Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 8, Number 169, Decatur, Adams County, 20 July 1910 — Page 1

Volume VIIL Number 169.

A MARTYR TO LOVE Leyton Potter Committed Suicide — Despondent Over Finances. LONG SEPARATION From Girl He Loved—His Sweetheart, Miss Armstrong of Pennsylvania. That Layton Potter, the young man found dead in Steele's park Tuesday afternoon “came to his death by a selfinflicted gun-shot wound in the right temple, with premediated suicidal intent" is the opinion of Coroner J. C. Grandstaff of Preble, and such will doubtless be his verdict, which, however. has not yet been returned. That the affair is suicidal is shown beyond doubt. On the person were found many love letters from Miss Martha Vtntrong of Carmichael, Pa, abounding in her expression of love for him. while an examination of his rooms at the Flanders home on Third street, where he stayed during his four weeks’ residence here, showed six letters to relatives and friends, sealed and addressed, wrapped with a note asking that they be mailed after his death. These letters were opened and read by Coroner Grandstaff to be used as ■evidence in the inquest, and then forwarded to the ones for whom they were intended. The one addressed to the grandmother. Mrs. M. Z. Hudson, at Caro, Mich., is a fair sample of all, as they contained very nearly the same thoughts. It is as follows: My Dear Grandma: —Forgive your boy for this act if you can. 1 can stand this separation no longer from the girl I love. She will understand if no one else does. Believe me. I love vou and will set* you some day. Yours lovingly, LEYTON. From what can be gathered from the letters the young man had been engaged to marry his sweetheart. Miss Armstrong, in August. They were then to go the first of September to Grand Forks. N. Dak., where he had a position as teacher in a college. His financial resources at this time, it is said, were low, and from the substance of one of the letters addressed to an uncle in Michigan. 1t seems he had asked him for a loan of money to tide him over and had been refused. The letter to Miss Armstrong was perhaps the most pathetic of all. It contained expressions of love and intimated that he thought it her duty to follow in his footsteps. That he had once said to her at one time, that if she should sicken and die, he would kill himself over her body, and intimated that he would have her do the same. Other letters were to C. W. Best of Oberlin. Ohio, a room-mate: another to his father, Thomas Potter, at Tacoma, Wash; and to several friends. All the letters ran in the vein that he was tired of living and asked for forgiveness for the deed he was about to do. While rooming at the Flanders home, it is said he often remarked or asked the cost of conducting a home, but little more was thought ot it at the time, except in relation to the approaching wedding, which they knew would be in August. It now seems that the cost, and his financial stringency, was one cause of his despondency. Coroner Grandstaff wired his relatives at once, and a telegram this morning from his grandmother. Mrs. M. Z. Hudson, asked that the body be sent to Undertaker Buch at Lansing. Mich. It must, however, be held until money has been guaranteed for the shipment. The young man's father lives in Tacoma. Wash. His mother, it is said, is not living, but he has a stepmother, of whom he spoke with much love to his many acquaintances here. The young man was about twentyfive years of age, five feet and nine inches in height, had light blue eyes black hair, worn rather long, and <> very attractive appearance, as well as admirable character. Dead Body Found. No sooner had the word reached the city Tuesday afternoon at 4

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT.

