Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 8, Number 118, Decatur, Adams County, 19 May 1910 — Page 1

olume VIII. Number 118.

TRY THE “CON” GAME ►Two Slick Strangers With Wads of Money Tested Joseph Johnson. A QUEER EXPERIENCE Allowed Mr. Johnson to Win $5,005, But He Gave it Back—Stop Game. To some men in this life it is their privilege to meet with queer expert cnees, and Joseph Johnson, one of the eldest and most highly respected citizens of this county, who now resides in the north part of town, had his Tuesday of this week. We doubt if any citizen of Decatur ever took pan in a queerer incident. Last Friday a stranger called at the Johnson home, land asked to see Mr. Johnson. His daughter replied that he was up the street and the man went away. Tuesday morning the man returned and Zgain asked for Mr. Johnson, and bepng informed that he was up town said that he was very anxious to find hint, that he wanted to buy his farm. He was told where he could tind him and . at once hunted him up. gave a fic-' titious name, and said that he lived at Berne and that he was the owner of a large part of one of the Bluff ton banks, that he had been looking [around for a farm and that the one owned by Mr. Johnson, south of town, just suited him, and said that he would like to drive to the place with Joseph and believed they could make a deal. Mr. Johnson agreed with him and they got into the stranger's rig. Arriving there it did not take Joseph long to discover that the man had no intention of buying anything and they started back to town. About half | way back they met another stranger, who was driving south, and who stopped them and asked them if they could tell him whether he was on the right road to the little town south of here. Mr. Johnson informed him that he was. The second stranger then became talkative and told them that he was searching for his sister, •‘Sal,” whom he had not seen since the war, that his father had died recently, leaving a large fortune, and that he was looking for “Sal" that he might present her with $20,000. He said he had been to Chicago on business and had decided to come over here and try to find his sister. “By the way," he said, “I was 'skinned' out of $3,000 in Chicago pretty slick. I went into a room where there were four men. They had four cards which they had on the table and bet me I couldn't pick up the one that had the picture of a babv upon it. After they got my coin they skipped and left the cards. I got them and am going to take them back to California and try to get my money lack. The first stranger, who was in the buggy with Johnson asked to see j the cards, and the second '.con" man at once produced them and showed them how the game was worked. Johnson’s companion tried it first and won and the "slicker" gave him a five-doliar bill. Then he allowed Mr. j Johnson to win a “fiver." Then he spend the cards again and Joseph s companion won $5,000. The man pro-, dueed a grip, which contained stacks and stacks of money, each package, the man claiming, containing sn,ooo. Then Joe tried it again and won, whereupon the man handed him a rackage of $5,000 and insisted he should put it in his pocket, saying, “I’ve got lots of money; I won't miss that any more than you would a dollar.” Joe took the money, and then the loser went around behind his bugto fix something, when the companion of Mr. Johnson said, "What shall we do? Let's drive on and keep the money;” this being supposed to be a test of what Johnson would d°The latter promptly replied that he would do no such a tiling; that he did not want the money. His companion then pulled a chest from beneath the buggy seat and put the money in there. As he opened it Mr. Johnson saw that the chest was filled with deeds, and it is believed that had Joe proved himself “crooked by ac-.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT.

