Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 9, Number 68, Decatur, Adams County, 21 March 1911 — Page 1

Volume IX. Number 68.

REAL CROOK IS TAKEN Harry Organ Who Cashed Forged Check Here, is Now in Jail AT LOGANSPORT, IND. Pinkerton Man Nabbed Him After Long Chase—ls Wanted Other Places. Logansport, Ind., March 21 —(Special to Daily Democrat)—Organ was ar-' rested again this morning on a bench | warrent, charged with forging a check ' for $496 on the City National bank of I Logansport three years ago. The bank ' also filed a civil action to recover and similar suits are being filed by others defrauded. Organ is in jail here and : local officials will not surrender him 1 •to the Decatur officials. To Charles Vaeth, a clever young' detective from the Pinkerton agency at Chicago, is due full credit for the capture and arrest of Harry B. Organ of Cedar Rapids. lowa, alias W. H. Munroe of Burlington, Indiana, alias ' J. H. Butler, of Marion, Indiana, and 1 alias no doubt to a dozen other phony I names, who was arrested at Logans-. port. Ind., Monday on a charge of j cashing a check at the Old Adams County bank in this city last Thursday noon. There is no longer any doubt but that Organ is one of the smoothest swindlers in the country and is wanted in many places for forgery. He is wanted in Nebraska for a forgery committed several years ago and where he was released on $4,000 . bond and jumped it. At Boone, lowa, he cashed a forged check for $496, and in that county a $2,000 reward is offered for him. This makes it important that the right man get credit for his arrest and this should go to Mr. Vaeth. Organ first appeared in Decatur last August. He told no one his business, spent much time about the Hotel Murray, and often called at the Old Adams County bank, where he chatted with the officials and the clerks, was genial and made friends readily. v He appar-1 ently knew everybody in town, and * knew all the prominent people in Ma- ( rion. Wabash, Logansport and other! cities of northern Indiana. He r, cured change often and aiways ap-: peared as a well-to-do traveling man,! grain merchant or horse dealer. In the meantime he spent much time at the Burk elevator, where he was sup-, posed to be a railroad man. At the’ hotel he never registered until Monday of last week. He would sit about the office, write letters, discuss the lo- ( cal option question, etc., but never ( registered, ate or lodged there until, Monday of last week, when he registered as W. H. Munroe, of Burling-, ton, Indiana, and went to bed. Again on Wednesday he slept there. Thursday noon he appeared at the Old Ad ama County bank with a check, signed , by G. T. Burk, per G. T. Burk, calling for $491.20, numbered 6103 and on one of the regular printed Burk checks with the Burk stamp at the bottom The forgery was perfect. After he had cashed the check which was made payable to J. H. Butler and which he endorsed Jas. H. Butler, he talked for ten minutes with C. S. Niblick, presi-. dent of the bank, and who waited upon him. Then he went out. He eat supper at the Murray House and left on the 7 o’clock car for Fort W ayne. . After he had left Mr. Niblick noticed, that the number on the check was no as large as checks cashed before for Mr. Burk and he called up the eleva- j tor and soon convinced himself that the check was a forgery. Mr. Ehing-j er, cashier, returned about this time from Indianapolis, and on '' ■< , morning a Pinkerton man was sum moned from Chicago, arriving t ia e ening. He traced Organ to Fort Wayne and from there to Wabash, and then to Logansport, where he located him Monday. He filed an affidavit and caused the arrest o e man and summoned the bank °^ ,a s from here*) Mr. Niblick and Mi. E ing er. with Sheriff Durkin, going there a once. The news was held up await ing the positive identification of- - Organ is about sixty years o , wore a Van Dyke beard, which he as had trimmed close now, is about six

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT.

feet in height, walked slightly stooped, and always in a hurry and had a peculiar habit of rubbing his upper lip. He was genial at all times, had a wide knowledge of affairs and made acquaintances rapidly. When arrested he had In his pos 000 In cash, and promptly put up in cash his bond of $2,000 when charged with being a fugitive from justice. Then it became known that though he had made his headquarters at Logansport for three years, and forged a half-dozen checks there, the officers had never landed him. He was, then arrested for forging a check which he cashed at the City National bankin 1908 for $496. Again he put up a cash bond of SI,OOO. Later he was arrested a third time for forging another check and his bond was fixed at sl,000. This he was just going to put up, when the Decatur people walked into the station and he agreed to go to jail until this morning. Mr. Niblick returned home Monday evening, while Mr. Ehinger remained at Logansport and will make an effort to attach the $491.20, which he secured here. Sheriff Durkin is also there and it is believed that the man will be brought here for trial. He is a real crook and one of the smoothest ever captured in this section. As he walked down the streets at Logansport, he was followed by a crowd of police, bank men, and sight-seers, causing all kinds of excitement.

