Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 10, Number 20, Decatur, Adams County, 23 January 1912 — Page 1

♦ .Volume X. Number 20.

:A JURY TRIAL ♦ ♦ Is in Progress to Determine ♦ Insanity of the Strange ♦ ♦ W Young Man ♦ i ♦ * CONFINED IN JAIL « Will! of Peter Sather Was «I Probated Today—A Mar- * r ’ a g e License. n>€. Stetler and John Schurger were witnesses of the will of Peter Sather, probated this afternoon in ’ court. The will was executed June ", * 1911. After the payment of expenses * of his las- sickness and the funeral, * he wills that a tombstone not to exceed S3OO be erectAl for him. To the Catholic church of this city he gives s2oo’:, for masses to be said for him every week for two hundred weeks after his death, until said sum is used ! up. To his brother, Nicholas Sather, he gives SBOO, to be paid by the ex t-cutoi to the testator s nephew. Charles Sether, as trustee, and by him f to be paid to Nicholas Sather, in sums of sls per month until the amount has been paid. Should he .tie before this amount in payments has been exhausted, the remainder is to be divided equally among the nephews and nieces who are also to get all the remainder of the estate, share and share alike. They are the children of the testator’s deceased brother, Mathias Sather, as follow? Katie, Peter. Rosa, Mary, Charles. Lena, Edward M. and Minnie Sether Charles Sether is appointed executor, cr if he should have died before the will was probated, Peter Sether was to have served. Charles Sether qualified as executor, filing sl,000 bond, with Jacob Martin and John Balter sureties. Arrangements were made this morning for an insanity commission to be held this afternoon to provide treatment for the strange young man who has been confined at the jail since Sunday evening, and who is thought CONTINtTED ON PAGE TWO. TO PAY TRIBUTE Mayor Teeple Requests That Business Houses be Closed Thursday. FROM 1 TO 4 O’CLOCK For Funeral of Samuel Laman—Will Lie in State Wednesday P. M. Apcordlng to the general desire of the business public, Mayor Teeple has requested that all the business houses of the city close from 1 to 4 o’clock Thursday afternoon for the funeral of Samuel Laman, the well known merchant, whose death occurred Sunday night after a short illness from pneumonia. Tlfe funeral will be held Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the Methodist church, the Rev. R. L. b'emans officiating, assisted by the Rev.j Gleiser of the Presbyterian church. The body will lie in state Wednesday afternoon and evening at the Jamily home, corner of Madison und SFourth streets, in charge of a guarß/from Kekionga lodge, No. 65, of of Pythias, and lodge 99, 3. P. O. E. , STANDARD OIL FINEL $55,000. | (United Press Service.) Bidtalo. N. Y„ Jan. 23—(Special to Bally Democrat) —A fine of $55,000 wasitodav imposed on the Standard O<’ company of New York for violatmg the Elkins act in accepting rebates from the New York Central and Pennsylviaia railroads on shipments of oil from Olean, New York, to Burlington, Vermont, in 1904-5. Terri- Haute, Ind , Jan 23 —(Special to .Daily Democrat)—Mr. and Mrs. W}3'- m Mcßey and three-months-old raßHjh were found dead from poisoning th their home here today. The family was .destitute and the officials believe the- parents first gave poison to the and then killed themselves.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

