Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 9, Number 111, Decatur, Adams County, 11 May 1911 — Page 1

Volums IX. Number 111.

TO DOUBLE THE SIZE Messrs. Brackett and Bernard Bring Home Good News From the East. A NEW FACTORY Will be Erected at Once— Will Have Sale and Ware Room in Boston. It is settled, and It seems almost too good to be true, after the many years of hard knocks, of up-hill working, of everlasting plugging, to make a factory out of the automobile plant. The knocker wno*said It would fail was wrong. The pessimist has lost out. The optimist and the fellow who knew it would win out is to have his day. Messrs. Brackett and Bernard arrived home this morning from Boston and New York, where they met the several capitalists who have been interested in the local plant for months. There plans were made that mean a big factory for Decatur, and to show you that there is absolutely no bluff about the statement we are authorized to say that the architect is now- at work on the plans for a building, an addition to the present factory which just doubles its size. The plans will be approved at a meeting of the stockholders to be held in this city in a few days, after which the contract will be let immediately and the addition will be ready for occupancy within sixty days. Just as rapidly as possible the output will be increased to fifteen cars a week, and within a month or so they will be turning out two cars a day. The company has also negotiated for and practically purchased a tract of ground, 100x170 in Boston where they will at once build a large sales room and general distributing warehouse, for the New England States, New York and Connecticut. The main offices, the factories and everything connected with the manufacture and general sale of the Decatur truck will remain here for time without end. The truck is the most wondreful one, the best in every way on the market today and its future means the constant, increase of the factory here. This improvement is but the beginning, for each season for years to come will find a necessity for improvement. The factory has passed the experimental stage. Watch her grow! To the skeptical one who way think that this does not mean much, we can say that when the new building is completed, the machinery installed, the office and sale force organized, the plant will employ at least seventy-five men at good wages. Gee Whiz! Don t it all sound good!!

GOLLMAR BROTHERS'

Buster Brown, Little Nemo, Happy Hooligan and Foxy Grandpa, would certainly make a great quintette, at least, so the Gollmar Brothers, think, and they back their opinion by paying notorious mischef-makers a large sum to travel with the Gollmar Brothers’ circus. These grotesque characters have been impersonated on the stage, with satisfactory results. A great deal better opportunity will be given them to display their eccentric disposition on the ten-acre exhibition grounds of the Gollmar Brothers’ circus. Happy Hooligan and Foxy Grandpa will be very conspicuous about the Gollmar tents this year, and, with Little Nemo and Buster Brown and thirty-five other jesters to assist them, a very funny time is expected. Another laughab e clown stunt will be an ostrich hunt with a Comical clown as Colonel Theodore Roosevelt. The South African ostrich hunt will for convenience, take place on the great hippodrome track of the Gollmar Brothers show, and it will prove to be the most comical burlesque ever seen under canvas. Then little Buster Brown and his “pup”have a lot of tunny stunts, along with the jolly crowd of other funny clowns. Gollmar Brothers' circus will certainly furnish plenty of genuine and innocent fun for the patrons of that circus when it exhibits in Decatur on next Thursday, May 18th.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

PASSENGERS DON OT CHANGE From One Car to Another at Monmouth—Only the Crews. Owing to some general misunderstanding it would be well to state here that the passengers on the Interurban between here and Fort Wayne are not required to change from one car to another at Monmouth. Only the crews of the two cars change there. The one crew that operates between here and Monmouth changes to the car that comes from Fort Wayne and accompanies it from Monmouth here, and the crew that operates between Monmouth and Fort Wayne changes to the car that comes from Decatur and accompanies it to Fort Wayne, the cars running on through. INJURIES FATAL Melchoir Murer Succumbs to Injuries Received Saturday From KICK FROM HORSE Funeral Will be Held Saturday From Berne Reformed Church.