COURT HOUSE NEWS H. A. Fristoe Resigns as Jury Commissioner —Mr. Craig Appointed. TWO NEW CASES Have Been Filed in Court— Action Taken in Other Matters Today. Attorney Beatty filed a new case, entitled Henry Krick vs. Clem J Heideman. to foreclose lien, demand, SSO. Butcher & Armantrout are attorneys for the plaintiff in a new case, George W. Fravel and John Bryan vs. Daniel B. Ford, suit on account.

H. A. Fristoe of Geneva, who has served as jury commissioner for sev- ' eral years, has resigned, as he is mov--1 ing to Rochester, and the court ap- ; pointed John W. Craig of Berne as his successor. i _ i David P. Kenworthy et ai. vs. W. H. Reichard, to foreclose lien, demurrer filed to complaint. I ' Jessie L. Peters vs. L. C. Mills et ' al., specific performance of contract, demurrer filed and sustained. I — ■■ o NOW TRAVELING IN OKLAHOMA. I I Ed Zimmerman and George Bright ' and others living west of the city, who befriended Harry Metzgar, the young ' Jewish lad, who passed through this county a few weeks ago, while walking from New York City to St. Louis, who was befriended by them when he had nearly reached the condition when he felt that suicide would be 1 preferable to dragging out his miserable existence, writes that he reached St. Louis all right, and is now in Oklahoma, traveling, having secured a good position as a traveling salesman. ] He is quite grateful for the assistance given him here. ’ ADDS A PIANO. The Madison House has been made much more attractive by the addition of a new King piano, which they have | just purchased from Meyer, Scherer fe Beavers, which has already been I placed in the home. It is of a beauti- ! ful oak design and highly polished, I which will add very much to the home-like comfortableness of the Madison. o —— STOCKHOLDERS TO MEET. ■ . The stockholders of the Ft. Wayne > & Springfield railway will hold a i meeting at the company’s assembly • room in the interurban building here : tomorrow. -— ,———— ■ > A. P. Beatty was looking after some , business interests at Geneva today. i Eli Meyer returned from a short t business trip to Berne today.

BURIAL AT MARION Remains of Jonn Graham Arrived There Today From New Mexico. FUNERAL SERVICES This Afternoon—Body Not Brought Here as at First Planned. A telephone message received Monday afternoon late by Mrs. Fred Linn from Mrs. Hattie Graham of Marion, formerly of this city, gave the information that the remains of her son, John Graham, who hrftl been a member of the IL S. standing army, and whose death occurred last Friday in New Mexico, would arrive this morning at 4 o’clock at Marion, and that the funeral would take place this afternoon In that city. According to a prior message received last Friday by Mrs. Linn, it had been the desire of the mother that the body be brought either to the old home here for burial or to. Geneva, where Mrs. Graham's relatives reside, but this was later changed. The death occurred In a hospital in New Mexico, the ailment being consumption. John was born and reared here and spent the greater part of his life in this city. His parents were members of the Decatur Knights of Pythias and Pythian Sisters' lodges and these orders sent beautiful floral pieces, both for John and for his sister, Mrs. Stella Weesner. whose funeral took place just a week ago Monday at Marion. After leaving here six or seven years ago, the parents. Mr. and Mrs. Lase Graham, separated, Mrs. Graham and children living in Marion, and Mr. Graham going to Granite City, 111., where he is now employed. HAS SOLO STUDIO J. E. Moser Disposes of His Geneva Branch Studio to FRANK W. INGLE — Os Near Corydon—Mr. Ingle Will Combine His Two Studios. J. E. Moser of this city, the well known photographer, who for the past ! two years has conducted a branch ' studio in ueneva, nas sold the same 1 to Frank W. Ingle, a well known photographer of near New Corydon. Mr. 1 Ingle is a man of much experience in i this line, having conducted a studio at ■ New Corydon for some time. He has not disposed of his New Corydon gal- ! lery, but will combine the two at Ge- ' neva, making a first-class picture gal I lery in all respects. During the time that Mr. Moser has conducted his studio in Geneva, the same has been in 1 charge of P. G. Williams, his assistant, of this city, who made the weekly week-end trips to Geneva, the branch * studio there being open only on Saturdays. COUNCIL TONIGHT. The council this evening will hold their regular semi-mpnthly meeting and the usual routine of business will be carried out. Just what will come before the body remains to be seen, ' but several interesting matters for the ' betterment of the city will no doubt ! arise. The number of petitions for i new sidewalks have been coming in frequently, and before long some action will have to be etken toward this improvement. making hedge supply bed. Workmen on the G. iR. &' I. railroad are preparing a plot of ground on the west side of the railroad near the Monroe street crossing, in which the shoots, or trimmings from the hedge recently set out around the east plot, will be planted and kept for supplying the company’s plots along the way. — —- John Stoneburner was a business caller at Monroe this afternoon.