o'clock of the discovery of the dead body of a young man, shot through the head, and lying near the east end of the lagoon at Steele's park, along the driveway, as stated in Tuesday evening's paper, than large numbers from this city hastened out and identified the young man as Leyton H. Potter, professor in the Oberlin <O.) Conservatory of Music, who had been in the city for the past four weeks, acting as agent for the publishing firm of "The Standard Dictionary of Facts. ” As stated Tuesday the body had been first noticed by John Scheumann, the stock buyer, who had been looking for stray cattle in the park. He at first thought it to be a man in a drunken stupor, but on going nearer found the man dead from a bullet wound in the head. He then called two other men working near, and then Charles Lose and James Colchin, the last two having gone bathing in the park lagoon about 3 o’clock. Ixtse and Colchin hastily drove to the city, reaching here about 4 o’clock. They notified Marshal Peterson, he in turn, notifying Coroner Grandstad of Preble. Marshal Peterson then went to the scene. Coroner Grandsta" arriving about 5 o’clock. After holding the inquest the body was brought to the Gay & Zwick undertaking establishment in this city, where the body was cared for and where the remains lay until the relatives could be 1 communicated with. Indicated Suicide. All indications pointed at once to spicide. The body lay stretched out on the ground, eyes staring, mouth open, bullet wound in right temple, one and one-half inches above the right, ear. A revolver lay between his knees as though it had fallen there from the right hand, which had fallen over his chest, while in his left hand was clutched the picture of a girl, the face of the picture lying toward the body, and it was evidently the last thing on which his eyes in life had looked and on which the sightless eyes continued to stare after death. His watch, which was found on his person, had stopped at 1:20 o’clock and it is supposed that he stopped the watch *at the time of his death, taking this way to leave a clue as to the time. On his chest was also found his eye glasses, which had either been laid there or had fallen off. Several letters were found on his person, addressed to himself, thus further establishing his identity. They were love letters, apparently received every day from a Miss Martha Armstrong of Carmichael, Pa. The letters abounded in expressions of her affection for him, and there was nothing in the letters on his person to show that there had been any difference between them, giving cause for his suicide. Seemed in Good cheer. The young man seemed in his suual good cheer during the day. and while several strange things have been called to mind since,there was nothing to indicate that he contemplated such action. He appeared at the Schlickman & Girod restaurant at ten minutes till eleven and also a hearty dinner of good substantial ham and eggs, and while there talked in his usual cheery way to the clerks. Guy Kid, one of the clerks who waited on him, was on especially good terms with him. On leaving the restaurant Potter asked if there were any nearbywoods east of town, and stated that he had taken a notion for a stroll and thought he would go out. He must have gone to his rooms at the Flanders home on Third street thereafter because he was seen there last about 11:30 o'clock. Mrs. Flanders, at whose harne he roomed, stated that he spent the entire morning in bis rooms and the house, devoting the greater part of the morning hours playing on the piano. He seemed to play unusually well, and with deep expression, and she remarked on its beauty. As he came down from his room she noticed that he did not look well and asked whether he felt as well as usual, but his reply was that he would take a walk, and would spend the afternoon in Steele s park. Bought a Revolver. The revolver with which the deed was evidently committed was purchased at the Laman & Lee hardware store, from Joe Kiess, one ot the clerks, the purchase being made after Mr. Keiss returned from dinner, between 1 and 1:30 o'clock. He asked to look at the Ivers-Johnson make, stating that he had heard of the excellency of the brand and wished to have a revolver about the house for safety. He looked first at the 32-cali-bre, but stated that he had not enough money for the purchase of that and then looked at a smaller and cheaper one, a 22-short. He ask(Contlnue acn page 4.)

Decatur, Indiana. Wednesday Evening, July 20, 1910.

ANOTHER SPEECH Speaker Cannon Again Skins the Insurgents and Insurgency. WATCH REFORMERS He Says That Any One Kicking Out of Party Traces Bears Watching. Herrington. Kans., July 20—Speak-1 er Cannon’s second speech today, delivered here, was a tariff argument and an attack on insurgency. “They call me 'old standpatter,'” said Mr. Cannon. “And 1 was. and I think that I had as much to do as any other in convincing former President Roose felt that the time had not come to revise the tariff, thereby halting production. But the demand for revision grew, and. in 1908, the republican platform pledged itself to revise the tariff. I did not want that kind of a platform, but there was only one ot two things to do. As a republican I was in honor bound to abide by the platform or to leave the party. We carried the country. We saw the trend of events and we prepared to revise the tariff. For twelve months the committee on ways and means studied the schedules. The greatest economist in the country, so far as tariffs are concerned, is Sereno Payne, and he is chairman of that committee." Discussing the various schedules of the Payne-Aldrich tariff bill. Speaker Cannor referred to the attitude of "Bristow and Beveridge, and all of these democrats.” Mr. Cannon plunged directly into to attack on insurgency. "Whenever,” he said, “you hear a man talking about how in congress he is going to kick out of the party traces, telling about how he is going to be a reformer and straighten out things, when you get a fellow that talks like that, you want to watch him." o COURT HOUSE NEWS A Transcript in the Straub Case Was Filed at the Clerk’s Office. OTHER COURT NEWS A Bond Has Been Filed by Ben Lett and He Will Probably be Released. A transcript in the case of State vs. Straub has been tied at the clerk s office, the bond of the defendant being fixed at two hundred dollars, but as yet he is still confined in the county jail and will probably have to stay there until the case is tried in the Adams circuit court. Benjamin Lett, one of tire defendants in the criminal action, being implicated in the stealing of two horses from Jacob Schwartz and selling them at Fort Wayne Saturday, has filed a bond with the sheriff of the county. Owing to the absence of Sheriff Meyer no action will be taken upon the matter until his return, which will be some time the latter part of the week. The bond will likely be accepted and the defendant given his liberty until the case is tried at the September term of court. LATEST ARRIVAL IN TOWN. A ten-pound baby boy at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Nelson of Twelfth street is one of the latest arrivals in town. The babe was born Thursday morning. — o • Mrs. Letta Sager of Sioux City, lowa, who has been in the city for some time, owing to the death ot her sister. Mrs. Sarah Archer, whose funeral was held here, will leave Thursday for Battle Creek, Mich., where she will make a short stay and then j proceed to her home.

