Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 13, Number 297, Decatur, Adams County, 11 December 1915 — Page 1

Volume XIII. Number 297.

DISCUSSESNOTES German Embassy Official Says Note to Austria Would Mean War IF PEACE PREVAILED Recall of Austrian Ambassador May be Demanded Before Monday. (United Press Service) Washington, D. C„ Dec. 11—(Spec•ial to Daily Democrat) —Simultaneously with the announcement that the American note on the Ancona indiI dent, had been delivered by Ambassador Penfield to the Austrian foreign | office it became known today that BarI on Zwiedrnek, temporary successor to I Ambassador Dumba, stands in grave ; danger of following Dumba home by request of the United States. The ; American note is said to be extremely i emphatic and will be made public [ Monday morning. Developments in v the case of Baron Zwiedinek have i come so rapidly that his recall may | be asked before the publication of I the Ancona note. The most striking evidence against I any Austrian official yet, was laid beI fore Secretary Lansing today in the s form of photographs of letters bearing B Baron Zwiedinek’s signature. They E were written from Manchester, Mass., : . in August, 1914, to the consulate genft eral in New York, and indicate pland . | for the wholesale misuse or forgery ; | of American passports. Justice deI partment officials today intimated that g Consul General Von Nuber’s present status is very precarious. "Extremely i B tense" were the words used in describ- , I ing the situation in New York. , Athens, Dec. 11, —(Special to Dally ' Democrat) —Greece has refused to ' make any more concessidns to the alK lied powers at present it was authoritatively stated today. Relations be- ( tween Greece and allied powers are approaching a critical stage. The announcement was made that conversations with the allied diplomats have , ended. Washington, Dec. 11, —(Special to * Daily Democrat) —“War would follow 1 Immediately such a note as the press 1 reports the United States has sent to Austrid if this were a time of peace,” said a German embassy official today, “I do not think however, the Teuton allies would not permit such an in- ‘ crease of their opponent’s strength. ' Undoubtedly Austria will consult Ger- 1 many before answering the note and 1 1 think German diplomats will advise s a favorable reply —but I doubt whether ' the first reply will meet all of the s points in the American note.” Paris, Dec. 11, —(Special to Daily s Democrat) —“All questions of urgent , nature have been settled with complete t accord," it was stated following anoth- 1 er session of the allied war council. It is presumed the announcement cov- ( ers all reported differences concern ( ing the conduct of operations in the Balkans. Paris, Dec. 11,—(Special to Daily r Democrat)—An Athens news agency dispatch reports today that the Greek government will soon issue a decree demobilizing the Greek army. The report is unconfirmed. Rom*, Dec. 11,— (Special to Daily , Democrat)—Field Marshal Von Mackensen has arrived at Constantinople with two regiments of Bavarian in- , fantry and several batteries of artilery according to an Athens dispatch today. DIRECTORS ON VISIT HERE. Messrs. Wright of Greenville, Mich., Pfeifler of Edmore and Whitney of 1 St. Louis, officers and directors of the 1 Holland-St. Louis Sugar company, are i here today, visiting with Mr. Hubbard and looking after affairs in this locality. They report the season a good one for their company and the smile indicated that they were enjoying the improved conditions of business. o ILLINOIS STORM STRICKEN (United Press Service) Chicago, Dec. 11,— (Special to Daily Democrat) —Traffic was tied up in several states and central Illinois was cut off from wire communication with the world for several hours today bv the first sleet storm of the year the middle west.