Decatur, Ind. Tuesday Evening, March 21, 1911.

LEFT FOR ROCHESTER. Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Fristoe and daughter, Margaretta, left today at noon for Rochester, where they will make their home, Mr. Fristoe, with his brother-in-law, E. Merrls, having opened a store at that place. Mr. Fristoe, for several-years, has been engaged in the mercantile business at Geneva, where he conducted the Economy store, which he recently disposed of that he might engage in a similar business in Rochester. Mr. and Mrs. E. Merris, who had been living at Lexington, Ky., are already located in Rochester and will be waiting to greet Mr. Fristoe and family when they arrrive. WITH LIE SICK Miss Blanche Hart Returns From Fort Wayne—Miss Voglewede Improves. MRS. SUTTLES BETTER John Holthouse, Jr., is Very Sick With PneumoniaOther Items. Miss Blanch Hart, who has been at ■ the St. Joseph hospital for some time past, owing to an opeiation which she underwent three weeks ago, is improving nicely and was able to return to the city on last Sunday. She is feeling quite well, considering the short time since the operation, but it will be some time yet before she can carry on her duties as before. Rose Voglewede was able to be about for a short time today, the first since her illness, which caused her to be confined to her home for ! several weeks. John, little son of Mr. and Mrs. John B. Holthouse. is lying very seriously ill at the home of his parents j with pneumonia and his present condition is giving much alarm to those caring for him. He first had taken sick with the measles and had gotten along all right, being able to be up and around the house. Saturday he appeared very well, and even Sunday for a short while, when he took a sudden change for the worse, terminating in pneumonia. This being the third day since the latter illness set in, there is but slight change, although the attending physician is well satisfied, and expected to find his patient more serious than he did today. Mrs. Arthur Suttles, who early Monay morning took a sudden attack of heart trouble, was much better today, and it is thought will improve from now on. Mrs. Beach, a trained nurse of Fort Wayne, arrived to care for her and she is receiving the best care obtainable. Jesse Schug, conductor on the Fort Wayne & Springfield railway, is off duty suffering from a tooth that has risen up in mutiny and taking things to arms —in fact so much to arms that it seems that an arm had reached out and struck Jesse on the face, the tooth causing a very painful swelling of the face. Louis Scheumann, one of the interurban freight conductors, is wearing his left hand in a bandage, the result of a painful cut received while unloading some boxes at Ft. Wayne. Mrs. P. G. Hooper is quite sick with laryngitis. Grandma Vail is very sick at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Daniel Sprang. Bryce Thomas is on the sick list, suffering from what may be the early stages of the measles. Mrs. John Wisehaupt, who has been closely confined to her room for several months, owing to sickness, which required careful attention, and who on several occasions suffered relapses, has improved and is able to be out in the fresh air during this ideal weather. fpr a short time at least. She is very weak from the long illness but believes she will continue to improve from now on. -o A. S. Keller of Monroe, who was a business caller in the city this morning, left at noon for his home.

