Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 10, Number 241, Decatur, Adams County, 9 October 1912 — Page 1
Volume X. Number 241.
DEATH BY OWN HAND Marshal E. M. Atkinson of Geneva Committed Suicide by Shooting Himself. AT AN EARLY HOUR Placed Muzzle of Doub’e Barreled Gun in Mouth and Pulled Trigger. Marshal K. M. Atkinson of Geneva, well known over the county In his of--1,, at> well kb an oil man. killed himself instantly at o'clock this morning at his home on Harrison street, at Geneva, by shooting himself through the head with a double-barreled shot-gun. The shooting was evidently done with suicidal intent. The tragedy took place in his room, where he bad Just arisen from bed, and no one saw him do the awful deed. HU wife bad arisen and had gone to the kitchen to build a firn where she was when she heard the fata' she’, and Ced at once from »he h<> Neighbors who heard the shot hastened to the scene and were the first to see Che awful sight. Mr. Atkinson had evidently just arisen from the tied and taken a seat on a chair at the foot, about three feet away. He was clothed only in his underclothes, except for his stockings and supporters The instrument of shooting was a double-barreled shot gun. Evidently the first barrel was empty, as the wife stated that she heard first a click and then a second one with the shot. The end of the gun had been slipped through the waistband of the underclothes into the leg of the drawers, ami through to the floor. Where it rest ed this precaution Leins taken to bU-ady the run. The mouth had then teen placed over the muzzle of the gun. Mr. Atkinson leaning his bead forward to do so. The left hand was pi d over the muzzle end of the gun Mar the msuth and Hie right hand nsM to puli tb»- trigger. i*r»th doubtless rsma instantly. The face was uot disfigured, but the crown of the heat wiu bulged out, the shell crushing the skull bones
Coroner Grandstaff reached the scene about 8.30 o’clock and viewed the body, taking the evidence of a number of vttfiSMes and will return Th raday to finish the Inquest. Mrs Atkinson stated that both had retired at 9 o’clock Tuesday evening after returning from town Mr. Atkin--uu acoee about I o'clock th!* morning. but returned to bed again. Just be re they got Up for the duy at about 5:30 o'clock, ahe says he asked her where his gun was. She wont into the kitchen to build the fire and then heard him walking about She went into the bedroom and saw that he hud the run ami osk-d him what he wanted to do with it. He replied that he Just wanted to look at It. Mrs. Atkinson then returned to the kitchen and about two minutes afterwatd heard the shot. She ran ocrea mi ng from the house This soon brought the neighbors and among the first ones on the scene were N’ D. Shepherd, Archer Haugh ton Mid Wid Pease Dr * Price was cal’ed, but Mr Atkinson had doubt!-** been killed Instantly and was beyond the need of a physician Despondent Over Trouble Itespoadeacy over troutdes result Ing from his ofll<* as marshal, and also from great pain which he suffered Tuesday from neuralgia and toothache, are thought to bo responsible for his death Evidam* at the coroo St'S Inquest brought forth the fact that some time ago he spoke to his »d---tegsrdlag his work and m»I he had so many troubles he was ah «ld h« would kill himself sometime marshal, be was bound to Incur the "•bitty of some, and II is said that » terutn element In Geneva has been making things disagrees bl*’ for him •inly thia week. Flnby Kelley. ••' ••ty-nced to fourteen days in )»•• !,,r intoticaUon and was placed in th" fief* calaboose to be brought later b' the Jan here. It Is said that sometime during Ht« night the lock was pn-d oft •he ralnhooss and Kelly was liberal cd and when Mr Atkinson went to * httr. found his prisoner gone This •dh other troubles that are bound t« come to one who serves the public, no doubt brought the climax Io » brail
DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT “DECATUR CAM AND WILL”
at this time. Mr. Atkinson .also suffered greatly from tooth ache and neuralgia yesterday. In Hie morning he hud gone to a dentist to have a tooth drill- | e<i and filled, in the afternoon about I turee o'clock he dropped into the office of Squire Armantrout and while there the filling came out. He suffered in tensely and told Armantrout that if the misery did not soon ease, he would go crazy. Mr. Atkinson was about fifty-two years of age. He is survived by his wife, Emma, but leaves no children. Mr. Atkinson <-ame to Geneva some ten or fifteen years ago, when the oil loom was at its height, he being engaged in that business. He was elected to the office of town marshal and served a term, and was defeated latc| when he ran for a second term. He then left for Michigan, wiiere he was engaged in the lumber business, hut returned again to Geneva to reside. About seven months ago he was appointed by the town board to serve as marshal. Mr, Atkinson was quite recently appointed by Judge Merryman to serve as a member of the cHldreifs I board of guardiank to succeed Mr. Andrew Teeple, whose death occurred a few months ago. Mr. Atkinson was well and favorably known and was quite prominent. He visited in this city several times recently, and it is said was here only Tuesday. He was also here in attendance at the Ollie James speech last week. Mr. Atkinson was a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows lodges. COURT HOUSE NEWS _____ Will Ward Case Called for Trial in Adams Circuit Court Today. BEFORE A JURY I Special Judge Hartford is Hearing it—Howard Parker Estate Closed. The case of the State against Wil! Ward was called for trial In the eir-1 cult court this morning before a Jun-' ajd a judge. The Hon. R. H. Hartford of Portland is hearing the* ease as special judge. This is the case tn ' which Ralph Spade charges Ward and Ode Mct'llsb with conspiring to steel' 3610. This is another of the get-rich-quick cases in which McClish, wno Is t now serving a term In state's prison at'.
