Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 12, Number 48, Decatur, Adams County, 26 February 1914 — Page 1

Read By 15,000 Each Evening

Volume XII. Number 48.

ROBBED BT I HIS FRIEND — —’ I | Earl Irvin Taken to Millsdale, Mich., to Answer Charge of Robbery of GROVER SEARIGHT ■■■ ■ I Adams County Roy Confessed to Deputy Sheriff Jesse Kelly. I Grover Searight. n young Joilerson township boy. left pennih amt stranded at Hillsdah Mid;.. r. l.ruary 110. when he was robbed of will B receive the surprise <>r his life when Sheriff Keas, of Hillsdale, who left there this morning, arrives there with tyoung Earl Irvin, aged nineteen, of I Jefferson township, who has confessled to having robbed his friend and I loom-mate. Young Seuright, who is about the hige of Irvin, formerly lived at Mid hand. Mich., but had been working in jthls county. He sold hi:, horse and I buggy lately and going to Ho,-kiord. iOhio, got a certificate of deposit for I S4O. having the rest in cash. He and I young Irvin left for Hillsdale, where I they expected to work, putting up ice. I They- put up at a hotel together ami I during the night of February 9, or tie morning of February 10. young s. [ Tight found that his money. in cash and the 140 bank certifi at,- had i been taken from the pocketbook in his i clothes in his room. The next day his room mate. Earl ' Irvin, left Hillsdale, telling Searig t r that he was coming back hone . In ■ the meantime Searight had told the | Hillsdale officers of his Im ing robie d, f and Sheriff Keas at once c ’.;i y a f it i-ssage was sent to the Kr><-kforJ bank not to cash the certificate it pre- ' boated for payment. February 19 | word came that the certifi. <te d I bo. n presented at the bank for payI ment and refused. The matter was i traced up and it was found that the I Berne Hardware company had tried to cash the certificate. A. C. Neuemn hwander. n inagt-r. i it el ped trace the matter tack and it | was found that Kaah'Luginbifi. of the I Sprunger & Lehman clothing com s pany, had cashed the cent' <.;’•» from [ a young man who had tan- t ■in I clothing there, a few days i efore. an 1 presented the certificate for ; » <n . . The check bore the name o young 1 Searight, and es Irvin, who pr< -• nt. i . it had been seen in town t!.< re. it was | supposed he was the one entitled to I the money, and it was paid over by I the clothing firm, the certificate after [wards passing through the various Brands. 1 Sheriff Keas came down to I>. itur: Band with Deputy Sheriff J> >- Kelly | Bwenl down to Herne and Geneva. I ■ avhere the matter was finally traced ■ down to the aforesaid point by them. I Mr. Kelly received the de-, riplion of ■ the boy from the clothing bouse at i Berne, and was certain that Irvin, ■ Whom he knew, was the fellow who ■ had presented the certificate. Sheriff I Keas had been of the opinion before | leaving Hillsdale. Mich., that Sens right’s room-mate had been the rob- [ her. but Utis Searight firmly refused so believe, having all the confidence I In the world In his friend. When the description of the boy | was received at Berne the official* t went to Jefferson township, where I they found Karl Irvin, who is a son of I the late Gary Irvin, at home with his I tnotli-r and sister. He confessed the j robbery, and finally turned over to I the officers |4O In cash. which was all I he had left of the money. The clothF ing lie bought at Berne, when he cashI cd the certificate nt the Sprunger & l Lehman clothing store, was found nt | bls home, and helped complete the I chain of evidence, which would have L baen strongly against him had ho not I acknowledged the robbery. Irvin also alleges that bo was role ; bed of l»0 and a watch and chain, but | tho chain wan found In his poeaeaaton ; and this part of hl* alleged robbery | wan doubted. ■ H* wan brought here by the off. nN | and taken thin morning to Hillsdale. I Mich., by Sheriff K"**. where lie will I answer to the orinte. Much credit is given Depaty Kelly = and Sheriff Kean for the dispatch In | which the dues were run down and fc tho criminal apprehended. Sheriff k Kean arrived Monday and with Deputy | Kelly did ionic pretty good * ork 1,1