ceptlng the $5,000 they would have tried to pull off u land deal of ionic kind. It is assured that Mr, Johnson would not have been allowed to keep i the money*had he so desired. After J they had driven a short ways the man , j ‘ailed the second stranger back and gave him the two rolls of money. No one has figured out the plan exactly, hut is is a safe statement that the two fellows were two of the smoothest confidence grafters in the country and had they been handed over to the authorities It Is likely that Mr. Johnson could have claimed a reward almost as large as one of the packages contained. LAST TAPS SOUND For John Barnett, Civil War Veteran—Passed to Rest Until Great ROLL CALL AWAKENS Died at Little Past Midnight —Aged Wife at Point of Death. The last taps sounded Wednesday night at a little past midnight for John Barnett, one of the pioneer residents of the city and county, and a veteran of the Civil war, and this good and noble man passed into the deep sleep that known no awakening save at the last great roll call. The death of this aged man, who on last j February 2nd, had reached the age of eighty-five years, was not unexpected. For many years he has been feeble and for the past several months both he and Ills wife, who is eighty-four years of age, have been at the point of death. There was no disease apparently. but only the frailties and infirmities attending extreme age—the weakness of bodies that had lived a long life and fought a noble fight. .Mr. Barnett was conscious to the last, and to his children who surrounded his bedside and ministered to the wants ot both himself and his companion, he expressed himself as anxious for the new life. He was ever thoughtful of his good wife, who has lived with him tor more than fifty-eight years, sharing both the joys and sorrows of life, and while both have been passing into the valley of death together, he called to her plaintively, as his hours grew shorter, that he was willing to go, but that he wanted her to go with him. Mrs. Barnett is now lying at the point of death, and it is feared that she cannot long withstand this bereavement. Both Mr. Barnett and his wife were born in Harrison county, Ohio, but came to this county in childhood and have spent the remainder of their lives here, with the exception of five years in Illinois. They were married fifty-eight years ago, April 1, 1852, at tne home of his uncle, Green Sewell, on the farm now belonging to Samuel Chronister, near this city, the marriage being performed by Rev. Samuel Humbert, a Methodist minister. The country at that time was little more than a wilderness and both Mr. and Mrs. Barnett have taken an active part in making the blooming garden that it now is. For many years they have resided in this city, their home being in the south part. Mr. Barnett was one of the few surviving veterans of the Civil war and his death causes another grievous loss to the G. A. R. of this city, whose ranks are rapidly thinning. He enI listed in Company I, 89th Indiana Vol- ! unteers, at Decatur. August 14, 1862, i and was discharged at Mobile, Ala., July 19, 1865, and was with his regiment during his entire time of service. His body bore the marks of wounds received while in his country’s defense, having been wounded at the battle of Tupelo, Miss., July' 14, 1864 receiving a severe flesh wound in tne neck. Michael Wertzberger, one of the surviving veterans, was near him at the time and helped to carry him from the battlefield to the hospital, when wounded. During his service he marched on foot 2,663 miles and participated in the following battles: Munsfordville, Ky., Sept. 14 to 17. 1862; Fort de iuisy, La., Mar. 14. 1864; Pleasant Hills, I.a„ April 9, 1864: Governor Moore’s Plantation, La.. May 8, 1864; Yellow Bayou,, La., May 18, 1864; Tupelo, Miss., July 14, 1864; Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 15 and 16, 1864; Siege and Capture of Mobile, Ala., April sth to final battle, April 9, 1865; Fort Blakely, Ala. (Continued on page four.)

Decatur, Indiana. Thursday Evening, May 19, 1910.

NEWS OF GENEVA Mrs. James Kramer is a Delegate to the Terre Haute Meetng. GENEVA LOOKS GOOD C. F. Deitsch of Denver, Colorado, is Visitng Relatives There. Geneva, Ind., May 19 —(Special to Daily Democrat) —Mrs. James Kramer left Geneva Tuesday morning for Terre Haute as a delegate to the department state convention, representing John P. Porter Relief Corps, So. 219. The state meeting will be in session from Tuesday until Friday and will be one of the best meeting ever held by this organization in the state. Misses Fay and Cecil Connor are visiting the latter's sister at Montpelier, and will both be gone the remainder of the week. Mrs. Harrold Kimball, who was operated on a few days ago. is still in a serious condition. She passed a restless day Wednesday and while her friends are fearful of the result, yet they hope for a permanent and speedy recovery. C. F. Dietseh of Denver, Colorado, arrived in the city Wednesday and is visiting with his uncle. Fred Dietseh. This is Carl's first visit here since leaving for the west three and a half years ago, but he can see many improvements, but the best one in the lot is the electric railway. Hhe says that Geneva looks good to him. Mr. and Mrs. H. P. Pennypacker of Brooklyn, N. Y., are here visiting the latter's parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Sutton. George Tricker of Decatur was lookin gafter business here Thursday. o Relatives of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Jaberg, who seven months ago left for Arizona, where they are teaching in a government school for Indians, have received word from them that they do not like the place and that as soon as the term of school is finished in June they will return to Adams county to make their home. SERIOUS INJURIES Received by Durbin Hard in St. Louis—Struck by Train. WAS THE MESSAGE Received This Morning by His Mother, Mrs. George Chronister. Mrs. George Chronister of the west part of the city, this morning received"a telegram message from St. Louis, Mo., stating that her youngest son, Durbin’, aged about eighteen years, , bad been seriously injured at that . place by being struck by a train of cars. No further particulars were given and the mother will leave this evening to be with her son. The young man is well known here, where he was employed at the Holthouse livery stable until last Thanksgiving Day, when he left for St. Louis to join his brother, Fred, who makes his home there. Since going to St. Louis Durbin has been employed in a cigar factory. The many friends of the , family trust that the accident will not prove so serious as the message seems , to imply and that he will soon recover. The young man is a grandson of Henry Stettler of this city. - • • - ■■ - G. A. R., ATTENTION! Commander Joshua Parrish asks that all members of the G. A ,R. be in attendance at the hali at 7:30 this evening to make arrangements for attending the funeral of Comrade John Barnett.