DECATUR DALLY DEMOCRAT

I I RESIDENT OF CITY. * County Recorder-elect Aaron C Augsburger and Mrs. Augsburger ar now residents of this citv, havini ! moved here from Berne. They re side in one of the Dr. C. S. Clark res idences on North Second street. Mr Augsburger will take his office Janu ary 1, succeeding Andrew Welfley Mr. Augsburger’s two sons, Clarenc< and Raymond, returned this mornini 1 to Elida, Ohio, after a visit here Their father accompanied them to Ft Wayne. THERMOMETER JUMPS. The Red Cross seal thermometei at the interurban station corner which registers the sale of Red Cross seals, in Adams county, jumped frort 8,500 to 9,500 since yesterday—or tc be exact, the sales reported to date are 9,200. THE ~ SECRETSRY George E. Wemhoff Placed In Responsible Position By Soliciting Committee WILL BE IN CHARGE ~ 7 Os Securing New Members for the National Monumental Association. Mr. George Wemhoff, who recently retired as president of the National Monumental Dealers Association, has just returned from Chicago where he attended a meeting of the committee named at the last convention for the purpose of boosting the membership. At this meeting Mr. Wemhoff was named secretary and treasurer of the committee, which means that he will practically be in charge of the work of soliciting new members for the National association. F. D. Black of Grand Rapids was elected chairman of the committee. Mr. Wemhoff will employ a stenographer and two solicitors will be sent out at once,' others being added as the work progresses. There are 7,000 monument dealers in the United States of which number 5.000 are eligible to the association. As but 1,600 now belong there is considerable work to be done and the committee with Mr. Wemhoff in charge will do it. C HARRY NEW IS OUT (United Press Service) Indianapolis, Dec. 11, —(Special to Daily Democrat)—Harrry S. New former chairman of the republican committee, today announced his candidacy for the nomination for United States senator, subject to the primaries. One of his chief opponents is James Watson, former republican whip of the house. News statement said he believed business interests as they now are and must be, following the European war, demand the election of a republican tariff and other essential measures." SUNDAY WEDDING Decatur Friends and Relatives to Attend Wedding of Clara Burnett AND MR. PETERY At Burnett Home at Ossian Sunday—Bride is Known in Decatur. Miss Clara Burnett of Ossian, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Burnett, will be married at the parental home Sunday afternoon at 1:30 o’clock. The groom is Stanley Petery, of Fort Wayne, a photographer. The Rev. Baker of the Presbyterian church at Ossian will officiate. About fifty guests will witness the wedding and participate in the festivities. The bride and groom will leave tomorrow evening for their home in Rockford, Ohio, where he will be located. The bride, who has often visited here, is a sister of Miss Marguerite Burnett and Mrs. Tom Druley. Mr. and Mrs. Druley and son, Burnett; Miss Marguerite Burnette and Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Parrish from here will attend the wedding.

HAVE FINE TIME ’O _ Mr. and Mrs. Sprang Enjoy 5r ing Their Trip to the 1T. Pacific Coast. e g AT SPOKANE SOON t. , Have Been Visiting at Los Angeles — Country of r Sunshine and Flowers. s a j Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Sprang of this s city are making an extended trif through the west. The following from ■ Mr. Sprang is evidence that they are enjoying the visit to the coast ex ceedingly: Los Angeles, Cal., Dec. 6, 1915. Daily Democrat: I This is surely the country of sunshine, fruit, flowers and good roads. The roads for hundreds of miles are like asphalt streets, only oiled to prevent dust. We have been taken by friends in autos through the orange, [ lejnon, walnut, olive and grape fruit orchards and through miles of vineyards. Think of the finest of grapes ; selling as low as two and one-half cents a pound. Carnations as low as twen-ty-five cents a hundred. One cannot describe in words the beauty of city and country, for lawns are as green as our in May and June, and geraniums are as common as weeds in our city. We are both well and enjoying every hour of the time. Wish our Decatur friends could have heard the pipe organ recital we heard last night. It was the largest in the city and the pipes are arranged some way in the dome and it simply fills the house so that you think you are in the center of a great musical instrument. Our address after the 13th will be Spokane, Wash., corner Monroe and Fifth avenue, apartment No. 2. With regards, I remain, Yours, DANIEL SPRANG. n STARTS_A CLUB Mrs. C. F. Davison Successful in Starting a “Good Fellowship” Club. WILL RAISE MONEY For the Municipal Christmas Tree—Everybody is Invited to Join. Mrs. C. F. Davison has organized “A Good Fellowship” club for the purpose of creating enthusiasm and at the same time raise money for the big Municipal Christmas Tree. Last evening was her first attempt at the idea and within an hour she had over a dozen members down on the membership list. From each one she collected a little fee the same to be used in buying candy for the City's Christmas tree. Those who joined the club last evening, with their contributions were: J. P. Thomas, Urbana, Ohio $ .25 Mrs. C. F. Davison 25 Mrs. C. A. Dugan 25 W. A. Kuebler 25 Mrs. Wilson Lee 25 Touhey Green 25 Oscar Lankenau 25 Miss Rose Christen 25 Mrs. Dillie Durkin 25 A. C, Lawrence 25 G. F. Mount 25 Dr. C. R. Weaver 25 J. 11. Heller 25 A. R. Holthouse 25 Mrs. Rose Hubbard .25 C. F. Davison 25 Total HOO Everybody is invited to join the club and become a booster for the big Christmas trefe. It you wish you may hand in your name at this office. The contribution will also be accepted. JOHN BOLINGER BETTER. John Bolinger, who has been ill, but > not confined to his bed all the time, is . reported as being better, and he is allowed to see visitors, although some I had gained the impression that his - condition might be such as not to allow callers, which is not the case.