8080 PICNIC. Mount Tabor Sunday School Will Enjoy a Day Together. On Saturday. July 30th. Is the date set for the picnic to be given by the Mount Tabor Sunday school, and at present the members are busily engaged in making preparation for the event. It will be held one mile east and one-half mile south of Bobo, and all are invited to attend. Refreshments of all sorts will be served on the grounds and excellent music has been engaged for that day. Be sure to attend if you wish to enjoy a day of pleasure. JOHN KING DEAD Life-Long Resident of the City Passed Away at an Early Hour THIS MORNING Had Been Bedfast Three Weeks—Funeral Will be Held Friday. • John E. King, aged sixty-two years, a life long resident of tire city, died this morning at 3:40 o’clock at his hotpe on Mercer avenue. Mr. King had been ailing since March, but later developed malarial fever, which later turned into typhoid. Tuesday gangrene set in and his life was then but a matter of a few hours. He had been bedfast three weeks. Mr. King had a wide acquaintanceship and was perhaps as well known as any in the city. He was a son of John and Sarah King, prominent residents of the city, and was born April 4, 1848. Tue deceased was married to Lavina Brake, who survives; also one son Nolan King, of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Emma Case and Mrs. Kate Rout are surviving sisters. Funeral services tor Mr. King will be held Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the home. - — o PURCHASE AUTOS. A. J. Smith and Dr. Miller Purchase Touring Cars. A. J. Smith left last evening for Elk hart, where he will make arrangements for bringing home a fine Pratt touring car, which he purchased a few weeks ago. but owing to the large number of orders ahead he was obliged to wait for his car. Dr. Miller has also made the purchase of the same make, his being a forty-horse power, five passenger touring car. Both cars will be brought to this city Thursday and today Mr. Smith was at Elkhart learning to run his machine. — —— NOTICE ORDERED For Receiving Bids For New Brick and Cement Columns of CEMETERY FENCE Decatur Cemetery Association Held Meeting Yesterday Afternoon. The trustees of the Decatur Cemetery association held a meeting Tuesday afternoon for the consideration ot the plans and specifications for the eight columns of the new fence to be erected at the Decatur cemetery soon. The plans and specifications were adopted and the notice was ordered given for the receiving of bids August 11th, at 2 o’clock, at the office of 'Squire J. H., Stone. The fence was recently decided upon according to plans furnished by the Ward Fence company and will be a beautiful structure. The columns to which the fence will be attached will be of brick and cement and will be eight in number. —o George Ruckman has returned from the vicinity of Mansfield, Ohio, where he visited his brother and looked over the country with an idea of investment. He likes the country very much and may buy.

