Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 9, Number 76, Decatur, Adams County, 30 March 1911 — Page 1

Volume IX. Number 76.

WAS ORGAN HERE? Mr. Scott Who Tried to Work Smooth Real Estate Graft Here SEVERAL YEARS AGO Believed to Have Been Harry Organ—Was Wanted All Over Country. Harry Organ, the long-wanted forger, who forged a check on G. T. Burke at the Old Adams County bank recently, among others, and who was captured at Logansport last week, where he will be held for many similar crimes, is believed to be the man who gave his name as "Scott,” who four or five years ago, apparently trid to work a real estate graft in this county, and who was apparently the man long wanted in Illinois, Nebraska, lowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio, Michigan, and other states, for a smooth trick turned there, by which he had in all netted the sum of $75,000. That the man Organ, "Scott,” and the other grafter, are the same man is the belief of Attorney D. B. Erwin of this city, of whom at that time, “Scott” tried to borrow $2,900 on a real estate deal in this county. About four or five years ago the man “Scott” appeared here, put up at the Park hotel, and made arrangements to buy the Striker farm near this city, even going so far as to get Hooper & Lenhart to make out the abstract. He then inserted an ad in ' the Democrat, asking for a loan of j >2,000. It seems that Mr. Erwin, as a loan agent, was the only person who answered his ad. The man wanted to borrow money to pay for the farm, which he said he wanted to 'i buy for himself, and that he was also going to buy a Wells county farm for his son. Mr. Erwin stated that the 1 rules of his company demanded that he have the receipt in full of the 1 *' man from whom the land had been I purchased, showing that the full ’ amount of the loan had been turned ' over to him for payment. When the ' K terms of the loan were made known 7 to him, the man “Scott” stated that 1 he would call the next week and ’ t' I close the deal, and that in the meantime he would go to Bluffton, where I >. he would close a deal on a farm ne;tr , that place, which he wished to pur- j chase for his son. He never showed k up here again. About a year ago, i however, County Recorder Hervey S. I I Steele received from the sheriff of | Fremont, Neb., a picture and descrip-1 I tlon of a man that had been working' I a land graft in the aforenamed states I I and for whom a reward of S2OO was . I offered by the Nebraska sheriff. The I I man they stated in all the places had ( I worked out his method about the ( I same as that tried by the man “Scott ' ( I here. At Fremont, Neb., he wanted • ■ to purchase a farm and soon selected I one, on account of its being located . I near a church, of which denomination ; I he stated his folks were members. He , I made several trips there and finally j I had in his possession a deed which ■ was later found to be forged, even to I the acknowledgment of the notary • I public. On the strength of this deed, I he got $3,000 from a loan agent there j I by giving a mortgage on the farm. ] I This scheme he worked everywhere, I and it is believed by Mr. Erwin that | this man “Scott” was the same man, ■ and that had he not been required to I give a receipt from the former owner Eof the farm, would have returned I here with a forged deed for the farm ■ and have tried to secure the $2,000 ■ loan. Among the points described I hi the H. S. Steele circular is that of K a large front gold-covered tooth, and I "Scott” is said to have had a conspic- ■ uous gold-front tooth. A picture of ( ■ Harry Organ was compared with that lof the land grafter which was about ( I twelve years old, and allowing for, ■ differences in change, it is thought E that they are very much alike and ■ that they are pictures of the identi-j Beal person. Furthermore. Harry Or- ( B gan is said to have a gold tooth just ( ■ like that of “Scott” and the land B grafter. repairing boilers. Boilermaker William Heuer and an . ■assistant from the Bass boiler shops ■are In Decatur, Ind., putting in new | ■ flues in the boilers of the city power ( ■plant. He expects to complete ■ work this week.-Fort Wayne Senti-

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT.