Melchoir Murer, a well known man residing just across the Wells-Adams line, is dead at his home east of Vera Cruz from Injuries received through the kick of a horse Saturdaymorning, and from which he suffered terribly several days. The Bluffton News gives the following account in detail. “Saturday morning, while about his milking he passed in the rear of a horse, a young mare colt, and for some reason the animal lashed t out with both feet and struck him a terrible blow in the abdomen and groin. He was unconscious for several hours but finally recovered sufficiently to drag himself to the 'house, where tie was found by employees of the Veta Cruz Milk Condensory, who investigated the cause of his non-appearance at their factory, as had been his custom each morning. It was necessary to resort to heroic measures in his behalf as he had been terribly injured. Ail the physician’s efforts were of too avail, however, and his death caitae this morning. “Mr. Murer was born in Switzerland. He came to America with two brothers and has been a resident in the community just east of Vera Cruz for the past twenty years. He was a bachelor and lived alone on a thirty-acre farm, where he had a number of cows, and sold milk to the condensory in addition to farming. He was about fiftyfive years of age. The only relatives surviving in this country are two brothers, Fred Murer, of Berne, and John Maurer of North Dakota. He has several sisters and other relatives resid.ng at the old home in Switzeiland. “The funeral will be held Saturday afternoon at two o’clock at the Reformed church at Berne, in charge of Rev. Kattman. He will be buried on his brother’s lot at the Berne cemetery. "Mr. Maurer was formerly a member of the Christian Apostolic church but his membership has been allowed to lapse. “As a result of a premature explosion of dynamite a year ago, Mr. Murer was diflgured and narrowly escaped losing the sight of both eyes. He was blowing out stumps and went to investigate a fuse which he thought had gone out."

MOTHERS’ DAV SUNDAY. Will be Observed by the Evangelical Church. Mother’s Day Sunday will be observed by the Evangelical church of this city as well as others over the entire country, with special services in the morning. There will be special music and a special sermon by the pastor, Rev. D. O. Wise, and all mothers who are not members elsewhere are given a cordial invitation to attend. A flower or bouquet will be given every mother attending. Sam Baker, of Mott, South Dakota, arrived this morning on the 10 (j'clock car, being called here by the illness of his mother, Mrs J. T. Baker, who Is lying at the point of death at her home west of the city, having been a sufferer from tuberculosis for some time.

Decatur, Ind. Thursday Evening, May 11, 1911.

LINN GROVE STORE

Disposed of by L. L. Baumgartner, Adams County ex-Surveyor. TRADES FOR FARM Os 250 Acres in Jackson County—New Owners in Possession. L. Baumgartner, ex-surveyor of Adams county, who moved to Linn Grove from this city a few months ago after finishing his term of office here, where he purchased a general store, which he has been conducting since,-has sold the store to J. A. Martz and W. W. DeWeese of Keystone, who until a few weeks ago conducted a general store at Keystone under the name of Martz & DeWeese. The Bluffton News says: "In making the deal they traded to Mr. Baumgartner the 250-acre farm in Jackson county, Ind., which they acquired from Morris Edris in the trade by which they took the land for their Keystone store, sold afterwards by Mr. Edris to Jesse Phillips, who is running it. “It Is announced by Messrs. Martz & DeWeese that they intend to put on a big sale at the store which they have acquired at Linn Grove. They secured possession this morning and are completing arrangements for a big stock reduction sale to sta'-t next Saturday, May 13th. The sale will be in charge of W. I. Evans of this city, of the Evans Salvage company. Messrs. Martz & DeWeese announce their intention of running the store steadily after completing their sale for the purpose of reducing stock. “Martz & DeWeese were in business five years at Keystone before they sold to Morris Edris.’’ Both of the new owners intend to, move to Linn Grove, while Mr. Baumgartifcr will take up other work. The general store has a stock amounting to about $7,000.

QUEST OF HEALTH Attorney L. C. DeVoss and Son, Frank. Will Leave Friday Noon. FOR CALIFORNIA For Benefit of Son’s Health —Has Been 11l Several Months. Attorney L. C. DeVoss and son, Frank, will leave Fr iday noon on their trip to California, where they go with the hope of benefitting the son s health. They leave here at 12:47 over the Erie for Chicago, -where they take the Santa Fe railroad, with all firstclass passenger accommodations to Los Angeles, Cal., and from there to Barstow, Cal., where Mrs. DeVoss’ brother, Clarence Kendrick, resides. Frank has been in poor health the greater part of the winter, first developing an attack of the grip, to which later was added bronchial affection. His recovery is not as rapid as one could desire, though he is able to be about the streets and it is thought the change to the southern clime will bring about the desired return to health. The best that can possibly be done for that effect will be done, and his many Decatur friends are hoping to see him back in a short while “brown as a berry” and as plump as the biggest and best. The duration of their stay will depend upon the improvement shown. ——— THE HORSE SALE. The horse sale progressed nicely today and the spirited bidding showed that the foreign buyers are recognzing the superior quality of stock offered The horses are bringing fair prices and the entire contents of the barn will probably be sold before evening. Mrs. Herman Bultemeler returned yesterday afternoon on the 3:50 car to St. John's after shopping here.

