Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 7, Number 229, Decatur, Adams County, 25 September 1909 — Page 1

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT.

Volume VII. Number 229.

DEATH OF HARRY SMITH Wealthy Banker, of Hartford City, and Former Senator this District END CAME SUDDENLY Died at Anthony Hotel at Fort Wayne at Early Hour this Morning Fort Wayne, Ind., Sept. 25.—(Special to Daily Dempcrat)—Harry B. Smith,, prominent banker, business man and Democrat politician from Hartford City, died at the New Anthony hotel in this city at 1:30 o’clock this morning. He arrived here during the evening from the north and retired at eleven o’clock. Shortly afterward Mrs. Smith who was with him, sent in a call for a physician. Mr. Smith had suffered a stroke of apoplexy and sank gradually to death, which occurred two hours later. The Remains were shipped to Hartford City today.

Hartford City, Ind., Sept. 25.— Harry B. Smith, of this «ity, who died suddenly at Fort Wayne this morning, was one of the best known men Jn this section of the state. He was rated as a millionaire, and held business interests all over the state. He has been president of the Citizens’ State bank here for thirty years, was director in the Merchants’ State Bank. Indianapolis; president o£ the Evansville street railway company, director of the Chicago, South Bend & Northern railway; a heavy stockholder in the Indianapolis street railroad company, and in many other concerns, besides owning a large store at Indianapolis, and large real estate holdings. He was sixty-seven years old and had been in excellent health, the news of his death causing a shock here. He and Mrs. Smith left here Friday morning for Lake James where they went to look at a cottage which they thought of buying. They returned to Fort Wayne last evening and expected to come home this morning. His wife and four daughters. Mrs. Roll Williams and the Misses Elizabeth, Gretchen and Addie survive. Twenty years ago, Mr. Smith was a force in the democratic party. He served as senator for the district comprised of Adams, Blackford and Jay counties, and was a candidate for the congressional nomination against A. N. Martin, the convention held at Huntington, being a memorable on’. The funeral services will be held here Monday afternoon.

SYMPATHY FOR THE SOUTH W. A. Ketcham Gives the Secretary of War a Skinning. Indianapolis. Sept. 25. —William A. Ketcham, former attorney general, showered a tirade of bitter invectives and denunciations on Secretary of War Dickinson Thursday afternoon in his speech before the G. A. R. gathering at Garfield Park. Mr. Ketcham declared he was sincere and thought It an outrage for the secretary to express unnecessary sympathy for the south. Mr. Ketcham referred to the remarks of the secretary when le said: “I have in my home in Illinois portraits of Davis, Lee and Jackson, and with them the Confederate colors, and it has never occurred to me to offer explanation or apology. For these remarks Ketcham denounced the secretary in no uncertain fashion and his words brought forth cheers from the veterans. The meeting at the park, which was an all day one, was for the purpose of increasing interest in the work of the organization and to swell the ranks of the ipembership.

INVESTIGATE VALUE OF PLANT Richmond Will Look Into Value of Waterworks Plant. Richmond, Ind., Sept 25—The expert who has been investigating the condition of the plant of the Richmond water works company, and who is to make a report as to its value, has completed his work and will submit a detailed statement within a short time. It is -thought the valuation will run close to $600,000, about $50,b00 less than the estimate made by the company. The report is of special value just now because the company is asking for a new franchise and there is also a movement toward municipal ownership of the plant The report of the expert will furnish a basis upon which the negotiations between the city and the company will bring action within a short time to test the legality of the ordinance recently passed by the council making the collection of meter rent illegal. o HE ACCEPTED CALL Rev. Wahmeyer Will Assume Pastorate of the German Lutheran Church COMES NEXT MONTH Regular Services Will Be Held There on Next Sunday Afternoon Word has reached the German Lutheran congregation in this city which brought the glad news that Rev. H. Wahmeyer of Pincher Creek, Alberta, Canada had accepted the call of this church slid, would arrive some time in October, and would then become a permanent fixture and devote his time and his talents in the interest of the congregation he is to serve. "Rev. Wahmeyer is a graduate of the theological university of St. Louis, and was one of the brighest students that ever graduated from that institution. Since then he has spent five years and they have been successful years, in the ministry, and he comes with the best credentials possible. He is thirty years old, a polished speaker and a bright energetic worker in the church. The congregation are impatient for him to arrive and assume the pastorate, and are looking forward to a most pleasant church relations with him. Regular services will be held at their church in this city on next Sunday, the Rev. Jaus will fill the pulpit, the time of the services being as usual at two o’clock in the afternoon.