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

I lie south part of tho county, although they were held up several days by th.' I snow bound condition of the railroads, which made traveling slow. Young Sealght was left in a bad condition in Hillsdale. Being penniles he had no money to buy work clothes, and no one to "stand good" for Ids IsHird until lie earned more, and he wa obliged to go to work for his board alone until he found some waycut. The return of the money will be welcome, though the loss of confidence in his friend will be great. o — . CLYDE DAVIS HELD. Sheriff Durkin received word that Clyde Davis, formerly of this city, wantfsl at Sidney. Ohio, in January cn suspicion of implication in the theft of barber tools, had been arrested at Liberty, Ind. An account of any criminal record he might have here is wanted. Tho letter came from William O’Leary-, chief of police at Sidney, O. TO ENFORCE LAW County Assessor Geo. Gentis States That Mortgage Exemptions WILL BE EXCLUDED That Do Not Contain All the Information Required by Law. County Assessor George Gentis stated emphatically this morning that unless all mortgage exemption papers conform strictly to the law. they will be thrown out and will not be considered this year. According Jo law it is necessary to have In the affidavits the name and residence of the mortgagee, also the t ame and residence of the assignee, together with the correct number and page of the record or. which the mortgage is recorded, and allowing the balance unpaid on March 1. 1914. Without correst addresses, it is an impossible task for Mr. Gentis to look up the same, and he is not required to do so. He stated that tills year he would absolutely refuse to consider any that do not contain tho addresses. He made the same ruling last year, but was called away by death about that time, and had another in care of his work, some were considered tliat would otherwise not have been, but this year it will lie different. All those making mortgage affidavits should therefore see that they are made out properly, if they wish them considered. March and April is the time for the filing. COMPLETE WORK Confer Ice Cream Co. Has Finished Annual Harvest of Ice Crop. AVERAGE IS GOOD Confer Company Stores 8000 Tons and Total in City is Believed to be 12,000. The Conter Ice Cream company last evening concluded the big tusk of putting up the annual ice crop and Mun liger McUsinugle Is delighted for two weeks ago It looked as though there would tie no Ice this season. Now they are ready lor the warm weather and the sooner It comes and the longer It stays, the better they will be satl* fled. The Conter company It Is estimated has stored In their five Ice houses 8.000 kina of Ice. The three house* along the bank* of Steele’s pond hold 1.&00 tons, while the two i houses near tho Ice cream plant hold 6.500 and every house is filled to the i brim. With the others here who put up Ice. the meat men, the pa<»*»g r companies, etc.. It Is estimated th*' i not le»* <»»•" l: - 000 lon " ! ‘" w bPM ’ I stored away awaiting tho hot rays f of summer when there will be such a , demand. The average was eight i Inches, ,

Decatur, Indiana. Thursday Evening, February 26, 1914.

THE ASSAILANT IS AT LARGE t Pollock Who Shot Companion on Erie Freight Near I • Ohio City LOOKED FOR HERE Officers Find Cartridges in Freight Car as it Arrived Here Today. ■ Somewhere between this city and ' Ohio City, or between this city and Bluffton, a young Pollock, who shot and mayhap fatally wounded his companion on an Erie freight train near Ohio City, is supposed to be roaming at large. Deputy Sheriff Jesse Kelly, Marshal Melchi and Policeman Frank were called out at 2 o’clock this morning by a message from Sheriff Wilson of Van Wert county, Ohio, asking them to go at once to the Erie railroad to search a freight train enroute here, on which the man who did the shooting about twenty minutes before, is supposed to have made his get-away. The man who was shot is a young Pollock. Both he and his companion were "tramping and traveling a tail!." and had gotten into the freight car at Akron, Ohio, to come west. As they neared Ohio City the one shot at his companion three times, the last shot taking effect in ills breast. Although weakened, the injured man was able to leave the train at Ohio City to call help. He told the officials that the man who shot him was still In the box car and for them to go after him. The train pulled out before the officials could search and word was sent on ahead here for officers to lie on the (Contiaueo on Page 2) BED IS BORNEO Ernst Schlickman Gets Flat Irons for Foot Warmers Too Hot. BURN THE WRAPPING And Sets Fire to Bed at the Lammert Home Twice in One Day. Ernest Schlickman, the well known feed yard proprietor, desires a good warm bed in thia cold weather, but the one he hud yesterday was just a little too much so. Mr. Schlickman rooms at the home of his brother-in law William Lammert on Flrat street. Yesterday, not feeling well, Mr. Schlickman decided to go to bed. and so heated some flat irons to put in to warm his feet which were very cold. He wrapped the hot Irons in news 1 papers and put them in the bed while be went down town on an errand. In the meani.’me, Mias Hulduh LamI niert smelled something burning. On Investigating, she went into the bed room und taheld tile bed in a mas* of flames. Workmen from tiie Kirsch fc Sellemeyer lunilter yard hastened to the scene and with Mrs. la»minert and others, the blaring clothes were l thrown out of doors und the fire ex- . tingulshcd. Mr. Sclillckmun cam* tack from town. He got the clothes tack into the ‘ house again. u«.d they were not too tadly burned to make up the lied, which lie proceeded to do. But the r fire sparks had not all l»een extinr KUlshed and tliey soon ata through tho lied clothes again und hurst Into a merry flame which wus much worse • than the former one. The lumber • yard employees again rushed to the • scone and the clothes were again drug » god from the house, but this time they 3 were a total ruin. Mrs. latmnvrt had 1 both hand* and her shoulder tadly burned and thn wood work in the t room was also singed. The bed Its seif, being Iron, wa* not damaged, t The fire department was not called i a« Miss laituert was too excited when s she rang up. Io gtve a definite account u of the place and the nature of the fir*, t and all effort* were then spent In put ting out the Are privately.

