Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 10, Number 112, Decatur, Adams County, 9 May 1912 — Page 1

Volume X. Number 112.

VICTIM OF MISTAKE Bryan Hendricks Shot in Groin With 32 Revolver by Brother-in-law. MR. MELVIN BABCOCK Got up During Night and Stumbled—Mistaken for Burglar and Was Shot. Mistaken by tils brother-in-law, Melvin Babcock, for one of the burglars, who have been raiding the country in iiie icinity of Beterson. Bryan Hendricks, sixteen-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Hendricks, of Monroe, is lying at his uome there suffering with a bullet fr< m a thirty-two calibre revolver in bis left groin It is thought, however, that lie will recover unless septic poison sets in. The occurrence is a most deplorable one, and one that causes the utmost sorrow- to Mr. Babcock and both families, although no blame is attached to any one. The Hendricks boy has been spending the past three or tour days at tho home of his sister, Mrs. Babcock, the family living on Mr. Babcock's father’s farm, that of I. D. Babcock, located four miles west of Monroe, and south of Peterson. It is in this vicinity that many burglaries have been perpetrated duriYig the past two or three weeks and the entire neighborhood is in a state of alarm and expectancy, not knowing when their homes may be- invaded. Wednesday at midnight, the Hendricks lad got up and went out of doors, in doing so. stumbling over a tub, which had been set outside the door. Mrs. Babcock heard the noise of the fall and awakened her husband, thinking that burglars w£?e around. Mr. Babcock got his revolver and got up, going to the door. He saw nothing and z then went to the window and looked out, but still saw’ nothing. He went back and opened the door. Just then the Hendricks boy, who carries one of ther Rash lights, turned it on in full force, to light his way to the house. This was flashed directly in Mr. Babcock’s face and he felt sure that the noise he heard had been made by a burglar and fired at the light. The lad was unable to call to his brother-in-law in time, and the bullet struck him in the left groin. The injured lad called ot*t to his brother-in-law, who at once recognized his voice, and horrified to learn that he had made the terrible mistake, hastened to the lad, who was taken into the house and doctors called at once from Monroe. The bullet w-as probed for, but was not located, and still remains in the lad's body. It Is thought, however, that the shot was not fatal, and unless complications arise, he will recover. The boy was taken this morning in an automobile to his parents’ home at Monroe. Mr. Babcock, when interviewed this morning, responded in a voice husky with sorrow over his deed, which though purely a mistake in all ways, causes him the utmost anguish. No blame, however, can be attached to him. —— ——o CONVERTING INTO RESIDENCE. D. H. Hunsicker is making a number of improvements on his building on Eight street, the lower part of which was used as a store. This is being partitioned off and is being converted into a modem and up-to-date dwelling hsuse, which will be a valuable addition much needed by the residence district. The upper part has always been used as a dwelling flat but the entire building will be improved in many details. The house will be rented. K. OF P. MEETING TONIGHT. There will be third rank work at the K. of P. hall tris evening, followed by luncheon and smoker. Every member should be present as a good social time is assured. MATTER DECIDED TONIGHT At a meeting of the committee to be held this evening, the matter of the sale of the Decatur Cement Roof and Block Company, will be finally closed.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

