Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 13, Number 306, Decatur, Adams County, 22 December 1915 — Page 1

Volume XIII. Number 306.

FORD ENDS TRIP f 1 ■ Henry Ford Realizes Hopelessness of Continuing With Plans. AUSTRIA FOR PEACE Important Official, Count Apponyi, Gives Out an Interview. (United Press Service) (By Karl W. Ackerman.) United Press Correspondent Berlin via Amsterdam, Dec. 22,— (Special to Daily Democrat)—Hungary is willing to pledge Russia that the • Dardenalles will always remain open for Russian commerce as a condition of peace. Count Albert Apponyi, leader of the opposition in the Hungarian parliment made this statement to the United Press in an interview at Buda Pest. It is important not only because of the dominant position the count occupies in Austrio Hungarian afairs but because he is an international peace leader. ( "We can understand why Russia wants such assurances,” said Count Apponyi,” but we cannot see why these guarantees can not be given without at the same time making the political power of Russia paramount when that power would be a permanent menace to our safety. Hungary wants 1 peace, but peace making impossible a ■ return to the conditions that brought s about the war. That implies destruc- ( tion of Russian interests in the Bal- ( kans which is used only aggressively for expansion and conquest.” Count Apponyi believes Russia is ‘ the greatest stumbling block in the 1 way of an early end of the war. He I sees no propects for an early peace. . I "In his address to the Reichstag ; the German Chancellor opened the way ■ ( for an expression of the same good 1 will on behalf of the entente powers." he observes, “Had they responded a 1 common ground for discussion might 1 have been found but I do not think 1 the disposition for peace on either 1 side ripened into a readiness to enter ' peace discussions. So we must be J prepared for a longer duration of the 1 War, but we feel morally stronger .’or * having given the world an understand-,’ ing of what we are ready to do in 1 times of peace.” P (By Ed L. Keene.) London, Dec. 22,—(Special to Daily '1 Democrat) —After a night of the most heated war debate in months the house I of commons at 5:30 this morning ag- | reed to pass the government bill calling one million more Britishers to the colors. Adoption of the measure puts in the field the greatest British army in his tory, its number estimated at about icur million. With these millions the government hopes to strike for decisive victories in every theater of war and end the conflict within another year. (By Charles P. Stewart.) Christiana, Dec. 22,— (Special to the] Daily Democrat) —That Henry Ford flow realizes the hopelessness of ob-1 talning concrete results from his peace mission was the general opinion of men close to him today. Ford, is was rumored plans to end t the trip in a prefunctory manner and , as inconspicionsly as possible. He m, deeply disappointed at the lack of the t warmth in the reception given the f peace delegates in Norway and the < frank declaration of hostility on tin < part of the Danish authorities. Berlin via saville, Dec. 22, (Specia. to Daily Democrat) —General Von 1. >■ ( mtch, conqueror of Liege, died t! - , morning at Hanover. Berlin via wireless, Dec. 22,— <>P" ial to Daily Democrat)— British troops withdrawn from the Dardenelles . r< being sent to Salonika, according I” an Athens correspondent of the < . ogne Gazette. Berlin, via Saville, Dec. 22 Special to Daily Democrat) —Emperoi Willi" 1 is ill and will be unable to make t te visit he had planned to the western front it was announced this afternoon. “A slight inflamation of the cellu ar system has obliged th® emprror stay indoors a few days, said official announcement. New York, Dec. 22,— (Spe flal t 0 (Continued on Page 4.)