REMODELING HOME.

Jacob Atz of the firm ol Atz & Steele is beautifying his home on Third street and making it much more convenient, and when complete 1 it will be one of the prettiest in the city. A part of it is being torn away and an up-to-date addition added thereto. He will also install a hot water heating plant and several oi..er modern conveniences. While it is being done he has moved into his residence to tlie rear and will again move Into the home as soon as it is completed. THE COMET ‘SCARE’ Many People Remained on Watch During ‘Entire Night—Saw Nothing. SCIENTISTS EXPLAIN

One Says the Tail Struck Us at Eight O’clock This Morning. (United Press Service.) New York, May 18—(Special to Daily Democrat)—According to Dr. Harrold Jacoby, professor of astronomy at Columbia University, the fact that the comet's tail was not visible at the time of its compact with the earth, must be regarded as an indication that the belief among the astronomers that the tail is so thin tljiat it is undetectible, is correct. The wonder of the comet is that such a body can be seen so far distant. Comparison of prints made in 1835 with the present observations show little change in its appearance. The opinion that the comet is shedding its crop out into this long tail is now surpassed by the belief that the comet grows larger and not smaller or else the head would be exhausted by its long journey. (United Press Service.) Princeton, N. J., May 19 —(Special to Daily Democrat —According to Henry Norris, professor of astronomy at Princeton University, the earth did not pass through the comet's tail until 8 o’clock this morning. He says that owing to the long curve in the comet’s tail the comet came later than was expected. The comet was a "fake" is the general impression of the hundreds of people of this community who “sniffed" the air for a smeil of the strange gaseous odor and scanned the heavens for hours Wednesday night for a glance at the millions of miles of tail. Now the greatest scientists say the compact of the tail with the earth came this morning at 8 o’clock. It is likely they don’t know a great deal about it. From now on the comet is to be seen in the west in the early evening. At any rate we are all here today, and thankful for it. There seems to have been no danger, for Wednesday night was the nearest perfect one seen here this spring. o DECATUR PEOPLE BUYING AUTOS There seems to be an epidemic of automobile buying at present in this city. No less than half a dozen cars ! have been purchased during the„past ; few days. A. J. Smith and Dr. J. M. j Miller has each invested in a Pratt- ] Elkhart. Dr. C. S. Clark has bought! a Hup-mobile, L. A. Graham is driving a BuicK, which just arrived, C. C. Schafer is speeding in a Decatur and there are a dozen or more who expect to have their cars in time for the June weather. - o —-—■ OPERATION THIS AFTERNOON. Mrs. William Scherer Enters St. Joseph Hospital For Ordeal. Dr. J. S. Coverdalef left on the 1 o’clock car for Fort Wayne, where he will assist Dr. McOscar at the St. Joseph hospital in performing an operation upon Mrs. William Scherer, living two miles south of Monroe. Mrs. j Scherer went to Fort Wayne Wednesday to prepare for the operation, [ which was performed this afternoon at 3:30 o'clock. o— Miss Lois Eaton of Seattle, Wash., who has been visiting with Mrs. W. A. Sipe, is spending the day In Fort Wayne.

