Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 8, Number 293, Decatur, Adams County, 13 December 1910 — Page 1

Volume VIII. Number 293

AFTER GRAIN MEN Attorney General Bingham Filed Suit Against the Organization AT FORT WAYNE Claims it is a Combination in Restraint of TradeAffects This County. Fort Wayne, Ind., Dec. 13—Fiftythree members of the Hay and Grain Producers’ and Shippers’ Association of Northeastern Indiana were made defendants in a suit instituted in the circuit court here Monday by Attorney General James Bingham, in which it is alleged that the association is an organization in restraint of trade in that it fixes prices and destroys competition. A restraining order was issued by Judge O’Rourke prohibiting the officers of the association from sending out the daily price lists and from continuing any other work of the organization. December 27th was the date fixed for a hearing on the plea for a temporary injunction. In the complaint it is alleged that ’ the defendants do an annual business i of $3,000,000 and that through thej Combination the farmers in this sec-! tion of Indiana have received $250,000 less each year for the past two years for their products than would otherwise have been the case. It is alleged the defendants own elevators and buildings valued at more than $1,000,-1 000. j The restraining orders on the dealers in this county were served this afternoon. Nearly every dealer in the following courses is named in the complaint as being a party to the alleged unlawful conspiracy: Allen, Elkhart. Lagrange, Steuben, Dekalb, Noble, Kosciusko, Marshall, Fulton, Cass, Whitley, St. Joseph. Miami, Wabash. Huntington, Wells, Ad- • ams, Jay, Blackford. Grant. Howard. I Tipton, Madison, Delaware, Randolph, Wayne and Henry. This suit is brought under Chapter , 243 of the Act of 1903. which prohibits any association being formed for the purpose of monopolizing trade and destroying competition. From this point the complaint alleges that the dealers named do 95 per cent of the hay, grain and wool business in northeastern Indiana and that they formed the organization as a "wrong- ‘ ful and unlawful scheme, designed as a combination, agreement, trust, monopoly, pool and conspiracy to control and fix arbitrarily the prices, terms and conditions under which they will engage in business, to monopolize the hay, grain and wooltrade, to suppress competition, to compel farmers and producers to sell their goods to the defendants and to no other.” It is further alleged that in furtherance of this scheme the association daily sends out quotations to farmers and dealers, giving the maximum prices for each day at which all the members of the association must purchase. These prices, it is alleged, are from 10 to 12 cents lower on grains than the prevailing markets at Toledo. the nearest selling point to this locality. and from $2 to $5 a ton lower on hay. In addition to this it is alleged that If any member of the association uolates the aiieged regulations of the association by paying more than the | prices given on the daily list, that member is to be driven from the so ciety and punished by “such violent means as to prevent any violations of the said regulations." This complaint indicates that the association had its inception in Fort Wayne in the office of T. P- Riddle, one of the defendants, from which office the price cards are still sent out each day. In corroboration of this allegation copies of letters sent out by Mr. Riddle are presented in evidence. In the first letter Mr. Riddle insinuates that if the grain dealers would band themselves together the business would not get “worser an worser” each year. Then comes an invitation to a ban quet that was held in this city two years ago, in which all grain men in this vicinity were invited. In further letters there are quotations from the Bible which Mr. Riddle is alleged to have used as an argument for organization. The letters are very vague, but the attorney general reads betwen the lines and interprets them

