Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 7, Number 284, Decatur, Adams County, 30 November 1909 — Page 1

Volume VII. Number 284.

AGAINST OIL KING Plans Lad to Either Kidnap or Assassinate J. D. Rockefeller. POLICE AFTER MEN Gates Are Locked About the Millionaire’s Estate and Strict Guard is On. Cleveland, Ohio, Nov. 30. —(Special t to Daily Democrat)—The police of this city are busy today looking for two men who it is alleged are implicated in a vile plot to either kidnap or assassinate the famous oil king and world's greatest millionaire, John D. Rockefeller. The matter was reported by Sawyer Smith, a well known business man from Minerva, Ohio, who overheard the men discussing the proposition in Allance, Ohio, on Sunday night. He Immediately informed the police. It is said the plans which have not been made public were very complete and elaborate. The gates at the Rockefeller estate have been ordered locked and kept so. THE JOLLY WIDOW Is the Title of a Play to be Staged by the Pythian Sisters Lodge. NEXT MONDAY NIGHT Proceeds Will Go Toward Furnishing the Beautful New Pythian Home. The Pythian Sisters began work today for a home talent play which will be staged at the Bosse opera house next Monday evening that looks at this time like the biggest success of the kind ever given In Decatur, and if work and hustle will do it this will come true. The ladies need the money and the profits will be used towards paying for the furnishing of their department in the beautiful new Pythian home now nearing completion on Third street. The title of the show to be put on is "The Jolly Widow,’ a lively and interesting comedy which will please all who attend. The work is in charge of Mr. Hubert Labadie who is assisted by his wife. They are good in this line, having demonstrated their ability last week when they staged a play for the Knights of Columbus. Members of the Pythian lodge will visit surrounding towns and there will be an effort made to have parties from each place attend the show. Watch for the "Jolly Widow.” —O WANTS HIM PARDONED. Friends of Dr. Ross are Waiting for His Release. Despite the fact that Dr. Nelson B. Ross, the Muncie physician, now serving a life sentence at the Michigan City prison for the murder of Dame Linder, a muncie and Portland car conductor, has served less than a month for the crime of which he was found guilty, a petition is now In circulaton to effect hs pardon. The o< ument is in the -hands of V illi--’ Ha e. a Muncie stock dealer, who has I>< l n striving for the past few days to get Muncie people to attach their signa tures, recommending the physician s release.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT.

“DRYS” CLAIM WARREN COUNTY. Rev. Shoemaker Closed the Campaign There. Williamsport, Ind., Nov. 30. —The “drys’’ are claiming victory in the Warren county local option election held today. Probably in no other county has there been such indifference as has existed in Warren county throughout the present temperance campaign, for more than a year the entire county has been "dry.” The majority of the "drys” is estimated at from 1,200 to 1,500, if the full vote is gotten out. The climax of the campaign came last'night when the Rev. E. E. Shumaker, state superintendent of the Anti-Saloon League, spoke in the Methodist church, where he served four years as pastor and where he preached his first temperance sermon in this county about ten years ago. 0 ACT OF WILD MAN Young Man at Greenvlle Sui cides Leaving Bloody Trail Behind Him. THREE ARE DEAD. Awful Act of Clyde Weaver —Several Others Were Seriously Injured. Greenville Ohio, Nov. 30. —After murdering his brother and an officer who had attempted to arrest him and I probably fatally injuringa-other woman and her husband, Clyde Weaver, thirty-four years old, completed the tale of bloodshed by committing suicide near here this afternoon. Weaver was declared by physicians to be afflicted with exaggerated ego and was under suspended sentence from the probate court. At 2:30 this afternoon Sheriff John F. Haber and Deputy Sheriff William H. Farrell went to Weaver's home to arrest him. The appearance of the officers seemed to drive the man violently insane. He opened fire upon them from an upper window with a shot gun and Farrell fell wounded. A moment later Weaver’s mother rushed from the house crying, "I'm shot,” and fell dead at the feet of the sheriff. While Haber was trying to revive the woman Weaver walked from the house carrying a revolver. He went to the woodshed where Farrell had crawled and fired twice at the wounded officer, killing him. He then jumped into the buggy in which the officers had reached the house and drove to the home of Levi Minnich, a neighbor, from whom he demanded protection. When Minnich hesitated to allow him to enter the house Weaver drew his revolver and shot Minnich through the back. Weaver then turned on Mrs. Minnich and shot her twice. A large posse quickly surrounded the house and two deputy sheriffs broke through the rear door. They discovered the body of Weaver under a bed. He had used his last bullet to blow out his own brains. The condition of Mr. and Mrs. Minnich is very critical. — - ADVANCE COPIES. Washington, November 30.—The delay in the preparation of President Taft's message to congress, due to his long absence and the accumulation of work awaiting his return, make it impossible to give out copes in advance to the press assocations. In recent years it has been customary to have it put in type, printed and distributed by mail subject to release by wire Now the press associations are arranging to “carry’- the 25,000-word-message on their wires, probably only a few hours before its delivery.

