Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 7, Number 253, Decatur, Adams County, 23 October 1909 — Page 1

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT.

Volume VII. Number 253.

DIED AT ELKHART George W. Thomas, an Old Resident Here, Victim of Bright’s Disease WAS WELL KNOWN Had Been in Poor Health for Several Months—Leaves Four Children George Thomas, one of the best known men of this locality, died at one o’clock this morning at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Enoch Stalter, at Elkhart, Indiana, where he went a short time ago to take treatment for Bright’s disease with which he had suffered. The news of his death came in a message to Mrs. Soan Meyers of east of the city. Mr. Thomas had been in poor health for 3ou,e months and was advised to go to Elkhart to take special tieatment. Yesterday news was received that he was falling and that the end was near. He ■was sixty-eight years old and had lived in this county the greater part of his life. He w’as a soldier in the civil war, a member of the Fifth Indiana battery, and a member of the G. A. R. post. His first wife died a number of years ago and he was mar. ried about a year ago to Mrs. Ayres, who survives him. There are four children, Ira Thomas, Miss Lydia Thomas 6f this city, Mrs. )Sloane Meyers and Mrs. E. C. Stalter of Elkhart. It is expected that the remains will be brought here for interment, though no definite arrangements have been announced. o VAN WERT GIRL GOT HUSBAND He Fled on Account of Her Wealth But She Followed. Los Angeles, Cal., Oct. 22. —The romance of a young couple, whose marriage was planned twelve months ago in Van Wert, Ohio, and which was postponed because the girl and man were afraid to risk their love ta matrimony, as they professed, was revealed yesterday when Ross L. Brown was married to Miss Daisy Culp at Pasadena. Miss Culp, the daughter of a millionaire furniture manufacturer in Van Wert, Ohio, proposed to Brown while he was employed as a mechanic. She was a student at a fashionable school. He refused to marry because of her wealth and fled on the eve cf the wedding. (Detectives traced him here, and after explanations the ceremony was performed. Papa Culp returned home happy. — o— —- A HEAVY EXCURSION Run Over the Clover Leaf Last Evening. Thirty-five people from here took in the fall festival excursion. The regular fall festival excursion was run over the Clover Leaf last evening and a large number of pleasure seekers took advantage of the low rates. The excursion was bound for St. Louis and the train carried a large number of coaches which were heavily loaded. Just this time of the year St. Louis affords plenty of pleasure, and there are always large numbers of people waiting for the occasion, to take it in. The train started in the far east and arrived in St. Louite some time this morning, giving the excursionists plenty of time to witness the city can produce as now it is in the height of its glory. Thirty-five tickets were sold from here. WAS ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES Dan North Drew Out Eighty Acres in Montana* Word has been received to the effect that Dan North, ex-county surveyor, now assistant city engineer at Kendallville, was one of the lucky persons who drew a farm recently in the government land lotteries in Montana. He held a number which is good for a farm of eighty acres, and although he has not yet gone west to investigate it the best information he can get is that the 80 acre tract is one of the best in the reservation and it will be secured by him at a nominal cost. It is not likely that Dan will locate on his farm but he will secure possession of it as an investment. The land is secured by payment of a small fee and very small price per acre.—Bluffton News.