WILL TELL THEM ABOUT ASIA A Good Lecture Will Be on at Berne on Next Thursday Evening. The people in and around Berne are looking forward to a splendid lecture which will be given at the Mennonite church there on next Thursday evening, September 30, at half past seven o’clock, the speaker of the evening being Bishop S. C. Breyfogle, of Reading, Penn. The subject of his lecture will be “Glimpses of Asia Through American Glasses." The lecturer is a fine platform speaker, and the subject of the lecture is one that will interest everyone. During the coming winter a lecture course will be on tap there, and several good speakers will entertain them. o • RAISING RATES ON HIM The Home Telephone company, according to Mr. Louis J. Brunner, a contracting frescoer and designer, of 1229 Swinney avenue, is endeavoring to raise the price of resident telephones to $3 per month in the place of the $2 which it has been receiving. Mr. Bruner states that the company has notified him that his 'phone is considered a business telephone, owing to that fact that he is a contractor with his office at home, and for that reason he must pay the business telephone rates. He stated further yesterday that unless he paid the rental asked that suit would be instituted against him as there are several patrons using instruments under like condition and that a test case was 1 desirable— Fort Wayne Journal-Ga- ] zette.

THE SPELLING BEE Old Fashioned Contest Furnished Amusement at Church LAST EVENING Miss Dessie Mann Displayed her Ability in the Art The lecture room of the M. E. church was the scene of an old fashioned, but intensely interesting spelling bee last evening when a gallant array of public school students lined up against the older and seemingly less wise folks for a real test on words chosen from the Bible, the former winning after one of their number displayed a remarkable ability in the art. Attorney C. L, Walters held the ever sacred book which contained the words which rivaled the intelligence of all save one and to him the older ones attribute their defeat, they charging that the words selected were too difficult. At eight o’clock two Tines were formed, a trapper was selected for each side and for ten minutes a modern spelling match ensued in which Don Burke's side was victorious. Following this those out of school were pitted against the students. The contest was dispatched without serious misfortune until the second round, when Prof. J. C. Tritch an ardent follower of pedagogy in our public schools.was compelled to seat himself after he spelled “platter” with but one “t.” Others followed suit and the announcer mowed contenders down on every hand when he gave out proper biblical names. The writer could not even spell Herrod. The number on each side diminished until but Rev. Powell ’ and Miss Dessie Mann survived. From I appearances the contest would be , long, but lo and behold the Reverend misspelled a name which to Miss Mann seemed very easy and it was all over except the refreshments, this part of the program delighting everybody. The event was a success. DECLAREiHNSANE John Hirschy of Hartford Township, Taken in Custody Yesterday THREATENED FAMILY Has Peculiar Hallucinations and Has Recently Become Rather Violent Sheriff Meyer made a drive to Hartford township yesterday, returning with John S. Hirschy, a well known farmer of that locality, who was yesterday declared of unsound mind by an insanity board, composed of Squire Joel Liddy and Drs. C. 11.

Schenk. For ten years past Mr. Hirschy has shown signs of insanity, but during the past few months has become much worse. He has threatened his wife and driven her from home and it was considered unsafe to allow him his liberty longer. For some time he has imagined that he has an injury of the knee and has kept his leg bandaged, walks with crutches but refuses to allow any one to examine the leg. He is fifty years old and has a wife and one child. He was brought here and will be kept at the jail until his admission papers arrive from Richmond. Mr. Hirschy is a well to do farmer and has many who hope he may recover from this illness of the mind. o THE DATES ARE SEPT 29 AND 30 There seems to be some confliction as to the dates for the reunion of the eighty-ninth regiment, and in order to set the matter right we want to state that the reunion days are Wednesday and Thursday, September 29 and '3O. The members and others are making arrangements for a great time on these two days and it is expected that quite a number of visitors will be here on these reunion days.

