Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 8, Number 166, Decatur, Adams County, 16 July 1910 — Page 1

Volume VIII. Number 166.

BRUTAL MURDER Moses E. Richer of Allen County Guilty of Sickening Crime. MADE CONFESSION Charlie Coats Brutally Murdered by His Foster Father. Fort Wayne, ind., July 16 —Moses E. Richer, aged thirty-four years, a well-to-do farmer of Cedar Creek township, is a prisoner at the county jail charged with first-degree murder. His victim is Charles Coats, a twelve-year-old lad taken from an orphans' asylum at Cleveland, Ohio, by Richer, in February of this year, with the understanding that he was to be furnished a good home. Richer has niMle a signed statement, now in possession of the state, in which he admits inflicting the wounds with which the boy's body was literally covered and which the .authorities declare are directly responsible for the boy's deatn. According to the evidence in the hands ot the officers, the child died from the effects of a blod clot on the brain, resulting from a blow on the skull, when Richer threw him violently against the side of their house and when the breath left the bruised and mutilated body, the inhuman foster -.went had the child face downward on the floor and was beating him with his hand. Prosecuting Attorney A. E. Thomas, who spent all of yesterday at the Richer farm conducting an examination. declared to a representative of the Journal-Gazette last night that never in all his experience as an attorney or of crimes brought to his knowledge during his life time, had he ever found a case in which such astrocious brutality was in evidence as in this case. When the body of the little victim was exposed yesterday for a postmortem examination, it was found covered with wounds from head to foot and the physicians and officials, hardened as they are to revolting spectacles, were inexpressibly shocked upon finding that the child’s flesh had been bitten ofT in great chunks by human teeth. It was stated last night that it was impossible to find a space six inches square on the body that did not show the effects of a wound, the abrasions and scars varying in age from twentyfour hours to six weeks. From each finger and each toe the skin and flesh was torn and bitten, while ail over the body the marks of teeth wounds and Wows were to be seen. On the boy's back was a raw and inflamed sore as large as a man’s hand, which proved to be the result of a burn inflicted when Richer backed the boy against a hot stove six weeks ago. No physician had been called to attend the injury, but Richer stated that he had been treating it with a mixture of turtle oil and turpenine. The face and ears were serached and cut and Richer finally admitted that these marks were inflicted when he had ground the lad's face In the dirt on punishing him Tuesday. A raw abrasion around the neck at first indicated that an attempt had been made to hang the bo> or that he had tried to end his own misery, but Richer stated that this mark was caused when he caught the boy Dy the collar of his waist and twisted the garments in his muscular grip. Certain organs of the body were mutilated in an indescribable manner and the wife of the alleged murderer declared that this wa sthe method taken by Richer to punish te boy when he objected to having his hurts treated with the mixture of turtle oil and turpentine. While an attempt was made yesterday morning by Richer and his »ife to account for the death of the boy on the theory that he had been found trampled unconscious by an unruly : cow in the barn, a little adroit questioning soon disproved this tale utterly and the true facts were obtained. Mrs. Richer's story, which is said to agree in detail with the story told by Richer and signed by him in his concession, is as follows: "Richer drove to Fort Wayne Thursday with a load of produce, leaving the boy with instructions to attend to

DECATUR DAI LY DEMOCRAT.