A SUDDEN STOP Made Things Mighty Unpleasant For Merle Lai&ure, Monroe Township. NOW RECUPERATING Thrown Hundred Feet From Railroad Train—ln Hospital Three Weeks. A sudden stop that resulted in a sudden drop, while serving as brakeman on a railroad in Michigan, made things serious for Merle Laisure, a Monroe township young man, who came home recently to recuperate During the heavy snowfall recently in Michigan it was necessary for the train to forge ahead with a snow plow and so deep were the drifts that it was with difficulty that the way could be forged. The train on which young Laisure was working had reached an unusually heavy drift that seemed impassable. Repeated efforts to go ahead failed, and then the train backed up and put on full speed, hoping the momentum gained by the sudden rush would take them through. While running full force, something happened to the airbrake and the train stopped stock still, the sudden stop being so forceful that Laisure and his companion brakeman were thrown about one hundred and fifty feet over the railway right-of-way fence. His companion alighted in a snow bank and was not hurt much, but Laisure landed on a bare spot of Mother Earth and was rendered unconscious, remaining so for two days. He was taken to a hospital, and while no bones were broken, he was so badly shaken up that he could not move for about j three weeks.

GIVE EE EPTION Members of M. E. Church and Congregation Will be Cordially Received ON FRIDAY EVENING At Church Parlors—Delightful Social Evening Has Been Planned. Friday evening, beginning at 7: 30 o'clock, there will be given a recep- j tion to all members of the Methodist I church and congregation at the church parlors. j The ladies of the aid society, under , the leadership of the president, Mrs. John R. Parrish, have kindly arrang-' ed to furnish the refreshments and j will be assisted in serving by the young ladies of the Queen Esther Clr- [ cle, of which Mrs. Daniel Sprang is ' superintendent. ' i Good music will be furnished ' 1 throughout the entire evening by different persons. The object of the teception is that the members of the church and congregation may have an opportunity to become better acquainted and enjoy a pleasant social evening. The pastor and official board cor- j dially invites all members of the! church, with their families, and also those who attend or prefer the Meth- i odist church, to be present and en- , joy this delightful occasion. There will be no charge but every- i thing will be as free as the air you breathe. ! 1 o — • OUT IN HAYTI. Word has been received by friends of Harold Crawford, stating that he ; is at Hayti, and has been on guard against San Domingo. He was sent with a number of others to Mobile, , Alabama, and upon their arrival there were sent to Key West, Fla., to ontain coal and supplies for more men. He likes his new life very much and is seeing much of the country, owing to his many long trips. o Word from the Decatur party bound for Saskatchewan, Canada, was ' received today, announcing that they would leave St. Paul, Minn., last evening for Winnipeg.

BIG MAIL ORDER BUSINESS. Harry Jeffrey Conducts Taxidermy Correspondence School. The Hensley jewelry store is the headquarters for three mail order businesses, and so much work is done that it has been necessary to fit Harry Jeffrey, a clerk, up with a special desk and equipment, in addition to the other which Mr. Hensley now has for himself. Mail order business in the optician line is done, and then there is- the Leah Medicine company’s line, and last, but not least, the correspondence course in taxidermy which Harry Jeffrey is conducting. Mr. Jeffrey is quite an expert in taxidermy, having done much in this line, with Mr. Hensley, In the mounting of the fine collection which the latter gentleman has. From seven to eight let ters are handled every day in this line. Mr. Jeffrey is the sole agent for a very fine arsenic soap which is used in taxidermy, and which keeps the moths and decay from the mountings of birds, animals, or reptiles, in which it is used. It is said that the “wild man,” traveling with the great show that appeared here six or seven years ago. and who owns one of the finest collections of stuffed animals, etc., in the museum in Chicago, offered them SIOO for the recipe for the making of the arsenic soap, but was refused, Mr. Hensley and Harry wishing to have the sole ownership. SUDDEN DEATH Charles Thropp Received Death Notice of His Father at Portland. HEART TROUBLE Did Not Know of His Serious Illness—Will Attend Funeral.

