Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 13, Number 214, Decatur, Adams County, 7 September 1915 — Page 1

Volume XIII. Number 211.

PERHAPSJI MINE Struck Hesperian, Though the Officers Swear it Was a Torpedo. WORD IS RECEIVED From Consul Frost at Queenstown —Passengers Saw Submarine Earlier. (United Press Service) Washington, Sept. 7,—(Special to Daily Democrat)—The United States today ordered an investigation by its representatives abroad to determine whether the Hesperian hit a mine or was toniedoed. A long confidential preliminary report was received from the consul at Queenstown, saying that there is much doubt and it was not at all conclusive that the ship was torpedoed. Ambassador Page today ad vised the department that the British admiralty refutes the German charge that the Hesperian was a war ship. •The admiralty states" Page said "that the Hesperian was sailing as a passenger liner and had not been in government service since the war began and that no troops were aboard except wounded and invalid Canadian soldiers traveling on individual tickets the same as other passengers.” London, Sept. 7, —(Spec'al to Daily Democrat) —Eight hours before the Hesperian was struck a submarine was sighted a few miles astern by passengers according to a dispatch from Queenstown. The Hesperian adopted a zig-zag course and the submarine was lost sight of. Officers reiterate the previous statement that the commander of the Hesperian did not know of the submarine and had no opportunity to try to escape. (By Charles Stewart) Washington. D. C., Sept. 7—(Special to Daily Democrat) —The Hesperian was sunk by a submarine torpedo and not by a mine, without warning of any kind, according to joint affi davits made by all the officers and forwarded to the state department this afternoon, by Ambassador Frost of Queenstown. Fragments of steel cast upon the ship’s deck removed all doubt as to the use of a mine, according to the officers. However, there is much doubt yet, the previous messages fropi Frost being taken to mean that the sinking of the Hesperian may prevent the question from ever being definitely settled. ————— POLICE COURT Traffic policeman Will Biggs this morning arrested Charles Kirkpatrick and his companion a Mr. Sarles of La fayette for running an automobile without a license plate. The men were on their way to Van Wert in a Saxon racing car where they are to take part in the races at the County fair. When arraigned before Mayor Christen a plea of not guilty was entered by the men. They claimed of having taken out license but had lost the numbers somewhere along th® road. They gave a $25 00 cash bond and agreed to appear tomorrow at nine o’clock for a hearing. o - BOUND OVER TO COURT Harry Bryan, a young fellow from near Linn Grove, charged and arrested last Friday with forging a check on Harry Meshberger, was given a hearing this morning before Justice E. Bu r t Lenhart of this city. Seven or eight witnesses were examined and Mr. Lenhart considering the case such as should ho heard by the circuit cou r t, hound him over to court under S4OO bond. He had failed to give this late fliis afternoon, and was still in jail. Nearly the entire male populace of the vicinity of Linn Grove turned out to hear the hearing. o CHAPLIN HAS REAL "REEL” (United Press Service) Santa Monica, Cal. Sept. 7,(Special to Daily Democrat) —The movy world almost lost Charlie Chaplin. With Jess Robinson and Lew Tumbley. the famous comedian he was buffeted about all last night in a tiny launch near here. Chaplin and companions were overturned as they tried to make the shore in a skiff and finally made land after a terrible struggle in the sur f . Chaplin stuck to the launch and this niomlng wig wagged into a nearby Japanese village which sent out a boat with provisions and rescued him.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