IT’S TONIGHT. “Jim and the Singer” will appear at the opera house this evening and from the recommendations which have preceded the company they should be greeted with a good house. Large attendances have greeted them in the many nearby places where they have showed, and the company has always received much applause for the high class performance which they give. Tickets are on sale at the Holthouse Drug Co. SUSTAINS INJURY. While busily engaged waiting on customers Wednesday evening, Sam Hite, the south end grocer, on going to the wareroom for some goods, stepped on a nail which ran through the shoe and entirely through the foot. The injury kept him confined to his home all of yesterday, and it is with difficulty that Sam can get around today. A NOVEL SIGHT Fac-Simile of New United States Capitol Building is Shown MADE OF SOAP CAKES In Boston Store Window—--3,000 Cakes of Soap Were Used. When the curtains of the Boston I , store window were raised this after- , noon at 4 o’clock, after nimble and skillful fingers had been at work all day, a most novel sight met the gaze of the public—that of a sac-simile of the new United States capitol building now in course of construction in Washington, and which will be finished this year. What is the wonderful I part about it is that the sac-simile ' is built of soap, about 3,000 cakes of 1 Royal Cuticle soap, having been used I in the construction, the same being brought forth under the skillful ar- , rangement of F. W. Burkhalter, repre- ' sentative of the Royal Soap company of Cincinnati, Ohio. This “soap sym1 phony” which is really a work of art, I will remain in the window a week, I and will be highly admired by the public. The view of the building ' shown is the front elevation with the ■ the mammoth arch of triumph and ornamental columns, the vast hall and I colonade flanked with smaller halls, ■ running through the center of the I building, and reaching in height to I i the dome, which is crowned by an ! American eagle with outstretched wings, all being copied with exactness : that is remarkable. The architectural adornment of the building, the intricacies of the divisionary rooms of the interior, including the handsome reading rooms, offlee and various bureaus, are well pre-, served. Handsome silk flags of our | 1 country wave from every cornice, I ' grassy lawns, and graveled walks in . their natural color, are shown, and | the whole structure, though built from | that commonplace and homely— j though necessary article —soap, is a ■ work of high art. I o • LANDS ANOTHER. Sam Acker Lands Another Good Cement Contract. Samuel Acker, manufacturer of ce- ' ment blocks, and who recently has. been securing some mighty good con- j tracts, returned home Wednesday from Willshire, where he secured a' contract for furnishing blocks for the erection of another building. It is to be a new harness shop, 75x30 feet, ' and two stories high. The blocks are to be furnished as soon as possible, I so work can be commenced on the building just as soon as the weather ' will permit. - ■ ATTENTION. LEAGUERS! The announcement concerning the 1 meeting of young people at the Pres'.byterian church on Friday evening of 1 this week was overlooked at the meeting of the Methodist young people last Sunday night. 'We believe in the harmony of all organizations of this kind and for that reason, together ' with the thought of being sociable, we j urge the Epworth Leaguers to try to ' be present at the Presbyterian church ] Friday evening. A good time is assured all who attend. THE PRESIDENT.

HARTFORD “DRY” Anti-Saloon Workers Win by Seventeen at the Wednesday Election. OTHER PLACES VOTE Crawfordsville Dry—Only One Unit Voted Wet— The Liquor Fight. k.W«t Dry North Hartford 92 71 South Hartford 30 ,68 Total 122 ' 139 The above table tells the story of the local option election held Wednesday in Hartford township. The north precinct, where Linn Grove is located, went wet by 21, but the south precinct rolled up a dry majority of 38, making the township “dry” by seventeen. 1 Wednesday was the “drys’ ” day again over the state, as but one unit, Smith township in Whitley county, voted “wet” by 33, while all the rest went “dry.” Crawfordsville was the only city to vote, and they gave a “dry” majority of 136. Perry township in Allen county went “dry” by 20, and Wingate, New Richmond and Ladoga in Montgomery county voted “dry.” The election in Perry township was the first ever held in Allen ! county on the local option question. The county commissioners of Ali len county Wednesday fixed the ratio of saloons at one for each 750 population. This gives them 112 saloons instead of over 300 now there. The city of Fort Wayne now has 235 thirst I parlors, and the new law reduces that nearly two-thirds. o BROTHER IS DEAD I Was the Message Received by Attorney A. P. Beatty Last Evening. AT PADUCAH. KY. Was Sixty Years Old and a Division Superintendent on Illinois Central. When Attorney A. P. Beatty arrived home from Richmond, Indiana, Wednesday evening, where he had been 'called on business, he found a tele--1 gram announcing that his eldest |brother, John Beatty, had died at his j home at Paducah, Ky., at 4 o’clock Wednesday morning. The deceased was quite well known here, having visited his brother and family two 'years ago. He was sixty years old and death was due to pneumonia. He was a division superintendent on the Illinois Central railroad and a most successful man in his work, well liked Iby his employers and his men. He is ! survived by the widow and five chilI dren, all grown. The funeral services ' were not given in the message, but Mr. Beatty left Wednesday night over the Clover Leaf for St. Louis, from where he went to Paducah this morning. The deceased was born in Kentucky, but came north with the family in the sixties, later returning to Kentucky, where he continued to make his home. — tr —- HAS SORE FOOT. Ed Johnson, who met with quite a painful accident on last Monday while engaged at his work, when a large cake of ice fell on his right foot, mashing several of the toes and otherwise causing him much pain and inconvenience, is getting about. It is thought no bones were broken, but it will be some time before the injured member will allow Mr. Johnson to bear his weight upon It.