SECOND BILL CAR. The second advertising car for the Gollmar Brothers’ big tent circus, which is to show here on Thursday, the 18th, one week from today, came from Portland over the O. R. A 1., and remained throughout the day. A large number of men accompanied the car who made the town, and filled the various bill boards with circus advertising OFFICIALS PASS THROUGH. J. H. P. Haughert of Grand Rapid? Mich., general manager of the Grand Rapids Railway company, with several other officials of the road, passed through the city this morning on their way from Richmond to Grand Rapids. They occupied a special train and passed through the city at 10 o'clock. COURTHOUSENEWS George Tricker and Wife Made Defendants in Four Cases in Court. iw ’ DEMAND |IS HEAVY For Contributive Share of Notes and Fraudulent Conveyance.

Hooper & Lenhart are attorneys for plaintiffs in four cases, in which George Tricker and his wife, Sarah J. Tricker, are defendants. The suits grew out of the Jackson & Decatur Coal company, of which Mr. Tricker lias been president. Three suits are for contribution and to set aside fraudulent conveyance. The plaintiffs claim they were obliged to pay Mr. Tricker’s shsre of certain notes and that to get out of paying them, on December 26. 1910, he deeded to his wife, his farm fit St. Mary's townsnip, for the alleged consideration of $4.0(1(1. wiffioifl Teat ing him sufficient other property subject to execution, from which the claims or debts could be paid, and that the conveyance was made without any consideration therefor, but for the fraudulent purpose of preventing the collection of the accounts. The other suit is on account, and to set aside fraudulent conveyance. In complaint one, the plaintiffs are Ella Overly, Robert S. Campbell, Sherman Hill and Archie P. Hardison, who demand $558.81. The note was given June 10, 1910. to the Citizen’s Saving & Trust Co. of Jackson, Ohio, for $2,721.49, of which Tricker’s contributive share is $558.81. In complaint two, Robert S. Campbell, Sherman Hill and Ella Overly are plaintiffs, demanding $545.15, the note being given December 15, 1910, to Daniel J. Jones for, $2,180.61, Tricker’s contributive share of which was $545.15. Complaint three, names Sherman Hill and Robert S. Campbell plaintiffs, demand SBOO. This note was given January 29, 1908, to Henry Hunsinger for $2,000, of which Tricker’s contributive share was SBOO. The fourth case is a suit on account and to set aside fraudulent conveyance. The plaintiff is Evan O. Roberts, receiver of the Jackson & Decatur Coal company, demand $l5O, on account. . Mr. Tricker was president and R. S. Campbell secretary of the Jackson & Decatur Coal company, out of which these suits grow. The evidence in the Blue Creek ditch case is still being heard, before Special Judge R. H. Hartford of Portland and it is thought the trial will take at least two weeks longer. A total of six eases was filed in the Adams circuit court Wednesday, this being the largest number ever filed in one day since Mr. Haefling has been clerk. —————o— ———— — GASH WAS CUT. Leo Weber was going about this afternoon with his left eye all bandaged up, the result of a mishap which befell him at noon. He was in charge of several horses and had been trying their wind and using a whip-lash for the purpose. It some way the lash struck him below the eye, cutting a gash for some distance. The injury is not serious, but it is quite a painful one, and h> will have to keep it bandaged for several days.