WEDDING BELLS I Miss May Spuller Becomes the May Bride of Jesse Earl Butler. MARRIED LAST NIGHT At Home of Bride’s Parents Celebration a Most Beautiful and Sacred One, A wedding characterized by its solemnity and impressiveness and most beautiful In all its details was that solemnized at the home of Mrs. Martha Spuller Wednesday evening at 8 o’clock. when her accomplished daughter, Miss May, became the bride of Earl Butler, son of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin F. Butler, north of the city. The Spuller home was a fitting setting for this occasion, a bower of great beauty. Nature contributed to the scene, and threw tier artful beauty everywhere, making the solemn event one of great beauty and happiness. Pink and white carnations predomin ated, though there were quantities of ferns, roses, snow balls and smilax. Ferns and snow balls were wound and draped artistically in the archway and door. The colors were red and white. The rooms were artistically draped and the colors carried out in effect throughout the preparation. Promptly at the hour of 8 the wedding march was played by the bride's sister, Mrs. Dallas Spuller. As the strains of music floated forth the bridal procession proceeded down the stairway and wended its way to the altar in the parlor. The altar, a bay window, which was over arched by the colors of the evening, red and white, and banked with living ferns, iestooned with flowers, over whica hung a white wedding bell. The bridal party was led by the bride's pastor. Rev. E. R. Roop, followed by the two daughters of Dr. W. E. Smith, Misses Lucile and Genevieve, who, as flower girls, carried in their arms bouquets of pink and white carnations. The bride, always fair and lovely, looked more particularly so at this time, crowned with happiness. She wore an exquisite gown of white silk and carried a beautiful shower bouquet of white bride's roses. The groom was attired in the conventional black. The party converged at the altar, where the bride’s pastor, Rev. E. R. (Continued on page 4A TO HAVE NEW BANK The Farmers & Merchants’ Bank Now Being Organized in Geneva. STOCK IS SUBSCRIBED A Suitable Location is Now Being Considered by Them, Geneva. Ind., May 19—(Special to Daily Democrat) —The Farmers and Merchants' Bank is the name of a new financial institution now being organized in Geneva. E. N. Moore, cashier of the People’s bank of Fort Recovery', has been here for a few days and in that time has succeeded in interesting capital to the amount of $25,000, and it is probable that this will b-“ the capita! of the new bank. Mr. Moore recently organized the Hoagiang bank and that institution is showing much prosperity. He is a thoroughly reliable gentleman, with pleasing manners, and is grounded in the banking business, and will doubtless make the Farmers and Merchants’ bank of Geneva a prosperous and reliable financial institution. A suitable location is now being considered, and it is not unlikely that a new building will be erected suitable for the banking business. Many of the Geneva business men as well as farmers near Geneva are subscribing for the stock of the new bank, and it will begin business with many of the representative citizens there connected and interested in its future growth and welfare.

WHEREBY WOMEN ARE MOVED. “God has made a law whereby women are moved by strength and by weakness, but In different ways; bystrength ns a necessity for their protection, so that they demand it in men and In things and yet perpetually rebel against it; and by weakness as an opportunity for the exercise of all their nature, so that suffering (If it is sudden) or disaster calls out in women all of themselves; and this Is especially true in mothers and sons." Hilaire Belloc in “Marie Antionette,” published by Doubleday, Puge & Company at $2.75 net. TEACHERS NAMED For the Coming School Year —Very Few Changes Are Noted. THE SAME CORPS With Excepton of Two Who Resigned to Become Brides. The City school board met Wednesday evening and selected the following teachers to serve in the city schools for the next year: High School. Rosa L. Dunathan, Principal, Latin. Nora Del Smith, Science. J. C. Tritch, Commerce. D. A. Baumgartner, History and German. M. F. Worthman, Mathematics. South Ward.