Decatur, Indiana, Saturday Evening, September 25, 1909

IS STILL A LONG WAYS OFF Planet Mars Fifteen Million Miles Nearer Than Usual. Washington, Sept. 24. —Nearer the ■ earth by fifteen million miles than it has been for fifteen years, the planet Mars today is the object of immense interest to the astronomers througuout the world, particularly at the United States naval observatory here. Its average distance from the earth is fifty million miles. Its distance from the earth today was only 35,000,000 miles. With this proximity interest in the planet which is always keen, will become even among those who cannot claim to be students of astronomy, all the keener, on account of the probability that new discoveries concerning matters martian will be made. IS HOME AT LAST Senator Beveridge in Indianapolis After Summer Vacation / TO DEFEND THEM He is Prepared to Defend the Action of the ♦ Insurgents Bidianapolis, Sept. 2J. —Senator Beveridge returned from Dublin, N. H., where he spent the summer vacation with Mrs. Beveridge and Albert Jr. His season of rest among the New Hampshire hills seems to have done the senator a world of good, as he is iu excellent health. | Mrs. Beveridge and son will arrive iin Indianapolis next Tuesday morn- , ing. Dublin is a small place, consisting of a few houses and a telegraph office, but nestled among the hills in the vicinity are the cottages of quite a number of well known and influential people who find the sumJmers there very enjoyable. The senator went to Dublin immediately after the adjournment of the special session of congress. His active part in tariff revision, following the arI duous duties of the regular session of congress had proved a severe tax ■on him, and he was in need of rest. Life at Dublin is not eventful and consists chiefly in sleeping, reading and taking exercise. The senator spent imany hours with Mrs. Beveridge wandering through the woods. He also indulged to his heart’s content in his favorite pastime of rowing. Unlike many of his senatorial colleagues, he finds no enjoyment in fishtng or hunting and neither cast

a line nor fired a shot He engaged moderately in literary pursuits, and one thing he did which no doubt will attract national attention later on was to write an article for the Saturday Evening Post on “The Insurgents," which will appear in that publication soon. This article was written immediately after tariff revision became an accomplished fact, [while all the inside incidents were fresh in the senator’s mind, and it will be a comprehensive summary and argument of the whole proposi-

tion. It will be a convincing presentation of the matter from the standpoint of the “progressives,” and will show distinctly the lines of cleavage between them and the “reactionaries.” When asked if the “progressives" have any plan of campaign for legislation next winter and in succeeding congresses, Senator Beveridge said: “No one can speak for them, but one prediction which can be made with absolute certainty is that no legislation will pass the sen-1 ate until it has been subjected to a 1 most thorough investigation. The recent session of congress was notable for one thing, and that is that it showed the determination of public men to investigate thoroughly every question presented for their action. The spirit of inquiry is abroad today as never before. Legislation will be studied with great care and in all of. its bearings, and no position will be' taken until the facts are known. I think it is safe to say that this is the attitude of mind not only of the socalled ‘insurgents,’ but probably of a majority of the senate. Never again, in my opinion, will it be possible to repeat the performance of 1902, when jthe tobacco trust slipped its joker I .through congress without a wor.-> be-1 'ing said.” !'

IS GETTING LIVELY I \t is Hinted That Dr. Cook May Sue Peary for Malicious Slander ARE INTERESTING Friends of Peary Pleased With His Records Submitted New York. Sept. 25. —Dr. Frederick A. Cook contemplates the bringing of a suit against Commander Peary Lo recover damages for slander and defamation, according to friends of the Brooklyn explorer. Dr. Cook had nothing to say tonight regarding the proposed suit, but his secretary, Walter Lonsdale, admitted that the idea was seriously entertained both by Dr. Cook and John R. Bradley, Cook’s backer. He said that affidavits had already been prepared in case it was definitely decided to bring the suit. “But certainly nothing will be done just at present,’’ said Mr. Lonsdale, “and as a matter of fact it is doubtful if anything will ever be done, unless it is in ret iliation.”

