studabaker country home when a sharp bolt of lightning struck some object close by and the vivid flash lightened up brightly the white abuttments and materials for a new bridge which the interurban company is constructing across a creek at that point. The horse reared and > shied to one side and then with the buggy toppled over the edge of a fifteen foot embankment, and rolled to the bottom. Not stopping at the bottom of the grade the Impetus given the outfit by the sharp descent of the declivity sent the horse, buggy and occupants over a barbed wire fence into the field. Dr. McKean was able to extricate himself from the tangle quickly but feared that he would find his wife and baby badly crushed or killed. Almost miraculously, the baby had been thrown clear of wreckage by the mother as the rig went over the grade but Mrs. McKean was caught beneath the buggy and was held down by the bed until her husband could puli the wreckage away. The horse broke loose from the wreckage or Mrs.' McKean might have been dragged to death. Dr. McKean carried her to the John Studabaker home and tried to get Dr. McClain of Vera Cruz to drive out to look attar her injuries, but Dr. McClain and wife were in Bluffton,' and Dr. McKean therefore proceeded to give surgical and medical attention to his own wife. The worst injury proved to be a broken arm, and this Dr. McKean placed in splints. He and his wife and baby were taken the balance of the way home to Linn Grove by Ed Huffman. *

HAVE THE STEEL Will Begin Soon to Lay Steel on the Bluffton, Geneva & Celina Road THE GRADING This Part of the Work is About Completed —Made Good Time — The steel for the Bluffton, Geneva ■& Celina Traction company has arrived in this city and now the steel gang will place the rails down as fast as possible. A few of the rails ar rived a few weeks ago and were , placed on east Washington street. Since that time the steel gang had to be stopped until the remainder of the rails arrived. It will be but a short time now until the gang will have the rails laid between here and Geneva. It is estimated that Bluffton and the Adams county town will be connected by steel bands in the very near future. After the rails are laid the ballasting will have to be done, but this will not take long. A gang of men with a railroad engine can soon ballast the track so that the traffic can be started and then the remainder of the ballasting can done while cars are runing over the lines. The grading gang working from this city and the one from Ge-, neva will meet at Linn Grove in a few days.—Bluffton Banner.

THEIR SESSIONS HAVE CLOSED I The Central Verein Ended Sessions by Electing Officers. Indianapolis, Sept. 24.—The national convention of the German Catholic . Central Verein was closed at a session in St. Cecelia hall Wednesday night with the singing of the Te Deum. The last matter of business to be taken up was the election of officers, . and John B. Oelkers, of Newark, N. J., was re-elected president unanimously, Joseph Frey of New York, his only opponent, withdrawing. This , will make Mr. Oelker’s eighth year .as head of the verein. Other officers elected were: Joseph H. Reiman, Pittsburg, first vice-president; Peter Ohleyer, Indianapolis, second vicepresident; Francis Dockendorf, Lacrosse, Wis., recording secretary; John Q. Juenemann, St. Paul, Minn., corresponding and financial secretary; William Rauen, Chicago, treasurer, and F. B. Faulhaber, Cleveland, O.; the Rev. L. U. Brune, Alton, la., and Peter Bourscheidt, Peoria, 111., members of the executive committee.

SCIENTIFIC WORK I I I Mr. Hill, of Washington, is Here Fixing Lines of Latitude Officially AN IMPORTANT DUTY Sets Survey Stones for Government in Fair Grounds South of Town W. M. Hill,( of Washington, D. C„ I < a member of the United States corps in the department of coast and geodetic survey, was here today, looking after work In that department, which will require several days to complete. He asked permission and same was granted, allowing him to set two six-inch square stones, in the old fair grounds, owned by the 'county, as markers, from which the geographical lines are drawn. After these stones are set, certain surveys are made, marking same and records are kept at Washington. These surveys are made each two to four I years, that the changes in the compass may be fixed. The results of ' this work are necessary to guide the ocean traveler and though it may not seem so to many are very important. The change in the compass here is very slight, being but about one degree said Mr. Hill, due to the fact that we are very close to the line of “no variation” as it is called by the scientific men. while in some of the southwestern states the i change is as high as twenty-three ! degrees in two years and the compass would show northeast instead of north, unless these changes are recorded. The survey work being done here by Mr. Hill is similar in detail to that followed, by the ex- . plorers of the north pole megion. | These figures are also necessary to ' prove the claims of Dr. Cook and i Commander Peary, and in fact of every other claim of that kind. Mr. Hill is a very interesting gentleman, and thoroughly understands the scientific business in which he is engaged.

