Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 10, Number 29, Decatur, Adams County, 2 February 1912 — Page 1

Volume X. Number 29.

ASKS A 'RECEIVER Miss Martha E. Ahr Plaintiff in Suit Against Fort Wayne & Springfield. ASKS FOR RECEIVER Claims Company Insolvent f and Operating at Loss to the Stockholders. Martha Elenora Ahr, through her at■tomeys, Hooper & Lenhart, this mornEiug filer! in the Adams circuit court, a ■ suit asking for the appointment of a ■ receiver for the Fort Wayne & Spring- ■ field Railway company, a corporation of seven years’ standing, operating a I railway between this city and Fort 1 Wayne, with the principal offices lof. eated in this city. The complaint is I in three paragraphs. The first sets | out that Miss Ahr is a stockholder in I the company. She avers that the comr pany is insolvent, and has not suffiI cient money and assets to pay its inI debtedness, that many suits have been ‘ brought against the company, and that ’ many liens were filed by mediant ics, against it; and that it has not suf--7 ficient money for operating expenses, and no money to meet the debts due and the indebteaness overdue. That I for this reason It would be to the best I interest of all to have a receiver ap- | pointed and that the receiver be given i the power ta control and operate the I road until the same can be sold, and ' distribution made to the stockholders. > The second iraragraph sets out further 1 reasons for the asking for a receiver. Miss Ahr states that on May 16th, she [ was the owner of three SIOO shares of I stock, and was executrix of the estate ; of her- mother, Mary Ahr, who owned i two shares. She assigned her own, | personally, and as executrix, those of • her mother, to John H. Koenig and » W. H Flodderjohann, they giving their | note therefor for $173, made payable : to the Old Adams County bank, in f six months’ time. As security for the s notes they assigned her the stock, endorsing it to the effect that on payment of the note, the stock was to be- • long to the givers of the note. When ’ the note became due, she says, they refused to pay it, saying ihat it was given without consideration, and that her suit against them for the payment! of the note is now pending in court. She alleges that they are wholly and notoriously insolvent and have refused to pay the note and redeem the; stock. Paragraph three sets out that the. road and plant is badly in need of re-1 pairs, which the company is unable to i make, and which, if not made, in time, i will result in loss of value and loss to the stockholders, and that there-. fore it is best that the receiver be ap- ■ pointed. In this paragraph Miss Ahr j states that she is the owner of four shares of stock valued at SIOO each. | February 13th is the time set for the return of Cue summons. At the time: n" going to press the officials of the j road were conferring with their attorney, C. J. Lutz, and it is thought that ; some arrangement can be made where- | by the matter can be adjusted. — o BE A BOOSTER. I Let me live in Adams county. Where the air is fresh and pure, i Here we raise the big corn crops, I And the sugar beets mature. !You just be a Hoosier Booster And you will be 0. K. Now, listen, Mr. Knocker, Throw your hammers all away. Cast your loaves out on the waters, While the tide is rolling high, j For it will come back —buttered, To you Boosters, by and by. It was the Boosters of Decatur, And they didn’t pass it by, ! Are now erecting a sugar factory Along the G. R. & I. 1 It was up to the farmers, So the Boosters said, Yet they had some trouble To talk It In their heads. I Now, Mr. Booster Farmer— Don’t you really think it’s grand That you started the ball a-rolllng In the Hoosier Boosting Land? HOMER ELZEY.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