THEY WANT AN ADVANCE The State Will Soon Call for Advance Tax Payments. The state board of finance, com- . posed of the governor, auditor of state and treasurer of state, has decided to Issue a call for 30 per cent, advance payment of all taxes due the state from the counties in the December settlement, to be paid into the , state treasury by October 25. The call is made under the law enacted by the recent general assembly, which empowers the auditor to require such ■ advance payments as may be necessary to meet the current expense of the state government. It is estimated that approximately $900,000 will be required to carry the treasury over to the regular settlement. CROKER ON HIS WAY Coming Back to Help Tammany in New York i Campaign A BIG BOSS j At One Time He Was a Power in New York Politics ■ Chicago, Oct. 23. —Sumner, writing to the Record-Herald from New York, 1 > on the political situation there, says: ■ It inevitably gives zest to a Tammany anti-Tammany campaign to have it made known that Richard Croker is on the seas, bound for the port where j not many years ago he abdicated a i power that was a world-wide political I wonder. The former “boss’ 1 will be 1 here about the middle of next week, if nothing happens to the big steamship Mauretania, and long enough before the municipal election to arouse all sorts of interest, gossip, wonder--1 ment and apprehension among politi--1 cians in general and the big and little 1 Tammany leaders in particular. It jfe the assertion that Croker’s return has a good deal to do with the muni--1 cipal campaign that is to culminate ■ in the election of Nov. 2. Those who ' know the game beneath the surface ' understand that while Croker may ■ have no intention of resuming open leadership, he, nevertheless, is a ' power still to be reckoned with, and ' will continue to be as long as he lives, providing the Tammany tiger does not change its stripes in the ' meantime. Some of the big interests ' always found Croker reasonable. Croker never wanted the whole thing for himself; he was not hoggish. A pub. lie service pirate could deal with the “big chief” and feel that there would ’ be fairness on all sides. Murphy, on the other hand, has nbt succeeded to Croker’s reputation for a fair “divvy. • He wants too much for himself, in the belief of interested parties. Recently | Mr. Murphy has assumed an interest ’ in the Bradley, Gaffney, Steers Company of contractors and this, known as the Murphy company, in all probability would secure the contracts for constructing hundreds of milllions of dollars’ worth of subways in the near ’ future, if Tammany controlled and Boss Murphy had his entire way. LITTLE GIRL EATS TABLETS Her Death Followed a Short Time Afterward. Peru, Ind., Oct. 22.—Agnes, the two year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Sattie, living north of Peru, near Mexico, died yesterday as the result of accidentally taking a quan- ; tity of strychnine tablets. The tablets were procured by Mrs. Sattie several days ago for nervousness, and ; Thursday morning after she had tak- , en one Mrs. Sattie, unaware of the danger, laid them upon a table. The i baby was playing about in the room and incidentally'got hold of the box. ■ Mistaking the tablets for something J good to eat, the child swallowed the 'contents of the box, and when Mrs. 1 Sattie returned to the room she found J the little one deathly sick. The ,' empty box lay on the floor, and realizing the danger she immediately callJed assistance. A physician was hard ' to procure at that moment and with.'out hesitating the child was carried i' to the home of Dr. Rannels, at Mexico. :' Everything possible was done to save i' the baby’s life, but it was useless, and I the child died at the physician’s home.

PLACES ARE ROWDY Nine Saloons in Muncie May Be Closed on Order from the Mayor POLICE BOARD ASK IT . The Warning Will Probably Have a Good Effect on the Places at Least Because of the disorder, rowdyism and intolerant Conditions prevailing at the nine remaining saloons in Muncie, the police commissioners have decided to request Mayor Guthrie to issue a proclamation closing these places in advance of the expiration of their licenses under the process of the county option law. There are nine saloons remaining here and they have i been reaping a rich harvest. Under the operation of the law the last saloon must close November 16. The board has been considering the law in the case and believes that under the statutes of the state of Indiana the mayor of any city or town has the power to close any and all saloons when in his judgment the peace of the public is disturbed through their agency. The action of the board is based on the riotous and unlawful ’' conditions prevailing at the majority ; of these saloons, especially on Saturi day nights, when the police, even , though doing extra duty, the day men augmenting the night patrolmen, find 1 i themselves pushed to the limit in en- ' forcing order and attending to and ■ t looking after the disturbers and rough ,’ element. It te known that the mayor ■ is not in sympathy with the saloons ■' and, as the board appointed by him i has gone on record, it w T ould not be ■ surprising to see the chief executive of the city order a part or all of ■ the saloons closed peremptorily At least, the owners of the more offensive i places will be warned .and their li- • , censes revoked on the first repetition ■ of trouble and disgraceful scenes • which have marked“these places dur- > ’ ing the last few weeks. NEW TYPEWRITER - ■ Miss Marie Patterson Will Operate the One at the Auditor’s Office J I .ANOTHER BUSY DAY > - “ The Treasurer’s Office Busy With the November 1 Installment ' The new book typewriter at the ’ auditor's office is a fine piece of furniture, and just at this time Miss Marie Patterson is busy learning the many intricate points about its operation. She is getting on swimmingly, i and it will be but a short time until she will be able to make all the record of that office on this machine. This ' Is the greatest improvement ever made there, and the machine will prove a good investment In more ways , than one. Nothwithstanding that the weather is about the limit, the treasurer’s ofI flee was crowded for the most of the • day, and the total collections figured 1 into the thousands. They are all ar--1 ranging for a busy time next week, ' when they will practically close the payment of the November installment. ’ The state authorities have called for ! an advance payment of thirty per cent, from all the counties in the state 1 the same to be sent ifti by the last day in this month. ——— Deputy Auditor Baumgartner is a busy Indian, he spending all his time I right now on the tax duplicates for next year, and which he hopes to i complete and have ready to turn over 1 to the treasurer by the first day of . the coming year.