the work about the stables, and upon I his return at 3 o’clock found that none of tile work had been attended to. | The wife told Richer that she had tried to persuade the boy to carry out the orders but that she had been unable to make him mind. About 5 o'clock Richer and the boy went to the field to drive up the cows. While Ricker was milking the boy was again told to care for the stables, but neglected to do so. Richer then attacked him in the barnyard and pummeled I.lm with his fists. * "From the barnyard Richer took the child to the house, where he began to beat him again, throwing him wltn great violence against the side of the house a number of times. Suddenly the boy fell unconscious gnd was picked up by Richer and his wife, who gave whisky and water and finally revived him. He complained then of intense pain in his head and said that he hurt all over. His clothing was removed and the child was sent upstairs to bed, going up by himself, and was allowed to remain for an hour. Then he was called downstairs again. It being necessary to call him ; half a dozen times. He came down (Continue con page 4.) THE NEW OFFICERS The Pocahontas Lodge Installed and Enter Upon Their Duty FOR NEXT HALF YEAR Mrs. Anna Yahne Elected Pocahontas—Two Hold Office For Year. The Pocahontas lodge held its semiannual installation of officers, at which time the following entered into service for the next half year: Pocahontas —Mrs. Anna Yahne. Eenonah—Mrs. Stella Crist. Prophetess— Mrs. Mary Hunt. Powahatan—W. M. Darwechter. First Scout —Mrs. Irene Steele. Second Scout —Mrs. Mary Garard. First Counsellor —Mrs Bessie Weis. Second Counsellor —Mrs. Leota Enos. First Runner —Mrs. Hildebrand. Second Runner —Mrs. Alive Brokaw. Guard of Forest —Mrs. Rebecca Eady. • Guard of the Tepee—Mrs. Catherine Christen. v _ First Warrior —Mrs. Rosa Lord. Second Warrior —Mrs. Sadie Cowley. Third Warrior—Mrs. Rena Hoffman. Fourth Warrior—Mrs. Jessie Burdg. Mrs. Flo Patton, keeper of wampum. and Mrs. Flo Bain, keeper of records, for the last half year, will keep their offices for the next half year also. . PICNIC AT NEW CORYDON. The Modem Woodmen lodge of New Corydon is holding a picnic today in the Kraner grove in Jefferson township. The Hon. James J. Moran of Portland, brother of Attorney J. C. Moran and son of Thomas Moran, of this city is the orator of the day. PETITION FOR DRAIN. Peterson & Moran have filed with the auditor a petition by David Barger et al., for a drain, affecting land in Jefferson township, this county, and Mercer county, Ohio. — o —■ Miss Lottie King, who has been visiting with her aunt, Mrs. David Stoler, left today for her home at Greenfield, Ohio. A two year-old babe, who, with its mother from Portland, had been visiting with the latter's sister, Mrs. F. Addington, on Sixth street, became quite sick about noon today and went into one spasm after another. At times It was feared the babe was dying. Doctors attribute the spasms to indigestion. Twenty-five were in attendance at the Christian Ladies' Aid at the home of Mrs. E. H. Shoemaker on Fifth street Friday afternoon. The devotional and social, with music and refreshments, constituted the order of the afternoon’s program. Mrs. Dawson. wife of the pastor, with their daughter. Miss Mildred, were present, this being their introduction to the membership here, who extend to then a cordial greeting.

Decatur, Indiana. Saturday Evening, July 16, 1910.

HORRIBLE INJURY Sustained in Runaway by Three and a Half Year Old Boy. SON OF J. H. FORBISH Skin Peeled From Left Arm Length of Ten Inches— Elbow Broken. Paul, three-and-a-half-year-old son of j John H. Forbish, who recently purchased the Martin Miller farm, two miles south of this city, where he as since resided, met with a severe accident late Friday evening, about 7:30 o'clock. The little lad had | crawled upon the wagon, to which I were hitched two horses —quite old , farm horses, that had never been ; known to scare or run away. Mr. i Forbish had gone several yards away from the wagon to attend to some matters, when the horses, from some unknown cause, took fright and turning short in the yard at the Forbisn home, then out into the road, ran to the Henry Barkley home about an eight of a mile. The little boy was thrown front the wagon and in some way the skin was peeled from the arm and forearm to a length of ten inches, laying bare the blood vessels. The arm was also broken at the elbow, and to add to these frightful injuries the horses stepped on the boy’s left foot, badly injuring that member. Added to the painful injuries was the weakness from great loss of blood. Dr. Boyers was hastily called and gave the little fellow the required medical attention, and a call on him again this morning by the doctor found him doing very well, in spite of the seriousness of the injury. The case was a very pitiful one. The little babe, who was accustomed to going quite early to sleep, losing all his childish sorrows in dreamland, and not understanding why he could not do so Friday night In his pain, cried pitifully that he be allowed to go to sleep. TO BUILD A BLOCK Henry Althoen to Give Willshire a New Brick Business Block. IS COMING BACK Fred Tague Reported to be Entering Insurance Business Here. What will indeed be good news to this town and community is the fact that Henry Althoen has purchased the Banta lot on the corner of State and Decatur streets, and will as soon as possible start the erection of a new business block to cover the entire three lots in that half block. There will be five business rooms downstairs, three on State and two on Decatur, while the upstairs will be fitted up for lodge rooms. Part of the material has been contracted for already and the balance is now being contracted for. This will give Wiltshire an opportunity to grow in a business way and will help add to the beauty of the village. Fred Tague, who for several years conducted a shoe store in Decatur, selling out about half a year ago, and going to Greenville, Ohio, has sold out there and will move back to Decatur. where be will engage in the insurance business. —Wiltshire Herald. ■ ll O " FROM MT. CLEMENS. Dan Beery and James Harkless of Paulding, Ohio, and Ervin Hower of Anderson came home from Mt. Clemens, wnere they have been for some few days past. While there they took, the benefit of the healthful treatment and report that they are feeling verymuch improved.

