Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 10, Number 73, Decatur, Adams County, 25 March 1912 — Page 1

Volume X. Number 73.

SMITH HOME BURNS Defective Flue Late Sunday Destroyed Smith Home on First Street. / i NO ONE AT HOME Opera House Had Close Call and Its Destruction Narrowly Averted. Fire, as a result of a defective tin?, late Sunday afternoon, destroyed the one-story frame house belonging to Willard Steele, on North First street,! occupied by the Elmer Smith family,' and for a while threatened the de-' struction of the Bosse opera house, which stands but ten feet south of I the burned structure At the time of j the fire none of the Smith family were at home, Mr. Smith being in the I country, where be has been working, I and shortly before, Mrs. Smith, with I the children, had gone to the William [ Elzey home, also on First street, to i visit with Mrs. Elzey, who has been sick for several weeks. Previous to her leaving she closed up the stove safely, and stated that only a small fire was in the stove at the time. Dave Wagner, who lives just across the! street from the Smith home, noticed ; the blaze eating its way through the roof, near the chimney, and at once sent in the alarm. In the meantime Mr. Wagner, with other neighbors,! made themselves busy taking out the household goods, thus saving them, with the exception of a few smaller articles, which they were unable to secure in time. Fire department No. 2 of the west end was the first on the scene, they answering to the second alarm, with the following of No. 11 shortly afterward. Owing to the greatly soaked condition of the roof the fire eat Its way slowly, but at the arrival of the fire department had gained great headway, and but a few minutes' more might have meant heavy damage to the opera house, as the nonh side had already become so heated as to smoke, and the paint burned off, when the play of water began. ,The Smith home was burned so that nothing but the charred wails remain standing, the interior being ail destroyed, and the remainder will have to be torn down, should the place be rebuilt. The damage to the house will amount to several hundred dollars, while the loss to the Smith furnishings will be comparatively suwtll. The loss to the opera house is estimated to be about SSO by Mr. Bosse, covered oy insurance. The new fire apparatus, Which is [ being kept at the Fashion Stables, was run out on the treet, but on orders from Fire Chief Hammond was again returned. Mr. Hammond stating that as yet it had not been turned over to the city by the improvement committee, and its control was beyond their power. i One of the largest crowds at a fire j was.that of Sunday, theentire street. being lined with people when the sec-. ond alarm was sounded, and for pe'- ( haps an hour watched the work of uie firemen and the slow progress of the [ flames. The building at present is . a nuisance, and for better safety anu , appearance should be removed at , once. The Smith household goods were stored in the Bosse opera house for the present, until another home Is secured, and the family will make their home with her sister, LizzieSchraluka on Nuttman avenue. A GOOD MEETING. Another good meeting was held Sunday evening by the Y ,P. C. I . E. of the United-Brethren church. The subject of the "Saloon” being and interesting one, and was ably handled by the president, Harry Imler Miss Goodwin will have charge of next Sunday evening’s lesson, which promises to be a good one, the subject being “Missionary Work in Foreign Fields.” Through the columns of the Democrat we wish to extend an invitation to the young people of Decatur to meet with us at any time. And especially do we invite the young people that do not attend any Christian Endeavor. Our meetings are full of good things that are spiritual and uplifting. And we want you to enjoy them with us. “Come thou with us and we will do thee good.” I