Decatur, Indiana. Saturday Evening, October 23, 1909,

HE HAD A CRACKER SALE The Gunsett Farm Sale Wednesday Was a Good One. The Henry Gunsett farm sale Wednesday was one of the best held this fall everything put up being sold at a good round price. The total of the sale was but a few dollars under the thousand mark. Mr. and Mrs. Gunsett have already moved to this city and now occupy the Hart property on Monroe street. The ifl.l health of Mrs. . Gunsett made this necessary and it is hoped that a couple years in the city will make her strong again. The Gunsett farm wi” be taken care of by Mr. Johnson, of, Monroe, who will move there at once. o A DIVORCE BATTLE ’ Comes from Wells County— Orlo Lesh vs. Sadie B. Lesh J SENSATIONAL CHARGE I Plaintiff is School Teacher— Mrs. Lesh Files CrossL i Complaint in Case A divorce case entitled Orlo E. 1 Lesh vs. Sadie B. Lesh, was filed here j today on change of venue from Wells , county, where it was filed last March. • The couple were married March 15, i 1907, and lived together until last i February. It seems that Lesh belong, [led to lodge and that hils wife objected . •I to this. On one accasion she foll lowed him to lodge and made him go i ! home. She has threatened to kill • I him, has cursed and abused him dei' stroyed his clothes and otherwise i' made life almost unbearable. Robert 1 ■! W. Stine is attorney for plaintiff. Mrs. ■ ■ Lesh has filed a cross-complaint in ' whictr'she says her husband cursed :' choked, kicked and abused her, left ■' her one time for several months and ‘ has by his ill treatment made her a i nervous wreck. She says her husi band is a school teacher, makes good money and owns real estate and personal property. She asks for the decree and for SI,OOO alimony. Her attorneys are Sharp & Sturgis. It looks like a real battle of its kind. HE WILL LECTURE HERE A. S. Elzey, of Ossian, Will Deliver Unique Address. A. S. Elzey, who has become wed known through this part of the state for his church lectures and evangelical work, will make a unique address at Decatur Sunday evening. The plan is original and will doubtless evoke a good deal of discussion. Mr. Elzey , says, I shall speak on success, but I will not go to the philosophers for my definitions. Instead of this he has gone to nearly al! the business and professional men of Ossian and asked them to give him a written definition of what they mean by the word success. Then in his address he will quote each man as his authority and say that so and so who is a merchant, or doctor, or superintendent of schools at Ossian, as the case may be, has defined success for hion as follows. Then he will continue with the quotation. The plan is original, and the speaker has been over the town canvassing for opinions.—Bluff - , ton Banner. — o — ROANOKE WILL HOLD, ELECTION All of the Nominations Were Improperly Made. Over in Hunttagton county in all probability Roanoke will not have a town election of officers this year, the result of the failure of the voters to properly make their nominations This was done by petitions filed with the county clerk, and now it is alleged none of these are valid. One was attacked on the grounds that the signatures were not proprly acknowledged. The other two were attacked on the grounds that they did not contain the required number of names of voters as fixed by law. With these tickets, in case an election is , held, it can be declared invalid should objection be made. Hence it has been decided not to have one the first 1 Tuesday in November. The present • officers ■will hold over until 'their ’ successors are duly elected and qualified.