HE WILL REPORT AT ONCE. Tom Railing Goea to Buffalo at Announced Some Time Aga. Tom Railing, the lad after whom Decatur was named, has been bought from the Flint team in the Michigan league by Buffalo aud will report at once. Railing was formerly with the Shamrocks and is a tall, rangy, right I fluid pitcher, that worked at various times with almost uncarying success at a half dozen of the smaller towns about Fort Wayne. While he worked for Cleary's nine, the pitcher threw several good games and gave promise of going up, not alone through his pitching, but also his hitting. He has been in the Michigan league for the past two years. Goodie Henderson, who puts In his winters instilling the j three R’s Into the Woodburn young hopefuls, Is also said to have been sold to an eastern league club, but the deal has not been officially announced as yet. Henderson was in the New York state earlier in the season and didn't do anything out of the j ordinary, lie is with the Battle j Creek club at present.—Fort Wayne 1 News. WATER POLLUTED Family Drank From Well in Which Dead Toad and Chicken Were Found. CAUSED SICKNESS And Examination of Well Revealed the Cause—An Unusual Cas. Mrs. Emerson Elzey of west of the city has been suffering for some time with stomach trouble. Last week it was decided to examine the well, which is an old-fashioned, walled-in, dug well, in which the water had become almost undrinkable —in fact th 1 family had found it necessary to use it with lemons to make it palatable. A dead toad was found in the well and later a little dead chicken, which no doubt had been in the well for a long I time, tainting the water during this time. Since the discovery the illness of Mrs. Elzey has been attributed to this. She is recovering, however, and was able to come to town today. A sample of the water will be sent by Dr. Grandstaff to the state chemist for examination. Dug wells are tne source of much illness at this time, especially typhoid fever, and nearly all have been abandoned for the * mo3f healthful and pure drilled-in the-rock wells. o WILL LECTURE. Portland Priest, Well Wnown Here, Will Go on Tour. Rev. Father Travers, pastor of the St. Mary’s church at Portland, well known to a number of people of this city, who is at present making an European tour, writes his friends that on his return he will go on a speaking tour under the auspices of the Chicago Lyceum company. At present he is visiting in Berlin and says it is the most interesting place so far visited by him. His subjects will be based mostly on his travels, although he will speak on other pointß If so desired. He is an able speaker and has been heard here upon several occasions. — O' I —-—— FILES A BIG DAMAGE SUIT. The A. & C. Stone Company at RidgeVille Are Defendants. One of the biggest damage suits in years has just been filed in the Randolph circuit court in which Raymond Walker of Ridgeville is the plaintiff and the A. & C. Stone company of the same place is the defendant. Walker had his eyes blown out in an explosion at the quarry last fall and he is seeking to recover damages in the sum of $25,000. o The Decatur Elks have all returned from Detroit, where they spent the week and were highly entertained, and where they attended the sessions of the Elks’ meeting held there. Detroit made ample preparation for the entertainment of the thousands of Elks that were there from all over the country and every one had a good time.