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

AN ART DISPLAY. ( To be Given by Mrs. Adel Neptune on March 28, 29 and 30. I Hie public Is cordially invited to attend an art display at the home of I ,S. Spangler, 240 North Fifth street. I Irom 8 to 11 in rhe morning and 1 t/> 5 in the aftegjioon, and from 7 to 9 in the evenings of March 28, 29 and 30. Oil, pastel and crayon vylll be shown ' and orders for any work in that line will he taken; will also have some menu, place cards, candle shades and ! basket center pieces. ’ MRS. T. ADEL NEPTUNE. | COURTHOUSE NEWS - . . I Harrison E. Jack Granted ; Divorce—His Wife Given / i ' SSO Alimony. — PROBATE MATTERS | Bertha Roop Granted an Allowance—Husband to Pay sls in Thirty Days. I A petition filed by James T. Dailey, guardian of Rhoda Gilpen et al., to erect tombstone at the grave of one of the deceased wards, was granted. I The current report of John H. Wilson, guardian of John A. Wilson, was [ allowed. t I A petition filed by Emmett Irvin, in 1909, to have his distributive share of I $97.06 paid to him as an heir in the Cary Irvin estate, was sustained, and the clerk ordered to pay this, less any share of costs herein. I The case of the C. &. E. railroad comany for reappraisement and reappointment of appraisers, which was set for trial April Ist, was ordered left off trial calendar by agreement. Frederick Maurer, administrator, vs. Frederick Maurer et al., partition. Pe- > tition by Maurer, administrator, for ; order on commissioner to turn over to him $336.16 to pay debts of Melchoir Maurer, deceased. Petition sustained. Spring Steel Femje & Wire Co. vs. Noah Biberstine, note,-.sßoo. Demur-, rer filed by plaintiff to answer of de- i fendant to firsh paragraph of complaint; also demurrer to second para-, graph of complaint. Henry Gerke vs. William Fledderjohann and John H. Koenig, note. Judgment for s399.and costs. The remainder of evidence was heard in the divorce case of Harrison E. Jack vs. Zella B. Jack, and a decree , of absolute divorce granted the plain-1 tiff. Mrs. Jack, however, is granted SSO. alimony, and the plaintiff is to pay Ihe costs also. | Bertha Roop, who has sued Harley Roop for divorce, today asked for ' allowance and he was ordered to pay ,into court sls for her use within thirty days. Real estate transfers: Charles E. 'Bollinger to Bertha Wable, realty in ! Monroe tp., $6000; Charles F. Lee to Lewis Keller, realty in Washington tp., $6000; Mary A. Murphy to Lewis W. Murphy, 40 acres, Union tp., S3OOO. i — —■■■ o—■ NOTES FROM FACTORY SITE. Mr. Butler, president of the Chicago , Commissary company, arrived this ( morning with several assistants, and within the next few days they will j have the automobile factory ready for [ business, as the hotel for the workmen ( on the sugar factory site. He ■,pects i to board and room from 200 to 1,-1 000 men during the next five or months. — Work is progressing rapidly at the j factory site jitst now and a few days ( jf good weather will help. The steel, workers are busy as are those in every ( department. Mr. Crofoot has arrived ( from Detroit and has charge of the. construction work. , I — '■■■ "<• 11,1 — Mr. and Mrs. M. V. Archbold of Fort j Wayne were here yesterday visiting | with her father, J. L. Edge, who is in ( failing health, from quinsy and heart ( troublel

Decatur, Indiana, Monday Evening, March 25, 1912.

SAFE AND SOUND Arrival of Sterling Hoffman at Linn Grove Sunday from Indianapolis DISPELLED FEARS That He Was Unidentified Man Dying from Injuries in Fortville Wreck. I Sterling Hoffman, of Linn Grove, a student in the Indianapolis Medical school, arrived home Sunday safe and sound, for a vacation, causing great rejoicing at his home and dispelling! the fear that had prevailed when it was learned that an unidentified man injured in the Fortville wreck of Friday night, and reported dying, answered his description, and might be he. The news of the wreck was first learned by Sterling's brother, Forest, 'when he went to Bluffton, and as his brother was expected home from I school and would have arrived about that time, and as nothing had been heard of him that day, much apprehension was felt when it became known that he answered very nearly ( the description of the unidentified man, who was said to be about twentyfive years old, dark complexion, weight about 140 pounds. Forest made arrangements to go to Fortville to investigate, but later it was learned that a mistake had been .made in the time when Mr. Hoffman [was expected to leave Indianapolis and that he was not even on the wrecked car. Linn Grove and vicinity was much excited when news of his possible injury became known. | The wreck was caused by the telescoping of two cars of the Indiana Union traction line and Bert Mincer of Muncie, motorman, was killed and ten injured. SAD HOME COMING I Mrs. Will Baker of This City I Died at Jeffersonville While VISITING DAUGHTERS — Body to be Brought Here This Afternoon—Funeral Set for Wednesday. Closely following the word received Saturday that Mrs. Will Baker, of Seventh- street, this city, was lying ' unconscious, with no hopes for recovery, from pneumonia, at the home of 4- r daughter at Jeffersonville, came ' _ne "ord of her death which occurred Saturday night at 8.30 o’clock, causing grievous sorrow among her friends here, where her entire life had been spent. Mr. and Mrs. Baker left here in January for Jeffersonville, where they were visiting with their daughters, Mrs. Eli Peterson, and Mrs. Robert Ernsbergcr, and at that time there was no thought that she would never be privileged to return here alive again. Her illness covered only a few days, but as is the case [with the treacherous pneumonia, the 'life-destroying illness worked rapidly and mercilessly. The body will ar'rivo here this afternoon at 3:19 o’clock over the G. R. & I- and the I funeral will be held Wednesday morning at 10:30 o’clock from the Method'ist church. I Sarah Jane Elzey Baker was about fifty-nine years of age, and practically Tier entire life was spent here. Mr. Baker is one of the well known carpenters of the city, and for thirty 1 years or more has been employed by E. A. Mann, now of the firm of Mann & Christen. The Husband, with the foL lowing children, survive: Mrs. Alpha Ilmen of Van Buren; Louis Baker cf 'Tulsa, Oklahoma; Emma, wife of Eli 'Peterson, and Blanch, wife of Robert Ernsberger, of Jeffersonville. Marion Elzey of Chicago, Mrs. Frank Sanders lof Marlon and Douglas Elzey of Preb--1 le are surviving brothers and sister, ’and Jack Pyle of Craigvllle, is a half-