OFFICERS ARE COMING i Decatur business men are requested to meet at the library at 5:30 this afternoon to meet the officers of the Retail Merchants Association of Indiana who will be here at that time. They will be here for an hour, will eat supper here and proceed t > Ft. Wayne for a night meeting. They are making a tour of the state in autos. o CUPID CAUSES VACANCY. Among Rural Mail Carriers at Geneva —Examination to be Held. A civil service examination will be conducted at the Decatur postoflice Saturday. September 11. This is for appylicants for the position of rural carrier out of Geneva, to succeed Miss Mary McCollum, who was married recently. o PAINFUL_IWURY Francis Schmitt Tears Ligaments in Shoulder While Butchering Yesterday. AT PACKING PLANT Must Carry Injured Arm in Sling—Had it Slightly Sprained Friday. Francis Schmitt son of Dyonis Schmitt and head of the butchenrg department at the Hoosier Packing company plant, east of the city met| with a very painful accident yesterday afternoon while butchering a number of fine cattle. Last Friday Francis slightly sprained the right shoulder while doing some work about the packing plant but as the injury seemed well Monday morning he started rework again. While assisting at the butchering business he suddenly turned his arm in such i way that the ligaments were torn loose. The i>rjury was a very painful one and today Francis has to carry the injured arm ’ in a sling. It will no doubt be some • time before he will be able to use it, as in most cases broken ligaments prove to be more difficult to heal than a broken bone. NAMESJEPUTIES County Clerk-elect Will Hammell Appoints John T. Kelly as Assistant. —— ( FOR COURT ROOM I Miss Kate Hammell Also to i be in Office —Mr. Ham- . mell Begins Tomorrow. Will Hammell, the young man who will become clerk of the Adams circuit court on January 1, next, will tomorrow begin work in that office under the present efficient clerk, Mr. 1 Ferd Bleeke, and Deputy L. L. Baum- 1 gartner, thus preparing himself thoroughly with the duties of the very important office. He has announced that his deputy will be Mr. John T. Kelly, of Jefferson township, who was a candidate against Mr. Hammell for the nomination and was defeated by but forty-six votes. Mr. Kelly will have charge of the work in the court room, while Mr. Hammell, assisted by his sister. Miss Kate Hammell, will look after the office work. It will prove a very competent force and we believe a very popular one. OLD AGAINST* THE YOUNG. (United Press Service) Indianapolis, Ind., Sept. 7—(Special to Daily Democrat)—lndiana's future farmers competed with the farmers of today at the state fair in the annual live stock and grain judging contest tor boys. The prizes hung up consisted of scholarships to the Purdue university school of agriculture amounting to SIOO, $75, SSO and $25, respectively. SCHOOLsTdPEN IN INDIANA. (United Press Service) 1 Indianapolis, Ind., Sept. 7—(Special • to Daily Democrat)— Today was “blue i Monday” for several thousand Johnr ules, Jimmies and Marys and Sadies, t A large per cent of the schools of the state opened.

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday Evening, September 7, 1914.

NEW JFFICEBS Were Elected by Rural Carriers—Roy Wolford is Chosen as President. MEETING AT BERNE M as a Big Success—Dinner Served at Alpine Hotel Completes Program. The Adams County Rural Carriers association met at Berne yesterday, this being the occasion of the annual session and it was a very pleasant event for the fifteen members who atteded. Mr. H. O. Davis of Pleasant Mills who had the honor to attend both the state and national meetings this year, as a delegate, made a report, and the same was mighty interesting to the carriers. Officers were elected for the ensuing years as follows: Roy Wolford, Decatur, president; Mr. Osterman. Monroe, vice president; William Bradford, Geneva. secretary and treasurer. Following the business session the Berne boys acted as hosts and escorted the visiting carriers to the Alpine hotel, where they were served with a delicious dinner. It was well done and most acceptable to the men, rounding out the program of the day just right. It was decided that the next meeting be held at Decatur upon call from the secretary. HOW THEY WORK Police Issue Resume of the Habits and Methods of Pickpockets. AT THE FAIRS Beware of Them—Work in Gangs—Refuse to be Jostled in Crowd. With the various fairs in order over the country, the police are issuing warning to fair visitors to beware of pick pockets. There is no special jjfng expected at any, but a number of these hangers-on generally accompany fairs of all kinds, and the police are desirous of lessening the dangers as much as possible. The term pick-pockeis does not apply to the various games and devices that succeed in drawing out dollar after dollar of your hardearned coin in "knocking down the kit-ty-kats,” throwing for the babies or those monstrous anj hideous works of art known as “vases,” and such, but to those who delibterately walk up and rifle your purses. The following resume of the habits and methods of pick-pockets has been complied by the police and it will pay everyone to read it. Pick-pockets, as a rule, try to find out the value of the property they contemplate stealing, also the particular part of the clothing in which it is located. They do not want to put their hands into empty pockets or steal property which is not worth the risk. They loiter around ticket offices, banks ana other public places, knowing that patrons will take out their pocketbooks and expose the contents. Having located an individual with a tempting roll, they watch him closely until they have seen the money or wallet replaced. They will follow that person perhaps for hours, waiting for the opportunity to get him in a crowd. They pay particular attention to persons visiting the city to attend the county fair, reasoning that such persons intend to spend money and are very likely to have it with them. They work in and around large crowds gathered to watch the races, or jams at pasenger depots. The attention of such spectators is generally diverted from the property on their person and they do not notice the shoving or jostling of the light fingered gentry. Pick-pockets generally work in gangs of two, three or four. They have a code of signals by which tliey warn and advise one another, and are constantly on the alert for police officers. If one is seen the signal is immediately given. When they get their victim in a

