Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 10, Number 122, Decatur, Adams County, 21 May 1912 — Page 1

Volume X. Number 122.

DEADLY CURRENT -- vInstantly Electrocuted Finley Drake at the Power House This Morning. WAS PREPARING CAR Failed to Throw the Breaker and 550 Volts Shot Through His Body. Findley Drake, aged twenty-four, on June 2nd, next, the son of John Drake, who resides east of town in Union township, and an employee ot the Ft. Wayne Springfield Railway company, met death suddenly this morning at 6:15 o'clock as he was oiling a car preparatory to its making the run to Fort Wayne. He w as employed in the car barns as a repair man and one phase of his !u---ties required that he prepare the cars for their trips. He had gone on duty this morning and as usual had gotten the first car in order. He was working on th** second car, and upon coming to that part of the work which necessitated his climbing to the deck of the car, he failed t othrow out the breaker, an instrument designed to break the current and leave part of the line dead. The trolley line carried five hundred and fifty volts, and in oiling the trolley wheel in some way Drake became circuited and the fluid burned through him. He was alone at the time of the accident, there being no eye-witnesses to the sad occurence. Mose Henry, the road master, was the first to come to his aid. Upon getting the tools ready for the section men to go out on the track he noiced that one of the guys which held the trolley wire had broken. He told one of his men to get a certain tool and he started to throw out the breaker. Both the men walked toward the car barn and as Henry entered the car barn to use the safety device that Drake had neglected, he heard him fall on top of the car. At once surmising that an accidefit had happened he called Walter Noack, a lineman employed by the road, and they crawled to the roof of the car, where they found Drake lying. Other help began to arrive and they worked with him on the car roof until the arirval of Drs Smith and C. S. Clark, when he was removed to the car barn floor, where the doctors worked over him for over an hour. Drake s left wrist was burned over half in two and the palm of the hand was terribly lacerated. No other visual injuries were apparent. Soon after the accident his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. 'John Drake, were called His brothers, wno are all working in town, were summoned and were at his side a few- minutes after the sad accident. The parents, residing five miles southeast of town, arrived some time after the accident. Findley Drake was a young man of clean habits, well liked and respected, having a host of friends who were grieved in hearing of his sudden death. He was a member of the Red Men and Star of Bethlehem orders and was held in hie-h esteem in tiie lodge circles. His fellow-employees while grieved at the result of the accident, do not blame any one in particular. In working around the cars it was the rule, and standing order, that the employeethrow out the breaekr before commencing work. This Drake failed to do, a little carelessness on his part, that cost him his life. Only 550 volts were in the line that caused his death and the employees are at a loss to account for the severe results, this amount of current never before having been regarded as deadly. Findley had ben employed by the company for five years. First starting as a section hand he was promoted to firemen, then to engineer finally a few months ago to the position he held at the time of his death, that of repair man. He was unmarried. He leaves a grief-stricken father, inothe r , five sisters —Mrs. Walter Noack, Mrs. Harve Gay, Fanny, Clara and Cora' four brothers, Jacob, Frank, Theodore and Louis. He had been boarding with his brother-in-law, Harve Gay, for several years, and resided in the