brother. Mrs. Baker was a woman of noble qualities and in her death, the community has lost one of its most excellent w’omen. RETURNS FROM MARION COUNTY — Indianapolis, Ind., Mar. 25—(Special to Daily Democrat) The control of the Marion county delegates of 134 votes in the republican state convention here tomorrow probably will decide whether the state’s four . delegates at large will be instructed for former President Roosevelt or President Taft for the republican nomination. Unless the Roosevelt forces succeed in contesting the 12% Taft delegates named in the convention independent political observers indicated that the Taft forces would control the situation. National Committeeman Harry S. New, president Taft’s leader, issued a statement, asserting that Taft had 823 votes and Roosevelt, 606. o THE YEAR’S WORK z Is Closed as Pastor of Local M. E. Church by the Rev. R. L. Semans. OFF FOR CONFERENCE —— Year Has Been Most Prosperous and Successful One—Church Thriving. i With the earvices of Sunday the Rev. R. L. Semans f closed his first i year as pastor of the local Methodist church, and will leave Tuesday for ’ Wabash to attend the annual sessions ■ of the North. Indiana conference. It is quite likely that the Rev. Semans will ’ be returned here another year, and this is the unanimous wish of the congregation. The church has thrived remarkably under the pastorate of the j ' Rev. Semans, and all its departments I —the Epworth League, both senior and junior, the Sunday school and all the various auxiliaries of the church, have showed wonderful development | The Sunday school has had an average attendance of 300 each Sunday of the year. During the year the Brotherhood order has been organized and is forging rapidly ahead, doing good work in enlisting the aid, sympathy and works of the men not only of the church but ol the city. The church has also discharged its financial obligations without difficulty, and has paid off an SIBOO debt. ' They have aiso contributed for benev- [ olent purposes the sum of $2400. Sixj ty new members have been received ! and twenty-eight baptized. While the ' growth otherwise has been great, there is exceeding sorrow that maily were called by death, the pastor having officiated at twenty funerals during the year. The number of weddings has been small. Rev. Semans officiating at but six. REPUBLICAN CONTESTS. (United Press Service.) North Vernon, Ind., Mar. 25—(Spec ial to Daily Democrat) —By a vote of 56 to 46 the Fourth congressional district convention this afternoiAi elected two Taft delegates to the republican national convention. O. H. Montgomery of Seymour and Webb Wigfield of Greensburg were the delegates named. Terra Haute, Ind., Mar. 25 —(Special to Daily Democrat) —Stormy scenes marked the opening of the Fifth district congressional convention here this afternoon for the selection of two delegates Lu the rcpubli 1 can national convention. J. M. John, of Rockville, a Taft, supporter, was named temporary chairman by acclamation over protest of the Roosevelt supporters, who had nominated H Meely of this city for the position. Roosevelt supporters threatened ! o bolt the convention. Indications pointed to’two Taft delegates. N#tv Albany, Ind., Ater. 25 —(Special to Daily Democrat)—-Taft supporters claimed 50 of the 92 delegates in the Third district convention here this afternoon. Roosevelt supporters disputed the claim. • Indications pointed to the selection of two Taft delegates. Wabash, Ind., Mar. 25—(Special to Daily Democrat) —Colonel Roosevelt today won his first delegates in Indii ana in his contest for the republican presidential nomination, when the Eleventh congressional district instructed two for the former president.