O 1 -— —- ONE OF THE SEASON’S BEST Mrs. Southworth’s justly celebrated story of the “Hidden Hand,’’ one of, the most powerful glimpses of real i 1 American life ever penned, will arrive I in the form of a new four act play . by Eugene Moore, at the Bosse Tues- j day, October sth. The play, whicn , is, of course, entitled the “Hidden . ' Hand," will have only one presents-| tion here. Many have read the story and remember the winning, childlike, dauntless Capitola. Mr. Moore, with the true instinct of the first class actor that he is. has preserved all the charnl of this character and heightened it beyond any former delineation of it for the stage. Around about her is the rugged life of the “folks” of the Blue Ridge mountain districts of 5 ir- ! ginia before the war. The comedy, I the superstitution, the poetry, picturesque scenes and the romance are all most ingeniously shown in this new dramatization, say the critics. Manager Fred G. Conrad has selected his ■ company for this production with his ■ usual care and the attraction alto-1 .' gether should be one of the very best of the season.

SPECIAL SESSION City Council Held an Extra Session at Their Rooms 1 < Yesterday Afternoon ( i i DID SOME BUSINESS !i ' i i Mr. Lutz Employed to As- 1 sist Attorney De Voss— < Sidewalks Ordered A special session of the city council was held Thursday afternoon at four o'clock at the city rooms in the library building, when quite a little important business was transacted. All the members were present, excepting Mr. Van Camp. Mayor France presided. An ordinance was adopted unanimously, providing that the city employ Clark J. Lutz to assist City Attorney DeVoss in defending the city in the j i j SIO,OOO damage case filed by James Touhey. As numerous citizens had notified the city that the condition of j the sidewalks on the north side of : Monroe street are bad, the same were ordered constructed and will hear objections at the meeting on October 12th. A resolution was adopted ordering the clerk to advertise in a reputable journal and in a Decatur ' paper, notifying the parties who hold $4,000 worth of bonds, to present same for payment at the Old Adams County bank within thirty days, or interest on | same will cease. This sum of bonds ' is the balance of the bonds which are ' being refunded and it is not known ! who holds them, as the owners have simply drawn same through bank exchange. The street and sewer committee were ordered to purchase manhole covers for some sewers in the 1 west part of the city. This concluded the business and the session adjourned. SUGGESTS PARADE

J. S. Bowers Favors a Display of Fall Goods on Wagons—Will Assist ON DISPLAY DAY Business Men Should Get Together and Encourage this Day in Decatur

It looks now as though the business men's display day to be held in De- ' catur next Wednesday, September 1 29th, may be a most successful event. ■ To the energy and public spirited esI fort of Mrs. M. Burdge a number cf ' the business men may lend their es- ! forts, and several features are being talked of. All that is necessary just now is tor some one to take the lead and push out. Mr. J. S. Bowers has suggested that each firm in the city fit up a wagon showing a display of their line of goods, and form a parade that will cover the principal parts of the city, thus advertising the goods i from one end of the town to the other , 1 and securing more benefits. It’s a I case of every one pull together and the result is sure to be a big advancement :jn the business in Decatur. Let's ' wake up. If this event can be proper- ' ly handled it means a similar event i twice each year. Won’t some one 1 see that these features are carried out? There still remains ample time in which to do these things and it means so much to the business men of Decatur. Get on the wagon, boys. One man can’t do it. It takes the concerted action of all of us. Mr. Bowers offers his six horses for the day. o I A joint meeting of the Berne, Fort Wayne and Huntington Brotherhood of American Yeomen will be held in this city Sept. 30, and the event will be a big one. A class of candidates from Berne and a class from this city will be initiated. The members iof the Decatur order are requested 'to be present at next Monday’s regular business meeting.