ON MACADAM ROAD * L_ Martin Laughlin Adjusting Settlement of Monroe Township Number 5. NOT MUCH BUILDING Macadam Road Building is Not as Brisk as in the Palmy Days. Martin Laughlin, commissioner for Adams county, representing the southern district, has been spending most of the week in going over the Monroe extension five macadam road, otherwise known as the Mercer and Adams street, and while settlement with the board will not likely be concluded before the August term of the commissioners’ court, yet it is believed that the difficulties existing between the contractor and the people along the line of the Improvement will be adjusted and that satisfactory to all concerned. The road or street has been completed for some time, but a remonstrance was filed against its acceptance by some interested par ties. Since that time the matter has been hanging fire and this manner of settlement was finally agreed to byall interested. Mr. Laughlin is known by every one in the county as a strictly conscientious man and whatever he suggests in the way of settlement will likely be agreed to. Macadam road building in Adams county is not as brisk as in the palmy days, but nevertheless several roads will be constructed, and several others begun last year will be completed. Bonds for a few roads will soon be in the hands of the lithographer and others sold will turned into the county treasury and then work upo.r the improvements will begin. o — John Yager, who attended the Elks' convention at Detroit for several days, leturned home last evening. HE WAS BOUND OVER Dan Straub Guilty of Bootlegging and Bound Over to the Circuit Court. HE IS NOW IN JAIL " -e* 9 Esq. Stone Fixed His Bond at Two Hundred Dollars —Jail is Lonesome. Dan Straub was in Esquire Stone's court long enough this morning to be given a preliminary hearing, in which he drew a finding of guilty and was bound over for further action by the Adams circuit court, his bond being fixed in the sum of two hundred dollars. The charge upon which he was found guilty was that of bootlegging, he having sold two bottles of Centliver beer for the sum of twenty cents a bottle. The evidence was clear and now Dan will likely have to spend the summer months in the county jail as it is not probable that he will be able to secure bond and his liberty pending the action of the circuit court, which will not meet now until the first of September. Other news in police and the justice of the peace offices is rather scarce and a mighty good evidence that the most of the Decatur citizenship is at peace w.th the world. At present writing Mr. Straub is the onlyinmate of the Adams county jail, indicating that that institution is a lonesome place on these hot days. - o INSURANCE ADJUSTED MONDAY. Insurance in yie sum of $475 in the French township Insurance company was carried on the Joel Falk barn, which burned Thursday night, and the matter will be adjusted Monday. Charles Mufnma of Union township is the agent. It is quite likely that the barn will be rebuilt.

A LITTLE FINANCIAL TROUBLE. Cal Guffey, a Pennsylvania Multi-Mil-lionaire, a Little Short. Pittsburg. Pa., July 16 —Col. James M. Guffey, national democratic committeeman for Pennsylvania, and multimillionaire oil man, who figured preeminently as an object of attack by the Bryan adherents at the national democratic convention at Denver, has gone htto the bands of a receiver, appointed by Judge Joseph M. Swearingen in the common pleas court of this county. The action was taken upon a bill In equity filed by J. H. Galey. John S, Willard was named as receiver. The bill alleges that Col onel Guffey's indebtedness is about $6,700,000, of which about $950,000 Is unsecured; that the defendant has no ready money with which to meet the payments due. and that certain creditors are threatening to sell his collaterals and enter suit. o - —- Mr. and Mrs. Olis Tyndall and children left today noon for Van Wert, Ohio, to be the guests of relatives for a few days. COURT HOUSE NEWS A. H. Sellemeyer Has Been Appointed as Guardian For Three Minors. ON HIS VACATION Judge Merryman Will Leave in a Few Days For Lake Hamilton. A. H. Sellemeyer has been appointed by the Adams circuit court as guardian of Florence L. McLain. Daniel Small and John R. Small, and has filed his bond and otherwise qualified as such an officer of the court. A. H. Sellemeyer as administrator of the Matilda Reed estate has made his final report. Judge Merryman and his family ex pect to leave within the next week for their summer outing and vacation, and will spend some time at Lake Hamilton, located near the Michigan state line. They expect to have a delightful time while gone. Many of the township trusteed appeared at the auditor's office today and drew their semi-annual draw, and which will be used by them in their various funds for the transactions of the business of their township. Within the next few days all will likely have taken out their allottment of cash. O' HE FLIMMED THE JEWELtR. James Welsh is Now in Jail and Will Thus Pay the Fiddler. James Welsh slimmed E. E. Mosiman, a Bluffton Jeweler, out of a gold watch and is now in jail in that city. He told the authorities that he is a Greek and that he is employed in a Marion glass factory. Sheriff Carlisle of Wells county was in the city yesterday making inquiries, but could find no one who had ever heard of such a man. He worked his trick on Mosiman by pretending to want to purchase a watch and when the Jeweler’s attention was attracted to another customer, “lifted” one of the watches, which had been displayed, and substituted a cheap article in its place. He was located in a pawn shop, where he was making an effort to dispose of the stolen timepiece.— Marion Tribune. —o STORM AT O SSI AN. At about the middle of the afternoon Friday, four miles south of Ossian, a storm of considerable propor tion, swept through that part of the country and did quite a bit of dam- I age to the crops. It rained in torrents and in places hail tore the corn badly. Large field of oats were blown to the ground, and it was the worst storm In this section for some time. . Miss Gertrude Moses has returned much improved from Decatur, 111., where she took treatment for rheumatism. Ulysses Drummond of Pleasant Mills was in the city today, purchasing goods for his department store at that place.