Miccigau City, is Implicated. Prosecutor R C. Parrish fr prosecuting the case, while Ward is being defended by Attorneys A. P lieatty and L. C. DeVot s At 3:45 o’clock a Jury bad j not been secured. The final rsport of Albert It. Riley. * administrator or the Howard Parker, estate, was approved. He »aa ordered to pay over 8171.88. due Leah Parker. I to her legally appointed guardian This was done and re|>orted and the 1 administrator discharged. The trial of the Austin, one ’ of the alleged creditor* of the Adnms County Publishing company, for wh.ch a rec eiver was appointed upon appK cation of I. P luindls. the former ed Itor, which was set for today. Was po»t|x>ned until O-tober Sth. The case nt John A. Hendricks vs. Nelson FbssntgM. appealed from Wabash Justice, set for October 25th, has been left off the trial calendar. The appraisers of the damages to be incurred by Harsh Raker et al, in th.- appropriation by the Chicago O Erie of land for .touble-tracktog purposes. filed report, fixing the damages at 84d. Th" damages to be sustained by Maria K Hower et al., were filed at 120 In th" case of Charles VunCamp el al vs Laura A’anCampt demand. iM.noo, , motion filed by the d-fendant to set aside and quash the notice of the plaintiff to have the defendant appear here for examination. was sustained. The defendant la now married to IMward H Tufioll. of McClean county, N. I>. where she resides, ami she allsgM that site is tmi required to appear fur e»nmlnatlon outside of lbt> county In wiilrli she resides The examination was to have b**n held hero Octob> r »th. ill the Will llamtAell ofllve. The final teport of Harvey 0 Davis, guardian rd Drmarts Ray. and current report ar to other wards were approv ed and th.- g-iardlafi discharged as u» Demaria .
THE BEET PARADE \ Mr. Wagner Announces All Weighing Stations Outside Decatur Will Close ON OCTOBER 15TH I Day of Big Parade—-Re-quest That Dinners be Furnished for Workers. I The Holland-St. Ixiuis Sugar company has announced that no beets will be received at any of their weighing stations in the Adams county field on Tuesday, October 15th, excepting at the Decatur plant. On that date will occur the beet wagon parade, when ft it expected that five or six hundred wagons wt|) be in line. Since so many fanners slid laborers wish to come in on that day, the company has decided to close all the outside weighing stations, believing that it will not be worth while to keep them open. In this connection we have been asked to request the farmers is convenient to prepare baskets of dinner to feed the beet workers. This is requested for two very • good reasons. First, it is thought that the restaurj ants will be overcrowded and that It may be difficult to obtain dinners, and second, there is nothing counts so much with these workt rs as good treatment and this dinner Nvil! aid greatly in securing good help for next year. The dinner will be served on the grounds near the sugar factory and it is hoped will be a successful event for all concerned. This is not | a demand, but simply a request, and < I one that is up to the farmers, j The beet workers will take a promii nent part in the parade, divided into ( delegations representing their native , country, carrying their own flags and ' singing their national hymns. FELL FROM TREE Almon Shafer, Aged Sixtyfive. Fell Eighteen Feet from a Ladder. I — l‘ HE CANNOT RECOVER• _ I I M
Has Been Unconscious Since Fall—Became Overbalanced—Alighted on Head. — Almon Shafer, gged slaty-five, a well' {known farmer of fit. .Mary's township, ■fell from an el gh teen-foot ladder Tttep-' 1 day afternoon w hile picking apples in ' | his orchard and broke the two collut- ■ bones, and received internal injuries I which will prove fatal. He was working in a tall apple tree and was at the apex of the ladder, which was eighteen feet long and in reaching out after the frwilf became overbalanced and fell, alighting on his head and sboulders. Help came immediately and he was carried to the ■house where medical attention was
given him Itoth collar bonea were broken and Internal injuries of a aerloua nature were Inflicted. He lapsed into unconaciousn-Ui and has since continued ao. not beta# nble to jft ogni/e bin doaest relatives The phy alrlan In attendance holds out no hope for hia Mr. Hhafer is well known In thia city and ha» a host of friends. He always greeted one with a tynlle that will be missed by many. IB II mew I .0 REV. SEAMAN# TO SPEAK. At Trinity M K. church on ThuA day evening at < M o'clock, thero will he a missionary service relating tn both home and foreign missions The work will relate to both home and foreign missions and will be conducted by Rev II E. HeemnS. form an pastor of the church and now of Decatur. and Itrv Edwin th ton. of Leo Ft. Wayne News. PRE COMMUNION SERVICE. A t.rvlce preparatory to .he com munion service of Sunday will be held tonight at * o'clock at the Presbyterian < hurch The members of the church am urged to be present. WM H. <ll.Kt HER. I astor
Decatur, Indiana. Wednesday Evening, October 9, 1912.