Decatur, Indiana, Friday Evening, September 24, 1909.

SCORES REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE I The Democrats of Richmond Nominate Pettis A. Reid, for Mayor. Richmond, Ind., Sept. 24. —The nom- • ination of Pettis A. Reid as Lie Democratic candidate for mayor and the opponent of Dr. W. W. Zimmerman, the Republican nominee, appears to be gratifying to Democrats and to those Republicans who are taking the ■ lead in an effort to defeat Dr. Zimmerman. ■ The platform adopted by the Democratic convention last night was remarkable for its denunciation of the Republican nominee. “The Republicans of Richmond,” says the platform, “by a minority vote, the curse of the primary system, have nominated for their highest office an undesirable citizen. Every man knows this is true. Every well-informed,, law-abiding voter knows that such is the truth and knows why it is true. iThe record of their nominee makes a noise like a morgue; its foul odor of- ( fends the air and is a stench to the nostrils of the people. He is today' the same man he was four years ago; he has not reformed. He has persisted in his wrongdoing, undaunted and unashamed.”

COURTHOUSE NEWS The Murder Case Against Charles Wolfe Dismissed by the Court A NEW SUIT FILED Lehman Forgery Case Continued on Account of Illness of Witnesses The case of the State of Indiana vs. John Harmon for keeping a gaming room, was continued by agreement. I The case against Luther Lehman, for forgery, was continued until the next term, because of the sickness of several of defendant’s witnesses. The case against Charles Wolfe, I for murder, has been dismissed, and the defendant discharged. Louis H. Boknecht vs. Root town- , ship, account SI,OOO, rule to answer 1 made absolute in five days. Frank Imboden et al vs. Sarah R. | Imboden et al, partition, demurrer to complaint filed j The Arbuckle-Ryan Co. vs. David IL. Marshand et al, rule to answer cross complaint made absolute in five days. Answer tip crossi comi plaint filed.

I Fort Wayne -Electric Works vs. William G. Spencer, suit on contract, demurrer to cross complaint overruled; answer to cross complaint filed. Emanuel Woods vs. Fred Busick, account $l5O, rule to answer. Ida Newfer vs. Frank Hirschy, seduction, cause dismissed at plaintiff's cost. Judgment for costs. The Allen county cases. Herman Hockemeyer, Frank J. Gerhrdot, William J. Beauchot, C. F. ‘Gladieux, on re-application for liquor | licenses, were up on motion to dis]miss, which was overruled and they were all set for trial on October sth. James E. Moser vs. Peter Frank et al, suit on note, motion to separate complaint into paragraphs overruled. Bessie Cronin vs. Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette Co., damages $50,000. demurrer by plaintiff to answer of A., J. Monyhan. The defendant, the Journal-Gazette company, ordered to file answer in ten days. Attorney Cottrell filed a new case. Thomas Ireland vs. Harrison Hakes, James P. Hilyard, Joseph W. Hakes, suit on note, $125. John W McKean vs. Noah A. Loch et al, appearance by D. B. Erwin for International Harvester Co. and Kirsch, Sellemeyer & Sons. Charles Heffner vs. Jaoob Hunsicker, damages, motion by defen(Contlnned page 43

A GREAT PROGRAM! Recital Given at Library Last Night Was a Success ARE WELL RECEIVED Miss Gertrude Moses and Prof. Tucker of Marion, Please Audience An entertainment which very favorably appealed to every member of the audience, was the recital given at the library last evening by Miss Gertrude Moses and Prof. Tucker of Marion. The program embraced the rendition of a number of the most classical in- ’ strumental and vocal selections from ' the pens of the most noted writers the country affords, and the participants were vociferously encored at the