“DECATUR CAN AND WILL"

BLUFFTON TRACTION LINE SOLD (United Press Service) Bluffton, Bid., Feb, 26 —(Special to Dally Democrat)-The Marion, Bluffton & Eastern traction line was sold today at receiver’s sale. The upset price on the road was $450,000. It was purchased by a committee representing the old stockholders for $4, 696 more than that amount. The old company has been reorganized. 0 SUFFERED HEART ATTACK. B. F. Webster, manager of the Adams County Creamery company, suffered an attack of heart trouble this morning and was hurried to his home on Third street, where two physicians succeeded in rallying him. He has had one or two similar attacks, but not quite so serious as this one, TRAINSJJOLLIDE Two Westbound Freights in Serious Smash-up Near Liberty Center. TWO BADLY HURT Wreck'on Clover Leaf Occurred Early Today—Caboose is Burned. (United Press Service) Liberty Center, Ind.,feb. 26—(Special to Daily Democrat) —The failure of the brakes on westbound freight. No. 160, on the Clover to work caused that train to dash, into the rear of freight train No. 176. just :i» they were entering this town at 5:14 this morning. The first train had slowed down, but when the second train tried to do so, the brakes stuck and the crash followed. The train crews saw the Impending accident and

all jumped, eta aping with slight injuries. Two operators who were riding in tlie caboose were caught and seriously hurt. They were taken to the hospital at Marion. The cabooae of train No. 160 caught fire from an overturned stove and was destroyed. One of the engines was thrown some distance and was badly damaged. Several of the can were also shattered. The operators this afternoon were reported improved from the hospital at Marion. Their names are Fred Jennings of Toledo and Felton Jones of Houston, Tex. Jennings is seriously hurt, being badly burned, but It Is thought will.recover. Both men had their feet frozen. They were in their night clothes and were hurried in their the caboose after the smash-up, thus lightly ciar. The aero weather caus ed them to suffer greatly and it is feared will result in the men becoming ill with pneumonia. FELL ON THE ICE Jos. Mallonee, Well Known Decatur Citizen. Breaks Hip in Fall AT NOON TODAY Was in Front of Mougey £ Buhler Shop—ls at Home of Son. Joseph Mallonee, a well known 1)“catur citizen, was the victim of a very serious accident at noon today when he slipped on the ice in front of the Mougey A Buhler blacksmith shop on •Monroe street, breaking his left hip In the mishap. Mr. Mallonee was on his way home to dinner when the ac eldest occurred. This morning when he was coming up town he fell In nearly the same place as when he broke his hip. In the first full no bones were broken, and with the assistance of Messrs. Mougey and Buhler he was on his feet again and started up town. This happened at about S o'clock. The second fall proved more serious for him. As soon as the accident occurred hl« son. Ross, and stepson, E. A. Mann, were sent for and wit hibeir help he was taken to the home of the former. A phytlclan was sent fur and the broken hip reset and the patient made as comfort able us possible. Mr. Mallonee is eighty-two years old.