■DECATUR daily democrat

berbuda IN TROUBLE. ''hat Happened on the Berbuda.” O'iar*? thrl " er ’ " ,al ""' 8 ’’at of » mm! SU '" “ ’ URty rok aa mo d" ’* n ° U , BRhIP arast that lla '”- X"? A ” a,l,led of was ar” that ,h<! RhiP actua »y used which h T Ve " el, Mad K e burg. h has figured theatrically in the «ar However, the story has nothing * with the war, but it is X tu eth RPir ,* t ° f r “ a " d a<lven. Thrp m P eaßeS ‘ he |,Ublic 80 «. big reels, five cents to all, at 16 Crystal tomorrow. today s hoosier~oddity. EvansS;i^ B %^-> clal to Daily Democrat)—(George P. Neal tned to step out of another man’s way stumbled, fell, and died of his injur’ CHECKS MADE OUT Trustees and Treasurers Calling on Auditor for Share of Fall Taxes. DISTRIBUTION IS MADE Ot Fall Installment Collect-ed-Many Have Already Gotten Sum. The following orders for the specified sums were made out by Deputy Auditor Paul Baumgartner, being the share of the fall collection of taxes due the several trustees or treasurers of townships, corporations, cities or schools, many of whom have already i called for theirs: Union $1,216.47 , Root 2,754.40 1 Preble 1,800.05 Kirkland 2,003.97 j Washington 3,875.82 St. Mary's 3,997.26 Blue Creek 2,885.68 Monroe 6,335.96 i French 1,531.24 Hartford 2,999.67 Wabash 2,965.33 Jefferson 1,492.66 Decatur Schools 15,073.80 Berne schools 3,784.36 Geneva schools 2,426.24 Decatur Library 907.37 i City of Decatur 5,197.47 1 Town of Monroe 498.15 Town of Berne 3,274.21 Town of Geneva 2,609.22 MEETINGS GOOD Attendance at Horse Judging Contest is Good and Interest is Shown. THE FARMERS ATTEND No Further Meetings Scheduled Until After the New Year's Holidays. Twenty-five interested farmers attended the horse judging exhibition at the Adam Bentz farm yesterday afternoon. at which time two fine colts thP property of Mr. Bentz were used “ the demonstration under the direction of H. E. McCartney, of the Pur due university. In the evening an illustrated lecture on horse breeding was given by tu . , the St. Johns Mr McCartney at tne | ? ,j house Nearly fifty termers atia in progress witn a Irin o 'Vashington and Monroe ga In farmers are attending. Many tOWn a re enured in the judging conXX- !»»'•> '» "» d '•““X' » niu-t-W leow« -Ml- - 6XP fhP Adams county farmers on subto I’ of interest and financial profit m them and the farmers should respondl by showing interest in the meet- —- [continued on I’age 4.)

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday Evening, December 22, 1915.

IN POLICE-COURT ( harles Wertzberger and Philip Mohl Arrested Last Night on ASSOCIATION CHARGE I rial to be Held in Mayor’s Court Thursday Evening at 7:30. Charged with associating with a prostitute, Charles Wertzberger and Philip Mohl were arrested last night by Special Officer William Biggs at the Mrs. Harmon house on North Second street at six o’clock. Biggs, who has been doing special duty tor several months for the city, managed to secure the necessary evidence to warrant an arrest. Monday night, while watching the place, the two respondents with the son of Mrs. Harmon, attempted to run him off the premises and at that time threatened dire vengeance should he become active in their prosecution. The pinch was made single-handed by Biggs. No trouble was experienced in bringing the ment to jail, and when they appeared in mayor’s court this morning they entered a plea of not guilty. Their trial wil be held Thursday night commencing at 7:30 o’clock in the mayor’s court. Biggs serves a useful purpose in handling the cases of this nature, especially when they are situated in the outskirts of the city, as the regular police have other duties that demand their time sufficiently to prevent them from handling the cases conveniently. Several good pinches can be attributed to Biggs’ activities during the last few weeks. The Harmons live in a small shack directly south of the engine room of the Haugk grist mill on North Second street. WILL FRESCO HALL Second Floor of City Building Will be Frescoed and Brightened Up. ENGINEER APPOINTED To Draw Specifications for Same —Object to Assessments. Last evening’s regular meeting of the city council brought municipal affairs to a close for the year 1915. The council will not meet again until the first Tuesday in January, 1916, unless a special session is called. After the minutes from the previous meetings were read and approved the proofs of publication in the matter of notifying property owners as to their preliminary assessments in the East Rugg and South First street improvem mts were filed and placed on the records. A written remonstrance was tiled by H. L. Linn, Henry Krick and Mrs. Place against their assessments along Rugg street. The assessment roll was therefore referred to the street and sewer committees with the understanding that they report at the next meeting. As no one objected aganist the First street assessments the final resolution authorizing the city treasurer to collect same was passed and adopted. The citv clerk was authorized by a resolution to pay the salaries of the different officials for the quarter ending December 31st. The council adopted a resolution authorizing the drafting of SI,OOO from the general fund into the electric light fund. Some time ago the money was transferred from the electric light fund to the general fund. The Fonner auto accident which wa s investigated by the street and se wer committee was ordered dismissed from the docket. The petition of Mrs. Linn for a sidewalk improvement was granted hv the street and sewer committee. Upon a motion the entire council agreed that the second floor, including all rooms and hallways be repainted fr e S coed and that the city engineer draw Plans and specifications for ■ same They also recommended that brass rail be placed on both sides - of the stairway. Bids for the frescoing ’ of the hall will be received later on.