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

extreme north part of town near the I automobile factory. After the accident the body of Mr. I ’lake laid in the ear barns until near--I.' .• o clock, w-hen it was removed to the undertaking rooms of Gay, Zwick & Meyers, where the coroner 'lewed tiie body. The coroner's jnqueat will be held at the interurban . Wednesday afternoon, commencing at 2 o'clock, and several of the employees will be examined. The body was prepared for burial and was moved to the home of the father about noon. The funeral arrangements have not been completed, • but it is thought that the burial will be at Mt. Tabor cemetery, and the funeral held from the home Friday afternoon, o HE PAID THE DEBT t Rev. Richeson Died Shortly - After Midnight in the 1 Electric Chair. OHIO IS VOTING [• ) On Their Choice fui President Today—Heavy Vote s Being Recorded. i ) (United Press Service) Boston. Mass.. May 22—(Special to ■ Daily Democrat>-*-The body of the . Rih - . Clarence V. T. Richeson, the t electrocuted murderer of Avis Lin- . nell, lay unclaimed on a slab in a local > morgue until noon today. Medical ; Examiner Dr. McGrath, who was one > of the physicians representing the I state at rhe execution shortly after J midnight, then held an autopsy after: > which it was expected the for i mer minister’s body would be I j claimed by his brother, Douglas Richei son. The latter prepared to have the i body shipped to Lynchburg, Va., II where it will be buried beside the ■ I dead man's mother. i' ■ 11 Columbus, Ohio, May 21—(Special to Daily Democrat)—Fair weather • prevailed in Ohio today for the presi- ■ dential primary, and as a result a heavy vote was registered. The polls opened at 5:30 a. m. and will close at 5:30 p. m. Ohio has forty-eight delegates to the two big national conven-1 tions. The republican fight between | President Taft and Colonel Roosevelt overshadowed all others in the struggle between Harmon and Governor Wilson. The third factor in the republican situation is Senator LaFollette, who is seeking delegates in four of the congressional districts President Taft voted today at Cincinnati. New York, N. Y„ May 21 —(Special to Daily Democrat) —The Rev. Madison C Peters, one of the prominent Congregational ministers of the city, today condemned the asking of such a question as “Are you ready to die for Jesus’ sake?” of Clarence V. T. Richeson, as lie was lead to the chair for the murder of Avis Linnell. “Such a maudlin and sacreligious question has distressed all sensible people with the church,” said the minister. “Richeson did not die for Jesus’ sake. He died to satisfy the demand for justice.” — —o HARRY ORGAN’S SON. Died at Chicago, According to Information Received. Burrier H. Organ, better known as “Bert” Organ, is dead at Chicago, according to a telegram received byChief of Police Ben Phillips Friday morning. The cause of death is not known. He is the son of Harry Organ, the smooth grafter, who swindled' a number of banks out of large sums, and wanted by the local officers for the forging the name of G. T. Burk to a check and cashing it at the old Adams County bank. MRS. JOHNSON VERY LOW. Mrs'. S. E. Hurless of Willshire, 0.. transferred here this noon enroute to Fort Wayne, where she was called by the very serious illness of her sister, Mrs. Oliver Johnson, who has been very low since the birth of a babe a week ago, and whose condition is nowvery critical. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson formerly resided In this city, Mr. Johnson at that time being engager’ in teaching in the public schools of the I county.

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday Evening, May 21, 1912.

TO HOLD A FAIR The City Fire Department Will Hold a Fair in the Near Future. TO BE A BENEFIT FAIR To Secure Annual Convention for Decatur in the Next Year. ♦ffie city volunteer and paid firemen are arranging to celebrate the opening of the new city hall with appropriate doings in the way of holding a lair on the evenings of Wednesday and Thursday, May 29th and 30th. The fair is being held in the benefit of the firemen who are going to Dunkirk on June 27th to land the convention for this city in 1913. Considerable funds will be necessary to land the convention as a good showing will be necessary. The firemen ’nave employed the city band for the occasion, and also an orchestra. The city ball will be decorated in appropriate designs and col ors and a gala day will be particularly in evidence. There will be booths in which the sale of various commodities will be made, including a fish pond, a refreshment stand, special fire department post cards and many other things. During the two evenings the city band will give a concert in front of the city hall and the orchestra inside wil ladd to the effectiveness of the affair. Invitation is extended to everyone to come and attend the fair and a god time is asured to all who attend. BUILD FIRE LINE Citizens’ Committee Advertises for Bids for Seventeen Hundred Feet. A SIX INCH LINE Other Sugar Factory Notes —Mr. Hubbard 11l— Beet Crop Half in. In another column will be found notice to bidders 'or the construction of about 1,700 feet of water main to be built from the city limits to the beet sugar factory, giving that institution fire protection as promised in the contract. The six-inch main will be built by the citizens' commitee, who will let the contract on the evening of June 3rd, receiving bids at that time for the wbrk complete, with three hydrants. The plans and specifications are on file at this office, where they may be seen at any time by persons interested in bidding on the job. Mr. F. H. Hubbard, the manager of the sugar company's plant in this city, is still confined to his bed, suffering from an attack of biliousness and a sort of general breakdow n. It is hoped that he will be able to resume his duties in a few days. Each day brings rhe arrival of a few more foreigners who will work in the beet fields here. The farmers seem to be fairly well supplied, and it is likely that no further special trips to secure labor will be necessary. If there are any farmers in need of help they should see about it at once. Many acres of beets have been planted in this part of the county, and the outlook for a big crop is good. It is estimated that by the end of the week more than half the crop will be in. r & . ____ THE BAND SERENADES. Monday night the city band, which has been working hard to perfect their music for the coming summer, gave a concert on the street in front of their rooms, that was well received by the large crowd which gathered around. As it was nearly 9 o'clock the audiance was rather small for a band coni cert, but the boys were well pleased I with the interest shown.