A sad and unexpected message was received in the city this morning by Charles Thropp. informing him of the death of his father, T. W. Thropp, which occurred at his home at Portland at 1 o’clock this morning. The word came as a heavy shock indeed, as nothing serious had been learned lately telling of the turn for the worse and death must have overtaken him suddenly, and before the relatives and children could be notified. He was sixty-eight years of age, an old soldier. and one of Portland’s most honorable and respected citizens. He was acquainted to many in this city, having visited with his son on several occasions and enjoyed the friendship of all those with whom he met. He had been in declining health nearly the entire winter, but was able to be around and nothing serious had been looked for. but owing to the weakened condition of the heart, it is thought death overtook him without warning. He leaves to mourn his loss a loving wife, four sons and one daughter. Jesse of Geneva, Harry of Kendallville, Irvin of Bluffton, Charles of this city, and Edith, at home. The message gave no particulars, and no arrangements had been made for the funeral. Mr. and Mrs. Thropp and son, Robert, left on the noon train to be in attendance. — —■ —o-. -— AT THE STAR. Two Big Features That Proprietor Has Secured. John Stoneburner, the picture show man, has obtained quite an attraction for his play house, which will be here on Thursday and Friday of this week. It is known as the original Wild West show and will give four performances while in this city. Besides the real cow-boys they have three thousand feet of interestin films of real cow-boy life, and the only kind to be found anywhere. They carry an orchestra known as the Silver Bell orchestra, and a special band called the Cow boys’ band. At 2:30 each afternoon they will give a matinee and in the evening a performance. An admission ' of ten cents will be charged and it is well worth twice the amount. They come well recommended, and everywhere they are spoken of in highest terms. o WEDNESDAY EVENING. ' Lenten services at the German Reformed church on Wednesday evening at 7:30. Topic, "Claudia Procula, the Wife of Pontius Pilate.”

Price, Two Cents

MAY VOTE AGAIN Kokomo Local Option Election Has Reached the Circuit Court Here. GAMBLING AT RESORT French Lick is Again Going it Wide Open—National Convention for Mexico. (United Press Service.) Kokomo, Ind., March 21—(Special to Daily Democrat)—lt is possible that Kokomo may be compelled to call another local option election as a result of the alleged frauds In connection with the recent election, which has now reached the circuit court, a case being filed there today. French Lick, Ind., Mar. 21—(Special to Daily Democrat) —Charges are made here today that gambling has been resumed at French Lick with all the old-time vigor. For a time it was believed the famous resort had prat tically given up gaming, but reformers have now almost lost hope and have appealed to the governor. Following the filing of charges against Marshall Ballard recently the gambling was stopped, but when he secured a continuance of his case, it is declared the bars were again lifted. El Paso, Tex., March 21—(Special to Daily Democrat)—A national convention at which all Mexico will be represented for the expression of needed reforms will be called within a few days by Minister Limantour, according to a statement issued today. It is asserted that Limantour has been placed in complete charge of the Mexican affairs and will issue an order for the insurgents to lay down arms and send their delegates to a national convention to be held at Mexico City, where their demands will be discussed. ■■ n- —• WAS OPERATED ON Mrs. Robert McMahon Undergoes Ordeal at Wisconsin Home. ON LAST SATURDAY Brother Receives Word That it Was a Complete Success. Mr. L. A. Holthouse received word this morning from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where his sister, May, now' Mrs. Robert McMahon, resides, telling of an operation which was performed upon her last Saturday at one of the hos pltals there. It was a complete success, as was learned from the message and unless something unforseen sets in she will get aldng all right. No particular regarding the nature of her illness were given but she had been afflicted with an ailment for some time, and just last week wrote friends here of the operation which was to be performed. Mrs. McMahon was one m' this city’s prominent young ladies, and since leaving this city has been making her home for the greater portion of the time at Oshkosh. Her many friends will be glad to learn of the success of the recent operation, and wish her a speedy recovery. STOLE WINDOW. A rather peculiar trick has been played in the south part of the city. The deed was committed one evening last week, and is one which is seldom heard of in this line. William Colchin has a vacant house on Ruessell street, and when all was quiet and no one seemed to bother them, some unknown person removed the window 1 from the south side of the house and ' carried it away with them. The footprints of the trespasser were plainly visible below the window' and these might lead to the identity of th-' guilty person. Mr. Colchin was unaware of the act until notified by one 1 of the neighbors, and upon investigat- ' ing saw where the sash had been I pried out and the window removed.