' The electric light superintendent was authorized to go ahead with the wiring and furnisji of electricity for the municipal Christmas tree. The following bills were allowed and the meeting adjourned: Lewis G. Hammond $ 8.70 Terrell's Equipment Co 23.82 City Firemen 62.50 J. D. McFarland 2.00 Decatur Volunteer Firemen .. 15.00 Decatur Volunteer Firemen .. 19.50 John Coffee 72.24 Orval Harruff 38.50 Thompson Meter Co 5.20 F. S. Webster Co 6.70 Crandall Packing Co 16.91 National Mill Supply Co 18.15 C. C. Clemens 7.40 Police Pay roll 100.00 Ft. Wayne Electric Works.... 12.01 Ft. Wayne Oil & Supply Co. .. 11.10 (Continue? jn rage 4.) CHRISTMAS EVE Will See Rendition of Fine Program at Zion’s Lutheran Church. FOR THE ORPHANS Collection Will be Taken — Rev. Bischoff to Preach for One Service. The festival of Christ’s nativity will by the customary services at the Zion Lutheran church. A collection for the benefit of the orphans will be taken in the Christmas eve service. The Christmas day service will begin at 10 o’clock. The Rev. W. Bischoff will conduct the English serviees the second festival day. The church after an_ annual custom will present as many children as attend the Christmas eve services with a Christmas gift. The folowing program will be rendered Christmas eve: Oh, Come All Ye Faithful—All. Scripture Lesson —Matt. 1:18-25. All My Heart This Night Rejoices— All. Dialogue. Silent Night! Holy Night—Children. Catechisation. Now Sing Ye and be Glad —All. Recitation. Come Hither, Ye Children —Children Catechisation. Let the Earth Now Praise —All. Recitation. As Each Happy Christmas —Children. Responsive Reading—Luke 2:10-20. Recitation —Matt. 2:1-12. A Babe is Born —Children. Catechisation. I Love to Tell the Story—All. Distribution of Gifts. Lord's Prayer in Unison. Benediction. Let Us With Gladsome Voice —All. Postlude. THE SKATING RINK Rented for Thursday Night by High School Boys for the Evening. THE MOCK TRIAL Will be Given Thursday— School Dismissed for Holidays Thursday. The high school boys have rented the skating rink corner Fifth and Monroe streets for Thursday evening and the high school boys, the high school girls and their friends expect to have a glorious evening of fun. The public schools will dismiss Thursday evening for the holidays, school taking up again on the Monday after New Year's. Thursday afternoon the commercial students of the high school will give their mock trial, the program beginning at 1:15. This will be an interesting event. Bluffton and Decatur basket ball teams meet this evening in their first game for the season, at Porter hall.