WILL ATTEND MEET. 1 he/ Elks, who always on previous I years have sent a number of members to the state meet of B. P. O. E„ will do likewise this year, and just who will go this year will be determined at the meeting to be held on Friday ti ght. Delegates will be selected at this time to attend the event, which will be held on the 24tlr of May at Anderson, and others will likewise go, who care to do so. Business relative to the remodeling of their new home, and other matters will come up at this time and It is hoped that a large attendance will be on hand to take part in the evening’s work. FOURTH OF JULY Will be Celebrated With a Big County Sunday School Picnic IF PLANS MATURE z* / County S. S. President Will Call Meet—Report of / Semi-annual Meeting. A' the semi-annual meeting of the Auams County Sunday School association, he'd recently at the county president was authorized to call a meeting of the Sunday school workers of the county for the purpose of arranging for a county Sunday school Fourth of July celebration. The event will be looked forward to with much pleasure by all. J. F. Lehman, county secretary and treasurer of the association. gives the following report of the semi-annual meeting which will be of interest to all the Sunday school workers of the county: The meeting was opened by prayer by Rev. W. F. Johnson. The county president, Jesse Rupp, in the chair. The following members were present: Jesse Rupp, Rev. W. F. Johnson, Rev. D. A. Kaley, Charles Zehr, E. C. Bierie and J. F. Lehman. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. Reports from several of the department superintendents were given. Rev. W. F. Johnson, superintendent of the home department, reports that efforts have been made during the year to increase the number of home departments but that there are still a number of schools without that important feature and that our county has not yet reached the “standard” in that department. This branch of the association work ’ was discussed at considerable length ! in the meeting and the council urges I the organization of home departments in every school in the county. The council received t'he informatics through the county president that efficient work has been done by the superintendent of the elementary department, Miss Jean Lutz, and that the indications arc that this department will reach the “front line” position by the end of the year. The adult Bible class department is I making encouraging progress. Thej superintendent, E. C. Bierie, reports that several new classes have been organized recently and that many of the schools have introduced this popular department with great success. A complete report of all classes organized in the county have not been received at the time of this meeting. The superintendent of tlie Teachers' Training department, Rev. D. A. Kaley, reported ten schools having students in that course with an aggregate of about 130 students. Never in the history of the county jias this department been in such flourishing condition. Charles Zehr, president of Jefferson township, reported that he has visited some of the schools in his township and found them in a prosperous condition and that arrangements have been made for the spring convention. A letter from the International Reform Bureau was read by the preside! in which the Sunday schools of America are urged to more activity in the temperance cause. The secretary informed the council that he hau received the annual resort trim 42 of the 56 schools in the county, only 14 have not yet reported. The following t eport of the treasurer was submitted, which was received and approved: Receipts $179.66 Expenditures 131.70 CONTIbmcL ttN PAGE TWO. /

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday Evening, May 9, 1912.

TENDER OFF TRACK Oscar Lankenau on Fast Clover Leaf Train Which Jumped Track at WILLSHIRE, OHIO 'Sends Word Home All Was O. K.—On Way to Toledo to Buy Goods. Oscar Lankenau, a member of the dry goods firm ot the Kuebler Company figured in a slight wreck this morning on the (’lover Leaf on his way to Toledo, Ohio, to buy goons for the store. He boarded the fast east bound Commercial Traveler, No. 6, due here at 5:12, and when it had reached a point a mile and a half west of Willshire. Ohio, the tender of the engine jumped the track, causing o delay of two hours, until repairs could be made and the trip continued. During the wait there Mr. Lankenau told a Mr. Cowans, the Willshire undertaker, to notify Mrs. Lankenau here of the mishap, but not to worry or be alarmed, as no one was hurt and everything was all right. The message was received at 8:30 o’clock ■ and Mrs. Lankenau was quite frightened until she learned particulars of ; the wreck, and was indeed glad to ■ learn the straight of it. as other ru- • ‘ mors soon reached the city contrary 1 to the one received by her. Mr. Lan- . kenau generaly makes this trip every .! spring to purchase their fall supply • j of suits and coats, and it was qn this • i trip that the mishap occurred. He > i continued his trip and will be absent ■ for perhaps a week. . 1 All trains had to be transferred to ■ the Erie at Ohio City, coming this • j way, until this city was reached, and i the same going eastward transferred ,' here and changing over again at Ohio I Citv. . i OARE REGISTERING •i- t - Good Showing Being Made in the City—Returns from County Meager. — NOT MUCH INTEREST But Voters Are Quietly Qualifying—Half Vote Out at 2 O'clock. The first registration ever held in Adams county is in progress today. The boards began business at 5 o’clock this morning and will continue until 6 this evening In some precincts, where a registration occurs each five minutes, the board will coni tinue until 8 o’clock. On account of ; the day being exceptionally fine the i farmers, who are late with their spring work, will perhaps not turn out as rapidly as was hoped for. From the meager reports in, the registration in the country is coming in rather slow. In this city, however, the showing is as good as was expected. Up to 2 o'clock about six hundred voters had registered, out of a total of about 1,200, being distributed as follows, showing a comparison with the vote of four years ago: Precinct Reg. Vote 1908 First “A" y ,... 99 192 First “B” 65 161 Second “A” 123 141 Second “B” <1 132 Third “A" 113 222 Third “B” 102 228 Total 576 1177 The voters from the various factories will be registered this evening. Most of them close at 5:30 and they will be rushed to the booths at once, and it is thought that at least threefourths of the vote will be registered by tonight, a remarkable showing in the city for the first registration. m —— WANTED LEGS CHOPPED OFF. (United Press Service) South Bend., Ind., May 9—(Special to Daily Democrat) —Samuel Colt, motorman on a city street car, begged bystanders to take an axe and shop