DR. H. V. VAN SWERINGEN DEAD. Dr. Hiram Van Sweringen, A. M., for many years a resident of Fort Wayne, and one of the best known and i most eminent or Indiana medical prac- | tit loners, died Thursday at the home I of his son. Dr. Budd Van Sweringen, j 208 Washington boulevard west. Dr. Van Swerengen was sixty-seven years of age in October last. The funeral J will be held from the residence of the j son on Saturday afternoon. SIMS IS CHAIRMAN Frankfort Man is Selected Today as State Leader of Indiana Republicans. | EDITORS IN SESSION Select L. G. Ellingham and J. H. Heller as Delegates to National Meet. (United Press Service.) Indianapolis, Ind., Feb. 2 —(Special to Daily Democrat) —Fred A. Sims of Frankfort this afternoon was elected • chairman of the republican state com- . mittee on the first ballot. He had no ; opposition, and is looked upon as a ] Taft man. W. H. Hays was looked 1 upon as a probable selection for vice I chairman. It was also believed that I Frank Fealmaker of Indianapolis would be the treasurer of the committee. Previous to the state convention a meeting was held for the selection or delegates to the national convention. Up until this time March 12th seemed to be the favorable time for the repubI lican convention. — Indianapolis. Ind., Feb. 2—(Special Ito Daily Democrat) —The administration of Governor Marshall was praised and he was endorsed as a candidate Her the democratic presidential nomination by the State Democratic Editorial association, meeting here today. I Praise was also given John W. Kern and Benjamin F. Shively, the two democratic United States senators and the twelve democratic congressmen of the state in the resolutions adopted. Lew G. Ellingham of this city and John H. Heller of Decatur were named I delegates to the national democratic I editorial meeting to be held at Wash- . ington, D. C., W. S. Chambers of New- ' castle was elected a member of the executive committee. Indianapolis, Ind., Feb. 2 —(Special 'to Daily Democrat) —The United Mine Workers’ International conven- | tion in session here today instructed ; the wage scale committee of the of- ' ganization to continue its efforts to | negotiate a new contract with the Icoal operators. The results will be j submitted to a referendum vote of 1 the union or to a reconvened interna- ' tion al convention. The method to be ' followed is left to the discussion of the scale committee. Shanghl, Feb. 2 —(Special tn Dailv ' Democrat) —A quarter of a billion of American dollars was today offered for control of the national resources of China. The vast sum will be guar anteed by a committee of American and ci'.financiers, numbering among whom is the Standard Oil company, In return it asks a monopoly of the developments of the oil and mineral wealth of China. ■ o NEWS FROM COURT HOUSE. E. B. Adams is attorney for Harrison E. Jack in a divorce suit filed in the circuit court this morning against Zella B. Jack. The couple were married June 27, 1903, and lived together until April 19, 1906, when she left him and has refused to live with him since. C. L. Walters is attorney for Samuel Springer in a quiet title case against Lucia Belle Johnson. James F. Keifer, commissioner, filed inventory of personal property in the estate of J. W. Hakes. Real estate transfers: Paul Baumgartner to Peter Forbing, realty in St. Mary’s township, $5806.80; S. P. McGriff to Michael McGriff, lot 119, Geneva, $2,900; Wai.en V. Reed to German B. L. F. & S. Association, lot 938, Decatur, S6OO. O' Miss Maria Robinson of Monmouth hes recovered from the grip, and was able to be in town this morning.

TO GRIND GRAIN J. J. Kelleher, Street Contractor of Frankfort, in New Business. BUYS LTkRGE MILL For SB,OOO, With Several Associates, Who Have Formed Company. Jerry J. Kelleher of Frankfort, well known street contractor, who constructed Mercer avenue and Adams street, has gone into the elevator bus iness at his home town, having purchased a large grain mill for SB,OOO. Several other Frankfort men are interested in the deal and will start off with a capital stock of SIO,OOO. The Frankfort Crescent says: “A few days ago there was a deal made by which J. J. Kelleher of this city bought the Bassett elevator and mill from the heirs of tne late Mr. Bassett at Kirklin, he taking the elevator and mill located in the western part of the town. The price paid was about SB,OOO. "Mr. Kelleher has formed a company to operate the elevator and the mill and to also operate other elevators that the company may purchase, the company being known as the Favorite Grain Company of Kirklin, with a capital stock of SIO,OOO. In addition to Mr. Kelleher, the members of the company are .J. A. Lucas and Bert Wills of this city. It is said that the company will place an experienced man in charge of the property at Kirklin ami will conduct both the mill and the elevator." o THE NEW STAMPS Will be Available February 1 But Will Not be Sent Out Until THE OLD SUPPLY Is Exhausted —Decatur May Not Get Them for Several Months. It has been announced by the postoffice department that the new series of stamps will be available to be drawn on by postmasters about the first of February. Notice to this effect is contained in the recent issue of the Postal Guide, containing new instructions to postmasters Old stamps will be used, however, until the present supply of them is exhausted. Postmasters are instructed to draw on the new issue just for tne novelty of the thing and that the old supply on hand is first to be sold. Tn the new series the one-cent green and two-cent red stamps bear the head of Washington in profile, from Houden’s bust, the portrait being within a plain eclipse on end, with branches of laurel on each side. The colors of the five higher denominations of stamps in the new series are: 8 cents, olive; 10 cent, dark yellow; 15 cent, gray; 50 cent, lavendar; sl, dark brown. These bear the portrait of Franklin In profile, from Houden’s bust, with an ellipse on end and on either side of the lower part of the ellipse are branches of oak leaves. Postmaster Lower has received offi cial notice of the new stamps but just how soon a supply will be received here is not known. This depends upon how long the old supply, which must be used will last, and it may be several months before this is reduced euough to allow the Decatur postoffice to get them. WILL GIVE PLAY. At the meeting of the Presbyterian Guild at the home of Mrs. W. A. Lower, the girls decided to give a play. This will be given at the Yeomen hall, a week from next Thursday, and will be the play, entitled "Aunt Jerusha’s Photograph Album" The cast and further details will be announced later.