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

a» urging the formation of an unlawful combination. The question of penalties will come up later. The officers of the associate are as follows: President, Herbert H Deam of B’uffton; secretary, G. Thomas Burk of Decatur, and these officers, with Edward Wasmuth of Roanoke and T. P. Riddle of this city, constitute the board of directors. Local members of the association declare that they do not seek to monopolize trade or control prices and that the association Is merely for social purposes and to compare conditions. COURTHOUSE NEWS Judge Merryman Had Busy Time at Bluffton Monday —Three Cases. SHORT SESSION HERE This Morning—Some Real Estate Transfers—Nachtrieb Building Sold. Alice M. Bittner vs. Charles Bittner et al., partion, joint answers filed by all defendants except Elma and Palena Bittner. Rule to reply to second paragraph. Separate answer of William Goldner, executor, filed. Rule to reply. D. E. Smith, attorney for Sarah Goodheart et al., filed a partition case, Susan H. Kirk et al., being defendants. S. B. Fordyce, administrator of the Mary A. Andrews estate, filed final report. There must be an unusually large number of Christmas brides to make up for the dearth of the first part of the month, as only two have been issued thus far. And the month nearly half gone. Deputy Clerk D. O. Roop is working today on the last of the copy of the thirty grand jury indictments. Real estate transfers: F. M. Schirmeyer to Horace F. Callow, lot 77, Decatur. $265; Daniel Welty to O. F. Gilliom, east one-half lot 349, Berne, $2350; W. H. Nachtrieb to Martin Miller, business block, Decatur, pt. lot No. 57, $7,000. Judge Merryman as special judge in the case of Daniel Fuhrer against John Thomas, a case filed in 1908, to reform a deed, this morning returned special findings and conclusions of law in the case, holding against the plaintiff and for the defendant for the costs. The case grew out of a line fence, resulting from the transfer o’ thirty acres of land from the defendant to the plaintiff in Nottingham | township in 1899. In 1906 the survey was made by Ddniel O. North, then county surveyor. Eichhorn & \ aughn represented the plaintiff and Sharpe. & Sturgis the defense. Judge Merry-1 man also assumed jurisdiction in the ( case of the I. O. O. F. lodge against M. A. Stout. While here this morning Judge Merryman also dismissed the remainder of the cases against Manson Reiff.—Bluffton Banner. .—■ ■ • reorganization of evangelical SOCIETIES This evening at 7:30 the Young People’s Alliance will meet at the church to elect their officers for the next six months. This meeting is of such importance that every member should be present without fail. Please remember the place—at the church hour, 7:30 o'clock this, Tuesday evening. Next Friday evening the Sunday school will meet to elect officers for the -a- 191 L and all members of the church have a right to vote, and hence every member should be present At this time the various departments of Christian work will report the amount of money raised for the building fund, let every member of the church be present to help in this very important P T D O. WISE, Pastor, work. o —— NOTICE, MASONS! The annual election of officers.wil. be held this evening, as well as other quested to be present.

HE IS IMPROVING Chas. Ernst Returns From El Reno Where He Paid a Visit to HIS SICK BROTHER Found Him Improving and on Way to Recovery— Will Arrive Next Week. Surveyor Charles Ernst, who on last Wednesday left for El Reno, Oklahoma., where he was called, owing to the severe illness of his brother, Carl, who has been very seriously sick for several weeks, suffering with typhoid fever returned home this morning after an absence of nearly one week. He left at once for that place, but found his brother improving and able to be up at times. He had been sick for some time and was on a fair way to recovery when he suffered a relapse, and his condition was more serious than in the first attack. How-’ ever, Mr. Ernst states that with the proper care and attention he will rerecover all right and be able to be around in a few days and expects him to return to this city the fore part of the week. Mr. Ernst, on his way home stopped off at Muskogee, Okla., where he made a short stay, and then came direct home, owing to business here which required his attention. The many friends of Mr. Ernst, who a few days ago, heard of his condition, will be glad to hear of this improvement. C. B. L. OF I. ELECTION. The Catholic Benevolent Legion of Indiana will hold its annual election of officers this evening, for which reason all members are requested to be at the meeting. ELECT”OFFICERS Methodist Sunday School Board Selects Officers for Coming Year. ARRANGE FOR XMAS The Custom of the Old Santa Claus Entertainment Will be Held. The Sunday school board of the Methodist church held a very interesting session at the church parlors on Sunday afternoon at which time j an election of officers, who will serve for the coming year was held.' Most of the old ones were re-elected, thay having served during the past year to the complete satisfaction of all I concerned. The election resulted as ' follows: Superintendent, C. L. Walters; assistant superintendents, W. H. Fledderjohann and Mrs. Letta Peters; secretary,Frank Mills; assistant 'secretary, Stella Chronister; treasurer, Arthur Suttles; choristers, Ethel Butler and Mrs. Tritch; pianists, Florine Edwards and Josephine Krick; librarians, Joe McFarland and Harve Smith. After the election the board held a meeting as to the celebration for Christmas and it was agreed upon to hold an old-fashioned Santa Claus entertainment on Saturday evening, the 24th, which has been the custom for a number of years. At this time all the pupils will be given a present and it will be one of the happiest gatherings that has taken place for many years. A program will also be given by the pupils, which promises to be very interesting. — SEND DRUNKS TO INFIRMARY. Hon. T. E. Ellison of Fort Wayne has drafted a bill to be presented to the next legislature, which will provide that drunks be sent to the county infirmary instead of to jail. The cost of keeping prisoners at the jail is considerably greater than the cost of keeping poor people at the infirmary—and what a travesty on justice—so the plan is to send the drunkards to the and set them to work.—Kendallville Sun.