off his legs at he had been hit by his own car end fatally injured today. I He jumped off the car to turn a switch when the brakes failed to work, and the car struck him. Both legs were broken and he was internally injured by being under tiie car for a half hour. MRS. S. E. EDINGTON IL4-. Suffers Two Paralytic Strokes Visiting in Fort Wayne. James rfdington of Coldwater, Mich, was here a short while today and left at 1 o’clock with his brother, Clark, for Fort Wayne, where they will call on their mother, Mrs. S. E. Edington, of this city, who is a patient at the Hope hospital. Mrs. Edington went to Fort Wayne last week to visit with her son, Dee Edington, and on Mon- * day of this w’eek suffered a paralytic stroke, another coming Wednesday also. She is in a serious condition, but was somewhat better this morning when tlie son. James, left. VOTE WAS SMALL. Registered Voters Up Until Noon Today Was Light. (United Press Service) Indianapolis, Ind., May 9—(Special tod Daily- Democrat) —Dispatches received today from throughout the state indicated that the registration of voters under the new registration law was small up until noon today, compared with the vote 01 the last election. It was tnougnt, nowever that the registration would grow larger this afternoon, and the total registration was expected to be between fifty and seventy-five per cent of the usual election vote. , IS GETTING BETTER. Christ Hoffstetter Hurt Forepart of Week, is Improving. Chi Ist Hoffstetter, one of the yard employees of the Meyers & Lenhart saw mill, in the north part of the city. - and who the forepart of the week had one of his legs bruised when ho became pinched between two logs, making the limb very sore, is improving. He is still unable to be at his work, but is doing nicely and will get along all .right. _____— c ISSUED A PROCLAMATION. Governor Marshall Named Next Sunday as “Mothers Day.” Indianapolis, Ind., May 9 —(Special to Daily Democrat) —Governor Marshall today Jsjugd a proclamation, naming next Sunday as “Mother’s Day.” He urged that a red flower be worn for the mothers living, and a white flower for the mother that is dead. ERNST SCHLICKMAN ILL. Ernst Schlickman, formerly of this city, now of Denver, Colo., has been experiencing a siege of illness during the month of April. Mr. Schlickman carrier Insurance with the Continental Casualty company of which Dr. Keller is local agent, and received for his illness during April, the sum of $27. Mr. Schlickman thinks the company is o. k. MRS. ZIMMERMAN BETTER. Mrs. Elijah Walters returned this afternoon from Fort Wayne, where she called on her sister. Mrs. Samuel Zimmerman, of Cedarville, who was operated upon Tuesday at the Hope hospital for bladder trouble. She is getting alolig well and unless unforeseen complications arise will get well. Her brother, George Teeple, of this city was also with her at the time of the operation. FLESH TORN FROM FINGER. Ben Devor, yard man for the Smith & Bell lumber yard, had a most painful accident while closing the door of a loaded car at the railroad yesterday’, The third finger of his right hand caught in the door and the flesh, skin and nail was pulled off the bone to the second joint. ATTENTION, ELKS! All Elks are requested to be on hand for the meeting to be held on Friday evening, at which time arrangements will be made for the attending ot the local lodge at the state convention to be held at Anderson on the 24th of this month. Other business will be attended to at this time and a good attendance is desired.