| crowd, they get behind and in front k of him and squeeze him so that he will not feel the hand of the thief in if s pocket. The thief who extracts tne property from the pocket of the victim quickly passes it to one pf Ids confederates so that if he is caught the property will not be found on his person. FORD COLLIDE , Marsh Burdg and his Ford car and a young man named Billy Meyer, on an Indian motorcycle, collided last evenig at the corner of Fifth and Madison streets. The young man lit over in the B. J. Terveer yard and his machine was badly wrecked. The Ford escaped with a bruised fender. Mey- , ers was bruised about the left arm and leg, but not seriously injured. I The accident was unavoidable, act cording to both drivers. STROKESFATAL Mrs. Elsie Bollman Stricken on Train Saturday and Died in Few Hours. LIVED AT MARION Was Returning from Visit With Daughter, Mrs. Price at Crown Point. Leters received this morning by Mrs. Fannie Peterson and Mrs. Sam Shamp conveyed the first news received here of the sudden death of , Mrs. Elsie Bollman, which occurred at her home at Marion. Indiana, at eleven o'clock Saturday evening. She had ■ been at Crown Point visiting her daughter, Mrs. Boyd Price and left there Saturday morning, apparently in the best of health. While travelingon a Big Four train she was stricken with appopiexy and soon became unconscious. She failed to rally and died that night. She was the widow of A. Me W. Boilman, a former county J recorder and prominent citizen here and the family resided here until about twenty years ago when tiiey moved to Marion. The letters received here were written Sunday but owing to the fact that yesterday was a holiday and there was no mail deliv- • ery the letters were not received until > this morning, too late for any of the , friends here to attend the funeral which was held at Marion this after- 1 noon at 2:30. Mrs. Bollman is survived by five children, Mrs. Jennie Price, Arthur, Frances, Maggie and < Fred. She will be well remembered by many Decatur people. ________io FOR THEjftNDREWS Family Reunion Will be Held Thursday at Phil Heffner Farm, Monroe. MRS. GEORGE McKEAN Is Guest of Honor —All Members of the Family Invited to Come. An event, the arrangements for which were made only this morning, will be the Andrews family reunion to be held Thursday, September 9, on the Phil Heffner farm, a half-mile west of Monroe. The reunion was planned in honor of Mrs. George McKean, of Granite ■ City, 111., who has been Visiting here, ' and the members of the family will 1 thus have the pleasure of meeting and 1 visiting with her, at the same time. 1 All members of the family are cordially invited to come, and to bring ’ baskets for the dinner. • I — WILL HOF BRAU CONTINUE? Fort Wayne, Ind., Sept. 7 —(Special 1 to Daily Democrat)—Whether the r well known Hos Brau, a saloon in this city, shall continue business was 1 the question squarely up to the county ' commissioners today. Manager Har •' ry Wiebke of the Hos Brau appeared ? before the commissioners, asking that - his liquor license be renewed. Hfe - met. opposition in a group of remonstrators headed by a prominent min1 ister of the city.