Decatur, Ind. Tuesday Evening, December 13, 1910.

OBJECTIONS TO MARRIAGE. On Account of Youth of Couple—Only Eighteen Year* Old. Last week announcement was made that the marriage of Miss Emma Michel, daughter of Peter Michel, near Vera Cruz, and Mr. Jesse Klopfenstine, a step-son of Henry Highley, near Preble, would take place at an early date. It develops, however, that there Is parental objection because of the youth of the couple. Both Miss Michel and Mr. Klopfenstlne are only eighteen years of age. Without the consent of parents they cannot secure a license.—Bluffton News. THE BLOCK SYSTEM Will be One of Provisions to Guard Against Trolley Wrecks. REPORT WAS MADE By the Railway Commission Today—Men Employed Must Pass Muster. (United Press Service.) Indianapolis, Ind., Dec. 13 —(Special j to Daily Democrat)—Laws providing 1 for the punishment of employees of I interurban railways, directly or indi-' rectly responsible for the interurban j accidents in which deaths or injuries | occur; requiring certain standards of i efficiency before an applicant may be | employed in operating capacity by an | interurban railway and requiring j strict adherence to certain fixed rules ; for operation and the installment of | a block system of signals on all in-1 terurban railways, as a measure for | prevention against accidents were; urged in a special report made to the ; governor by the members of the Indiant railway commission on recent trolley wrecks in Indiana. The report was read in the governor’s office today in the presence of the railway commission and representatives of virtually all the electric lines in Indiana, who gathered to attend the conference on the points raised. The disasters covered by the report occurred in the past few months and were the Kingsland wreck on the Fort Wayne & Wabash Valley road, the Tipton wreck an the Union Traction line, the Union City wreck on the I. T. U. line and the Terre, Haute, Indianapolis & Eastern wreck on the Indianapolis and Cincinnati line. The ; railroad men approved the report generally and the result will be a bill being presented to the legislature, covering these points. DEDICATE SUNDAY The New United Brethren Church at Wren, Ohio, Will be Dedicated. FINEST IN COUNTY Cost Over Twelve Thousand; . Dollars—Rev. Imler of This City to Assist. On next Sunday, the 18th, at Wren, Ohio, will occur the dedication of the new United Brethren church, which has been under construction for some time. The church Is considered the finest in that county outside that in the city, and has been built at a cost of over $12,000. Rev. Ballinger of Lima, Ohio, will be\ln charge of the dedicatory service and will be assisted by a number of visiting ministers. Rev. Imler of this city will be one of the number from here to attend and will also be one of those to assist at the services. Rev. W. Z. Roberts, who was assigned at the last conference meeting, will be the new pastor, and will take up his charge at once. He is an earnest worker and well liked by all and will make good in the new place of worship. The people of that town are much elated over the new church, which by their many hard labors they have been successful in completing, and it will always stands as a lasting credit to the * earnestness of the members.