THE ALFALFA CROP Will be Discussed Here in Lecture Tuesday Evening by Prof. Christie AND HIS FORCE From Purdue University— Alfalfa Train to Start from Here Wednesday. “How to Grow Alfalfa Successfully in Indiana,’ will be the subject of Professor Christia, Professor Wianke and | others of the department of agricui-| tural extension, Purdue university, Lafayette, Ipd.,~who will be here Tuesday evening'and conduct the lecture in the court room. The gentlemen will come to this city Tuesday afternoon and prepare for their three days’ tour of the state, with their alfalfa lecture train. The train will start over the Erie from this city Wednesday morning and make nine stops each for Wednesday and Thursday, and seven stops Friday, ending at Crown Point, in Lake county, having made the entire trip across the state. Representatives of the soils and crops department of .Purdue university experiment station will present I results of extensive investigations of alfalfa growing in the state and large crowds of farmers eager for information on the growing of this valuable crop will meet the train at these points and hear the lectures and receive literature bearing upon the subject. Every farmer in the county is Invited to attend the lecture to be given here Tuesday evening at the court house. The next stop west of here will be made at Preble at 9 o’clock. The car will stop there forty-five minutes, arriving at Tocsin at 10 o’clock, where it will also make a forty-five minutes’ stop, before going to Kingsland. and then continuing its way westward. ON TO WINCHESTER Democratic Workers Will Attend the Congressional District Convention. TO BE HELD TUESDAY The Hon. John A. M. Adair Will be Renominated for Fourth Term. Democrats of the Eighth congressional district will gather at Winchester tomorrow, where the convention will be held. John Adair, who is serving his third term in the halls of congress, with a record ol much splendid work, well accomplished, is the only candidate and will be renominated. The meeting therefore becomes more of a love feast than anything else, lion. S. M. TJalston, democratic nominee for governor; . State Chairman Bernard Korbly, and other prominent workers of the state, will be present. Quite a number of. Adams county democrats will attend the meeting, the delegates being Fred Koldeway, Union township: Charles Dirkson, Root: John Hoffman. Preble: J. W. Parrish, Kirkland: Frank Bunner, Washington: Dick Welker, St. Mary’s; John Bebout, Blue Creek' M F. Parrish, Monroe; J. C. Augsburger, French; William Anderson. Hartford; Walter Thornhill, Wabash: Frank Hisey, Jefferson; J. E. Briggs, Geneva: John Craig, Berne; John Lose, R. C. Parrish and C. N. Christen, Decatur. The boys will leave here at 7:08 over the G. R. & 1. and will return at midnight tomorrow. BADLY SPPAINS ARM. Henry Schwartz of the Schafer harness department met with a painful accident in Fort Wayne Sunday even > ing at 8 o’clock while walking on Calhoun street. /He slipped and fell, spraining his right upper arm and tearing some of the ligaments loose. Mr. Schwartz left this morning for his home at Freidheim, where he will be laid up for some t'me. I /

NURSE IN I. O. O. F. HOME. For Women and Children—Mrs. Brad-! bury Goes to Springfield, O. Mrs. Florence Bradbury, sister of Mrs. Andrew' Welfley, left today for Springfield, Ohio, where she will serve as a nurse for the women and children in the Odd Fellows’ Home. Her contract calls for a year. Mrs. Bradbury has had much experience in this line, having served in the I. O. O. I 7 *; Home at Greensburg, Indiana, and also as matron in the Glenwood orphanage near Chicago, among others. MONSTER PADLOCK i Locking Dungeon of Adams 1 County’s First Jail Displayed Here. IT WAS PRESENTED By Ex-Sheriff McConnell— Also-First Pair-of Handcuffs Used in County. Mark M. McConnell, ex-sheriff of! Adams county, now of Cardwell, Mo d , comes to the front with a relic of the 1 county's first public buildings that 1 ante-dates W. H. Worden’s key of the first auditor’s office door lock by twelve years. It is a giant padlock and key that were used on the trap door in the middle of the upper floor that lead to the dungeon from the[ upper room of the old log jail, used l from July 1, 1837, until 1879, and the other relic is the first pair of handcuffs owned and used in Adams county. Mr. McConnell, who, by virtue of his office as sheriff had an unusually grtat interest in Adams county affairs, picked them up when they were cast aside as worthless, and have been cherished by him since. As he never expects tn return to Adams county again to live, he presented the relics j to the Daily Democrat, where they [ may now be seen, having been brought ! here by Mrs. J. W. Vail when she returned last week from Cardwell, where she spent the winter. The old jail, which was the first one in Adams [ county, was built of hewed logs in 1839 at a cost of $325, and was used until accidentally destroyed by fire in 1879. The jail stood on the southeast corner of the public square, the site of the present court house. The lower room lof the jail was called the pungeon and , was without windows or doors except j [for a trap door in the upper room j | floor through which the prisoners [ were thrust, the door being locked by I this monster padlock, now on display i here. The trap door was lost until! about four years ago, when T. H. | Ernst, custodian of the court house, j came across it among the debris in . the court house basement, and it was brought forth and displayed for some time at the county clerk’s office. The present jail was finished in 1886 and cost $25,000. WITH THE LODGES. All members are requested «to be on hand at the meeting of the Star of Bethlehem lodge this evening for the election of officers. Other business will come up before the lodge and the attendance of all is necessary. The Yeomen will hold a special business" session this evening, relative to the closing of arrangements for the anniversary celebration to be held on Tuesday evening. The state manager C. F. Carter, of Indianapolis, and other prominent officials have signified their intentions of being present and the occasion promises to be one o' 'exceptional int’erest. All members of the newly established lodge, the American Insurance Union, are requested to meet at the Ben Hur hall at 7:30 this evening. Election and installation of officers will take place at this time, and National . Warder Gates, of Fort Wayne, will be I present to give the obligations to the officers. NO SELECTION MADE. The action relating to the selection of a pastor has been postponed by the Christian congregation until next Sunday.