Bar Harbor, Me., Sept. 25.—“1 have read the records submitted by Commander Peary on the question, ‘Has Cook Been at the Pole?’ and found in them much that Dr. Cook has not stated. They are very interesting.” General Thomas Hubbard, president of the Peary Arctic club, made this statement today after a careful examination of the Peary records on the controversy which were submitted to him by Commander Peary at Bangor yesterday. While General Hubbard gives no intimation as ‘to the nature 'of the proofs which Comander Peary l is confident will show that Dr. Cook w-as not at the pole, it was apparent that he was well satisfied with the records before him.

MISS MYERS WEDS Former Decatur Girl is Married in New Mexico WELL KNOWN HERE John L. Taylor, Wealthy Land Owner, the Groom

I An exchange has reached our office which announces the marriage of Miss Jessie M. Myers, daughter of David M. Myers, formerly Os this city, to John L. Taylor, a wealthy land owner of New Mexico. The bride has a large acquaintanceship | in this county, she being a niece of Daniel and W. J. Myers of this city The Myers family lived in Decatur for a number of years, and the many friends of the bride will extend their heartiest congratulations. In part the Cuervo Clipper has the following to say relative to the marriage: At high noon on September the fifth nineteen hundred and nine, at the home of the groom, was celebrated one of the most elaborate and distinguished weddings which has taken place in Cuervo for several months past, when the marriage ceremony was solemnized between Miss Jessie M. Myers and Mr. John L. Taylor both of Cuervo, New Mexico. Rev. E. M. Huff, in his usual pleasing and most impressive manner, pronounced the words which made them husband and wife. The bride is one of the’ three daughters of Mr. and Mrs. I MJyers, who came to New Mexico I

some two years ago from the east. Since her arrival among the people of Cuervo she has won much admira-. tion and gained many friends in this place. She is attractive, accom-J

pushed and has that happy faculty of. making everybody with whom she meets, her friend.

FEELING AGAINST THE TARIFF President Taft Has Put the Republicans in Bad Hole. Indianapolis, Sept. 25. —Gus S. Con- • do, of Marion, who was in the city, declares that there is a marked feeling against the tariff bill in his part of the state and that the Republicans up there stand with Senator Beveridge on the tariff question. Mr. Condo expressed the view that the president had put the Republicans of this state in a pretty bad hole on the tariff question. Mr. Condo declared that he was giving no attention to the congressional nomination in the Eleventh district and that he did not believe he would give any attention to it He did not think he would be a candidate for the nomination, he declared, and he said also that he had it straight that Field Swezey, mayor of Marion, would not be a candidate. “The only one whom I have heard talked about for the nomination,” he said, “is Senator Kling of Miami county.”

A GOOD POSITION Dick France Becomes a Freight Agent on the Northwestern Road OFFICE AT ST. PAUL New Job Carries With It a Good Salary—Reports First of Month Dick France of this city has been appointed a special freight agent on the Northwestern railroad, with headuarters at St. Paul, Minn., where he will begin his duties the first of next month. The position is a splendid one, carrying with it a handsome salary, double that drawn at present, and at that he has been holding a respon'sible place. Dick has been with the Pennsylvania railway for six years

past .beginning as a detective along the line, but for several years past, has served as a lieutenant of the police force of that road. He has been a faithful and efficient man and is very popular with the officials. He was recently offered the position as inspector of the police force betw’een Pittsburg and New York, but has turned the offer down to accept the place with the Northewestern road. The new job is a good one, his duties being to assist the local agents along the line to secure business, and everyone who knows Dick knows he will make good. He has written relatives here that he will be in Decatur next Friday enroute to St. Paul to begin his new duties. This job came to him unsolicited, and he was much surprised to hear of his selection. o | SIGNED KUNKEL FRANCHISE 1 Mayor Hamilton Signed Franchise of j Bluffton Gentleman. j t

Mayor Hamilton Thursday signed the artificial gas franchise which the council last Friday granted to W. A. Kunkel, and Mr. Kunkel is now in shape to go ahead to carry out plans for installing a plant here to manufacture gas. Mr. Mulholland, superintendent of the Indiana Lighting company, was here yesterday and reported that his company is going right ahead with their lines to this city and will be here in a few weeks. He has expectations of reaching a peaceable agreement with the council on the matter of rate. —Bluffton News.