Decatur, Indiana, Friday Evening, February 2, 1912.

METHODIST REVIVAL. Tonight Is Sunday School Night at the M. E. Church. Tonight is Sunday school night at the revival meeting that is in progress at the Methodist church. The junior choir of boys will sing. They have lusty voices and sing enthusiastically. A solo will be rendered by Miss Celia Andrews. The pastor will take his theme from the story of Jehu, the man who exceeded the speed limit. CRUELTY TO HOG Is Alleged and Results in Filing of Suit in Justice Stone’s Court. AGAINST FOSNIGHTS John Hendricks Claims They “Sicked” Their Dog on His Hog and Killed It. A hog case, similar to the dog case, brought up in 'Squire Stone's court ; this week, has been filed therein, and Sheriff Durkin went to Geneva Thursday where he made the arrests. The 1 charge was preferred by John Hendricks, residing north of Geneva, against Nelson Fosnight and thirteen-year-old son, Everett, the charge being cruelty to animals. Hendricks claims that one of his hogs went over onto the farm tenanted by Fosnight and that the two defendants set their dog on it, the hog being killed in the fracas. The affair is said to have happened last November. The case was first tried in Justice Shoemaker’s court at Geneva, but when the day for the trial came, the prosecuting witness did not appear and the case was thrown out of court. This time it was taken up again and filed here, as F. S. Armantrout, who has since been appointed deputy prosecuting attorney, was a counsel in the prior case. Since the offense, Fosnight has moved from the farm to Geneva. Both defendants gave the required fifty dollars’ bond. SUNDAY SERVICES. The regular services of the Pleasant Mills Methodist church will be held in the afternoon at 3 o'clock, instead of the evening as heretofore. REV. J. O. HOCHSTEDLER, Pastor. o PARSON ENGINEER Will be Present to Address Men’s Meeting Next Sunday Afternoon. AT THE M. E. CHURCH • U.. 11 A Special Program of Music is Being Arranged for the Afternoon. A men’s meeting will be held at the Methodist church next Sunday afternoon commencing at 2:30, to which all men of the city are cordially invited. The meeting as arranged will offer some interesting things to those who come and will be highly appreciated by the discerning people who like good lectures. The speaker of the afternoon will be Mr. J. A. Nipper, for several years past connected with the Fort Wayne Rescue home and mission, of which he is now superintendent. In hi searlier years he, was a railroader, reaching the position of engineer, and gave up that work to take charge of the mission. He is well known among all tallroad men and is one of the most widely liked men in Fort Wayne today. He was started in the work by the famous Melvin E. Trotter of Grand Rapids. The subject he will discuss will be "What Have I Done?” and will afford him a problem with which he cap interest and delight the audience. He is a ready speaker and cannot fail to make a brainy lecture. There will be special music and a complete program will be given tomorrow.