ORATOR OF DAY Hon. C. L. Walters Will Give Memorial Address on Decoration Day. A MEMORIAL SERMON Will be Given May 26th by Rev. E. A. Goodwin of U. B. Church. ’ At a meeting held Wednesday evening all the committees named recently by the G. A, R. to attend to the events of the Decoration day celebration, May 30th, in detail, reported, and affairs have now’ reached the point where definite and practical action, together, can be taken. The program in full will be ready for publication after tue next meeting held next Wednesday evening. Announcement is macle, however, in advance,' that the Hon. C. L. Walters, one of the prominent attorneys of the city, will deliver the address on Decoration Day, Thursday, May 30th. The memorial sermon -vt. be delivered on the Sunday preceding, May 26th, by the Rev. E. A. Goodwin of the United Brethren church. At Wednesday night’s meet, another committee, w’hose duty it will be to secure automobiles for conveying the committees to the cemetery, where they will decorate the graves of the soldier dead, was appointed. The automobile committee comprises S. B. Fordyce, Charles Dunn, Frank Parrish, French Quinn, Gregg Neptune. AUTOISTS, NOTICE! Notice is hereby given to drivers of automobiles and bicycle riders that any infringements on the speed laws will be vigorously prosecuted. FRANK S. PETERSON, Marshall. BISHOP TO BE HERE Right Rev. Bishop Alerding of Fort Wayne to Confirm Large Class AT ST. MARY’S CHURCH Next Sunday Afternoon— Nearly Two Hundred Under Instruction. Next Sunday will be confirmation day at the St. Mary's church, when this sacrament will be conferred upon a large class of candidates. There will be one hundred eighty, Including all those children who have madetheir communion during the ast two years, when the sacrament was last conferred. A large number of adults and converts will be included in the class and Right Reverend Bishop Alerding of Fort Wayne will be here on Sunday afternoon to do the confirming. The adult class met at the home of Father Wilken Wednesday evening for instruction, while the children have been instructed in school recently. Heretofore the bishop was always here for the morning service, but owing to the great demand for him throughout the diocese he will confirm a class at Fort Wayne in the morning and come here in the afternoon and confirm during the vesper service. The services will be beautiful and a short talk will be given by the bishop previous to the conferring of the sacrament. AGED LAI’ ( DEAD. Linn Grove, May 9—Grandmother Ensley, an aged and respected lady, passed away at 2:10 p. m. at the age of eighty-three years. She was the mother of seven children, Mrs. Calmo Oswalt, of Poneto; Mrs. Mary Shephard, Mrs. Truce Heller, John Ensley, of this place, and Emma Seckies of Bluffton; Adolph Ensley of South Hartford township, Mrs. John Bryan of Marlon; WiTliamZEnsley of Anaconda, Nev.

SUFFERED PARALYTIC STROKE Mrs. John Wagner of First street, one of the highly esteemed ladies of the city, while at the Wagoner home near Monroe Wednesday, suffered a slight paralytic stroke. Mrs. Wagoner is sixty three years of age, and this is her first attack of paralysis. It is thought it will not result seriously, although it will be Impossible to tell ' the outcome before forty-eight hours. Her son, Ben Wagoner, who spent the night at her bedside, returned this morning and stated that she was getting along as well as could be expected. COURT HOUSE NEWS McClish Cases Set for May 20 and 29—Application for Allowance BY CLARA FELTON Inventory of J. F. Crist as Guardian of Catherine Wagner Approved. The inventory filed by John F. Crist, guardian of Catherine Wagner, was approved. In the case of the State vs. William Ward and Ode McClish, for conspiracy to steal, the cause as to McClish is set for May 20. and the other case in which both are defendants, is set for May 29, as to McClish. Clara E. Felton vs. Peter Felton, for support, appearance by Peterson & I • I Moran for plaintiff. Application for j allowance filed by the plaintiff. Fritz Koenig vs. Lizzie M. Hendricks et al., partition, appearance by Peterson & Moran and Erwin for defendants, who are ruled to answer. Real estate transfers: Malinda j Fronefield to Edwin J. Ahr, 169 acres, Washington tp., $24,000; Frank A. Lichtle to Charles W. Yager, 854, Decatur, $l4O-0; David Steele to Charles F. Steel, 1 acre, Washington tp., $500; Charles F. Steele to David Steele, lot 72, Decatur, $1800; Joel Baumgartner to John J. Schwartz, 40 acres, French tp., S3BOO. John Niblick, executor of the Jesse Niblick estate, upon petition, was granted further time to make report, being allowed twenty days additional. Malcolm A. Ripley w r as appointed guardian of Ada and Ray Hakes. He gave SI,OOO bond. MR. WAGNER GOES TO CHICAGO. E. M. Wagner returned from Indianapolis Wednesday afternooij and left early this morning for Chicago.' He is after labor to do the hand work in the fields of Adams county. At the Hoosier capital, where he spent several days, he failed to secure a solitary man. He hopes to have better success in Chicago. , Next week he will go to Cleveland, where he har secured twenty families, which he will bring here. The company would like to have 100 men to fill out the lists of applications here. Representatives of the Elwood Commercial club were here Wednesday in conference with Mr, Hubbard. They would like to interest the company In locating a factory at that place and it is not an impossibility in the near future, as the city is in a splendid territory. -' ■ — —■ —“ POLICE COURT NEWS. Marshal Peterson and Constable Ani drews arrested two negro women about 2 o’clock, whom they found back of the ice house near the Conter ice cream factory. They were brought to court, where they vehe- • mently protested their innocence. One , hails from Kalamazoo and the other > from South Bend. A court of inquiry ■ is being held as we go to press over i the actions accredited to the women. They were ordered out of the city and were escorted to the corporation line : by Policeman Andrews. Mrs. John Roehm changed cars here this afternoon enroute to Fort i Wayne from Sebum m, Ohio.