VOTED AGAINST IT Alabama Rejects the Prohibition Amendment BY A BIG MAJORITY Over Twenty Thousand Majority Against Amendment. Birmingham, Ala., Nov. 30.—A1l indications point to a majority of between 18,000 and 20,000 in Alabama against the prohibition constitutional amendment. Chairman J. Lee Long, who has been in charge of the fight against the amendment, claims tha> the majority against the amendment will be fully 20,000. The early returns indicated a landslide against the amendment and succeeding bulletins fully bore out the early indications. Jefferson county, in which is Birmingham, the largest cty in the state, in spite of the fact that the fight has been concentrated here, gave a majority of ever 1,000 against the amendment. Mobile, Montgomery and Cullman counties show the largest majorities on the victorious side and it appears the amendment carried but three counties, Talladega, Macon and Sumter, with Lee in doubt. Today’s election cannot be regarded as a straight antiprohibition victory because of the personal vote that has been injected into the issue.. A significant feature of the result is the fact that sentiment against the amendment is so widespread. Rural precincts, small towns and cities alike, for the . most part returned substantial majorities on the winning side. There has never been seen here anything like the good feeling shown in Birmingham tonight over the result. Thousands of people from Jefferson and adjoining counties were here to see the returns flashed and down town streets were one billow of enthusiasm. — COURT HOUSE NEWS A Short Suit on Note Before the Court Today and Judgment Rendered LEHMAN CASE NEXT Young Man Will Be Tried for Forgery—Marriage License Issued. The case of May Lancaster vs. Per- ' sa R. Bell, suit on note, was tried ’ this morning. The defendant failed to appear and after the hearing the plaintiff’s testimony the court gave judgment for $52.80. The case of Luther Lehman for forgery will be tried by a jury, beginning tomorrow morning. The case has been on the docket for some time and is of considerable interest in the south part of the county where the defendant is well known. The petit jury reported this morning for the first time this term. They were, however, dismissed, with orders to report tomorrow morning. M. F. Rice, guardian for Newell B. Rice, files his bond. Petition for sale of real estate granted, sale to be private and for cash. Frank M. Tremp, guardian of Elma Tremp, filed an account current, which was approved. Real estate transfers: L. J. Baumgartner to E. H. Baumgartner, 95 acres Monroe township, $5,000. Henry B. Heller, com., to John H. Yaker, et al. pt. lot 28, Decatur, SI7OO. A marriage,- license was issued to Ora Gross aged 18, a farmer, Washington township, and Edith Necolet, aged 20 of Berne.

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday Evening, November 30, 1909.

CINCH BUG BECOMES FAMOUS An Elaborate Treatise Has Been Issued Concerning This Harmful Bug. The humble chinch bug has had fame thrust upon it. Plodding modestly througli life, sleeping during the winter months and conducting its business operations quietly during the summer, nobody expected the chinch to furnish much of a subject for the scientists. And yet, the entomologists of the department of agriculture have just issued an elaborate treatise emblazoning to the world the disreputable character of the common chinch. Save through the nostris, this animal never assails man. He takes his portion of grain and corn but never vulgarly descends, as do some other bugs, to feeding on the human anatomy. The bugologlsts bury the poor chinch under a load of alleged iniquities—they swear he has caused damages aggregating, during the past sixty years, something like $330,000,000 by his grain eating proclivities, and they end the book with a long list of poisons, and sprays, and other devices devised to exterminate him. Hereafter it will be no ci ch to be a chinch. ON HIS MESSAGE President Taft Will Be Busy for a Short Time. HE WANTS TO KNOW What Conservatism Work Indiana Wants This Year. Washington, Nov. 30.—President Taft got down to work on his message today. Many distinguished men who called at the white house expecting to have a word with him were told that they would have to come again. About the only persons of consequence who got in to see him were Samuel Gompers, John Mitchell, Frank Morrison and James O’Connell, of the executive board of the American Federation of Labor. They called by appointment to discuss with the president the labor legislation for which they had been asking for several years. They submitted in writing recommendations covering anti-in-junction legislation, amendments to the Sherman anti-trust law, the eight’hour law and the employers' liability act. They also discussed with the chief executive in an informal way the other legislative suggestions. The president heard all they had to say most attentively and Indicated that he would embody some of their recommendations in his message. He refrained from saying which of the recommendations appealed to him. While these four representatives of organized labor were pleased with the treatment they received they did not leave the white house encouraged to believe that their legislative program would fare any better at. the hands of congress than it had fared at previous sessions. Mr. Mitchell said he got the impression that the president’s legislative program as originally outlined was likely to be whittled down. Washington, Nov. 30—Thomas R. Shipp, secretary of the National Conservatism Assoniation, has written letters to Governor Marshall and the chairman of the Indiana conservative commission, asking them to outline to the national association the particular 'ine of conservation tyork in which the people of Indiana are most interested and which they want to see pushed. Conservation -work differs widely in the different states, according to the products of each state. Some states are interested only in conservation of fuel supplies, others in waterways, some in forests, etc. FUNERAL HELD TODAY. The funeral of Mr. Thomas Hudson » was held this afternoon from the house with Rev. Tmler officiating. A large number of the older residents of the city were in attendance to show there last respects to one who was beloved by all. Interment was made at the Maple Wood cemetery.