PLAY WARREN FRIDAY. ■■ Warren is the next city to come here to play basket ball with the local team and from the word sent in ad- / vance by the visiting team they are fast bunch of clever players. They have won a number of this season’s games and are malting them all go | some to take away from them their ; honors. In the meanwhile the locals are getting in good time at practice, land they will also show the visitors j that they are in the game. TO ARRANGE PROGRAM. Dick Myers wil go to Bluffton tomorrow to meet with the other representatives of the Knights of Pythias lodges of the district in the afternoon to arrange the pregram for the district convention to be held here Feb- ' ruary 21st. hensleY reunion D. M. Hensley Will Join Brothers and Sisters at Father’s Home j AT MARION, OHIO l Tomorrovz on Eghty-third Anniversary of Father, Dr. J. L. Hensley. D. M. Hensley will go to Marion, Ohio, tomorow to join his brothers end sisters in celebrating the eighty-; third anniversary of the birthday of their father, Dr. J. t. Hensley. The I affair has been arranged as a surprise for their aged father, and it is expect-: ed that the day will be a happy ingathering of his children. Dr. Hensley, spent his early life in West Virginia, j but has been a resident of Marion, 1 Ohio, twenty-five years, where he has become one of the leading citizens. He is a minister, and also a doctor, of many years' successful practice, his name asa physician being known over , the entire country, the Leah Medicine company’s famous Fortynine remedies being made from prescriptions and recipes long used successfully by him. The children, all of whom will make special effort to be present on the happy occasion tomorrow, are, besides D. Hensley of this i city: Dr. G. B. Hensley and Dr. J. M. > 1 Hensley of Bellaire, Ohio; Mrs. Geo. Williams of Martin’s Ferry, W. Va.; .Mrs. George Graham of Athens, Ohio; I and a step-son, L. J. Baumgartner, of New Haven, W. V Eight years ago the reunion was held in the park at Wheeling, W. Va. IN NEW QUARTERS Decatur Carriage Works Moves Into Steele Block on Monroe Street. AN UP-TO-DATE PLANT i - Will Rebuild Carriages and Autos and Has Agency for the Regal Car. i W. D. Porter, a hustling young business man, who started the Decatur Carriage Works in a room over the Buhler blacksmith shop on First street some two years ago, is now find--1 ihg those quarters too small and is’ itusy today moving into the Willard 1 Steele building on Monroe street, three doors east of the postoffice, where he wih. have commodious quarters and be better able to take care of his increasinf- business. An elevator is being installed to carry the buggies and automobiles up to the second floor, where he will have his painting, upholstering and trimming department. The first floor will be used for a display and salesroom. Mr. Porter recently took the agency for the Regal Motor car and will have a display of cars on the floor by February 15th. Wilbur is buying new machinery and will have a well equipped place of business for remodeling buggies and autes, the only place of its kind in the city. We are glad to see him grow. '

AWARD CONTRACT Committee Gives Job for Drilling Wells at Sugar Site to Mr. Mumma. TWO BIDDERS TIE Nine Firms Seek Job of Punching Holes in the Factory Ground. George C. Mumma of this city was Monday evening awarded the contract for drilling the two or more deep wells at the sugar factory site, furnishing 400,000 gallons of water or more per day. There were nine bidders and the committee had some difficulty awarding the job as two of them, Mumma and J. O. Smith tied. The committee offered each one a well, or offered a partnership, but the two stood pat, and the drawing oi lots by the committee gave the contract to Mumma. He I w’ill begin w ork at once and expects | to have the wells completed by April ; Ist. The bids per foot were as fol- ! low's: I J. O. Smith & Son, Decatur SI.OO I Western Con. Co., Ft. Wayne... 1.19 • A. C. Michaels & Son, Geneva... 1.50 D. J. Davies, Van Wert 1.60 Thraser & Herman, Ft. Wayne.. 1.75 Calvin Neeley. Van Wert 1.25 j George Steele, Decatur 1.45 ■ George C. Mumma, Decatur .... 1.00 j.l. C. Burket, Geneva 1.40 According to the bids the contractor must furnish all material necessary j and test the wells without charge. The local committee will try to have the I sugar company furnish the tubing at once, so that it can be used in the I test. Mr. Mumma drilled the deep ' well at the water station last summer I and has all the tools necessary to hur- | r<*the work along. MISSED lIIS HOLD I John Bowman Meets With Accident at Monroe Saturday Afternoon. ONLY QUICK ACTION Os the Engineer in Charge of the Train Saved Him from Death. John Bowman, a farmer forty-four i years old, narrowly missed being seri- | ously injured while in the act of I boarding a train in Monroe late SatI urday afternoon. He had come to town with the intention of coming up to Decatur and found that the train was late He went into a nearby store to await its coming and while there saw the train pull up to the station. Rushing out to the now moving train he attempted to grasp the platform of the smoking car, but missed his hold and was struck in the breast by the body of the car. He was thrown to the ground and under the trucks but the engineer who was closely watching him .saw the effort failed, and immediately used the emergency air with the result that Mr. Bowman was not injured other than having the breath knocked out of him. When picked up the wheels of the car were within a few inches of his body and had not the engineer seen the acci dent he no doubt would have been ground to death. As it was he was picked up and taken into the train, where he was sufficiently revived to alight from the train here without assistance. o BIRTH OF DAUGHTER. Marion is the name of the fine baby girl horn Monday evening to Mr. and Mrs. John Parrish, of which the parents are justly proud. Mrs. Parrish was Miss Nellie Krick before her marriage Miss Steele, a nurse from Hope hospital, Fort Wayne, is attending the mother and babe. NOTICE TO KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS. You are ail requested to meet at the Home next Thursday, January 25th, at 1 o’clock, promptly, to attend the fu- ' neral of Samuel Laman.