Price, Two Cents.

LAND OF FLOODS Dr. J. S. Coverdale Returns from Six Months’ Stay in Arkansas ON HIS PLANTATION States That the Floods Still Cover Greater Part of His Land. Dr, J. S. Coverdalc returned Wednesday evening on the 8 o'clock car from a six months’ stay at his planta tlcrt, two and •<. hall miles north ot Mari >n, Ark., and twelve miles from Memphis, Tenn. Dr. Coverdale was in the heart of the flooded district and had some very exciting experiences that he will remember as long as he lives. The old Mississippi is still on the rampage, although the floods have subsided much, and when he left the.e but a hundred and fifty acres of his four hundred-acre plantation, every inch of which had been under water from two to twelve feet deep, had come above the floods. During the last twenty-four hours of his stay, the waters began coming up again and had risen nine inches during that time. The floods were the highest in the memory of ti c oldest inhabitant of that district. It is thought that the waters will subside enough to allow the planting of the crops in good season, and that suffering from that cause will be obliterated. While many lives were lost by drowning along the Mississippi, but one man was drowned in the vicinity of the Coverdales, and that a negro i whose boat was drawn into a swiftly i moving current beyond his control. Dr. Coverdale's one-story house was flooded to a depth of eleven and a fourth inches, but that of his son, Clark Coverdale, was high and dry above the water, though every bit of land about was inundated. The house was built on a higher tract of land, and ■ made still higher by a high foundation, so that the family suffered no immediate inconvenience and danger to their personal comfort or safety. All, however, were not so fortunate, and many hundreds, the greater number negro workers on the plantations, were forced to leave their little onestory dwellings and go to larger and higher buildings. The court house at Marion was filled with negro refugees from the flood, and other public buildings were thrown open to them. Dr. Coverdale brought many pictures of the flooded city and country w’hich are of interest to all here. One shows a coffin house that was given over to the government supplies furnished the poor and needy. This was thronged with negroes who flocked there for supplies and at one time when the little porch was filled with thirty-five or more negroes, the burden became to heavy for its support The porch gave way and let thirty-five of the negroes down in a struggling mass into the water below. ...... Tlie floods have covered the country for a month, the water rising on the Saturday before Easter. Saturday night when the Coverdales went to bed, there was no sign of the water, but when they arose the next morning, on Easter Sunday, there was w iter everywhere—not a dry spot m sight. The rabbits and quail and small game, which abounds in great numbers, w r as driven to the higher land, or hemmed in and drowned, and Dr. Coverdale stated that but one poor lone rabbit was found lately by a boatman, the little animal having escaped death in some miraculous way. Dr. Coverdale looks well and hearty, and as brown as a berry, but he has evidently had enough excitement for some time. He stated that he would never go there to remain permanently, but expects to continue his trips there to look after his interests. The floods are not causing the sickness that one might expect, as the water is running in swiftly moving currents, and carrying away much of the filth that would otherwise remain and give out its death-dealing germs. Memphis, however is experiencing a typhoid epidemic, owing to the fact that the water from the floods has gotten into the waterworks mains. ATTENTION, MEMBERS. The Eastern Star will hold an important meeting Friday evening. Let I every member be present.