Decatur, Indiana, Saturday Evening, December 11, 1915.

■ ELOPED TO MICHIGAN. ■ i Craigville Young Man Weds Jefferson Township Girl. Mr. Howard of Craigville, Ind., and Miss Dellie Betz, daughter of Mrs. Nels Middle, eloped to Hilsdale, Mich., Monday and were wed. They returned Tuesday and on Tuesday evening were given a good belling. Mr. and Mrs. Howard will live in Craig- [ ville. —Ossian Journal. It was learned that the groom is Clarence Hower, a son of Mrs. James I Bohr, of Craigville. The bride lives at Ossian. FOUND GUILTY' (United « ress Service) Huntington, De. 11, —(Special to the Daily Democrat) —Tom Maineze, was ’ found guilty of manslaughter today. > He killed his cousin Tony Maineze. I ■ THE COURT NEWS Will of Louisa Homeier is Probated—Evidence is Concluded in THE ACCOUNT CASE Os Patterson-Steele—Taken Under Advisement— The Court News. The will of Louisa Homeier, written in German, executed May 3, 1915, and witnessed by Edward Gallmeyer and Martin Bultemeier, was probated today. County Clerk Ferdinand Bleeke interpreted the same, which leaves S4OO to a daughter, Mina Reese; SSOO to a daugnter, Anna Hoffman; SIOO each to two nieces and a nephew, Adaline, Meta and Alfred Reese, and SSO each to nephews and a niece, Reinhard and William Horn, and Louisa Hoffman. She asks that Herman Reese serve as executor. He gave $3,000 bond. • In the Jacob Runkel estate the property petitioned to be sold, was ordered sold after due notice. Finding is made that the Bank of Berne holds a mortgage of $302.75 on an undivided two-thirds of the property. R. C. Parrish was appointed guardian ad litem of certain minor parties interested. In the Peter Wetzel estate, the petition to have $2.20 remitted as error in inheritance tax was sustained. The administrator was ‘authorized to expend not more than SIOO in erecting markers for the grave of the deceased, and his deceased wife and children. Attorney L. C. DeVoss filed a divorce complaint for Lillie J. Grim. Habitual drunkenness and cruel treatment, are the grounds on which the divorce is asked. They have two children, aged 18 and 9, and the mother asks for their custody. A restraining order prohibit- ' ing the defendant from interfering | with or molesting the plaintiff was ( granted. The papers were withdrawn ( from the files by the attorney. | A judgment for $170.58 and costs s for Murray Scherer against Carl Mur- 1 phy, was rendered. The case of the State vs. Homer t David, rape, was reset from December 1 17 to December 14. In the case of the State on the Relation of Joseph W. Pease et al. vs. George M. T. Houck, trustee, et al, a motion was made by the plaintiff to ( require Peterson & Moran to show authority for appearing for the advisory board, made defendant herein. State vs. Joe Eley, larceny. Nolle prosequi was filed. Affidavit was then filed ando L. C. DeVoss entered ap- ( pearance for the defendant, the case ( being st for Dcember 22. Esther Gallmeyer, guardian of Paul l Gallmeyer et al., was authorized to en- 1 ter into contract and lease with Con- 4 rad Doehrman son the wards’ real estate for three years. Lease was re- < ported and approved. f Real estate transfers: Gertrude ( Holthouse et al. to John Joseph et al.. , lot 28, Decatur, $3,000; J. F. Love to A. C. Sheets, lot 141, Geneva, 1. f ICE On'pONDS. 1 i Ice of sufficient thickness to support the boys has frozen over Krick's 1 ponds and last evening several boys I enjoyed their first ice skating. It is thick enough around the edges, but < the center is dangerous yet. I