S. C. Cramer,-Principal, Room Four. Lulu Lankenau, Room Three. Winifred Johnson, Room Two. Eva Acker, Room One. West Ward. Ed S. Christen, Principal, Room Four. Grace Coffee, Room Three. Nellie Winnes, Room Two. Ruby Miller, Room One. Third Ward. John R. Parrish, Principal and Room Four. Rose Egan. Room Three. Della Sellemeyer, Room Two. Fannie Rice, Room One. Central Grades. G. W. Warner, Grade Eight. Mrs. Mattie Bailey, Grade Eight. Matilda Sellemeyer, Grade Seven. Emma Mutchler, Grade Seven. Elizabeth Peterson, Grades Two and Three. Bessie Congleton, Grade One. Supervisor. Bessie Schrock, Music and Drawing. Supply. Mrs. W. A, Lower. All the positions are filled except that of teacher of English in the high school and this will no doubt be done in the near future. Very few changes were made in the staff, and it is much to the credit of the present efficient corps that the entire force has been re-elected to serve for the coining year. The few changes, however, were necessary because of the resignation of two of the present teachers ,the Misses Mary Miller and Annette Johnson, the latter teacher of English in the high school, w-ho will become brides this spring and enter into a new sphere. G. W. Warner, who has served this term as principal at the west ward, has been transferred to the eight grade and principal at the central building, and the principalship at the west ward given to Ed S. Christen of Monmouth, who has served the past year as superintendent and teacher in the high school at Cutler. Ind. Mr. Christen is a graduate of the Indiana normal school at Terre Haute and has had several years' work at Indiana University, and has been tendered the position again as superintendent of the schools at Cutler. M. F. Worthman, who served as teacher of the eighth grade at the central building, and teacher of algebra in the high school, has been given the entire mathematics department of the high school for this year. Miss Emma Mutchler, teacher of grade seven at the central building, is the one other new change. Miss Mutchler has had several successful years’ experience and the past year served as principal of the Monmouth schools. The entire force is a very efficient one and the board is certainly to be commended for their choice. Prot. E. E. Rice, who has servexl most efficiently and faithfully as superintend(Continue don page 4.)

Price Two Cents

DOINGS IN MONROE Mrs. William Scherer Operated on at Fort Wayne This Afternoon. HAND CAR WRECKED Russell Keller 11l From Leakage of Heart—Other Events of Interest. Monroe, Ind., May 19 —(Special to Dally Democrat) — Mrs. William Scherer and Mrs. J. J. Mayer left foj Fort Wayne Wednesday, where the former entered the St. Joseph hospital to undergo an operation for cancer, which took place this afternoon. Mr. Scherer went to Fort Wayne this morning to be present at the operation. Mrs. Scherer has been afflicted for some time with the dreaded disease. Russell, the fifteeii-year-oid son of Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Keller of this place, is in a critical condition with what is termed leakage of the heart, and has been quite sick for some time past. His recovery is doubtful and he is reported this morning as being very weak. The lad has been an invalid for several years. The Monroe Live Stock company has added another member in the person of L .C. Mills. It is now composed of Menno Lichty, L. C. Andrews and L. C. Mills. These gentlemen are too well known in business circles here to need any comment, as they are a!) worthy and honest-dealing men and expect to increase the capacity of the live stock trade to greater proportions than heretofore. The ladies of the Royal Neighbor lodge will give an ice cream social at the Modern Woodmen hall on next Saturday night. Proceeds to go toward securing a new paraphernalia for the lodge. Let everybody turn out and help them in this worthy cause. Remember the day, next Saturday evening. What might have been a serious accident occurred on Tuesday afternoon two and one-half miles south of hereon the G. R. & I. track, where Section foreman C. W. Hardwick were at work. They left their hand car and trailer standing on the track, when extra freight. No. 23, going south, came upon them. Although the section crew flagged the train it is said the engineer paid no attention to the signal and ran into the ears, totally demolishing them. However, none of the gang was close enough to the collision to receive any injuries. Memorial services will be held for the deceased members, Shelly Rav and Richard Andrew's, of the Modern Woodmen lodge of this place, at the M. E. church on Sunday, June sth. All Woodmen and Royal Neighbo r are requested to attend this service. The memorial sermon will be preached by Rev. McNary. The A. S. Keller real estate agency of this place closed a deal Tuesda; whereby John W. Marshall of Domes tic became the owner of the blacksmith shop formerly owned by P. F. Davis of Salem. The Modern Woodmen will confe. degree work on several candidatethat Monroe will not be beaten in a next Monday night. Let all members be present as there is something do ing. The G. R. & I. pay car stopped here Wednesday morning and all interested in the same were once more made happy in consequence in receiving their monthly mite. Mrs. R. G. Knoff and daughter o Berne were the guests of J. ,T. Mayes and family Tuesday. Simon Smith and Eli Engle, who re side northwest of here, both lost r valuable horse last Tuesday night. Why can’t Monroe have one of he; old-fashioned Fourth of July celebra tions this year? Let’s get togeth--' and start the ball rolling to accom plish a celebration to eclipse ail form er occasions. Let some of our enter prising citizens call a meeting an ' (Continued on page 2 )