ABSORBED BY BELL The Bell Has Bought Up the I Independent Telephone , Companies r i CAUSED SURPRISE . ( II The Combined Capital of All the Companies is Over Thirteen Millions Toledo, 0., Oct. 23. —The Blade upon information said to be authentic, pub-1 lisbes the statement that a merger of the independent telephone interests of the mildle west with the /Bell company is almost (.completed. The statement is to the effect that the Bell company has secured options upon independent companies which James S. Brailey, of Toledo, and his associates control or of which they recently secured control, and that the deal fe expected to be consummated within a day or two. This would put the Bell company in control of the telephone situation in the middle west and end the war between it and its rival. These properties are the U. S. Telephone company (The Independent Long distance line); the Cuyahoga Telephone company, of Cleveland, the Home Telephone company of Toledo, the Indianapolis Telephone company (local) and the new Long Distance Telephone company of Indianapolis. The combined capital stock of all the companies that are to fall into the hands of the well is $13,100,000. It 1 is understood that the preferred stock ■ 'of the Cuyahoga goes into the deal at 40; that of the Indianapolis Tele-1 phone company at 67% and the Home of Toledo at 83. The sale of the tele-I phone companies named will affect thousands of stockholders in all parts of the country. It will also retire from the field of battle Breckenridge Jones, of the Mississippi Valley Trust company of St. Louis. This capitalist has helped materially to supply the sinews of war for the independent campaign. Others who will disappear from the telephone war are A. P. Bauer, of St. Louis and H. C. Stifel. COURTHOUSE NEWS The Swartz Partition Case Heard and the Property Ordered Sold BY C. L. WALTERS Action Taken in Several Other Cases—The Real Estate Transfers Jesse A. Swartz vs. Jesse A. Swartz admr., et al, partition, default of all defendants, submitted, finding for partition, that plaintiff owns one-third of real estate property ordered sold C. L. W’alters appointed commissioner and bond fixed at $5,000. Leota Ross vs. Homer Raudenbush, breach of promise, appearance by Peterson & Moran for defendant; rule to answer. Joel Liddy vs. Joel Liddy admr, estate of William G. Hill, claim S4O; set for trial November 6. Isadore A. Kalver vs. Decatur Furnace Co., petition filed for leave to transfer insurance policies, sustained. John W. McKean vs. Mary and Noah Loch, foreclosure of mortgage, answer filed by Loch and Loch to crosscomplaint; rule to reply. SadieSchelegel vs. Henry Schlegel divorce, cause dismissed; judgment ( against plaintiff for costs. Real estate transfers: Mathias ; Striker to Henry A. Meyer, 2 acres Monroe township. $400; James Arch-; • bold, admr. to Elizabeth C. Spangler, lot 408 Decatur, $740.

[WERE MARRIED AT LAFAYETTE [Mr. Stoneburner and Mia* Billman of this City Wed. The Lafayette (Ind.) Journal of Thursday said: Last evening at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Scott 1708 Purdue street, occurred the marriage of Israel B. Stoneburner to Beatrice V. Billman, both of Decatur. Miss Billman is a sister of Mrs. Scott and is an estimable lady with a host of friends in her home city. Mr. Stoneburner is a successful and popular young man highly regarded by all who know him. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Mr. Burnett, of the Free Methodist church of this city, and was witnessed by immediate relatives only. DEATH RELIEVES Abraham Meyer, Father of Sheriff Meyer, Died at Twelve O’Clock Today ILL SEVERAL MONTHS Had Been a Resident of County for Seventy Years —Lived in this City Abraham Meyer, the aged father of: John Meyer and of Sheriff Eli Meyei, 1 died at noon today at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Jonathan Baumgartner,' near Vera Cruz. He was well known in this city, having lived here several years until about three months ago, I when his health became very bad and ihe went to live with his daughter. He I suffered from dropsy and heart trouble, to which was added the infirmities lof a ripe old age. He was born in I Berne, Switzerland, March 8, 1827, [and was aged eighty-two years, seven months and fifteen days. When twelve years old he came to this country and settled in this county, i being one of the oldest residents here. Hils wife preceded him in death about twenty years ago. He is survived by nine children, John and Eli of this city, Henry of French township, Peter of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Jacob of Woodburn, Allen county; Mrs. Lizzie Baumgartner, of near Vera Cruz; Mrs. Lydia Wegmiiler, of Geneva; Mrs. Rosa Presdorf, of French township, and Mrs. Emma Glancey of this city. The funeral arrangements have not been made yet. Mr. Meyers was a member of Co. K 12th Indiana volunteer infantry durtag the civil war and was later transferred to Co. I of the 59th. o - THE CONTRACTORS WON CASE The Plymouth Court House Improvements Settled. Plymouth, Ind., Oct. 23. —Concluding a four months’ fight in -the Marshall circuit court in the noted court house injunction case ,the board of county commissioners and Contractor Arthur O’Keefe won their case yesterday when Special Judge M. B. Lairy of Logansport dissolved the injunction on everything except the court room decorations. In brief. Judge Lairy said that the board of commissioners has the right to exercise its powers of discretion in the granting of contracts, which must stand unless fraud or collusion is proven. The board of commissioners had complied with the terms of the statute, and that was all that was required. The causes that led up to the injunction followed when the commissioners last June decided to remodel and enlarge the court house at an expense of $15,000, and

let the contract to Arthur O’Keefe. | On June 17 Jacob Ness, who was a competitive bidder, brought suit as a taxpayer to restrain Mr. O’Keefe from executing the contract, on the ground that bids had not been advertised according to the required law. o