PECULIAR EPIDEMIC Resembling Typhoid Fever, But Different in Many Ways, Prevalent Here. CASES ARE REPORTED Health Officers Diagnose it as Auto-infection and Tell cf Its Causes. After a carerui inquiry into conditions in and about Decatur which required several hours this morning, we believe we can safely make the statement that there Is not an epidemic of typhoid fever in this locality. For n week or two past each day. there have been rumors that there are a number of these cases in this city. Naturally a number of people became more or less alarmed for if there were as reported fifteen or twenty cases there must necessarily be some cause therefor and it would be most import ant that tho cause be discovered and climated as quickly ns possible. With that purpose in view we began today to investigate the truth of the statements. Health officers report. Dr. H. F. Costello, city health officer when asked concerning the report that there are sixteen eases of typhoid fever in the city sald:’’The records in my office show that but two official reports of typhoid fever have l>e<*n made These are tlncases of Elmo Smith and Bernard Par-j ent. Tl’»re are a number of case.' which very much re .‘tnble typioid fever, including that of my own son. but I am convinced and am upheld by several other physicians that the' (Continued nn > tge 2) — o

HOLD TO_STORIES Both Dennis and LaVan Baker Continue to Allege Other Struck Blow IN THE MURDER LaVan Grows Despondent — May be Taken to Mercer County. Ohio. The Portland Sun says: "Clinging to their former stories both Dennis and LaVan Baker, admitting that they took part in the < rim< attending the murder of Wilbur Phillips. unassisted, each insists that tho other struck the fatal blow that killed Phillips on the freight train on the L. E. * W. railroad on the night of November 29. lust. **|x>Van Baker. Mapected by tho officers who have been at work on the case a* the reul murderer, has ceased playing the French harp In Ills cell at the county Jail, or rather, no longer spends most of hl* time In that manner. When he does play the tunes are not so musical as they once were und most generally ar* of a iiin. reni character. No more ragtime melodime are to b* heard. ll* is nppar

enlly assuming a meltimholy diapoallion and la becoming despondent. "Dennis Baker seems a* lively and happy aa ever. He continue* to ulna continuously In hla cell, just aero** the hall from hla companion In crime. -It la expected tltat Mercer county. Ohio, officer* will exercise the authority Riven them by their state constitution and demands that the two mur derers he returned to that state for rial. It I* expected that they will seek requisition papers this week front the governor* of the two states and come here to lake charge of the prls oner*, returning them to Cellnn for trial. While the jurisdiction of the l local court Is said to he unquestioned. I since Phillips' death occurred here, I the murder was perpetrated and com • nt It ted In Ohio. Ux-al officers wIU not. > It la understood, make any effort to i hold the prisoners here for trial. It would >-»>i Jay < minty no lens than 11.600. Including attorney fees and » court coats and If convicted, as the (Continued on Page 3)

BUYS TEN ACRE PLOT. Mrs. Susie Ward, wife of J. H, Ward, has purchased a ten-acre plot of Willard Steele, the same lying a mile east of the city, across from Steele's park. A residence on Madison street, this city, was taken by Mr. Steele in consideration. The Wards expect to build on the plot and make their home there. They now- reside in Steele' jHtrk, having moved from here. ,, ADAMS COUNTY COUPLE ELOPES Carl Murphy of Berne. Ind., and Miss Mary B. Martz of Geneva, Ind., eloped to Hillsdale, Mich., and were married by Justice C. M. Weaver at tho court house. The couple is well known in Adams county and in the eastern part of Wells county, and the report of the wedding will come as a happy surprise to their friends. — Bluffton News. TO REPEAT” PLAY Juniors of the Decatur High School to Repeat “What Happened to Jones.” ON FRIDAY NIGHT At the Opera House—Basket Ball Game With Warren is Postponed, Feeling somewhat enthused over the splendid success that marked their ;! rst production of the clever farce, i “What Happened to Jones,” and at | the urgent request of the many peo- . pie who had heard of the play, but i who were unable to be there last . Tuesday evening, the juniors of the I Decatur high school have agreed to repeat the farce Friday evening. Feb-

' ruary 27. at the Bosse opera house. 1 i The audience Tuesday evening was a I j large one, but a good many were foreled to remain at home on account of the cold weather. Eveyy one present ! was more than pleased with it and I tliey talked so much about it that othI er people became interested and asked thi/ the farce be repeated. The proceeds of the play will go toward defraying the expenses of the junior reception. at>C for the new piano , which lias lately been installed in the nigh school. Tickets can be obtained nt the Holthouse drug store and from any member of tiie junior class. Tlte tasket ball game Itetween the Decatur high school and the Warren high school scheduled for Friday night, has been postponed on account of the play, giving everybody a chance to see it. O'"WAS A BIG DAY In Local Royal Neighbors’ Camp—Forty-one Were Initiated. 1 i THE DECATUR TEAM Did Especially Fine Work— Camp Praises Mrs. Ella Rexwmkle.