GEMS OF MORNING Was Subject of Address by Judge Erwin Before M. E. Brotherhood. AT FORT WAYNE Delvered Splendid Address to Large Number of Last Sunday. The Sunday afternon meeting of the Brotherhood of the First Methodist Episcopal church was ’arge'y attended. The speaker. Judge Richard K. Erwin, was greeted by an attractive and appreciative gathering of men. His topic, "Gems of the Morning," was thoughtfully developed and presented in a manner gratifying to all present. Primarily he showed t that life was not all sunshine, that there must also be the shadow, the darkness of discouragement at times, but that out of all difficulties man should try to profit, to grow stronger, to find the real gem that discouragement and depression, if overcome will reveal. He cited Christ as the brightest gem whose rays of love have touched all hearts, but some were too indifferent to appreciate; some too cold to recognize, and thus the beauty of the gem to the mis unknown or unheeded. The life of Moses was beautifully portrayed and speaking of the great lawgiver, Judge Erwin pointed out that while the men who had builded the Sphinx and pyramids of Egypt have passed into oblivion, Moses could live in history down through the generations. “He saw the distress of his fellowmen,’’ said the speaker, “and out of his life in the wilderness the real gem of helping others manifested itself.' Numerous were the instances given by Judge Erwin showing how through persecution, through suffering, privation and apparent non-recognition, life finally produced a gem in the form of some great deed, some eminent work that progably otherwise never would have been realized. —Fort Wayne Sentinel. AS THEMANAGER Dan Haefling Accepts Position With the Kentucky Light & Power Co. AT LEXINGTON. KY. Young Man Has Advanced Rapidly in His Chosen Line as Electrician. Dan Haefling, who for seven years past has been employed at the Fort Wayne Electric Works, was here yesterday to visit his brother, James P. Haefling. Dan has made good at the electric business in a wonderful way and is now one of the best meter experts in the entire country. He recently returned from a trip to lowa and has been sent by his company to various places. He has now ac-

cepted a position as manager of the Kentucky Light & Power company at Lexington, Kentucky, beginning his duties September 10th. He left here Monday afternoon for that place to arrange for his family. Dan is but twenty-three years old and his wonderful rise in his business shows that he has attended strictly to his job. His new position carries with it a salary of fifteen hundred dollars per year with plenty of chance to advance. Dan’s many Decatur friends will be glad to hear of his success. o Miss Margaret Clark Is visiting with friends at Van Wert, Ohio. Mrs. Minnie Finley of New Bremond, returned to her home today after a short visit here. Mr. and Mrs. James HarkleSs, who were vsiting with friends in the city for the past week, returned to their home in Pauldng. Mrs. J. C. Deeler of Willshire, who was in the city this morning looking after some business, returned to her home on the noon train.