Price, Two Cents.

FEELS THANKFUL Judge Erwin Publicly Expresses Appreciation to Old Home Friends. FOR THEIR LOYALTY ■ Says Adams County Will Always be Sweetest Spot on Earth to Him. 1 desire to express to the citizens of Fort Wayne, to the delegates to the state convention from Allen county, to the newspapers of Fort Wayne ■and to the press in general from Allen county my kind appreciation for the services rendered to me in my candidacy for judge of the supreme court for the Fourth district, and also to the press in general and the democrats in particular of the other counties in the Twelfth congressional district, and also to the good and loyal friends in that old home county of mine, Adams. I am deeply obligated to the members of the bar of Allen county for their valuable assistance rendered in | the way of their kind indorsement [which they prepared and presented to [the newspapers for publication. 1 also desire to acknowledge my obligations [for the very high compliment paid me by the bar of DeKalb county. It would please me very much to be able to meet and personally thank each one of the many friends who assisted me in this, my ambition to become judge of the supreme court of the state of Indiana. While it would [be an impossibility, yet I desire in this manner to say to all those who have treated me so kindly that I appreciate their efforts. The friendship manifested in this fight for this nomination has been the most pleasing thing to me of any incident in my life of more than fifty years. To the citizens and democrats, especially, and more particularly to the delegates and others accompanying them to the city iof Indianapolis from old Adams counJ ty, my feelings are beyond power of [language to express. Recognizing the [fact of the very strenuous effort made upon the part of the balance of the i Eighth congressional district to induce the delegates from Adams county to support the opposing candidate, I canInot help but feel and know that the action of the Adams county delegation was prompted by more than political I ties. The loyalty and devotion of my friends from Adams county, where I was born and spent more than forty- ' seven years of my life, will be cherisnied by me in all the years to come as [one of tffe most precious remem[brances. Added to the fact that it iwas the home of my childhood, the [scene of my' earlier ambitions and the j place to me in all the world where ] the sun shines the brightest and the [flowers bloom the sweetest, this evi[dence of friendship and esteem will endear me to it as the most hallowed spot on earth. Those who have so kindly assisted me and have said to the state and the world that I was fit for this exalted position, have placed me under increased responsibilities in making good to the world their indorsement and it shall ever be my aim that by no act of mine shall your confidences ever be betrayed. RICHARD K. ERWIN. WAR! WAR!! Is the name of the film to be ■ shown this evening at the Star thea- > ier in three thousand feet of motion 1 pictures. This Is a film which dates ’ back to the era of the civil war, with ■ all of the principal battles fought and 1 so thoroughly explained that you will 1 greatly increase your knowledge on the subject which you I'.avo perhaps forgotten since taught you in school days. The film is full of the many • thrilling and realistic incidents, and ■ is one that has cost the company $lO,i 000 to secure it. Mr. Stoneburner is highly pleased with having secured this film and promises all their money’s worth. Ten cents for adults and 5 cents for children. MASONS WILL MEET TONIGHT. There will be a special meeting of the F. & A. M. lodge, No. 571, tonight, at which time the Entered Apprentice degree will be given to a candidate, and as many as can do so should attend.