Decatur, Ind. Thursday Evening, March 30, 1911.

MADE THINGS LIVELY. Mutters were made lively Tuesday evening for Harry Detamore when the members of the Phi Delta Kappa fraternity and the local Elks’ lodge, went to the Bryson home on North Pleasant street and carried him off bodily, proceeding to give him the treatment accorded to all frat members when they become benedicts. Early in the evening Bonner Adams and Whitney Smith went to the Detamore home on East Walnut street, but, disappointed In not finding their quarry there, pursued the search with even greater vigor, until, Impressing the young folks’ parents with the earnestness of their purpose, Detamore was at last discovered to them. The boys dressed the new bridegroom in grotesque attire and paraded him through the town in front of the city band, taking him to the picture shows, and other public places. After marching their victim until they were tired he was led to the frat rooms and compelled to stand treat. Mr. and Mrs. Detamore returned home from Cincinnati Monday night but did not make the fact known to their friends until Tuesday noon. — Portland Review. COURT HOUSE NEWS Mrs. Moore Appointed Guardian For Her Sister, Miss Adelle Barnett. A WILL PROBATED Adam C. Ford Bequeaths Property to Wife—April Jury is Ordered. Miranda Moore vs. Adelle Barnett, for appointment of guardian, jurisdiction assumed by C. J. Lutz, special judge. Appearance by prosecutor. Submitted. Finding that defendant is of unsound mind, and Mrs. Moore named as guardian. D. P. Kenworthy et al. vs. William H. Reichard, to foreclose lien, left off trial docket by agreement. Milo W. Hamrick vs. Maria Brandt et al., to abate nuisance, appearance by Lutz for defendants. Motion to separate cause of action overruled. The jury commissioners have been ordered to draw the names of fifteen persons to serve as petit jurors for the April term and issue a venire therefore returnable April 24th. The will of Adam C. Ford was probated, bequeathing to his wife, Rachel Ford, all personal property, 160 acres of land in North Daokta. and four lots in Geneva. Mrs. Ford is named as executrix. The will was written February 20th.

NEARLY STRUCK BY TRAIN. Miss Vera Hower Has Narrow Escape at Noon. Miss Vera Hower had a most narrow escape at noon today from being struck by a G. R. &' I. freight car. giving herself and the train crew and witnesses of the affair the fright of their lives. She was coming down town at noon and as she reached the G. R. & I. railroad at the Monroe street crossing, the rear of a freight train was waiting, ready to back up. Miss Vera thought she could get across in time and made no haste as she thought the cars would stand there for some time. Just as she got on the track, however, the train backed up and she crossed over with only about a foot’s distance intervening. The train crew screamed, thinking to find her ground beneath the wheels of the car, but were agreeably surprised when she passed safely over. Miss Vera, herself, did not realize the full import of her hairbreadth escape, until some time afterward, and is resolved to be more careful henceforth. o— ENGLISH LENTEN SERVICE. English lenten service will be held at the German Reformed church tonight at 7:30. Topic, “Barabbas; or the Evil Choice.” o Mrs. Charles Irvin of this city went to Willshire today to visit with her sister, Mrs. Kroger, who is ill.