BOWLING ALLEYS WILL OPEN The Palace bowling alleys will be ' opened for business the first of next • week. The room will be repapered, new balls will be purchased and the alleys will be ta excellent condition. 1 for the winter's sport. There are a

t number of good bowlers in this city and they are anxious to start. A team will go to Delphos Monday night . to meet the team from that place and they will play a return date here liater. It is likely that a league will I be formed and wDthin a week or two the bowling game will be on in earnest.

Price Two Cents

MET LAST NIGHT City Council Will Hold Special Session Nov. 1 to Elect Member FOR SECOND WARD A Number of Matters Were Disposed of Last Night —Bills Allowed The regular session of the city council, postponed from Tuesday evening on account of the death of Mr. Van Camp, one of their members, was held last night. All members were present. On account of the absence of Mayor France, Mr. Christen acted as chairman of the meeting. Minutes of the previious meeting were read and approved. A remonstrance was filed against the building of the sidewalk next to the curb, on Mercei I avenue, between the C. & E. railroad and High street, south, and signed by seven property owners. This was referred to the street and sewer committee, who reported back in a few minutes, recommending that the sidewalk be constructed inside. This was approved and the council ordered the property owners in that section to construct temporary walks to be used until such time that the city may order permanent walks constructed and that the property owners be liable for any damages that may arise. The city attorney was ordered to serve notices on Fred Scheiman and Andrew Welfley that they construct sidewalks at once. The petition of Andrew McGill for tile on Line street was referred to the street and sewer committee with power to act. The finance committee reported that they have sold one of the old boNers to the Hanna-Brackenbridge company at Fort Wayne, for S4OO and have duly turned the money over to the city. A resolution was adopted, appropriating $15.00 for the purpose of securing ■witnesses from the Fort Wayne hospital to be used in the case of James Touhey vs. the City of Decatur. The clerks and treasurer’s reports were for September filed and referred to the finance committee. The resolutions in memory of the late Anson Van Camp were read and approved and ordered spread of record. The city clerk was ordered to give notice by publication that the common council will meet at 6:30 on Monday evening November Ist, for the purpose of electing a successor to Anson VanCamp as councilman from the second ward. The finance committee reported the following bills which were allowed: J. F. Wild & Co $ 25.00 E. X. Ehinger 8-20 E. X. Ehinger 20.47 O. B. Wemhoff 8.20 |L. C. Helm 39-50 D. P. Overlinker 9.62 | Frank Snyder 51.50 Essex Coal Co. 22.77 I Waterworks pay roll 38.03 Geo. Tester 18.75 Smith & Yager 44.77 ID. F. Teeple 184.31 ■ Clyde Baumgartner 11.00 Kirsch .Sellemeyer & Sons.... 123.96 .’Chicago & Erie 537.49 'D. F. Teeple 5.32 1 Julius Haugk 10.80 J Jacob J. Magley 1-25 t G. R. & I. Ry. Co 178.13 J Sunday Creek Coal Co 73.71 J Electric Appliance Co 7.20

I Fort Wayne Foundry Co 11.42 Fort Wayne Oil Co 52.56 I Andrew Cowan & Co 42.60 'Fort Wayne Electric Works.. 84.84 O. Gara Coal Co 29.89 Waterworks pay roll 69.8 S Dailey bond buyer 5.62 H. Harruff 20 0;>

o THE WALSH CASE APPEALED ’ Chicago, Oct. 23.—Different phases ' of the John R. Walsh case were discussed today by counsel for the convfcted banker and District Attorney Sims. The points under considera-

Ition relate to the continuance of the t bond on which Mr. Walsh is still at s liberty ahd whether he shall be ptrs mitted to remain in freedom during 1 the pendency of his expected appeal > to the supreme court should the peti- • tion for a rehearing in the United States court of appeals prove futile.