. NEPHEW_KILLED No Word from Rudolph Wiecking Causes Relatives to Fear That He FELL IN BATTLE 3 ’ Nephew of Ernest Wiecking of Bluffton—Relatives Here Also. 4 Bluffton, Ind., Dec. 11 —A little of the sorrow and grief which is in thousands of European homes over the . loss of loved ones in the trenches or offensives in one or another of the theaters of action in the great war, was brought to Bluffton yesterday when Ernst Wiecking received a leti ter from his brother, August Wiecking, of Bramche, Germany, informing him that Rudolph Wiecking, only son of AugusJ Wiecking and wife, and a favorite nephew of the Bluffton man, is missing from his place in the sev-enty-seventh regiment and probably fell in an attack on the Serbians on October 24. His relatives in Germany are trying frantically to get official confirmation of the report that he has been killed but thus far have only the story of his friend and com: panion-in-arms, H. Webber, who was by his side when he fell. Webber was forced to advance with the rest of the troops after his friend had been shot but he later made a hunt for him without success, being unable to learn what had become of him although he visited the locality where he was seen to fall. He thought that he was wounded in the head but he got only a fleeting glance at him as the line rushed forward. The young man was just twenty-one and was finishing his education. His uncle, the late Herman Wiecking, of this city, had left him a legacy for that purpose. Ernst Wiecking saw him just a few months before thy war broke out while on a visit to Germany. Another nephew of Mr. Wiecking's, the son of a sister, has been wounded with shrapnel. IN” NEW_ HOME Was Election of Eastern Star Officers Held— Olive Peterson IS HONORED AGAIN le-elected Worthy Matron Will Entertain Grand Officers Soon. The beautiful new Masonic home was well filled last night when the Eastern Star met to elect their officers for the new year. The Chapter showed its appreciation to the matron, Mrs. i Peterson, for her untiring efforts and splendid success in their behalf by ' unanimously electing her their worthy matron for the ensuing year. Mrs. Peterson has been matron of this pop- , ular order for many years. The following officers were elected: Worthy Matron —Olive Peterson. Worthy Patron —G. T. Burk. Associate Matron — Conductress —Nellie Blackburn. , Associate Conductor —Mamie Myers. Secretary—Annie Wlnnes. Treasurer —Flora Kinzel. Sentinel—Laura Krill. A number of other officers will be appointed soon by the worthy matron. A committee was appointed to plan for the installation of officers, to which friends will be invited. The Chapter will entertain soon the 1 grand officers of the state; also some ' neighboring chapters will be invited < at this time. Friday December 17, four candi- ’ dates will receive the work of this order, making nineteen new members since December, Four are in waiting ’ and many petitions were read at last night’s meeting. Sixty-five responded to the kitchen shower. The kitchen was well equipped, the ladies hemmed the linens. ; and a splendid afternoon was enjoyed. New Year's day, the Chapter, joined ■ by the Masons, will keep open house, to which every one is invited. The ladies are planning an evening , card party to which the men will be i invited to participate. The annual i

) children’s party will be given at Vai entine time, to which all the Mason 1c children look forward to. Man; other events will be announced, s< watch the Masonic calendar. Il DISMISSALS MADE (United Press Service) Indianapolis, Dec. 11,—(Special h Daily Democrat)—On the motion ol Prosecutor Hucker special judge Elch j, horn today dismissed one hundred five of the remaining cases resulting from the big election corruption con spiracy inditements in wheih Mayoi E. Bell, Thomas Taggart and 125 oth ers were named. Thirteen cases re main for trial, among them Chief ol Police Perrott. The case against Tag gart was previously dismissed and f Bell was acquitted. Thte prosecutor 1 elected to try Herman Adam, city seal er of weights and measures, first, and the trial was set for January 10th. ! BREAK IN LINE 1 Os Gas Company Causes Low Pressure at Bluffton —Men Sent Out FROM THREE CITIES To Find Break—Decatur Has Big Reserve Storage for Emergency. When Bluffton people arose this morning to prepare their breakfasts they discovered that the gas pressure was so low it would hardly heat a skillet, and the newspapers, which use gas under the melting pots on the linotype machines also lost about an hour before pressure of gas was sufficient to melt the metal. Manager Jack Moynihan, of the gas company, was on the job to locate the trouble as soon as he learned of the low pressure and men were sent out from Fort Wayne, Bluffton and Decatur, to follow the pipe lines to locate the cause of the low pressure. It soon was determined that the break was on the line to Decatur, at some point east of its junction with the pipe line to Bluffton and the gate to the Decatur line was closed, near Kingsland, and Bluffton then had plenty of gas. The pressure had been raised in Bluffton, however, even before the Decatur line was closed, by putting two big pumps at work at Fort Wayne. The city of Decatur probably would get along all right until the line was repaired, as Decatur has a big reserve storage tank < for such emergencies.—Bluffton News. ATTEND FUNERAL. The Misses Ruth and Marie Daniels attended the funeral of their I great uncle, W. I. B. Wass, this afternoon. Mr. Wass was an uncle of Mrs. Minnie Daniels. o— BARBER SHOPS WILL CLOSE All Union barber shops will be closed Christmas, but will remain open until ten o’clock the night before. IS RE-ORGANIZED Adams County Medical Association Elects Dr. J. M. Miller President. THE OTHER OFFICERS Jr. W. E. Smith Member of Board of Censor —Meet Last Night. The Adams County Medical association, with a good attendance, met last evening in the mayor s room in the city hall. The business for the year was considered and the following election held: President—Dr. J. M .Miller, Decatur. Vice-President —Dr. Ernest Franz, Berne. Secretary and Treasurer —Dr. W. D. Beavers, Decatur. Dr. W. E. Smith was elected a member of the board of censor for three years Dr. S. P. Hoffman was elected a delegate to the state convention; Dr. S| Boyers, alternate. The board of censor receives applications for membership, attends to the assigning of papers and the program and general business matters.