PLAYFULLY SHOT Another Case of “Not Knowing Was Loaded”—Boy Severely Injured. SHOT THROUGH NECK Son of Jas. Slagle. Formerly of This City—Will Probably Recover. Word was received this morning by Mrs. Joel Reynolds of a terrible accident that happened to her cousin, Francis Slagle, a boy of twelve years, living at Marion with his mother. The lad owned a target rifle and had gone out into the yard to shoot rats, and tiring of the sport he came back into the house and laid the loaded gun on the table. A young lady boarder picked up the gun and playfully pointed it at the boy, not knowing it was loaded, pulled the trigger, and was horrified at seeing the boy drop to the floor, shot through the neck. Believing him joking, she ran to pick him up and found him weltering in his blood. A physician was hastily summoned and the examination showed the ball as having entered the cheek, grazing the jaw-bone and penetrating the neck. The boy is the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Slagle, who formerly lived here, and is the cousin of Mrs. Reynolds. He is suffering intensely, but it is the belief, if no other complications set in, that he will recover. Mrs. Reynolds is prevented from going to his bedside on account of her children being bedfast with severe attacks of the measles. The mother of the boy, and the young lady who playfully shot him, are prostrated with grief, and it is safe to say that hereafter when pointing a gun at any person the young lady will determine beforehand whether or not it is loaded. The mother, Mrs. Slagle, is a sister of Mr. John D. Andrews of this city.

FIRST BALL GAME Os Season of Decatur Team Will be Played at Kokomo April 30th. WILL OPEN SEASON Kokomo Red Sox Base Ball Team Will be Their Opponents. Spring is surely coming in spite of the blustery weather of today, for base ball dope is already beginning to flow. The manager of the Decatur base ball team today received word from J. H. BeCraft, secretary of the Kokomo Red Sox base ball club, ask ing that the Decatur team play their opening game of the season at Kokomo April 30th—just one month from today. The request was accompanied ' by an excellent monetary offer, which besides the pleasure the local team would have in meeting such a fast team as the Kokomo Red Sox, is an excellent inducement. A meeting will be held Sunday afternoon at i o’clock by the Decatur base bail fans at their club rooms, at which time the base ball team will reorganize. They expect to do some good playing during the coming season and will book games for the season with many other teams of merit. ' — —o MR. BLAZER SENDS A REPLY. In reply to an interview with Mrs. Rosa Blazer a few days ago, her hus band, Elwood Blazer, has sent to this office a thirty-four page reply, which he asks us to publish. It is but a rehash of all the troubles of this family for years past, coupled with a plea to Rosa to return and live with him and help care for the children, and we have not the room to print, it. It is very evident that this couple prefer each other’s company and are only drifting apart because of quarreling. They should quit telling their troubles to the world, aid each other and be happy.

THE HORSE SALE. Promptly at 10 o'clock the horse sale was opened this morning by Mr. McNabb of Ashland, Ohio, and from the first the bidding was spirited and the stock rapidly changed hands. A great number of foreign buyers were present at the opening of the sale, but very few farmers coming In until after dinner. A great number of spectators were there and witnessed the selling of the several matched teams which were offered, one of them weighing 2,140 pounds. ■ o HOME FROM FUNERAL. David Archer of Pleasant Mills and sister, Mrs. Amanda Moats, of this city, have returned from Battle Creek, Michigan, where they attended the funeral of their uncle, Jerry Harrison, of that place. Mr. Harrison will be well remembered by the older residents of this county, being born and raised in this county. He is a brother of the late Mrs. Susanna Archer, deceased. TO CONFERENCE Will the Ministers of the Methodist Churches Go Next Tuesday. LASTS ALL WEEK Assignments for Coming Year Will be Made the Following Monday. Preparations are being made by the various ministers of the North Indiana conference to preach their last sermons for this conference year next Sunday, they going to Kokomo next Tuesday to the yearly conference, where they will be sent to other charges, or the more lucky ones going to the same charges they held during the past year. Rev. Valentine of Preble announces his last sermon at Mt. Pleasant on next Sunday morning, at Buelah Chapel in the afternoon at 3:00 and at Washington church in the evening immediately after league. The services of the church in this city will be given out later. This year the conferences will be held at Kokomo and the ministers are to be there by Tuesday morning and the meetings lasting over until the following Monday, when the ministers will be assigned to their charges for the coming year. Delegations from all the churches will accompany their ministers to ask for their return and it is expected that few changes will be made this year. RECEIVES BOX OF ORANGES.