CLAIMS DAMAGES Elizabeth Bosse Brings Suit Against Indiana Lighting Company. ASKS SUM OF $2,000.00 Claims Soot, Coal Smoke, Cinders and Ashes Damages Residnce. Petergon & Moran, ag attorneys for Mrs. Elizabeth Bosse, were preparing a complaint this morning which they filed later in the Adams circuit court in which Mrs. Bosse demands the sum of $2,000 from the Indiana Lighting Company for alleged damages to her residence property on Nuttman avenue, and to the comfort and health of herself and family. The trouble arises over the erection of the large gas tank by the company on two lots near the Bosse residence. Mrs. Bosse claims in her complaint that the smoke, steam, cinders, ashes, coals of fire, soot, etc., which pour in a continuous stream, both day and night from the smoke stack of the boiler of j the plant, or the steam pipes—and has done so both winter and spring since j 1 the erection of the plant in 1909, and : until the present time —has greatly infconvenienced her as well as depreciatj ing the value of the property. She I claims that the sparks from the stack threaten her house with fire, that the ; soot and smoke prevent her from ! washing, and from even keeping the ; doors and windows of her house open ! without ruining her furnishings and endangering the health and comfort of herself and of her family, and that , the steam from the pipes spreads over onto the ground of her property, causing dampness, which is also a menace to their health. —e ( SCHOOL VACATION I Decatur Public School Stu- i I dents Will be Given a Week and a Half CHRISTMAS VACATION ( School Will Dismiss a Week From Wednesday—County Vacations Vary. A week and a half Christmas vacation will be given the pupils of the Decatur public schools is the announcement made by the school board. School will dismiss for the I holiday vacation a week from Wedl nesday, December 21st, and continue I during the week between Christmas >and New Years. Unless otherwise announced later, school will reopen on Monday, January 2nd. The two days’ vacation of next week is allowed that the teachers may be given the privilege of attending the Indiana 1 State Teachers’ association at Indianj apolis, December 22nd and 23rd, they being allowed regular payment for attending these sessions. Many of the classes of the city schools have arranged for special Christmas programs to be given just before the holiday adjournment. The vacation of the various district schools of the county is determined by each township and varies accordingly, some enjoying a week, and others more or less, dependent upon condiUons or circumstances attending the regulation of the term. ARM WAS BROKEN. While Cranking Auto—Ed Luttman Suffers Slight Injury. While cranking his automobile Monday, Edward Luttman, the Magley merchant, had the misfortune to have his right arm broken just above the 'wrist. But one of the bones was fractured, and while the injury was quite j painful, Mr. Luttman was able to be in town in the afternoon and he Is getting along very w»’’

THEY ARE BUSY. Force of Clerks Kept on the Jump and It's a Good Place to Buy. ; One of the busiest places in the down town district is the racket store and they are doing a land-office business. They have an extra force of clerks and all are kept busy from early in the morning until the quitting hour at night. Notice their large I ad in another part of this issue, in which they tell you of a few of the many articles which they keep In their large listed stock. You won't ' go amiss by dealing at this place. A COSTLY BLAZE I To Washington Township Was Burning of Deßolt School House. I $3,000.00 TO REPLACE Is in Total Ruins—Bumec About Three O’clock This Morning. A costly blaze to Washington township, which w’ill require more than | $3,000 to replace the building alone, with the additional loss of about $125 worth of books, the individual property of the pupils, and a library Worth about $50 —was that which destroyed the Deßolt school house in Washington township, about six miles southwest of this city at 3 o’clock this morning. The school house, of which Melvin Mallonee was the teacher, is in total ruins, with only the brick walls being left standing, and the entire contents a total loss. The fire is supposed to have originated from the stove, but whether it fell down, letting the live coals fall out on the < floor, or whether It originated in some other way, will probably never be known. The fire was first noticed at 3 o'clock by Mrs. Sam Yost, who lives , just across the road from school to who got up at that time to attend to a sick child. When she noticed it the building was all ablaze, and though she gave prompt notice to the neigh- ; bors, and they arrived hastily on the scene, they could do nothing to save the house. The school house was built in 1892, at a cost of $1,200, but with the great advance in materials, etc., the same kind of a building now could not be built for less than $3,000. Only SSOO insurance was carried. There were forty-five pupils attending this school, and these will have to be transferred to other districts until another school house can be built, which will not be probably until spring. In the meantime the pupils will probably be enforced to take a vacation until seats and other supplies can be gotten for their accommodation. Sam Butler of this city, trustee of Washington township, visited the scene of the disaster this morning. Y. P. A. ELECTION. The Sunday School Will Elect Officers Thursday Evening. The Young People's Alliance of the Evangelical church will hold its election of officers this evening, the officers to serve for the coming year. The Sunday school will hold its election on Thursday evening of this week. These officers will also look after the affairs of the Sunday school for the year 1911. ———— —o —• GOES TO AUBURN COURIER. Ben Garard, a well-known printer of this city, will leave this evening for Auburn, where he has taken a position with the Auburn Courier of which R. Earl Peters is manager. Mr. Garard received a telephone call from that place Saturday, giving him the offer, and Sunday he made a trip there, and finding things to his liking, 'decided to accept. He will serve as an all-around printer for a while, and then come in on the make-up line. MANY ATTENDING. The first of the dancing lessons to be given by the Young Men’s Social club was given Monday evening and a large crowd of beginners was in attendance for lessons, Lessons will be given every evening this week and 1 all are welcome to enter. No fee will I be charged the ladles, and they are I II as welcome as the gentlemen. Everybody invited. ■