HELD A-SESSION Retail Merchants Discussed Various Problems of Interest at Meeting. SEVEN AUTO ROUTES Planned Through Decatur —L. A. Holthouse Boosting—s2s.oo for Tree. The Retail Merchants held their regular session last evening, postponed from the week previous. Owing to the fact that the holiday rush is on the attendance was smaller than usual but quite a little business was disposed of. Bills were allowed and two communications from manufacturing concerns desiring the co-operation and assistance of the merchants association were referred to the manufacturing committee who were asked to take immediate action. One of the propositions it is believed will result in the securing of a new plant for this city. The sum of $25 was appropriated for the Munclpal Christmas tree fund. A request from the Farmers’ Institute association that the business men pay the rent for the court house for the mid-winter session was granted. The committee on entertainment was authorized to take such action as necessary to make the corn show to be held in January a success in every particular. L. A. Holthouse then told about the Scarborough route guide for autoists and explained his efforts to put Decatur on seven different routes and also proposed that this city take an advertisement the guide. The matter was referred to the advertising committee who are to report at the | next meeting. The association will meet again next Tuesday night. THE FM STEPS Taken Today by the Public Service Commission on Lighting Co. Deal. MILLIONS INVOLVED Northern Indiana Gas and Electric Company Now Owns Decatur Plant. Indianapolis, Ind., Dec. 22 —The public service commission of Indiana today took action on the petitions of the Northern Indiana Gas and Electric company, the Indiana Lighting company and the General Service company to authorize the purchase by the former the property of the two latter companies and fixed ten o’clock a. m., January 5, 1916, as the date of the hearing. The petition of the Northern Indiana Gas and Electric company sets forth that the stock of the Indiana Lighting company and tin* General Service company issued and oustanding amounts to $5,400,000.00 and asks authority to issue bonds of a like amount in payment for the properties. The transaction involves no increase in the amount or securities outstand- , ing by the companies, the capitalization remaining the same as the aggregate now on the various properties. The’companies whose! properties are being purchased are now supplying artificial gas to Fort Wayite, Bluffton, Decatur, Wabash, Logansport, Lafayette, West Lafayette, Frankfort, Lebanon and Crawfordsville, electricity to Lafayette and West Lafayette and hot water for heating purposes to the city of Lafayette, and water to the city of Crawfordsville. In addition the companies own various natural and artificial gas plants in the state of Ohio. The Northern Indiana Gas and Electric company is supplying artificial gas to South Bend, Mishawaka and Plymouth, gas and electricity to East Chicago, Hammond, Whiting, Michigan City and electricity to Chesterton and Porter. These are the final steps In one ot the largest utility transactions that has ever occurred in the state of Indiana, and marks the exit of the Murdocks after twenty-seven years in the public utility business nl the state, the only property they now retain be-

I ing the Chicago, South Bend and Northern Indiana Railway company, operating electric lines from South Bend to Michigan City and Goshen, I Indiana, and to St. Joe, Michigan. EVANGELICAL CHURCH. The mid-week service this week will last but one-half hour, after which the Christinas program will be rehearsed. Let every one. except the begin- - tiers’ class, be present. No one who takes part in any way ought to be absent. Services begin promptly at . 7 o’clock. — o RUSHING DAYS AT POSTOFFICE These are rushing days at the postoffice, troth outgoing and incoming mails being very heavy. Clerks and . carriers are rushed to the utmost to keep the matter moving along without congestion. II fine” play Was That Given by Hometalent Players Under Auspices of City Band. IT TOOK WELL Cast Ably Drilled by Roy Mumma—Audience Well Pleased. The play given last evening at the opera house under the auspices of the city band was a fine one, and much appreciated by the audience. The cast had been drilling for some time under the direction of Roy Mumma. and each took his part nicely. The play was a four-act drama, entitled, “A Woman’s Honor.” The part of General Mark Lester, a hero of I the Cuban Ten Years’ War, was taken Iby Clelland Ball Pedro Mendez, his half-brother, was represented by Leon Crawford; Dr. Garcia, surgeon of the Madaline, and also Robert Glenn, a Wall street banker, were characters both represented by Ferd Peoples. Carlisle Flanders took the part of Gilbert Hall. M. D„ who is in love with Olive; Gregory Grimes, Lester’s private secretary, was interpreted by Glen Neptune; Olive and Sally, Glenn’s daughters, by Grace Gerard and Hope Hoffman; Marcia, wife of Pedro, by Glenys Mangold. Mr. Mumma played the part of Glenn's butler. Those who attended express great ) admiration for the manner in which | the play was carried out by the cast and their director. RECITAL BIVEN I Private Musical Given Yesterday at Music Academy of Sisters of St. Agnes. BY THE STUDENTS Was Fine Event—Students Showed Great Skill and Excellent Training. A private musical recital was given yesterday at the Academy of Music of the Sisters of St. Agnes by a number of students that was very fine. The following was the program given, in which the students showed great skill and talent: Duet, Comrade In Arms—Fern Edwards and Jennie Wechter. Le Secret —Germain Christen. Silver Spray—Alice Fetters. Erl King—Lillian Keller. Violin Solo, Heafts and FlowersVirginia Smith. Valse, B. Minor—Regina Heimann. Mountain Schottische—Anna Dowling. Joyous Farmer—Bernardine Christen. Second Mazurka—Mildred Niblick. Heather-rose — Florence Bremer kamp. Gypsy Dance —Lucile Knapp. Betty's Waltz—Geraldine Smith. La Grace—Velma Srvin. Funeral March of a Bird —Othmar Smith. Rainbow Schottische — Frances Bucher. Elfin Dance—Velma Walters. * Violin Solo, Barcorolle—Thelma Houk. (Continued on Page 4.)