************** * CAST YOUR STRAW BALLOT. * * * We are sending each reader of * * the Daily Democrat in the city of * * Decatur this evening, one of the * * Cincinnati Enquirer's straw vote * * ballots. We ask you to fill same ■'< * out carefully ami honestly, seal it * * and hand to the carrier boy, to- * * morrow evening. They will not * * be opened until they arrive at the * * office of the Enquirer and you -k * need not sign them unless you * * wish to. Vote, that the trend of * * opinion may be known If you * * will not be at home place the cn- * velope where the carrier can se- * * cure it without trouble. * the Decorations Persons Coming to the Business Section This Morning Were Surprised. AT THE DECORATIONS Many Arches Put up in the Night—More to Come e Each Night. Citizens coming to their work in the business section of town this morning were agreeably surprised at the appearance of the streets which had over night been decorated with twentyeight beautiful arches of flags and sti earners, the first part of the decorations for Old Home Week to be held here commencing next .Monday. The Seifert Brothers, decorators, commenced Tuesday night in earnest to place the decorations for the week In place and will continue their work every night until it Is completed. The decoration of the majority of the business byuses is yet to do. and will be taken up as soon as the balance of 1 the arches are placed. When the j arches are all up and the busine«s I houses all decorated the town will present an appearance which will I'ieaM. and display the city progressiveness emphatically. All the decorations will be in place for the opening next Monday morning and the week will start off with a rush. The special trains run by the railroads will add materially to the crowds and the week cannot help but be a hummer. —.— o
FIRS’ 1.4 TWENTY YEARS Mr. and Mrs. Marion Davis Friday from Springfield, Mo., to visit here with relatives and attend the Old home we. k ce’ehratlon Mr. ivavls was born and reared here but this will be his J first visit tn twenty years tie Is a -brother of Mrs. J. R. Porter, Mrs. Ella j Redding and R. A. Davis. ANNUAL SYNOD .. Os the Indiana Presbyterian Church Held at Shelbyville Next Week.
BEGINNING MONDAY Rev. Gleiser and C. J. Lutz Delegates from the Local Congregation. Rev W H. Gleiser and C. J Luts, who have hern named delegates from the local Presbyterian congregation to the annual Indiana Presbyterian synod to be held at Shelbyville, will leave Monday to attend the sessions which open Monday morning and continue through Wednesday evening The program promises many good things and among the numbers 1a an address by Mark Allison Matthews, of Reattlb. Wash Rev Matthews Is moderator of the general synod, and Is also pastor of one of the largest Pres hyterian churches in the United] States EA. K Hackett of Fort' Wayne, editor of the Hent!»wd. Is alao ( Hated for an address. Many other] men of national and state reputation In thia church will take part and the synod promises to be one of great inspiration to the many attendants.