| conclusion of each selection. Prompt-' ly at eight-thirty Miss Moses appeared and this was a signal for continued applause, demonstrating the appreciation of her rare ability by the audience. Presiding at the piano she played a prelude from I. Pagliacci and this , as well as the prologue by Mr. Tucker, was well appreciated. The program was cleverly rendered throughout, much to the satisfaction of the auditors. Prof. Tucker's initial appearance before a Decatur audience was a most successful one, and* his every selection was followed by loud applause. He is a cultured baritone, sings with ease and in every way makes a hit with the audiences he api pears before. Miss Moses as a pianist, is one of the most highly cultured ! musicians in this section. The ease ! she manifests in rendering the most 1 difficult selections gives evidence of i her great ability. The entertainment i was a great success and should an- • 1 other be given by Miss Moses and - Prof. Tucker the library hall would i undoubtedly be packed to its capacity.

MRS. BUMP IS FREE Allen County Grand Jury Fails to Return an Indictment Against Her AFTER INVESTIGATE Deliberations Not Made Public —The Case is a Most Peculiar One

The grand jury for the September term of the circuit court made its final report to Judge Edward O'Rourke this morning, announcing that after a most thorough and searching examination no indictment had been found against Mrs. Gertrude Bump, who administered poison to her baby, killing it, and then swallowed carbolic acid with suicidal intent. Two or three days were spent in investigating the case and the grand jurors found conditions that in their minds excused the mother. Nothing of their delib-

erations has been made public, but it has never been believed that Mrs. Bump would have to face a charge ! in any of the courts. The case is a most peculiar pne find the young woman was not held accountable. In all only eleven indictments were re- 1 turned and aside from an investigation of the death of Christian Walda, following a report by the coroner, in i which he placed responsibility upon the crew of a traction car that ran I him down, nothing was taken up ex-' cept the reported disorders at Hunt- j ertown and the cases of men either in jail or out on bond.—Fort Wayne Sen- 1 tinel. o Mr. Peter F. Dodane, of Decatur,' i Ind., has purchased through the K. j Vorndran agency the forty-eight aero gardening farm of David K. Eckrote,

formerly owned by Adolph Schilling for $7,000. Mr. Dodane will remove his family there about October 1 and will make this place his future home, j This farm is considered one of t ei most valuable pieces of land In Al.en I county.—Fbrt Wayne Journal-Gazette.

UNCLE NATE LEFT OUT Lee McClung Selected as Treasurer I of the United States. Washington, Sept. 24. —'Lee McClung. treasurer of the Yale univer-1 sity, has been selected as treasurer of the United States to succeed Chas. 11. Treat. The following announcement in connection with the appointment was made today: “Charles H. Treat, on account of business matters, I has tendered his resignation as treas-1 urer, to take effect the middle of Oc-' tober. The secretary of the treasury has asked him to remain until the Ist of November, at w-hich time his resignation will be accepted. The president has selected Mr. Lee McClung, treasurer of Yale university, to fill the vacancy. Mr. McClung s home is in Knoxville, Tenn., his present residence, New Haven, being temporarily incident to the useful work he has been doing for Yale university. He was previous to this time connected with the Southern railway and expected. but for this appointment, to return to Tennessee, to go into his family's business in Knoxville.”

BOUGHT A FARM Sam Shamp and Fred Vaughn Home from a Business Trip to Mich. WHERE THEY INVEST Now Own Quarter Section Near Sanford That Looks Like Real Soil

Sam Shamp and Fred Vaughn, employes at the postoffice, came home i last evening from Sanforjd. Midi* ■ where they went Monday on a business trip. During the short stay j they purchased a T6O acre farm in ! that section, which they expect to clear, fence and put under cultivation. Next spring they will plant forty acres of potatoes and later expect to raise all kinds of farm products. They brought home samples of corn, wheat, oats, potatoes, apples, etc., from that country which they will exhibit at this office. Sanford. is a new town, of 150 inhabitants, but is growing rapidly and will some day be a handsome city. It is located between Saginaw and Big Bay, has a bank, drug store, elevator, hardware and other stores. Land is valuable in this district. David Flanders of this county owns a 320 acre farm near there, which is fenced with Ward fence from Decatur, and is I considered one of the handsome farms of the territory. There are many farmers there from this state and all are prospering. The town has a rural route, and the Here Marquette railroad passes through it. The boys have some valuable information about the country which they will give to those who inquire.