RAN INTO CURB With Automobile to Avoid Missile of Young Ruffian Who Asked to Ride. CAUSED S3OO DAMAGE Threw Occupants From Car and Damaged Running Gear and Shield. An automobile acclden t occured Wednesday on the run to the fire, which seriously damaged the new Decatur automobile belonging to Julius Haugk. The machine was being driven by his fourteen-year-old son, Herman, who had with him his sister, and two boys named Butler and Lachot, and when approaching the corner of Adams and Thirteenth streets he was hailed by a boy friend who ir.ge;ed at his not stopping for him, hulled a brick, and in endeavoring to dodge the missile, the driver turned the machine into the curb. The impact threw the occupants of the machine from the car, and they were considerably bruised, although no serious injuries were sustained. The car w’as badly damaged, the front wheels and axle being demolished, and the rear wheel crushed, and on turning on its side the wind-shield was broken. The machine was purchased new this spring and is a runabout model manufactured by the Decatur Motor Car company. Herman was unable to state the name of the boy who threw the missile but is able to identify him and if the culpriti is caught he.will probably be prosecuted. — —o C. C. Schug, ME. and Mrs. Ferdinand Metier and Miss Stella Schug, daughter of Rudolph Schug, passed through here this morning in an auto, bound for Grabill, Indiana, where they will visit friends and attend to business during the day.

ANNUAL MEETING Present Condition of German Reformed Church is Creditable One. ELECT NEW OFFICERS Some Improvements Toward Beautifying Interior to be Made This Summer, The annual meeting of the trustees of the German Reformed church was a very interesting and profitable one. The Meeting was held in the church parlors. In gonig over the business of the past year all departments were found in a nounsning condition, and are in better shape than for some time. The election of officers was also held, the officers elected to look after the financial affairs of the church, as well as to promote any question which may come before the board that would prove of any benefit. Some plans for improvements to be made this summer toward decorating the interior were discussed, but nothing definite was done. This matter will again come before the board in the near future. Several reports were read, considered and approved, and the past year has been satisfactory in every respect. The election of officers resulted in the following: William Wetter. elder; Fred Sellemeyer, deacon; Fred Mutchler, trustee, and Peter Kirsch, treasurer. — — MR. ELLIS MUCH BETTER. Mrs. Lase Ellis returned this morning from Fort Wayne, where she has been several days with Mr. Ellis, who underwent an operation at the St. Joseph hospital Tuesday evening Mrs. Ellis was in excellent spirits and stated that her husband is much better an dthat there are strong hopes now for his recovery, all of which is pleasnig to his many friends.

SUFFERED A SUNSTROKE. While at work on a new tin roof which was being built at the farm of Peter Meyers, a few miles south of town, Fred Ashbaucher, a tinner, in tbe employ of the Schafer Hardware company, was stricken with what was believed to have been a sunstroke, and it was necessary to assist him from the roof to a place of safety. Mr. Ashbaucher states that he had not been feeling well for a few days previous, and his illness, aggravated by the Intense heat of the sun Tuesday, may have caused the collapse. He was taken to a doctor who later stated that he thought the cause of the collapse was tonsliltis. Mr. Ashbaucher has taken a good rest and today is back on duty, although not entirely well. ABOUT THE SICK Emma Terveer Improving From Operation Performed Wednesday. MR. ELLIS IS BETTER Jacob Hess Slightly Improved—Mrs. Gresley Remains the Same. A telephone message from Miss Clara Terveer, who is at the bedside of her sister, Emma, at the St. Joseph hospital, Fort Wayne, who on Wednesday morning underwent an operation for the removal of several growths, gives information that she was resting quite well and doing as nicely as could be expected. Her condition during the night was not al/ that was wished for, she having been somewhat restless, but this morning appeared much brighter. Her fever, was quite high, but this is generally the case for the first day or so until the effects of the anaesthetic wears off and the patient rests then with much more ease.