SPECIAL TRAINS Will be Run by the Grand Rapids & Indiana for the Home-coming Week. A GREAT LATITUDE Os Time is Offered Visitors Here—Operates from Ft. Wayne to Portland. — The Grand Rapids & Indiana Railway company has issued the special schedule of special trains which wili be run by that enterprising company to accommodate the visitors to the Home-coming. The trains will be operated the loth, ICth, 17th, ISth and 19th, from Fort Wayne to Portland and will give the greatest latitude in ' accommodations that is possible. Complementing the regular trains the | schedule will afford a great range of | time to the visitors who use this line : and the people of this city feel gratei ful for the accommodation given The ; schedule reads: Southbound. Leave Ft. Wayne 7:30p.m. Hoagland 7:50 p.m. Williams 7:55 p. tn Decatur 8:08 p. tn. 'Arrive Monroe 8:20 p. in. Arrive Berne 8:30 p.m. Arrive Geneva 8:40p. in. Arrive Bryant 8:48 p.m. Arrive Portland 9:00 p.tr.. Nolhbcund. Leave Portland 9:15 p.m. Leave Bryant 9:28 p.m. Leave Geneva 9:35 p.m. Berne 9:45 p.m. .Monroe 9:55 p.m. Decatur 10:10 p.m. Williams 10:20p.m. Hoagland 10:25 p.m Fort Wayne 15:45 p. m. IS LOCATED HERE Dr. Sterling Hoffman of Linn Grove Opens Office Here for Practice. HAS MOVED HERE
Has Opened Office Over Interurban Station—Excellently Qualified. Dr. S. I’. Hoffman, who has opened his office over the Interurban station, has moved his family Into the property just vacated by Oliver fichu* at 22J i North Fifth str'.vt. Dr. Hoffmann, who Is a Linn Grove young man, comes to us a very highly recommended young man. and hns mud" especial preparation for the practice of medicine. He was formerly a teacher In the schools of this coun ty. two years in the common school and two years as principal of the Linn Grove high school. After deciding to prenare forth» practice of medicine h« began his preparation by securing a liberal education He received his B 8. degree from Marion Normal col lege and his A. R. degree from the Indiana university In Ifilfi. In the meantime he spent one year In chew Istry at Purdue university. After receiving bls degree at I. U. h«« was given a teaching fellowship in the deportment of physiology in that school Itecldlng not to interrupt his course he declined to accept this post- ' Hon Anin the following year. durltkt his Junior year In medicine be was given a teaching fellowship In Wash ington Medical university at fit, Ixtuls In the department of pbarmscolooy. but again desiring not to deviate from his course he decided not to accept thia place. Dr. Hoffman graduated this June from the Indiana I’nlveralty Hchool of Medicine and on examination before the state board of medical registration made the honor roll with the high grade of »<>• points out of a possible Indiana university is one of the lead !ng schools of the middle west and the system employed in thia jiate for Hie teaching of modern medietas and ther apetitica Is second to none In the union
HEARING THIS AFTERNOON. William Cook Went to Van Wert to Answer Horse Stealing Charge. William Cook, who was charged with stealing a horse from P. Masterson of Van Wert, Ohio, and who was released on SSOO bond, wen to Van Wert by automobile today noon and at 1 o'clock was given a bearing before 'Squire Manship. Cook was accompanied by Deputy Sheriff Kelly and Joh'nuy Corbett, the twelve-year-old boy who claims that he accompanied <'ook to Van Wert Sunday and was told by him to take the horse out of .Masterson's stable and start for home. The horse was purchased from Cook by Masterson and it is said was not settled tor. c J R. COFFEE LEAVES TOMORROW. Jerry Coffee and family will leave Thursday for Los Angeles, Cal., where they will make their future home. They are leaving Adams county, not because they do not love our people and the locality, but in the hope that Mr. Coffee's health which has been very bad for several years may be Improved. They desire us to say to their many good friends in this locality, Good-bye, and to assure them that their best wishes remain with the dear ones in old Adams county. NECK WAS BROKEN Georee R. Venis of Bluffton Dies Three and Half Hours After Accident.