‘‘THE FARMER'S DAUGHTER’ There is no flattery so flattering to the modern playwright as that evinced when the audience becomes interested enough to inquire where the characters were securd, and if they were taken from real life, and the fact that they ask the question shows with what fidelity the author has builded his play, for the patron wishes to verify the opinion that there

exists somewhere an original for the counterfeit. When “The Farmer's I Daughter” was given its initial production in Chicago recently, the management received a score or more of . letters from patrons of the theater I asking where such and such of the - characters were taken from, and the I success of the piece can largely be ' attributed to the interest created by ! the masterly manner in which the author has handled his mic folk of the stage. And while it is true that he , has selected a region rich in oppor- ' tunity for the laying of the scenes o'

■ the plav, he has shown a splendid , conception of the idea the simple living country folks of New England, and his beautiful story of the d » u «^ r -ho -was more sinned 6

-(Sinning," has resulted in a rura I drama that is easily proving the sue- . Lessor to “The Old Homestead" and 1 “Way Down East.” The engagement 1 lof the play is announced for Friday, 1 Sept. 24, at the Bosse opera house. <

Price Two Cents

PEARY ON HIS WAY Will Soon Be in New York Where the Fur May Fly PUBLIC IS WAITING I To Hear More About What Peary Knows About . Dr. Cook . i Portland, Me., Sept. 24. —From the moment Commander Robert E. Peary : crossed the international boundary ' line at Vanceboro, the Eastern terminus of the Maine Central railroad, , shortly after 8 o'clock this morning, 3 until he arrived at Portland tonight.

his reception by the citizens of Maine amounted to a continuous ovation. At Bangor important papers of his expedition were turned over by Gen. Thomas Hubbard of New York, president of the Peary Arctic Club, after a brief conference. Commander Peary says that the papers have been taken to Gen. Hubbard's summer residence at Bar Harbor to be examined by Gen. Hubbard there, and that possibly he and Commander Peary will Ibe called into conierence at Bar Harbor Tuesday or Wednesday, if it is deemed necessary. During the journey through eastern Maine, Commander and Mrs. Peary, with their chil-

< dren and a swarm of newspaper men, . occupied the chair car of the St. John ' express train. Along the 350 mile ' route Commander Peary w’as cordial and appreciative, although he was tired. At every station where the train stopped between Vanceboro and Old Town, there was a crowd of cheering country folk, who seemed to appreciate the fact that it was the first few' hours that the commander was enjoying in his own land, with his own country's flag greeting him on every side. Gen. Thomas H. Hubbard president of the Peary Arctic Club, talked today at Bangor with Commander Robert E. Peary and returned here I tonight with some of the data and records which are to be used to maintain the position of the explorer in . the Cook controversy. These records will be carefully considered within the next few days and Gen Hubbard and Commander Peary will confer here either Sunday or Monday. This consultation may result in an announcement making public any information in the possession of Commander Pearv concerning Dr. Cook.

HANG FLAGS OUT Request that Business Men Decorate Stores Tuesday and Wednesday THE 89TH REUNION Will Be Held in this City— Arrangements Are Being Concluded Now.

The annual reunion of the veterans of the old eighty-ninth regiment, who fought valiantly and bravely during ■ the civil war, will be held in this city next Tuesday and Wednesday. There will be quite a gathering of old soldiers here on that day, as every vet- ' eran of this and surrounding coun- ‘ ties is invited to participate in the s event. By request of those in charge ‘ every business house in Decatur should be decorated on this occasion, ■ in the national colors. Hang out the old red, white and blue flag, and thus show your appreciation of the fact that there are still among us a number of the old boys who forty-eigh t years ago. marched away to the bat-

- tlefleld, that the stars and stripes might be preserved intact. Every patriotic citizen of Decatur should at least display the American flag, during this reunion, and they may feel . assured that this showing will be fully appreciated by the veterans and the ladies of the W. R. C. who are lending their efforts to make the event a happy one. Decorate.