NO CHANGE MADE Stockholders of Citizens’ Telephone Co. Re-elect Former Directors. MET LAST EVENING Good Dividend Declared Last Month—Officers Are Also the Sace. The annual meeting and election of directors of the Citizens telephone company took place last evening at seven o’clock at the office of the Bowers Realty company with the result tiiai ail former directors were re-elect-ed. The officers including the president, vice-president, treasurer and secretary were also re-elected. A most prosperous year was reported at the meeting and every stockholder was more than pleased with the dividend declared last month. The Citizens telephone company now has lines through out the country and is numbered among the leading Independent systems in the state. It is well managed and agives the utmost satisfaction to its many patrons. It also lias a toll station at Berne and is able to connect with any line in the country. JEWISHNEW YEAR Begins on Wednesday Evening With Appropriate Celebration. IT IS THE TIME For Serious Thought—Time of Pious Contemplation of Motives. The Jewish New Year celebration will be started Wednesday evening and be generally observed with appropriate ceremonies by the Jewish people. Services nearest here are those to be held in the synagogue at Fort Wayne. The Jewish celebration is explained thus by one who knows: "The Jewish New Year’s festival is the oldest of all festivities celebrated in the civilized world. But it is unique for its significance as well as for its antiquity. The secular New Year (on January Ist) is a day of gratifications; men rejoice in what they have achieved; it is a day for sordid inventories. The Jewish NewYear's day, however, is a time for serious thought on the meaning of life: it evokes pious contemplation of the difficult and inevasible problem as to right and wrong and its appeal is not that we should get more out of practical life but value more genuinely, more truthfully, more morally the life God has entrusted to us. "Much of the success and failure of our work depend, not upon our equipment, but upon our motives. The Jewish New Year’s day, accordingly, is placed by a wise tradition at the beginning of autumn, when men enter upon their enterprises and obligations with zest and zeal. Just then they need a right interpretation of life and a true measure of its values. “The antique feature of the ritual of that day express the aspirations all men feel equally. The Trumpet Calls, constituting the central part in the worship of that day are appeals for the moral stir which men should feel when they contemplate their experiences and seek for re-enforcement of their hopes. The calls are also an appeal to the large sense of life. Our week-day wishes and prayers are selfcentered and do not give us a perspective of our relations and obligations to the community and fellowman, and of their influence upon us. But the New Year's day offers us an occasion to reaffirm our respect for and trust in Providence which is ihe organization of all lives into an all-encom-passing justice. The Jew comprehends this as a comfort in the case of misfortunes and as monition in the successes he may have. The function t

• of the New Year's day is to establish ' a moral judgment in our life and ex- ‘ periences.”! WANT VOTING MACHINES. > (United Press Service) Anderson, Ind., Sept. 7—(Special to Daily Democrat)—The question of the purchase of voting machines for Mad Ison county was the chief question before the county commissioners when they met today. It is believed the eighty-five voting precincts in the county, by the use of machines could be cut to thirty-six. huntington" fair Ts on. (United Press Service) Huntington, Ind., Sept. 7—Special to Daily Democrat) —Despite the opening of the state fair at Indianapolis today, officers of the Huntington County Fair association predicted a large attendance at their fair which opened here today. o . BURIAL_MONDAY Mrs. Geo. Wemhoff Attends Funeral of Brother, Charles France AT SAGINAW, MICHIGAN Died Saturday—Had Lived Here Until a Month Ago —Well Known. Mrs. George Wemhoff will return tonight from Saginaw. Mich., where she has been since Saturday night, leaving here at 9:30 after receipt of word of thed eath of her brother, Charles France, who until a month ago, was a resident here. He had been ailing for some time, and a fewweeks ago went to Saginaw to be with his children. His death occurred Saturday noon. Mr. France was about forty-two years of age. He was a well known Decatur resident, having spent practically his life here. He leaves three children —Elois I’phoff, Orval and Lawrence France. Besides Mrs. George Wemhoff, he leaves a sister. Mrs. Jerry Archer, of Saginaw. Mich., and a brother, Ed France, of Pleasant Mills. The funeral was held yesterday. MRS. WOOD DEAD Mrs. A. M. Wood, Formerly of Near Wren, Died Near Warren. Ohio. WAS THE MOTHER Os Mrs. John Kiracofe of This City—Mr. Kiracofe Stops Here. John Kiracofe, formerly with Smith & Bell, now a local minister in the United Brethren church, who lias spent the summer with a charge near Rock Island, 111., stopped off here today for a several days’ visit with friends. He will leave soon for Dayton, Ohio, where he will enter col lege for a ministerial course. He has had splendid success at his charge; has organized two Christian Endeavor societies; and taken several members into the church. His congregation desired that he remain, but he felt that he must enter the college to better prepare himself for the work. He received as pecial message, that arrived too late, however, informing him of the death of Mrs. Kiracofe’s mother, Mrs. A. M. Wood, of near Warren, Ohio. The family lived near Wre, Ohio, until six years ago, and is well known here. Death resulted from pneumonia Saturday, the funeral being held yesterday. Mrs. Kiracofe had been there several weeks, and may remain this winter and keep house for her father, as he desires, while Mr. Kiracofe is in the seminary at Dayton, Ohio. — —- . o BIBLE CLUB NOTICE. The Billie club of Ward three, District 2 will meet with Mrs. W. J. Myers on North Fifth street, this evening at 7 o’clock. o . TO FIX TAX LEVY. At the meeting of the city school board this evening the tax levy for the coming year will be fixed.