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday Evening, January 23, 1912.

LAID TO REST. I The St. Mary's church was well fill-| ed this morning with mourners and ■ friends of the deceased Peter Sether, • whose death occurred on last Satur- ! day, who paid their last respects to ' , the memory of the man they loved. ! | He was a devoted member of the St.! I Mary’s church, and until his recent illness was a faithful performer of all 1 bis required duties. A worthy tribute was paid the deceased man by Father Wilken, who was in charge of ‘ the obsequies. Interment was made at the Catholic cemetery. MORE GOLD FOUND Two Large Gold Nuggets Found in Chicken’s Craw by W. W. McQueen THE PURE STUFF It Seems to be—Will be Sent to Government Experts by D. M. Hensley. Two large gold nuggets, seemingly rhe real article, were found Monday in the craw of a chicken killed for the table by Mr. and Mis. W. W. McQueen, residing three miles northeast of the city, near the Union Chapel church. Tnis follows closely the find of gold particles in a gooses craw killed several weeks ago by the Murray Scherer family, and does much to further Carry out the belief that there is much gold in Adams county. There were more •gold particles in the chicken's craw, but no attention was paid to the smaller ones bj Mrs. McQueen, only the two larger ones being retained. Mr. McQueen brought one of them to this city this afternoon to D. M. Hensley, the jeweler, for his opinion, and while Mr. Hensley is firm in the belief that the metal is the real gold, he will send it to an expert in Cincinnati, Ohio, and then to a government official at Washington. Owing to the fact that there have been many similar finds in the county, it is thought that gold in paying quantities may be here and that it might pay to make an investigation. Two years ago, or so, gold was found in the craw of a fowl near Preble, and about three years ago, near the Washington church south of here, and several weeks ago, in a goose raised near Monroe. Mr. McQueen stated that more chickens would be killed and further investigation made of the fowls on the premises The gold nuggets were half as large as peas, worn smooth, and of a bright, pure, golden hue, completely free, apparently from dross. MANY IPILEPTICS There Are 846 Inmates of I Public Institutions in the State. AS MANY MORE — Are Probably Taken Care of in Their Own Homes— Pitiable Cases. In a statement rrom me board of state charities, which will be incorporated with the annual report from that body It is shown that 846 inmates of public institutions of Indiana are afflicted with epilepsy. Os those 308 are in the state hospitals for the insane, 236 in the School for Feebleminded Youth at Fort Wayne. 188 in county poor asylums, and, 118 in the village for epileptics at Newcastle. There are still others in county jails and orphans’ homes but the number is small. In all probability there are as many epileptics in their own homes as are reported from public institutions, it is said. Os those concerning whom there is definite knowledge, 443 are males and 403 females. Three hundred and forty, or 40 per cent have been adjudged insane; 389 or 46 per cent are classed as feebleminded; and 117, or 14 per cent, are i reported as having no marked mental deficiency. Forty are under sixteen ■ years cld, twenty-five are boys and fifteen gins.