A WEDDING FOR NEW CORYDON At Trinity Catholic church near New Corydon, next Tuesday morning, at high mass will be celebrated the , marriage of Joseph Remakius and / Miss Bertha Fischer. The ceremony

will be performed and the mass read by Rev. Julius Mayer, pastor of the / church. The bride is the daughter of Gabriel and Rosa Fischer, of Wa- ( Now Corvdon. .

bash township, near New coryaon. The bridegroom is a son of Nicholas 'and Anna Remakius, of Bearcreek /township. They expect to make their, home on a farm of the bridegroom’s, father near the Noble-Wabash town - ship line.—Portland Commercial-Re- < view. 1

Price Two Cents

COURT HOUSE NEWS Andrew Jackson Granted a Divorce from Wife Who Abandoned Him CASES SET FOR TRIAL A Number Will Be Heard Next Week—Action in Other Causes in Court

The Andrew Jackson vs. Jane Jackson case was heard and the court rendered a verdict for the plaintiff on the grounds of abandonment, granting the decree. Mrs. Jackson filed a cross complaint and asked for the decree and the restoration of her former name, but she showed no grounds for the divorce nor any cause for leaving her home. Judgment was rendered against the plaintiff for the costs. Mary A. Davis et al vs. Adoline Rumple et al, petition to construe will, set for hearing on October 4th. George W. Zimmerman vs. Chicago & Erie railroad company, damages, SSOO. demurrer overruled, answer filed; set for trial on Monday, November Its. Cribben & Sexton Co. vs. Decatur Hardware Co., demurrer overruled: answer field; rule to answer within fifteen days. Ella Debolt vs. Chauncey Debolt, rule against plaintiff to reply to second paragraph of answer; reply filed: set for trial Thursday, September 30th. Samuel Beeler vs. Nina Beeler, divorce, set for trial Wednesday, September 29th. Germer Stove Co. vs. Noah Loch et al. account $350, and E. L. Roberts & Co., vs. Noah Loch et al, appearance by Hooper & Lenhart for defendants and ruled to answer.

Joel Liddy vs. Joel Liddy, adrnr., of estate of William G. Hill, claim S4O. o RALLY DAY AT PRESBYTERIAN Special Effort in the Sunday School Attendance Second Sermon. Tomorrow is Rally Day at the Pres-

byterian church. As stated yesterday a large number of unique invitations have been sent out and it is hoped that the day will be the biggest in history. Os course everyone is cordially invited to all the services and you are especially asked to start the day by attending Sunday school in the morning. A big time is expected. You must do your part to make the day a success. Tomorrow morning the pastor gives the second of his special sermons on great Bible themqs. These sermons are attracting much attention and interest and you are invited to come out and hear them. Start tomorrow.

PLAY WAS GOOD “The Farmer's Daughter” Played to a Small Sized House Last Night- “ The Farmer's Daughter,” which played at the opera house last evening was greeted with but a small sized house, but were deserving of a much better patronage. The troupe carried about twelve people, their own scenery and a number of beautiful costumes, which made it a very pleasant evening for those who attended. The play was composed of four acts and all knew their parts so as to make it a very attractive play.

ANOTHER BIG MASONIC CLASS The special Scotish Rite class which will receive the degrees through the fourteenth on next Tuesday, bids fair Ito be another record breaker, for there are now on hand 110 petitions from ’those who desire to rece.ve the degrees and it is certain that a majority

? of this number will comprise the • Tuesday class. As only one day will be spent In conferring the degrees, j ’there will be no social feature of them ’september convocation. It is probyj

'able that the committees for the dedjg icatfon of the Scottish Rite cathedra® 'will be announced tomorrow. The® dates of the dedication are the 16th.fi 117th and 18th of November. —Fort! I Wayne Sentinel. *