Price Two Cents

WAS ADVERTISING' The Geneva Chautauqua Will be Held During the Week, July 17-24. A JOYOUS WEEK It is Given Under the Supervision of the Union Lyceum Bureau of Toledo. Claude Briggs was here today advertising the Geneva Chautauqua, which is scheduled for the week of July 17th to 24th. The advertising matter being distributed shows that It will be a real live week in the life of Geneva lovers of this sort of entertainment. and It will also demonstrate that these events will be carried off in a real live town like Geneva, even though it has had no previous advertisement on the Chautauqua circuit. The events of the week are under the supervision of the Union Lyceum bureau of Toledo, and will be held in the school park. Preparations are being made for a gala time during that time; and it is safe to bet that they will have it. Among the attractions is the Hattie Good Grace Concert company. The Crescent Concert company. The LaDell Concert company. Captain Richard P. Hobson, Dr. Charles F. Sheldon. Dr. Charles W. Blodgett, Dr. , A. W. Lamar, L. VV. Ford and many others. The entertainments are all first class, and it is sure to be a pleasant week at Geneva. Many Decatur people will doubtless take advantage of the opportunity of attending and spending much time in Geneva during that week. Prof. D. VV. Horton of Geneva is in charge and to whom you should write for any information desired. — — Mr. and Mrs. Miles Pillars and son. Dorwin, of Jonesboro, Ark.. Mrs. C. V. Dorwin and John Stewart were guests of Mr. and Mrs. D. B. Erwin at 6 o'clock dinner Friday evening. THE G.O.P. OF OHIO - • They Will Stick to President Taft and Expect to Stand Pat. n j HAVE CONFERENCE The President Evidently is Pleased With His Home State. V BeYetly, Mass., July 16 —President Taft was to'M that the Ohio republican state platform, to he adopted at Columbus the latter part of this month, would contain a ringing endorsement of the entire Taft administration, including the Payne-Aldrich tariff law. The Ohio platform, taken in connection with the keynote speech to be delivered at the convention by Representative Nicholas Longworth as temporary chairman, will serve as an index to the campaign to be waged throughout the country by the republicans this fall. The issues for the campaign will be set forth clearly. They will include the endorsement of the PayneAldrich tariff law as a step In the right direction. The tariff committee teature of the bill will be brought out most prominently. These facts were developed here as a result of calls on the president by Senator Dick of Ohio and Wade H. Ellis, chairman of the Ohio republican state executive com mittee. As to James R. Garfield formerly secretary of the interior in the Roosevelt cabinet and closely assoI dated with Gifford Ptnchot in his political activity, both Senator Dick and Chairman Ellis declared that “most certainly he would not be the nominee for governor.” Joe Beery, who for three weeks past 1 has been canvassing Ossian. came . home toray, he having completed his - work there. Mrs. Samuel Wynn nnd Mr. and Mrs. t Fellabaum have returned to Toledo. - Ohio, after a visit with Mrs. Eliza- ’ beth Wynn and granddaughter. Miss Electa Glancey.