jc. BLOCHER DEAD Well Known Man Who Became 11l Two Weeks Ago at Son’s Geneva Home DIED AT PORTLAND Where He Was Taken to the i Hospital the Week Before —Funeral Saturday. The funeral services for the late j Christopher Blocher, well known here, ■ whose death occurred at the Jay counI Ity hospital, Wednesday, will be held Saturday morning at 11 o’clock at the , Evangelical church, two miles west of | Domestic, Wells county, with interment at the same place. Mr. Blocher f was a native of Wells county, being born there January 22, 1854, having passed his firty-eighth birthday anni- . versary since his illness. He was tak- ; en 111 two weeks ago at the home of ! his son, Otto Blocher, near Geneva and he was removed to the hospital at Portland a week before his death. He is survived by six children, five sons and a daughter, his wife having died twelve years ago. At the time of their mother’s death the younger children were put into homes, Fthel living near Vera Cruz, and Ernest at Bluffton. The other children are William, of Sumner, Ill.; Otto, of Geneva; Lester and Forest, of Ossian, Ind. Three brothers also survive: Charles and William Blocher, owners of the store at Domestic, and John Blocher of Petroleum. His son, William Blocher, and wife, of Sumner, 111., were with him at the time of his death. o SIX MORE WEEKS I I Os Wintry Blasts Predicts the Ground Hog—Saw His Shadow BRIGHT AND EARLY This Morning and Went Back to Cozy Nest for Another Snooze. Fortunately to save ourselves from the printers’ wrath at being held up at I the last minute, the sun came forth at an early hour —and the ground bog I also came forth an early hour, accordi ing to the regulation way, thus en- | this little epiel saying that there will this little spiel saying that thede will Ibe six more weeks of the wintry • blasts before they are driven away by | the mild spring sunshine. On February 2, which is today, according to the time-honored custom, this bushy little animal awakens from his short winter's sleep and assumes the role of a weather prophet. If the sun is shining it sees its shadow and coils up again after a short appearance and returns to its nest to enjoy a little ' more sleep, and winter courageously continues her cold and disagreeable course for a period of six more weeks But. is the sky is cloudy and shadows are invisible, the little animal remains from its burrow, for the winter is broken and spring is coming. Since the beginning of time there has been many an idol to which the people have looked for the desired in- ' formation concerning the condition of the weather. These have gradually fallen until at the present time the ’ only one that remains is the oue relating to the simple little ground hog. | Candlemas day, commonly known as ground hog day is without doubt the most popular adage or sage saying that has been handed down from the dark ages. According to the old traditions it. was a great day for weather prognostications. Numerous rhymics have been handed down to us by our forefathers, who sincerely believed in the stories concerning the weather superstitions of February 2nd. i „ j Charles Hayslip of the firm of Smith & Bell, who has been traveling in Ohio, will arrive home this evening to spend Snday with his family.

ARE NOW IN CANADA. Master David Hensley is in receipt of a card from Clifford LaDelle, from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada, apoint in their lyceum bureau tour. He stated that they are getting to a place where the Indians are, and ended by saying that they would be glad to get back to the states. POLICECOURTNEWS Police Court Takes a Spurt After Protracted Rest of Days. TWO ARRESTS MADE On Drunk Charges—Hungarian Didn’t Know Why —Other Too Drunk. Special Policeman John Andrews arrested a Hungarian Thursday evening on a plain drunk charge and arraigned him this afternoon in the mayors court, where he was given eleven days, or an equivalent to one dollar and costs. He could not understand for what cause he was ararested and did not know why he was sent to jail. He is a sugar beet worker ,has a wife and five children in I Hungary. He admitted that he had ' been drinking, and that, supplemented by the policeman’s story, was sufficient to convict. Marshal Peterson was called to the Erie depot about noon to take charge of a fellow who persisted in lying on the tracks. He was drunk and was escorted to jail in the Wells-Fargo express wagon. He gave his name as Thomas Richards of Lima, Ohio, but later changed It to Ed Hickensbaugh. saying he was a boilermaker and owned two hundred acres of land near that town. He requested a 'phone message be sent to the sheriff at Lima. It was necessary to stop a train to take him off the track to avoid killing him. He will be arraigned as soon as sober. “BABY MINE.” At the Majestic Theater, Fort Wayne, Saturday, Matinee and Night. “Baby Mine," one of William A. Brady's successes, is unquestionably tue funniest play that has been seen in many seasons. The play was written by Margaret Mayo, and the theme is based on the departure from the happy fireside of a devoted husband because his better half has told him a little lie regarding the luncheon she attended. In order to win the husband back the wife, with the aid of a sympathetic friend, engages a baby at a fondling asylum and apprises the absent ffme that he is a father. He is delighted ami hurries home. At the last moment the real mother of the fondling decides she wants her baby and then ensues a series of side-splitting complications that are helped along by the young husband in his ignorance of conditions. "Baby Mine” ran for one solid year at Daly’s theater, New York, and it is now playing to overflow audiences at the Criterion tseater, London. This is its second year in the British metropolis. Productions of the comedy are also under way in Paris, Berlin, Vienna, St. Petersburg, Australia, South Africa and South America. It will be at. the Majestic theater, Fort Wayne, Saturday matinee and night, under the direction of William A. Brady, Ltd. o “BABY MINE.” At the Majestic Theater, Fort Wayne, Saturday February 3rd, In “Baby Mine,” which William A. Brady, Ltd., presented for one solid year at Daly’s theater, New York City, Margaret. Mayo has written one of the most widely laughable comedies that ever set an audience in uproar. "Baby Mine,” it is said, was founded on fact, Miss Mayo’s authority being the treasurer of the National Maternity hospital of Chicago, who Is quoted as saying that “fully 3,000 husbands in Chicago are fondling Infants that are not their own, but babies adopted by their wives, and the deluded fathers are none the wiser.” “Baby Mine' ' comes to the Majestic theater, Fort j Wayne. Saturday, matinee and night, February 3rd.