BUILDING GRANDSTAND. The base ball fans are making arrangements to start the construction of the grand stand at the ball park in the south part of the city. The work on the grounds is already progressing and it is hoped that a game will be arranged for Decoration Day. The grandstand will be forty feet long and will accommodate at least four hundred people. o NOTICE, RED MEN! All Red Men should attend the special meeting to be held at the hall tonight at 7:30 to make whatever arrangements are necessary for Brother Drake’s funeral. Q ABOUT THE SICK Sain Miller, a Sugar Factory Worker, Receives Painful Injury—Fell FROM WAREHOUSE Henry Hte Aible to be at the Store Again—Mrs. M. E. Reed Recovering. Sam Miller, hailing from AltoOna, Pa., a laborer at the beet sugar factory was the victim of a painful accident about 9 o'clock this morning, when he fell from the warehouse to the ground, breaking a bone and tearing the muscles, in addition to a sprain of the left foot. He was about to descend from the top, w-hen the framework surrounding the building gave away. He was at once hurried to the ciey for medical aid and suffered considerable pain until the injured member was replaced as it should be. He will be obliged to be oft duty for some time. Henry Hite, who suffered an attack of apoplexy last week, has recovered and is again able to be at his work. Mrs. M. E. Reed of Jefferson street, who suffered an atack of the heart last week, Is recovering and is now able to sit up. o ANNUAL ART EXHIBIT. The annual exhibit of art of the public schols, under the direction of Miss Bess Schrock will be held Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of this week. The usual excellent display of pictures and manual training work will be shown, and everybody is invited to attend. The hours each afternoon are from two to four. o GIVE SPECIAL PRICES. The Christian ladies still have a number of fine blooming geraniums left which they will sell at ten cents apiece. Call and get them at the Morris five and ten cent store, or at the old city hall building. o PAID PART OF IT. Indianapolis, Ind., May,„2L—(Special to Daily Democrat)—James Epperson, former state mine inspector, who was charged with a shortage of $6,000 by the state board of accounts, paid into the treasurer today $2,667.31 He contended that he did uot owe the state any more. Attorney General Honan announced thfs afternoon that the state would bring suit for tho remainder of the amount charged against him. \ STATE DENTISTS MEET. (United Press Service) Indianapolis, Ind., May 21—(Special to Daily Democrat)—Resolutions adopted here today by- the Indiana Dental association declared that new laws giving a more complete definition of what constitutes denth.try are needed in the state, and outlined a complete plan for the registration of dentists. Dr. Roy Archbold of this city is at the capital city attending the sessions and will be absent until Thursday ex* ening. — ---o—■ Mrs. Myrtle Dunbar left this afternoon for Columbia City, where she will visit with friends. I