BOY WAS DROWNED Seven Years Old Son of Editor Keefer of Ossian Was Drowned. FAMILY PROSTRATED The Father Was Absent From Home But Came Back Last Night. Teddy Keefer, aged seven, youngest son of Editor James H. Keefer of the Ossian News, was drowned about 12:40 this afternoon in what is known as the town gravel pit, located near Eight Mile creek, between east and west Ossian. The little fellow, with some playmates, had been to the gravel pit during part of the forenoon, enjoying the usual form of boyish sports around the big gravel pit lying just north of the street from the interurban station to East Ossian, and directly after dinner he and his brother, Max, aged nine, and Gerald Norwalt. another boy of about the same age. went to the gravel pits again to play. Teddy ventured too far from the banks into a portion of the pit before unexplored by him. and suddenly stepped into a deep hole, reported about ten feet deep. He could not catch himself and his brother and little friends were too frightened themselves to rescue him. Almost crazed with excitement and fear they ran screaming for help, but before men could reach the scene litle Teddy had sunk for the last time, and no trace of him could be seen. Then began the search for the body, the searchers being guided only by the directions of the other two boys as to where they thought Teddy sank from sight. Mr. Keefer, father of the drowned child, was not at home at the time of the accident, but had gone to Alexandria on business and passed through the city at 9 o’clock this morning. He was located by telephone and summoned home, and will reach Ossian sometime late this afternoon. —Ossian News. THE NEW OFFICERS Rebekah Lodge Installs Officers to Serve For the Ensuing Year. ENTER UPON DUTY Mrs. I. Kalver Noble Grand —Corps of Officers an Able One. The Rebekah lodge held its semiannual installation of officers Tuesday evening, the attendance being quite large. Mrs. Lydia Shamp served as grand mistress and Mrs. Nora Butler as grand marshal. The folowing officers took the obligations of their office and entered into duty: Noble Grand —Mrs. I. Kalver. Vice Grand—Mrs. Johp Bolinger. Chaplain—Mrs. Andrew Artman. Warden —Miss Flossie Bolinger. Conductor —Miss Ethel Hildebrand. Recording Secretary—Miss Gusta Cramer. Financial Secretary—Miss Nellie Winnes. Treasurer—Mrs. Dr. J. M. Miller. Right Supporter to Noble Grand — Mrs. Nora Butler. Left Supporter to Noble Grand — Mrs. Joe Helm. Left Supporter to. Vice Grand— Mrs. Fanny Toder. Right Supporter to Vice Grand — Mrs. Amelia Archbold. Inner Guard —Miss Marie Butler. Outer Guard—Miss Lola Baker. MODERN WOODMEN SOCIAL. The Modern Woodmen will have a splendid meeting this evening, initiation services being a part of the program. Several candidates are in line for the degree. The lodge is also planning for an ice cream social to be held Saturday evening on the Niblick lawn, east of the library and south of the court house. The public is invited to attend.

FRICTION IN THE COMMITTEE. Senator Beveridge and His State Com- ! mittce Not Dwelling in Peace. Indianapolis. Ind., July 20 —It has just been learned there is the worst kind of friction in Senator Beveridge's own state committee. And. the man whom ex-President Roosevelt said was “the prince of egotists,” is the cause of it all. Realizing the serious position of the party on the tariff question the republican state committee decided it would be wisdom to straddle the question in the campaign by adopting the tariff commission idea. When this was laid before Beveridge he immediately balked and wiped out the plans of the committee. Just before departing for his summer home in the New Hampshire hills he gave an order to have 50,000 copies of his speech before the repub-; lican state oonvention, in which he said the Payne-Aldrich bill was the "worst ever,” printed and circulated over the state. This was the last straw and Beveridge's own state committee is about the sorest political organization in the state today. HE HIT? CANNON Congressman Victor Murdock Makes Reply to the Speech of Cannon. KANSAS POLITICS Getting a Warming Up From Both Elements of Republican Party. Emporia, Kans., July 20 —Congressman Victor Murdock, Kansas, insurgent in the house of representatives, following in the wake of Speaker Cannon, defended the insurgent cause in | his first political speech of the campaign. He said that Mr. Cannon “for thirty years has been opposed to iocomotion in any direction," charged him with affiliations with Tammany and declared that the greatest thing the insurgents accomplished in the last session of congress was to put the speaker off the committee on rules. "Speaker Cannon for thirty years has been opposed to locomotion in any direction," he said. "For more than a quarter of a century he has stood out against progress. He is not only a standpatter, but a standstiller. During his political life he has opposed about all the progressive legislation that has been offered and the wonder is that so much of it has managed to creep into the statute books. He opposed the federal inspection of meats, he stood opposed to irrigation, to currency reform, to pure food laws and regulations, to civil service reform and to practically all progressive legislation since the Civil war." GAVE CONCERT AT BERNE. Miss Beraht Carver, vocalist, and Miss Caryl Baughman, pianist, of South Salem, gave a concert in the Evangelical church at Berne fpr the benefit of Miss Carver. Miss Carver, who is blind, has been attending school at Indianapolis, and is home for her vacation. She is a singer not only of much natural ability, but also of excellent training. They are contemplating giving concerts in this city and other places soon. o —— YOUR LAST CHANCE. Tonight will be your last opportunity to see the LaCroix's in their highclass vaudeville acts at the Crystal Airdome. The act tonight will be entirely different from any yet given and will be a comedy sketch by Mr. and Mrs. clean, nifty vaudeville acts, don't miss this one, for it is a hub-dinger. Com plete change of pictures and songs. Same old price. 0 GERMAN REFORMED PICNIC. Another Sunday school picnic sched uled for this month is that to be given by the German Reformed church July 27th. in Maple Grove park. The usual program of amusements has • been arranged and everything will i pass off smoothly, and to the satis- : faction and pleasure of all who attend.