! BIRTHS WIN OUT Reoort of State Board of i H I Health for November Has Just Been Issued. WITH THE STATEMENT j It Also Shows That There j Were More Boys Than Girls —Some Colored. The state health board is a month , behind in getting out its monthly bulletin. The figures for November having been sent out, there is no interesting information to be found for all that. Total number births for November, 4,626; total number of deaths, 2,614; total number boy babies, 2,322; girls, 2,294 —a prety close rnb for the boys, but they win. : There wer 45 colored boy babies, and 39 females. | Monroe county, the seat of the state university, where education is sup- ■ posed to be thick and high and wide, ■ tops the heap when percentage is con- [ sidered, their birth rate being 31.1 to . the thousand popuplation. Franklin , county, with her past greatness of > governors, sages, statesmen, inventors, poets, authors and the like, trails I along at the rear with only 9.9 to . every 1,000 inhabitants. The northern part of the state seemed to be much the healthiest, the i rate there bing 10.5 as compared to . 11.8 in the central and southern part of the state. Lung trouble, typhoin . fever, diphtheria and scarlet fever was , worse in southern Indiana than in the northern portion, but diarrhoeal diseases were much more prevalent . and fatal in the north than in the south. INSTALL OFFICERS I — Star of Bethlehem Changed Night of Meet from Friday to Monday. AT THE G. A. R. HALL Interesting Meeting Monday Night Witnessed Installation of Officers. j The Star of Bethlehem lodge has changed its night of meeting from Friday to Monday, and Monday’s night’s ! was the first under the new ruling. The order has also changed its place jof meeting from the Yeomen to the iG. A. R. hall. The session held Mon- ; day evening was unusually interest- | Ing, the officers for the ensuing half' : year being installed. Mrs. Mary Dilley, former legate, and Ves Peterson, I past commander, served as installing ' officers. The new officers are: Commander, A. M. Henry; vice com mander. S. E. Brown; scribe, Charles Ault; accountant, J. G. Smith; treasurer, S. E. Brown; chaplain, Mrs. Ves Peterson; marshal, M E Hower; inside sentinel, Mrs A. M. Henry; as ' distant marshal, William Johnson; outside sentinel, Mrs. Lou King; past commander, Ves Peterson; legate, S ; E. Brown ,| o PICTURES THAT TALK. For the first time in the history of i motion picture business in this city ■ talking pictures will be Introduced to theater-goers at the Star tonight. The i pictures are taken from the latest vau- ■ deville features and are making a dei cided hit with the people wherever i they have been shown. And from the : fact that the feature will be entirely • different every evening this week it Is • sure to draw good crowds at each per- . formance. This is the latest invention • ot Gaumont oi Paris, Fiauee. Until I very recently they have only been - shown in large opera houses in the ; big cities and the people of Decatur I have a chance to see these great pici tures at the Star theater, commencing this evening and lasting for the remainder of the week.

TO LEAVE PREBLE. Henry Werling, the well known farmer of Preble township, and who for more than seventeen years has been a resident of that township, is making arrangements for the moving of his family to Fort Wayne. Only last week he held a most successful sale of all of his farm possessions, and as soon as he can complete his desired preparations, will move. ‘ He ras rent- . i ed his place to Christ Werling, who • ! will take possesion of same as soon as I vacated by the owner, O~ UNION MEET. The union will hold its regular set slon tonight at the harness maekrs' hall, at whicii time is is said that about five or six new' members will be admitted. Other business of importance will make the meeting interesting and all should be present. DEATH RELIEVES ■ The Sufferings of A. K.! Grubb, Former Resident of This Place. t DIED THIS MORNING 1 At His Home in Cleveland,. Ohio —Was Member of I. O. O. F. Lodge Here. ■ A message received this morning > advises friends in this city of the death of A. K. Grubb, a former resident of this city. About fifteen years j ago Mr| Grubb was a resident of this | piace, he being engaged in the insur- j ance and real estate business, having I his offices in the Stone block. Having . failing health he moved to California, where he fought a losing battle, he being sick for the last few years at his home in Les Angeles, his condition being greatly aggravated by a complete nervous breakdown. Realizing j that California could not bring him. the health he sought he determined! 1 to remove to Cleveland, the home of i1 his wife, where he has been the last | few months. However, his condition i gradually became worse until death relieved him early this morning. Mr. Grubb was about sixty years old and has only a wife surviving him. He has been a member of the local Inde- ] penden order of Odd Fellows since 1893, entering there shortly before he went to California. He always proved to be a business mail of integrity and had a host of friends among the older residents of tne city, ail of whom will be grieved J to hear ot his death. A SPECIAL TRAIN Will Bring Several Hundred Berne People Here to Temperance Meeting. ON JANUARY 30TH Rev. Wise Was at Berne Making Arrangements— Hanly to Speak. Rev. D. O. Wise was at Berne today where he met with parties interested and made arrangements for the great temperance meeting to be held here January 30th. The opera house has been engaged for the afternoon and evening, and among the great speakers who will be here to take part in , the program are E. E. Ballard, a noted lawyer of Crawfordsville, and ex-Gov-etnor Hanly. It is expected that about two or three hundred of the Berne i people interested in temperance mat-| . lers will come to attend the meeting, 1 together with those from all parts of' tne county, and a special train from the south will convey them hero. The Berne people will also be asked to furnish specie: music, and speakers io- ’ cally noted and interested in the work , will also be on the program. The program in full will be announced later. 1