Price, Two Cents

SAFE BLOWN OPEN I I ' Burglars Break Lock of William Keller Store at Monro, Blow Safe I AND TAKE MONEY Got Seventy Dollars in Cash With Large Number of Checks. The little town of Monroe experienced a real live sensation this morning, when It became known that during the night, supposedly about 2 o’clock, burglars had broken off the lock of the front door of the William Keller general mercantile establishment, walked in and then blew open the safe at the rear of the front room with nltro-gyicenn or some other such powerful agent, and made way with seventy dollars in cash, besides some deposit as well as individual checks, amounting to several hundred dollars in all, which had been deposited in the safe the evening before by the proprietor. The first inkling of the robbery came to Mr. Keller when he went to the store this morning and noticed the lock broken. The outer doors are barred with iron, and the lock on these was broken off. The Inner doors were more frail and were easily pushed out by the invaders. Even this gave no presage to Mr. Keller of the seriousness of the damage. The safe sat at the rear, partially hidden from the view of the approacher by the desk. As Mr. Keller approached the rear, he noticed a case of eggs which had been broken, and a number of lemons scattered »Wt. and other signs of a general tear-up. Going on further the sight of the broken safe came upon him. The doors were blown off and the safe otherwise badly battered and damaged. It is supposed that the work was done about 2 o’clock this morning, as at that time, Mrs. Joe Hocker, who lives across the street from the store, and several other residents of the town, had heard a dead, muffled sound, but not rousing sufficiently from their sleep, to make investigation, gave the matter very little attention, until the report of the safeblowing this morning, when they were convinced that the sounds that had awakened them were the reports attending the work of the burglars. | ■ — -O' CORKWELL IS GETTING BETTER. May Soon Step From Asylum to Face Trial in Court. Benjamin T. Corkwell, the Wabash Valley motorman, who received serious injuries in the Kingsland wreck, and was later removed to the Easthaven hospital for the insane by the Fort Wayne officers, has improved rapidly in the last few weeks, according to word received by Sheriff Reicheiderfer of Allen county. Corkwell was taken to a Fort Wayne hospital immediately after the wreck and after recovering from the injuries he received, his mind became affected and an insanity inquest was held by the attending physicians and hospital authorities, which resulted in him being sent to Easthaven. Awarrant is held by Sheriff Carlisle, charging him with Involuntary manslaughter as the result of the grand jury investigation of the wreck and the officials of the asylum will notify the local sheriff of any improvement in the condition of the motorman in order that he may serve the papers. Corkwell was in charge of the southbound extra car. Del Wilson, the conductor, is held under the same charge, his trial being set for the next month in the Jay circuit court. —Bluffton Banner. RIOTS ENDED IN BLOODSHED. (United Press Service.) Chicago, 111., Dec. 13—(Special to Daily Democrat) —One shooting and a dozen riots marked the strike of the garment workers on a peace proposal of the employees. The gun-shot victim is Frank Treter, who was shot in the kneon when Carbec, a strike breaker, opened fire on a mob of 300 I strikers, who surrounded his home and attempted to prevent him from going to work.