A WEEK’S RESPITE I I Danger from Broken Crevasse in Mississippi Theatens Vincent Home IN NEW ORLEANS Danger Point Will be Reached Thursday—Brother of Mrs. B. W. Sholty. Mrs. B. W. Sholty this morning re- ' ceived a letter written on the sixteenth, from her sister-in-law, Mrs. James Vincent, of New Orleans, stating that they would be in serious danger from the floods of the Mississippi within a week. The high waters have broken the levee at a point thirty-five miles from the Vincent home, forming the Hymelian crevasse, which is five J hundred feet wide. This would send the floods throughout the country, adding to the danger and great loss of life and property, which has already ' wrought so much havoc along the entire length of the Mississippi. It was thought that the waters from this crevasse would reach the Vincent home within a week, and in the meantime everything possible to lessen the danger to life ami property is being done, to be prepared for the worst. The Vincent family visited here rec cently and are known to many here, 1 who trust that the danger can s be averted. As the letter was writ- , ten the sixteenth, the week will have > 1 been expired on Thursday of this week, and in the meantime relatives are full of anxiety. ; o A STATE MEETING t ‘ Os C. B. L. of I. is Held Today at Fort Wayne—Dei catur Council is REPRESENTED THERE By John Starost Delegate— Large Class of Sixty Initiated Last Night. . Several from this city attended the . C. B. L. of I. initiation at Fort Wayne • Monday evening, when a class of sixty ■ was received into the order, the init- ■ iatory team of the supreme council conferring the degrees. This morning at 8:30 o’clock at the Hanker hail. Fort Wayne, were opened the sesi sioiis of the twelfth annual conveni tiou ot the Catholic Benevolent i League of Indiana. Delegates from i the twenty-nine councils of the state • are in attendance and Thomas J. McLaughlin, supreme president and state organizer, is presiding. Decatur is amoung the councils represented, the others being Fort Wayne, Hammond, Chesterton, Dyer, Crown Point, St. , John, Griffith, Schererville, Tipton, Huntington, Avilla, Columbia City, Rushville, Frankfort, Gartett, Sheldon, , and Hesse Cassel. The afternoon business session opened at 1:30 o’clock. This evening the annual banquet of the league will be held, he- • sides which there will also be a progressive pedro party and dance. Next Sunday. May 26th, a new council of the C. B. L. of I. will be installed at Plymouth and the following Sunday, June 2nd, at Valparaiso. John Starost, delegate from the local council, and Mrs. Starost, are among those attending. o DEPUTY RECORDER RESIGNS. Mrs. Letta Peters Will Take Position With Schafer Company. Mrs. Letta Peters, who since January Ist, has served as deputy for County Recorder Andrew Welfiey, this morning tendesed her resignation to s accept a position as bookkeeper for ‘ the Schafer Saddlery company, which was made vacant by the resignation of Miss Sue Mayer. Mrs. Peters will be-1 - gin work there about June Ist. Mr. j ? Welfiey has not yet secured an assistant.

I FULL BERRY BOXES. With the new ruling of the state pure I food folks we are getting the good ' old-fashioned strawberry boxes, without false bottoms, false fronts, rats or hair switches. They are the plain, deep hoxes, filled to the brim. It is the duty of city sealers to visit the freight cars and inspect the boxes before permitting them to be unloaded. Since the berry season opened City Sealer Tolan of Fort Wayne has discovered but ten cases of short measure boxes. These berries were shipped from Chicago, and were packed in Missouri. The containing boxes are oblong in shape and they hold ten cubic inches less than standard. o COURT HOUSE NEWS Evidence in McClish Case Completed—The Defense Gave no Testimony. TO JURY TONIGHT Is Probability—McClish Did Not Take the Witness Stand. The trial of Ode McClish for alleged conspiracy to steal $5lO from Dan Cook, is progressing rapidly before Special Judge R. H. Hartford of Portland, the prosecution concluding its evidence about noon today. Dan Cook, who was the first witness for the State, and w-as called at 2 o’clock. Monday afternoon, was on the witness stand about two hours. He told how he had been induced to join a secret ' lodge at Fort Wayne and then went to Grand Rapids, Mich., where he parted with his hundreds of dollars, September 21, 1910, expecting to get big returns from it, according to the benefit plan of the lodge, but which never materialized. Ed Marschand and Ralph Spade, who claim to have lost in a similar way, were also witnesses. John Hoffman, who claims he lost S2OO in this way, was a witness. Other witnesses for the state wore Mr. and Mrs. Frank Spade, Ernst Doehrman and George Martin. Mr. Martin was the last witness used. He was not in court when called, at about 10:20, and a recess of about an hour was takeij to await his arrival. George Martin took the witness stand this afternoon and was followed again by Dan Cook, the prosecuting witness, w’ho answered a few more questions for the state. The defence called no witnesses, and not even McClish took the stand. The arguments were begun at about 2:15, and it is quite likely the case will go to the jury late this afternoon. Not all of the assessors’ books have yet been returned to County Assessor George W. Gentis, those of Root, St. Mary’s and Wabash townships and the city of Decatur being still out. Real estate transfers: Frank M. Schirmeyer to Lloyd E. Summers ( lot 45, Decatur, $1,000; Rosa Hofer et al. to Louis A. Graham, lot 28, Monroe, SSOO. o G. A. R. AT SOUTH BEND. (United Press Service) South Bend., Ind., May 21 —(Special to Daily Democrat)—The presentation of a United States flag to the local high school by the Woman’s Relief Corps was the chief event of the day in connection with the annual enatnpment of the Grand Army of the Republic of Indiana. The bulk pf the delegates and visitors arirved today and a public reception will be given in their honor tonight. Business sessions of the encampment will commence tomorrow and continue until Thursday evening. Among the large number present the following from Decatur are attending: T. R. Moore, Daniel Shackley, William Wetter, Ezra Cutting and Sim Fordyce. A. I. U. TONIGHT. The American Insurance Union will meet in regular session this evening at 7:30 o’clock at the Yeomen hall. The members are especially urged to be present at the meeting this evening. I George Steele, of the Steele & Weaver racket store, made a business | trip to Celina today.