WANTED TO JOIN DEAD FATHER. Redkey Woman Attempts Suicide — Makes Confession. Portland, Ind., Nov. 30.—As her father, George Crist, with whom she had made her home, Mrs. James Nida, of Redkey, attempted suicide by taking a large quantity of arsenic. The timely discovery of her act and the quick arrival of a physician alone saved her life. While the woman was writhing In agony and doubt still existed of the success of the attempt to save her life, it is said a confession made by the woman of past wrongdoing was discovered, in it she is sal* ' to have acknowledged her intimacy with certan Redkey men whose names were mentioned, money she alleged she had received from one man being 1 enclosed to be returned to his wife. The woman recovered sufficiently to attend the funeral of her father, but • ft is said her confession has put a 1 number of Redkey men on uneasy : street. ■" ■ o MAY BE DECIDED I The Supreme Court and the I i County Local Option Law. I > i DECISION EXPECTED. A Few Pipes That the Law May be Held Unconstitutional. I Indianapolis, Ind., Nov. 30. —The fate ' of the county local option law. for . which the republican party fought, , bled and almost died in the last cam- ' paign, has been determined by the five judges of the Indiana supreme court. Locked up within their minds is the decision that is awaited with deeper interest than has attached to | any public question in this state for l many years. Following time honored precedent, however, there have been rumors percolating from the state cap- ■ ital for the last week. The one best set of the bunch seems to be that the court will announce its decision on December 6th. It has adjourned until that date, which may account in a measure for the rumor that the de- ’ cision will be forthcoming then. The court has had the brief of the com- | plainant, a former Noblesville saloon keeper, for the last four months. One of the pipe lines into the sacred precincts of the supreme court gives out the statement that the judges have widely divergent views as to 5 whether or not the law is constitutfont al. A state official who is supposed to » “know things’’ says that but for the overshadowing influence of one of tfte judges who has been on the bench for ' many years the court would have held 1 the law unconstitutional three or four - weeks ago. The name of this judge is withheld because it would not be possible to get a statement from him on the delicate question of how he stands. He is known as a radical - temperance man and one of the “big

men” of the higher court. He is said to have been insistent that the bench , shall render a unanimous opinion in favor of the law. From another apparently reliable source of information it is learned that one of the real potent factors of the court has buckedl . on the proposition of his able colleague that the law shall be held cont stitutlonal. He is said to have been r so obstreperous as to have notified the other judges that under no conditions will he concur in a decision sustaining the law. It is declared that he is not opposed to local option and h that he believes in vigorous temperance measures, but it is asserted that he is a stickier for observing the , spirit as well as the letter of the con-1 ? stitution and that he is absolntley <’< r Hon in his own mind that county local o option cannot be legal under the pres- 1 ’ ent status of the constitution. r —o — 1 Mr. Martin Beery and Joseph Shady i , went to Wlllshiire this morning t where they will attend a meeting of i the United Brethren church whch was ’ (held theretoday. 1

Price Two Cents

GOT IT IN THE ARM R. A. Ireland Got the Crank in the Wrong Place. NEWS OF GENEVA. The Southland Quartet Made Quite a Hit Last Night. Geneva, Ind., November 30.—(Special to the Daily Democrat) —R. M. Ireland, landlord at the Shamrock hotel, was the victim of an accident yesterday afternoon which is proving extremely painful, and which, too, was a narrow escape from a serious mishap. He was cranking his automobile and the old thing slipped, the crank striking his right arm with terriffic force, but fortunately no bones were broken. Dr. Graham dressed the injured member, and to say the least it is a mighty sore actor today. The Southland Sextet gave a rendition of songs at the M. E. church and without question it was the best musical production ever given in Geneva. The lullaby, "Old Black Joe,” and “Swanee River,” were especially fine, and completely captivated the house. They were greeted by a good audince and all enjoyed themselves. ( Rev. Waldo pastor of the U. B. church, was a business visitor at Portland Monday. Marsh Burdg, of Decatur, is here selling the housewives of Geneva a handy household article in the shape of a flop jack griddle, which is said to do the work perfectly, and the sales were numerous. H. B. Haller, prosecuti-g attorney of Decatur, was here Monday on important business. ANOTHER MONTH Will Pass Before Candidates for City Jobs Wil Know Their Fate. SAYS MAYOR-ELECT Will Wait Until He Begins His Office to Make Official Announcements. ■ £ *■ h'/Ut As the time draws near for the change in the city administration, there is of course more or less speculation on who will be the lucky boys to receive plums. As stated recently , the mayor has the appointments of the marshal, fire chief, street com- , missioner, secretary of board of health and the city engineer. It is likely that the marshal job will go to Frank Peterson, but further than this the . mayor-elect, J. W. Teeple, has not given out any statement. When inter- ’ vfewed on this subject today be said that he did not think that he would i give any names of appointees until ,he assumed his office. He will begin

his term as mayor January Ist, and the meeting of the city council on the Tuesday evening following will be one of interest. The only change in the council at that time will be the retirement of Mr. Burns and the donning of the robes of aiderman by Mr. Atz. It is only a month now, and the candidate for jobs it seems will have to wait patiently until that time. the big show. At the Grand Theater Tonght. Tonight at the Grand theater you will see “Lady Helen s Escapade,” and "The Burglar’s Mistake.” This is one of the strong bills of the week and the one you don't want to miss. The Grand is giving you the swellest pictures in town and our orchestra plays the pictures, the only place in town where the music fits the picture. Gome and see for yourself and get your money’s worth. We will be open at 7 o'clock, so come early and stay as long as you like.