Price, Two Cents.

BLOWN TO ATOMS o -1 Herman Bohne, Union Township Farmer, Hor,t rihly Mangled I- - ■, kIN GAS EXPLOSION h - r Funeral Will be Held Sunday Afternoon at the f Fuelling Church. 4 r I Herman Bohne, 52, a prominent j farmer of Union township who went to Fort Wayne two weeks ago to work, was blown to atoms yesterday at , eleven o'clock when a retort at the Day • Lite Gas Company's plant, exploded without warning. His companion Archibold Spear. 50, was also killed ’ instantly. Both men were blown to bits by the force of the explosion, which threw their bodies fully forty feet through the air. The cause of the explosion is i a mystery, according to E. J. Wohlford, local manager of the concern, . who claims that the two men killed should never have been in the small building in which the retort was located. The bodies of the two men were found side by side at a distance of about fifty feet from the retort where they were working, terribly mangled and scarcely recognizable. Bohne and been blown farther than Spear, and , apparently struck the side of the filling room and rebounded about ten feet, . While his face was only cut and ■ blackened, his body was ripped wide open from his throat down. Spear was • not so badly mangled about the body, but his face was badly torn by tho explosion. Despite the terrible condition of the bodies, the morbidly curious sightseers crowded close about them and had t 0 he beaten back by Bailiff Eisenhut and Officers Boseker and Petgen. The plant consisted of three buildings, a main structure, in which the Day-Lite tanks for gas lamps on automobiles. etc., were filled and the mixing building, in which the retort was located, and another structure of the same size, which was just being completed. The retort building was directly east of the main structure, and ' about fifty feet distant. The bodies i of Spear and Bohne were found about twenty feet from the main building, with bits of flesh and clothing strewn in a horrible path that led from the | little tank building. The bodies were well nigh unrecognizable. The east end of the main structure was blown in, but several of the windows on the other sides remained intact. Splintered boards were hurled hundreds of feet and one chunk of ; iron crashed through the roof of the home of Dennis O"Connell, 1828 Fourth i street, several blocks away. There is not a single living witness ito tiie horror. The road was deserted i an ( ] none of the people living in the vicinity was in his yard at the time. Bohne. who was a retired farmer, had no need to take employment, but according to Mr. Glusenkamp, with whom he lived, he had gone to work nt the plant in order to keep busy. He had been working but ten days. The plant itself has been in operation only two weeks, and the manager. E. J. Wohlford, escapej figuring in the accident only by reason of his having been in the city arranging for insurance and the incorporation of the local branch. Bohne Funeral Sunday. Bobne’s body was taken to the Ulmer undertaking parolrs and Sunday morning will be sent to the home of his brother-in-law, Ernest Conrad, nt Fuelling’s church, north of Decatur. Funeral services will be held at tho Conrad home at 1 o'clock Sunday afternoon. Bohne is survived by his sister, Mrs. Conrad, and three brothers Ixniis Bohne, of Decatur; William Bohne, of near Monroeville, and Henry Bohne, of Moore Park, Mich. Funeral arrangements for Spear have not been made. O ' - -.,r 1- | CONRAD FUNERAL TUESDAY The funeral of Christian Conrad, .prominent farmer of near Friedheim, £ who died yesterday afternoon of heart trouble will be held Tuesday afternoon at 1 o’clock from the home and later services at the Freidheim Lutheran church.

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