Price, Two Cents.

DEATH THE RELIEF Miss Beatrice Oliver, Formerly of This City, Passed Away at Huntington. FROM TUBERCULOSIS Miss Edith Miller Receives Telegram and With Mrs. C. J. Weaver to Attend. Miss Beatrice Oliver of Huntington, daughter of William Oliver, former residents of this city, passed away at her home from quick consumption, following a decline in health since last fall, and lor the past six weeks, with turbeculosis. The exact time of her I death is not known as it was not stated in the telegram received by Miss | Miller. The deceased, who was a popular young lady, enjoyeu many friends here, owing to the residence of the family here for some years, and only last summer on a visit here, renewed her acquaintance. Her father, William Oliver, while in this city, was employed as a blacksmith, leaving here ten years ago with his family for that i place, and where he has since followed the same occupation. Her mother died only cne year ago this month, and Miss Beatrice, who was the eldest child, took her place, as well as was in her power, doing the household work and caring for the many other duties which was her lot to care for, and whose loss will be most keenly felt by the father and his family. She was not quite nineteen years of age, | her next birthday being in April, but | was held in the highest esteem by her j wide acquaintance. She leaves to mourn their loss a father and one . brother, John, younger than she. The funeral will be held from the Christian church, with which the family has been faithfully connected, and from where the funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock. Miss Miller and Mrs. Cyrus Weaver, who has also been a near friend of the family, will leave Wednesday at noon to be in attendance. JOHN STEELE DEAD Died in Pullman Hospital in Chicago at 10 O’clock This Morning. FROM SERIOUS BURNS Received in Steam Explosion Six Weeks Ago—Former Resident Here. Al Steele received a telegraph mes sage at noon today from Chicago, stating that his brother, John Steele, had passed away at 10 o’clock this morning. The death occurred at the Pullman hospital in that city, where he had been a patient since six weeks ago last Friday, when he was danger ously aud most severely scalded by the bursting oi steam pipes at the Pullman works in that city, w'here he was serving as engineer. He had irown better from time to time and slight hopes for his recovery were entertained until a few days ago, when he took a change for the worse and since then, very little hope was given. The deceased was a former resident of this city, Where much of his life was spent. He is survived by three sons by his first marriage—Jesse, at St. Ixiuis, Mo.; Maurice, employed by the Standard Oil company, at various places; and Frank of Chicago; together with his wife and a daughter, Eveline, by his second marriage, residing in Chicago, the daugnter being about fourteen years of age. Al, Dayton and 1 George Steele and Ellen, wife of Riesen Mumma, of this city, are his surviving brothers and sister. Mr. Steele was about fifty-four years of age. No funeral arrangements were given in the telegram. The brothers will leave this evening for Chicago. Mr. Al , Steele is certainly having his share j of sorrow at this time, the late Sam- ■ uel Laman, whose death occurred Landay night, being his son-in-law.