. Dore B. Erwin Recipient of Delicious Gift From Edward Blakey. I Attorney Dore B. Erwin today received a box of delicious, beautiful : oranges from Ed Blakey, who owns a j twenty-acre orange grove near Redlands, California. One of these oranges was a monster, perhaps the largest ever shown here, weighing ' two and a quarter pounds, and measuring seventeen inches In circumferenoe. Mr. Blakey is a cousin of Henry and Otto Blakey, a cousin of Clerki elect Ferdinand Blake, and well known here. He recently purchased a 320-acre farm in California, is well pleased with that land, and is prosperous. He says in a letter, however, that the orange crop this year was not equal to that of last year. o ATTEND CONTEST. County Superintendent L. E. Opliger, accompanied by a number of people from the south part of the county, left this morning for Indianapolis, where they will be in attendance at the state spelling contest which began this afternoon at 2 o’clock in the hall of the house of representatives at the state house. Marion Michaels and Clara Gilbert, who are to take part in the contest, boarded the train at Monroe, with their parents and a number of teachers and others, who went to attend the match, going by way of Winchester, and arriving in ■ Indianapolis about noon. Everything 1 is in the best of shape and Adams > 1 county will no doubt do her part, as I on former occasions.

Price, Two Cents

APRIL WET MONTH Prof. Irl R. Hicks Predicts Much Rainfall During Coming Month. ELECTRICAL STORMS To Prevail on Many Occasions and Month Will be Very Changeable. There is going to be a rainy time in April. There will be numerous showers, many of them accompanied by electrical displays. So says Prophet Hicks, who assures you that a reactionary storm period is in progress as we pass from March into April. Storms of rain, wind and thunder will culminate on and touching Sunday the 2nd, winding up with possible snow in northern extremes. Rising barometer, fair weather and frosty nights will visit most parts of the country between the 2nd and sth. A seismic period, which is central on March 30th, will reach three or four days into April. A regular storm period covers the 4th to the Bth, having its center on the 6th. Falling barometer, change to much warmer, with growing cloudiness and storms, will begin in the west by the 4th and sth. During the 6th to Bth, storms of rain, wind and thunder will make their transit from west to east, touching most parts of the country. These storms wil be in the form of heavy April showers, breaking into severe thunder storms to Colorado to make a second stop Fair weather and cool nights, with possible frosts northward will follow these storms. A reactionary storm period marks the closing days of earth's vernal equinoctial, central on the 11th. 12th and 13th. Low barometer and very high temperature on and touching the 11th and 12th will bring severe thunder, rain and hail to many sections. Hot, muggy conditions, with very low barometer and angry, electrical clouds should be admonitions of tornadoes at this period. This also is a period in which seismic disturbances will be heard from, say within three days from Thursday, the 13th. A regular storm period extends from the 16th to 21st. We will designate the 18th. 19th, and 20th as the crisis of this period. On and touching these dates, expect many active April storms and squalls attended by hail and followed by change to much colder. Not only this period, but the entire month of April, as may be seen by the storm chart, seems exceptionally free from great and general disturbances, but the storm periods will bring normal and regular phenomena, such as are common to this season of the year. A reactionary storm period has its center on the 24th and 25th, on and about which dates the barometer will fall and threatening weather will apand hail storms in many localities, pear. This period, will, most likely, general anti-storm conditions, but run into a series of daily April showers over most parts of the country, reaching into the next storm period. A regular storm period is central on the 29th. extending from the 26th to May 3rd. Violent electrical and magnetic manifestations in earthquakes will reach maximum disturbances within and about April 25th. The total phase of the sun’s eclipse on April 28th will fall in the southern hemisphere, hence the seismic disturbances will first be most general and severe in that part of the globe. But the opposition of Jupiter and the conjunction of Saturn, within two hours of each other on the 30th, together with the perihelion of Venus on the 29th, will create a seismic strain that will be felt severely all around the globe. o— - INJURY HEALING. Charles Bell of Craigville was a business transacter in the city today and also attended the horse sale. It will be remembered that about two months ago Mr. Bell, while at Bluffton. having some planing done, got j bis hand caught in a buzz saw. severing his fingers at the last joints on 'the right hand. The hand, although I quite tender, is healing nicely, and with several weeks’ care, it will heal I rapfaiy from now on.