Price Two Cents

COMMON COUNCIL They Held a Very Busy Session at Council Chambers Last Evening. MANY THINGS DONE New Lighting System in the Hands of Electric Light Committee. The common council held quite a busy session at their council chamber Tuesday evening. The roll call disclosed all the members present with the exception of Councilman Martin, who is at Rome City. Minutes of the last meeting "were read and approved. The street commissioner was ordered to repair the sidewalk in front of the property of Mrs. Gross on Idne street and have same charged to the property. According to a resolution adopted without a dissenting vote objections will be heard" to the building of a sidewalk on Adams street, where in some instances the improvement may exceed the benefits to be derived. The matter will be heard at the next meeting of the council. There was considerable dicussion over a petition presented to nave the city engineer establish the property line in the west side of Market street. By order of the Adams circuit court forty feet on the west side of this street was recently vacated and now the interested property owners want the line established. Th<petition was finally laid on the table. Further time was asked and granted the street and sewer committee tor examination and investigation of a proposed drain. Councilman Chronister presented the desires of several First ward citizens and voters to have precinct lines in that ward for city purposes changed to conform with the lines in state and general elections. A motion prevailed that the city attorney draw up the proper ordinance for such a change and that it be submitted to the council. H. L. Conter and W. P. Schrock represented the business men of the city in presenting a petition for a new lighting system covering the downtown or busk ness district. The petition was referred to the electric light committee with instructions to investigate its merits, cost and submit plans for a system thatwould meet the approval of the business men. This committee, with Superintendent Mylott, will likely get busy at once upon this projec*. A report was made upon a sidewalk improvement on Mcßarnes street, and the same was ordered. The following bills were allowed. C. & E >160.67 James Brite 62.36 C. * E 52.87 M. Burns 17.50 Lucy J. Gregory 20.00 Wells Fargo Express Co 191 Bass Foundry & Machine Wks. 13.50 Fort Wayne Electric Works.. 29.14 Electric Appliance Co 19.18 Producers’ Coal Co 49.92 G. R. & 1 7084 Kirsch, Sellemeyer & Sons .. 41.01 Sunday Creek Coal Co 70.62 Metropolitan Paving Co 124.60 Decatur Publishing Co 5.00 Markle Stone & Lime Co 24.48 Myers & Lenhart 4.34 W. B. Burford 10.50 D. F. Teeple 8.81 Decatur Publishing Co 15.50 Standard Oil Co 8.64 Decatur Democrat Co 15.70 John Royce LOO G. R. & I 1 84 9J —o METHODIST ANNUAL PICNIC. Arrangements Are Being Made For a Great Day at Robinson Park. Arrangements are now going forward for the Methodist Sunday school ( picnic, their annual affair which will as usual be given at Robinson park. Fort Wayne, on Thursday, July 28th. They have secured a rate of fifty cents tor the round trip, and twentyfive cents for children, and there will be room for every one wito wants to go, fir who wants to spend a day in 'Fort Wayne. The Fort Wayne & Springfield will supply them with plenty of cars and there is promised no inconvenience whatever to those who gq on this excursion.