Price, Two Cents

YAGERJREUNION Descendants of Nicholas and Amelia Yager Have ' Fine Reunion Sunday 1 - AT THE HOME 3 I Os William Yager—Seven-ty-two Present—Old Ofi fleers Re-elected. Notable among the family reunions , of Sunday was the second annual reunion of the Yager family. This was held at the beautiful and spacious country home of William Yager, one i and one-half miles west of Honduras. Arrangements hail been made to hold it in the Adam Lipkey grove near Bluffton, but on account of the rain, it was changed to the William Yager 1 home. The Yager home was amply large, even for the large throng of seventytwo, which included the members of the family and a few guests. After the reception of the arriving ones during the morning, and the exchange of greetings the noon day feast was spread. All were seated at one time, three large tables being arranged and spread with the good things that the rich larders of the good cooks of the Yager families yielded. During the afternoon, the business meeting was held and the old officers were re-elected. They are: President, William Yager; vice president, Chris Seabold; secretary, Lawrence Yager; treasurer, Fred Bentz. A committee was also appointed to arrange a program for next year. The committee members are: Miss Gusta Yager. Mrs. Amelia Houck and Mrs. John C. Moran. The members of the Yager family present were the descendants of Nicholas and Amelia Yager, both of whom are now deceased. Os their eight children, only two are living, and these, with their descendants, and with also the descendants of the six deceased brothers and sisters, made up the company. The two sons who are living are Mangnus Yager of Danville. 111., the oldest son, and Gus Yager. of Ossian. Mangnus Yager, who is now well advanced in years, with his oldest son, Oscar P. Yager, both of Danville, are contractors, making a specialty of constructing federal buildings, and others of magnitude. Those present who enjoyed the day to the utmost were: Mangnus Yager. Mr. and Mrs. Oscar P. Yager and son, Ralph; Mr. and Mrs. Sherman Holmes, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Jones and son. Gilbert, all of Danville; Mr. and Mrs. Don Yager Houts of Chicago, Ill.; Mr. and Mrs. Gus Yager, Miss Gusta Yager, George Yager, Ossian; Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Crum and son, Harold, Fort Wayne; Helen and Russell Crum, children of C. E. Crum. Ft. Wayne; Amelia Yager Houck and daughter, Mary Elizabeth. Bluffton; Mrs. Lena Yager. Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Yager and sons, Luther and Jerome, Berne; Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Zimmerman and daughter, Mary Jane, Ft. Wayne; Mrs. J. C. Moran and children, Margaret and Richard, Decatur; Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Yager, Vera Cruz; Mr. and Mrs. William Yager and family, Herman. Ralph. Laurin., Kenneth, Charles and Rachel, Honduras; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Yager and nephews, Luster and Hibbard High, Magley; Mr. and Mrs. Marcus Jahn and family. Lulu. Ralph, Clark and Vivian. Decatur; Mr. and Mrs. Fred Bentz, Berne; George H. Seabold and son, Walter, Fort Wayne; Mr. and Mrs. Chris Seabold and daughter, Stella, Bluffton. Visitors who were not relatives were Mrs. John Tudor, New Orleans, La.; Mrs. Sam Church, Kokomo; Clarence Potter. Fort Wayne; Orval Barger, Magley; Miss Leia Studebaker, Bluffton; Madgeline Miller, Decatur. o — BALL ON TRIAL FOR LIFE. (United Press Service) Indianapolis, Ind., Sept. 7—(Special to Daily Democrat)—Militiaman Edwin C. Ball today went on trial for his life in the state house. It is believed to be the first time in the history of Indiana a member of the state guard was tried by court martial on the charge of murder. Walter Dowell, a member of the company from Madison, was shot and fatally wounded by Ball, a sergeant, who was detailed to provost duty. Ball's defense today was that he was acting under military orders when he commanded Dowell to halt, and that when Dowell failed to halt on command, he shot to kill, following army instructions.