Price, Two Cents.

WAS DANGEROUS Explosion of Day Lite Plant That Killed Herman / Bohne A DANGEROUS PLACE Coroner Kruse Finds the Designer Criminally Negligent. That Herman Bohne and Archibald D. Spear, the two employes of the DayLite Gas company, who were blown to pieces when the terrific explosion ot an acetylene gas generator wrecked the plant, northwest of the city, near the Bass farm, on December 10, were not informed of the fact that the pressure carried was more than fifteen pounds and wore not aware of the danger which threatened to destroy them at any moment, is the most significant finding in the verdict which Coroner Edward H. Kruse submitted last night relative to the case. Louis Wagschal. who invented and installed the system of generator that ran the gas pressure beyond all reasonable bounds of safety, is severely arraigned. as the latter was advised, according to the investigation, not to employ so dangerous a system which had been condemned by all reliable authorities on the subject of acetylene gas generation. Coroner Kruse’s verdict is as follows: "1 find that Herman Bohne and Archibald Spear died of injuries received as a result of the explosion ot an acetylene gas generator at the ; plant of the Day-Lite Gas company in the city of Fort Wayne, Ind., on December 10, 1915. I further find that the pressure of gas carried in this generator was about 275 pounds and that all authorities on the manufacture of acetylene gas agree that any pressure above fifteen pounds is extremely dangerous. I further find that the said generator was invented and installed in this plant by Louis Wagschal; that the said Wagschal submitted the design of the.generator to reliable authorities, who informed him, the said Wagschal. that this type of generator was extremely dangerous and advised him not to install it; that the said Wagschal came to Fort Wayne and interested local people in the formation of a company for the manufacture of acetylene gas by means of this generator, telling them that it was a safe method of manufacturing said gas. I further find that the decedents were not informed anij were not aware of the fast that a pressure of more than fifteen pounds :n said generator rendered it extremely dangerous and liable to explode." When notified last night of the coroner's findings in the Day-Lite inquest Prosecutor Harry H. Hilgemann stated that inasmuch as only a week remained of his term of office, and as practically all of that time would be necessary to continue the investigation, he intended taking the matter up with the incoming prosecutor before deciding on what course to follow. His successor, he stated, would anyway have the responsibility resting upon his shoulders in conducting the case after the first of the year. Just what course will he decided upon is not yet known, but the strong wording of the coroner's finding permits of a wide basis of action from criminal negligence to involuntary manslaughter is admitted. —Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette. SAVINGS BANK CLOSED (United Press Service) Pittsburg, Dec. 22,—(Special to the Daily Democrat)—The Pittsburg bank for savings was ordered closed this morning by the state banking department. It is said there is ten million depositors, many of them children. Many depositors shouted before the closed doors frantic to withdraw their savings. The closing of the bank is due to depreation of the Kuhn securities which were unloaded on the bank two years ago at the time of the Kuhn failures according to receiver Getty. CHRONISTER IS SICK Isaac Chronister, street commissioner is confined to his home part of the time on account of a severe attack of rehumatism. He gets out and downtown some but the attack is not headed off completely yet .

to explode