HAS RELATIVES HERE Formerly Lived in Adams County—Funeral Will be Held Thursday. -Many relatives and friends from this city will attend the funeral of George R. Venis. ex-councilman of Bluffton, and a former Adams county resident, which will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'cloc k
i The death of Mr. Venis occurred I Monday night at 11 o'clock, three and t a half hours after he fell in an acci-1 dent in which his neck was broken. Mr. Vents was at his shoe store and repair shop, and had climbed to the top of a ladder to search on one of the top shelves for something, when ( he slipped and fell. In the fall, he' | struck his h«»d on a small stool and I foot rest combined, and death ensued I three and a half hours later. Mary, wife of Thomas EHey, and Thomas i Venlo. of thia city are his sister and brother, aa are Samantha, wife of Homer Walters, of Continental. Ohio, and By) restar Vania of Hoagland. George Riley Venis was lajrn in Ohio on April 24. ISM, the son of Rudolph and Elisabeth Venis. The family moM to Indiana and settled In Adams county when he was a young boy and he came to Wells county about forty years ago He first located at A'ers Crux and there learned the tratje of a shoemaker In the shop operated by Ephraim Mosnre for a number of years After learning his trade he came to IMuffton and opened the shoe store In which he has been interested ever since His son. Roy. has been a partner In bus! . neaa with his for a number of years Within the last year they added a Stock of shoes to thel" repair shop equipment. Mr. Vonla was married on February
28. 187*. to Mias Ellen Rtonebrook. who had been practically a life-long resident of Weils county Mbe survives him with three sons. Roy, of this city: Carl, of Fort Wayne, and Raymond, of Muncie There are also several rmndtihlidrm surviving MEtT AT BLUFFTOfiI The local <»dd Fellows lodge Is In receipt of a letter from the Hlufftnn lodge and cantonment giving the news that on October ssth they will hold a district meeting there |nt which several of the stale olfitcrs will he pre* ent and a big program han been nr ranged for the entertainment of the visitors There will be a drill by the It I uff ion Cantoment. the beat drilled cantonment In ths world. The visiting brothers will be assured a warm rereptlon and many from here will eo to flluffton to be in attendance
Price, Two Cents.
W. J. BRYAN IS COMING The Great Commoner and Samuel M. Ralston Here Friday, Oct. 18th. OLD HOME WEEK Entries for Horse Show Coming in Rapidly—Concerning the Ponies. William Jennings Bryan, the great commoner, three times a candidate for the presidency, and the most popular American living today, will be in Decatur on Friday morning of next week. He will be accompanied by Samuel M. Ralston, democratic candidate for governor of Indiana, and a number of other noted mon. The news was confirmed in a telegram from Mr. Kilinghatn received Tuesday evening. County Chairman Bosse is already busy on the advertising, and he has appointed John W. Tyndall as chairman of the reception committee. A delegation of twenty-five will leave here at 6 o’clock Friday morning, going to Ft Wayne, where they will meet the party and return here, arriving at 8-30. The speech will probably bo made on the west side of the court house and it Is needless to say that many thousand will gather to hear the world's great - i ost orator. Friday is also horse show 'day of the Old Home Week, and the i visit of these men of national fame i will but add to the festivities of the occasion. They will go from here to j Bluffton, thence to Marion. Anderson, i Muncie, Portland, Winchester and into ’ Richmond for a night meeting. As but ■ three days are allotted to Mr. Bryan in Indiana, owing to the great demand for him in every state, he will speak I in only a comparatively few cities and Decatur is fortunate to be in his Bin- ■ erary. It will be one of the big days of the campaign as well as of the Old Home Week Ail arrangements are being completed to make the day a banner one in Decatur
John T. Myers, chairman of the horse show committee, reports that the entries are coming in rapidly and the success of that feature of the big week is assured A big Interest Is be- ' Ing manifested by the farmers from all 'over this sec (I tlon. In connection with the horse show will tie given a pony show, entries In this be'ng for the p.trade only, Cash prises will be given on ponies, first |3.M; second. 82.00. and third. 11.00. Pleas, send in your entries early oo as to be sure of your stalls. Miss D. O. Jackson writes ns from Boyerstown. I*a. regretting that ahe cannot be here, thanking us for the paper and invitations and declaring that her thoughts will be ip Itw-atur next week, even if she can't. Mr and Mrs LA Hayward Write from Georgetown. Mas*. ordering the paper sent to them that they may k«ep tn touch with our live community Mrs Anna Fahrenbach and family of Ft Wayne have accepted, while Mias FrankThompson of t’algary. Alta. Canada, sends her regrets The streets of Decatur fairly made the business men gasp this morning as they came down He-ond street, where the decorators were busy all night, putting up the streamers across the street Flags and bating are everywhere and we are sure getting ready. The business men have taught the spirit end at least half have added a coat of paint to their st or- fronts BUT UF THt LAMP.
Martin Mylott and a force of men ' raised the new light post In front of the city building this morning, getting it ready for Old Home Week. Three will be a six thousand watt lamp placed on thia and will light up two or th rye squares 0 ' ■ —- —— DAILY CENSUS REPORT. Itomthy Vernon is th- nemo of th» nine-po -nd daughter that came into the horpe of Mr and Mrs. linice Carr t'hrteieu Tuesday afternoon. The babe came In time for Ihunoonming but intends to »U;