Jacob Hess, who suffered a paralytic stroke in his right arm on last Friday. and has-since that time been confined to his bed, was this morning somewhat better and for the first time was able to use the helpless member. He i sstill quite weak and under the constant care oi the physician, but it is' thought that he will from now on improve more rapidly. Fred Bohnke, the aged and respect-1 ed citizen who for some few weeks has been suffering with various ailments, the assistance of a doctor being | necessary at times, remains amout the | same, but it is believed by the attend-. ing physician that he is gaining strength slowly. Mrs. J. E. Gresley, of Hoagland, who underwent the double operation the forepart of last week, is holding her own, but not much change for the better is noticed. She is not so weak as at first, but is unable to aid herself in any way. Fred Colchin went to Fort Wayne Wednesday evening to call on his brother, Joe. who has been a patient at the St. Joseph hospital since Monday afternoon suffering from a sprained ankle and torn ligaments of the same. Joe, who is a son of Mrs. Julia Colchin of this city, is employed at the Pennsylvania railroad shops as a plumber. The accident happened Monday afternoon while he was engaged at work. He was working on a high place when his foot slipped. In alighting his ankle was turned with the aforenamed injuries resulting. While his condition is not serious he will be laid up for some time. He may return here later until he fully recovers. Marcella, seven-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. P. K. Knney, who has been ailing the greater part of the winter wth results of a severe cold, is decidedly improved. — o BAND CONCERT. The Decatur band will hold another meeting tonight in their club rooms at which time all the members are urged to be present as the boys want to get in good shape for holding a band concert on the streets next week They are working hard toward this end and should receive the encouragement of all the business people. They will probably accompany the ,Eldks’ will probably accompany the Elks’ compete in the parade.

Price, Two Cents

STILL SMOLDERING This Morning Were Ruins of Great Conflagration in West Part of City. A GRIEVOUS LOSS Two Families Must Begin Life Anew —Others Suffer Heavily. r i The ruins of the two dwellings on Fourteenth street, owned by D. I. Weikel, which were burned to the ground with their entire contents Wednesday afternoon, together with the barn and several other buildings, were still smoldering this morning, although the hose was left turned on the debris the entire night Quite early this morning the members of both families visited the scenes of their loss, still unable to fully comprehend the great disaster that had befallen them. The George Lichliter family, which occupied one, had lived there only since last Saturday, coming here from Bluffton, Mr. Lichliter being employed at the Ward Fence factory. Though they had been married some time they started housekeeping anew on coming here, and had purchased an amount of furniture on the installment plan, and the loss of this on which a debt still hangs makes their hardship the greater. Mrs. Lichliter stated this morning that she had gotten out only two dresses and everything else they had in the world was burned. One of her two children, the youngest, Dee, aged eighteen months, who was on the 'porch when the fire broke out, had one of his ears slightly burned before being rescued, ae the mother had gone a short distance away from the house to a neighbors’ whin the fire broke out. The other child, Voughn, is four years of -age. Mrs. LicMtter -stated that she had on an old dress at the time of the fife on account of that being wash-day and that that dress is the only one she has. The family spent the night at the Alva Booher home. This morning when Mrs. Lichliter visited the fire she unearthed, a china shoe which was the only thing that she recovered from her possessions. Mr. Weikel was early on the scene also this morning. He stated that it is now thought that the origin of the fire was a spark from a railroad train instead of a bonfire started in the barn by children as at first thought, as all tile children of the neighborhood can be accounted for at that time, and non<* were near the barn. Those who first saw the fire, also, stated that it was coining from the roof of the building. Mr. Weikel stated that his loss will be fully five thousand.dollars, with only two thousand insurance, and all he has left is a cow and a buggy. He is agent for the Singer sewing machine, and two or three machines, which were in the house, were gotten out. Mrs. Weikel. who was in the house at the time of the fire, had taken off her shoes and she had not time enough to put on her shoes before getting out of the house, so quickly did it go. The windows were cracked wdth the heat from the barn and in a short while broke, letting the flames seethe through the house. Mr. Weikel will probably move into the John Steele house south of his former home. While Mr. and Mrs. T. W. Holsapple, who occupied the James Hurst property, corner of Monroe and Thirtenth street, which was also burned, are heavy losers their plight is not quite so bad as that of the other two families. The contents of the upstairs was lost, but much of the household goods on the lower floor were saved, though a part of this is badly damaged. Mrs. Holsapple, who had gone three times to the upper floor to get a purse con taining fifty dollors and valuable papers, and who dropped it the first time and failed to find it on returning twice, barely escaped being overcome by the smoke the last time. After the fire was extingunshed the purse was found, still intact. The roof and the upstairs of the Hurst home, with the kitchen, are badly burned, but the walls of the lower story are in fairly good condition, though the loss will run up into the thousands. Mr. Holsapple is an employee of the LaFountaine handle factory. They were guests over night of Mr. and Mrs. Bell of the handle company.