Price, Two Cents.

THE EIRE FIEND Destroys School House at District Number Six. Jefferson Township FOR SECOND TIME Burned at Midnight January 31—Defective Flue Supposed to be Cause. Midnight of the last day of January, 1912, will long be remembered by school district number six of Jefferson township, as the date of the burning of the frame school house there, known as the Kinney senool, located six miles east of Geneva. The fire was first noticed by neighbors living four miles away, and they in turn called up Marion Ketchum at thetelephone station, and he called James Kinney, living about forty rods from the school house. Mr. and Mrs. Michael Finnerty reside but throe hundred feet away from the burning school, and they were first informed of the fire by the Kinney family, who awakened them on their way to the scene of the conflagration. By that time the entire frame school building was ablaze, and the roof falling in, and there was nothing to be done to save the building. All the books of the students were lost, together with the entire contents. The origin of the fire is unknown, but it is supposed to have resulted from a defect in the flue in the upper | part of the building. The chool i house was a small frame structure, and j perhaps the oldest in the township, being built in 1875. This is the second fire to have occurred at this place, the building prior to this having been destroyed by fire in 1874. A new brick will undoubtedly be built in the spring, and in the meantime the twenty-five pupils here will have to be transferred to other schools. For many, this will mean a shorter distance to go, but those for whom the trip would be too long, means of conveyance will probably have to be furnished. Frank Brewster is the teacher at this school, and J. T. Kelley is trustee of thetowuship, in which the school was located. Insurance in the sum of S4OO was carried. O SUPT. NATIONAL LEAGUE. Indianapolis, Ind., Feb. 2 —Rev. Madison Swadener, former pastor of the First M. E. church at Marion, but who during the past year has been assistant superintendent of the Indiana AntiSaloon League, has accepted the associated superintendency of the Na tional League, with headquarters at Washington. Rev. Swadener is well known throughout the state, not alone as a minister, but as a temperance worker and a chautauquau lecturer. He was located at Marion several years, going from there to Kokomo, where he served as minister of Grace church until accepting his present po I sitlon. He was made the above offer one week ago. While pastor of the church at Kokomo Rev. Swadener desired to resign to accept the pastorate of a large church at Washington, but the North Indiana conference did not desire to release him and he was persuaded to remain. Rev. Swadener is well known here, where he has often lectured. - — 4> — 1 lw ABOUT THE SICK Mrs. William Drake, living six miles east of the city has been In a very serious condition as a result of a cancerous growth In the stomach, following an operation of some months ago, is again doing well. The spread of the trouble is now thought to have been checked, and a great improvement Is noted over last week, previous to which time she was not expected to live. Mrs. Mary Shrank, better known as "Gradma Shrank, is dangerously ill at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Lee Stults, suffering from grip and infirmities of age. Only eight weeks ago, Mrs. Shrank was sadly bereaved in the death of her husband. She is the mother of Ben Shrank of this city. She was reported better today. Mrs. Aaron DeVinney Is in receipt of word from her niece, Mrs. Charles Ault, of Fort Wayne, stating that Mr. Ault shows no improvement from his attack of pleurinsy, if anything, he is not so well.