With moat appropriate ceremony, forty nine candidates were received Into the Decatur Itoyal Neighbors' Camp, No. 6234, last evening. Mrs. Ella Ilex winkle, a special deputy from Terre Haute, lias been here assisting In preparation for the work, and the drill team had the degree work especially tine. The team comprises the following: Pianist. Miss Verdla Big hum; oracle, Mrs. c, Duke; vice orade, Mrs. Roe; past oracle, Mrs. Wil Hum Richards; chancellor. Mrs. John Christen; marshal. Mr*. W. H. Fled derjohann; assistant. marshal. Mrs. Elmer Archer; Faith. Mrs. Peter Amapaugh; Courage. Mrs. May Butler. Modesty, Mrs. Amelia Butler: Unefulnewt, Mrs. Maurice Hay; Endurance. . Mia* Mara Winters. • Many vialtors were present, oamps from Mt. CJS.iens. Mich., and Fort i Waym- being represented, though the ; snow prevented many other* from at • tending. At the banquet following (Continued on Pago 3)

Every Nook Os County

Price Two Cents.

BUSINESS MEN HELD MEETING Enhusiastically in Favor cf Organization That Will Aid and Protect. 1 COMMITTEE NAMED . To Work Out Plan—May Take Over Old Commercial Club Charter. * EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. : WILL P. SCHROCK, Chairman. * H. J. YAGER. * H. F. CALLOW. * * HENRY GERKE. DAN NIBLICK. * DYONIS SCHMITT. * JOHN H. HELLER. ****:(:* »*( *■»****<• Seventy-five Decatur business men met last evening at the city hail, in response to a letter sent out by C. J. Voglewede, tlfo purpose being te organize a business association that would be of real benefit to the men of this city. It was the most inter» sting meeting of Decatur business people that we have had the pleasure of attending for several years. They were all there and they had the right kind of conservative enthusiasm. They wish to organise that they may protect themselves in various ways that mean the saving of many dollars ea< year. They wish also to meet c- c< - lonally to discuss plan* for bettering general conditions- in this city and county, conduct sale days, inquire into such proposed deals as come up from time to time, in fact to establish a rhanihpr nf fVYmnwrro u

cnamner or vommeree, a < ommerciai ( Club, or whatever it may be called. . an organization of business ment that f will bring them closer together and . Will mean much for future Decatur. I Short talks were made by many of . the men present and every phase was . generally discussed. Upon motion of . D. M. Hensley, the chairman, C. J. VoI glewede, who had called the meeting . and stated the purpose, was authorized , to appoint a committee of seven men, , who are to work out a plan of organ!I ration which they are to sumbit nt i the next meeting of the business men, upon call of the president. This morn* . ing he appointed the committee u i named above, who will meet tonight or r tomorrow night to start their work. Similar organizations are being or- , ganixed in other cities of this part of the state and they pre successful. There Is no reason why Decatur f should not be equally *o. A glance at the men who met last evening would | convince the most skeptical that we have the quality of men who can do things and they will if Hie enthusiasm ’ displayed last evening can It* kept up for a few years. Mr. Dugan suggest J and the matter will be discussed by tiie committee, that the new organization take over the charier of the old Decatur Commercial club, whk-h is incorpoarted, and which with some changes In the by-laws, woulw, it is believed, meet every purpose. -o THE COURT NEWS. The report of sale of personal property tiled by Benjamin F. Butler, administrator of (lie Jesse WilUnnr <■

tate, was approved. The current report of Cordelia Z Sprunger. guardian of Carl 11. Sprunger nt al., waa approved and the trust continued. A marriage license was Issum! to Joe Eckrote. farmer, horn March 11. ■ 1862, son of Harvey Eckrote, of Geneva. to wed Love Fosnight. of Geneva. born December is, 1893, dangh- . ter of Nelson Fosnlght. i ' | Roni estate transfers: Jama* H. . Manx st al. to Emanuel 11. Habegger. 40 acres. Monroe tp.. 11500; John Gerber el al. to Gilbert Stucky, lot 132. Berne, |4»0: Paul Filber ct al. to Hu- . fu* O. Soldner. eaat half of lot 431. Berne, 4360; Alvin G. V. Sovlue to • Bi-nj. F. Fisher. M acre. Kirkland tp.. t 1630; Ferdinand J. Take et al. to Gw. s 11. Rice. M a< re*. Washington tp . SIMM); Geotgc 11. Rice ta al. tn Ferdlt nand J. Take. 60 acres. Monroe tp., 48000.