Price, Two Cents.

THE DIVORCE EVIL Is on Increase in Indiana— One Divorce for Every Six Marriages SAY THE STATISTICS For 1911—Men are the Heaviest Offenders in the Domestic Realm. One divorce in Indiana in 1911 to every six marriage licenses issued gives the history of the state's va* rious “Renos” and their activities, according to statistics compiled by Thomas W. Brolley, state statistician. The ratio was not quite so high, but the fraction was almost negligible. The rate of divorces compared to the marriage licenses issued, was four tenths of a person higher last year than in 1910. Mr. Brolley’s figures show the comi paratlve number of divorces granted in Indiana courts and the total number of mariage licenses issued during the last ten years. The lowest divorce ratio in that period was in 1904, when one couple was divorced to 8.2 couples granted licenses. I The total number of divorces ■ gramted in Indiana in 1911 was 4,920, ' and in 1910 the total was but 4,630. I The total number of marriage licenses : issued during the year was 30,345, J while in 1910 the total was 30,667. Men were the heaviest offenders In j the domestic realm, divorces being j granted to 3,677 wives, in 1911 and to j 1,243 husbands. Cruel treatment formed the basis i of the greatest number of conjugal difficulties, as shown by the returns I which included 1,478 divorces ! granted to wives from that cause, and . 477 to husbands. On grounds of ' abandonment, divorces were granted I wives in 728 instances and husbands :in 414 instances. Statutory charges ! allowed wives divorces in 216 instances and husbands in 228 instances. Criminal convictions figured in the returns, fifty divorces being given wives on that ground and two being given husbands. Drunkenness was responsible for 385 divorces granted wives and 46 granted husbands. Failure to provide gave 667 wives their freedom. In the past ten years there were 40,256 divorces granted, and 285,146 marriage licenses. In 1902 the divorces numbered 3,552 and increased to the 4,920 of the past year. In Adams county but nine divorces were granted, and 184 marriage licenses. The greatest number of divorces was 823 in Marion county, with 3,332 marriages; Vigo county was next with 222 divorces and 1.163 marriages; Allen county had 208 divorces and 919 marriages. o . REGISTRATION PAY RULING. In an opinion given the state board of acount, Attorney General Honan holds that the only pay which members of the registration boards may receive is the $4 a day provided by statute. The attorney general defined the length of the day to be considered in such payment as that period of time from one morning to the next morning or twenty four hours, in case the inspector of the board used a fraction of a day in performing duties connected with the registration, such as going to the auditor’s office for paper and supplies, the attorney gener- ' al held that he should be paid for such fraction of a day's work, "at the rate of $4 per day,” but not for a full day’s 1 work. The payments should not bo 1 made to the members of the board, ’ according to the state official, until ' after Itemized claims, verified as re- ' quired by law, have been filed wich ' the county commissioners. o COMPANY INCORPORATES. Articles of incorporation were filed at Indianapolis Monday by Sprunger, Lehman & Co., of Berne. The company, which will conduct a retail mercantile establishment, is capitalized at $25,000, and the incorporators are L. A. Sprunger. J. F. Sprunger, Noah Luginbill and E. W. Lehman. Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Weaver attended the sixteenth wedding anniversary celebration of Mr. and Mrs. L. B. Brokaw at Fort Wayne last evening. •