Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 14, Number 3, Decatur, Adams County, 4 January 1916 — Page 1

Volume XIV. Number 3.

PLAN TO ACT PROMPTLY PRESIDENT WILSON ISSUES FIRST OFFICIAL STATEMENT CONCERNING GRAVE SITUATION WITH AUSTRIA

(United Press Service) Washington, Jan. 4,—(Special to the Daily Democrat)— Presidept Wilson toady issued a statement in which he admitted that the present situation Between the United States and Aus.tiia is grave. ) He stated that he was co-operating ■■with Secretary Lansing in an effort ■to obtain full facts and that as soon | as information is obtained this governI ment' will act promptly. The statement follows: “The presI ident and the sejretary of state are I’ taking every means possible to obtain I the full facts in this grave matter i and will act just as soon as the in- « formation is obtainable.” i The president decided not to call ’ his sabinet together today but confer|‘red with chairman Stone of the senate . foreign relations committee and will confer with secretary Lansing in an eftort to gather all evidence on the Persia’s sinking. That the situation, today is very critical, was admitted at the white house without reservation. The president and Mrs. Wilson arrived from Hot Springs. Virginia today at 7:45 a. m. Congress re-assem-bjed today and promised to take a prominent part in the expected international complications. ■L’ashington. D. C„ Jan. 4 (Special to Daily Democrat)—Secretary of Str e I nnsing has informed Ambassa gta ") department is considering modits position with regards to the carrying cf guns by merchantir ~ ■ The change in naval warface created by the submarines and the fact that -Hhe.re "re no German warsihipj. at ?sea. other than submarines, has Wought this change in attitude, he told the ambassador. lit is unofficially stated by Teuton diplomats in Washington that should an Austrian commander report that he sank the Persia, Austria wlb insist that he had a right to do so in view of the vessel being armed, and it is generally understood that Sermany will back Austria in this contention. The Austrian charge and the German ambassador conferred at the German embassy today. IS&xindon. Jan. 4, — (Special to Daily |Benio-;rat) —Scenes of horror proceeded the final plunge of the liner Persia in the Mediterranean, according to dispatches from Alexandria today. Persia turned turtle while boats were got away from her side. & Monster waves had washed from her decks more than a score of passengers who failed to reach the boats. Then the steamer dipped sharply to port sending men. women and children slipping down her decks into the water. Before the eyes cf survivors in the last boat she rolled ; Over while perhaps a score of persons were still clinging to her decks. (By Carl W. Ackerman) * Jan. 4 to Daily ) —Regret is expressed almost universally in Berlin over the flhfing of tl}e British liner Persia, with heavy loss of life, just as heroic efforts were being made to repair Tenton ic-American relations. Tin public and newspapers understood tha’ Austria's last note had cleared the way for a complete understanding. No iniormation reached here as to whether a German or Austrian submarine sank the Persia. Lcndcn, Jan. 4. (Special to Daily Democrat) —Premier Asquith this afternoon confirmed the report that Sir John Simon, secretary of state for home affairs, has resigned from the cabinet. The announcement was made in the house of commons following today's session of the cabinet on the question. It has been rumored for several days that Sir John had quit the cabinet because of his opposition to compulsory military service. F -' r r J (■London, Jan. 4, —(Special to Daily Democrat) —Charles H. Grant, of Boston Massachusetts, a salesman, and the only American survivor of the Pergut, today told of pitiful scenes when ibe liner went down, according to Alexandria dispatches.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

| Grant slid into the water with a ? i lifebelt and was picked up while be i' was clinging to floating wreckage. 3 “As we pulled away some of the pasj sengers were screaming and others shouting farewqjls,” said Grant, “and those in one boat sang hymns—half ~ hysterically," (Continuco on Page 5.) i 0 PEACEFUL END J 1 Came to Life of Mrs. Chas. Pennington After Much i Suffering. WAS ILL LONG Died at 8:15 Last Evening —Funeral Will be Held Thursday. Mary Lichte Pennington, wife of Charles Pennington, passed away last . evening at 8:15 o’clock at the family home on Grant street. Mrs. Pennington had been ill since last summer and in the past two months, complications of dropsy arose. She suffered much but the end came very peacefully and she passed away easily. Mrs. Pennington was in the very prime of life, being thirty-seven years eleven months and nine days of age. She was born January 24. IS7B, at Fostoria, Ohio, being the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Lichte. Seventeen years ago she was married to Charles Pennington of this city. The husband and three children survive. They are: Esther, aged fourteen; Charles aged twelve; Mary Alice, aged three. She leaves the following brothers and sisters: Frank Lichte, Decatur; John Hammond; Martin and Timothy, Columbus, OhitT; William, Tiffin, Ohio, Mrs. John Geiss, Cleveland, Ohio; Mrs. Joseph Helb, Tiffin, O.; Mrs. Rose Brown, this city. Mrs. Pennington was a woman of fine qualities and was a faithful member of the St. Marys Catholic church and of the St. Marys sodality. The funeral will be held Friday morning at nine o’clock from the St. Marys Catholic church. SWEIApjARD County Assessor Wm. Frazier Goes to Indianapolis to Three Days’ Meet WITH THE BOARD Reports Finding of $22,215 Hidden Taxables —Receives Instructions. County Assessor William Frazier left this morning for Indianapolis. There he will attend a three days’ session of assessors with the state tax board commissioners. At this meeting they will receive instructions relative to the beginning of the work for the coming season. Mr. Frazier lias to report at this meeting, that he has found $22,215 worth of hidden taxables to be added to the assessment for the past season. The work of the assessors begins ' March 1 and preliminary instructions will be received by Mr. Frazier relative to this work. POLICE COURT NEWS r Joe Carre fl, a cooper employed at - the sugar factory was arrested on a I chafge of indecent exposure by night - policeman Reynolds last night and i this morning before Mayor Christen, - pleaded guilty to the charge and was fined $5 and costs.

Decatur. Indiana, Tuesday Evening, January 4, 1916.

'TAX _DODGERS Will be Thoroughly Dis- - cussed at Meeting at Indianapolis BY TAX COMMISSIONERS Governor Ralston Address:l ed the Meeting Today— Three-day Meet. i- i 3 Indianapolis, Jan. 4,—(Special to 1 I Daily Democrat) —Tiiose habitual ‘tax f * , dodgers? ’ who have been covering up their personal belonging, would shudder if they could attend the meeting Ij of the fifteenth annual conference of ' state tax commissioners in session here today. Efficiency of tax appraisers will be strengthened in many ways during the course of the sessions, ■ which are being held in the house chamber at the state house. Governor Ralston today addressed the tax men and in the course of the next three days a number of experts in this line of work will tell what they have accomplished during the past , year. Among them will be Fred A. t Sims, L. R. Naftzger, County Assess- ' ■ or Jacob F. Lindsey of Noble cdunty I and Albert Humke, state inheritance i tax investigator. USUAL ' ENDING ’ In Such Cases —Lyman Burnett Gets Tired of Cora i and She Sues Him. SHE WANTS $1,500.00 An Old Story, With Characters ILerein Known Here—A Horseman. i , The Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette .' says of Lyman Burnett, prominent horseman of Fort Wayne, well known to Decatur horsemen: "An echo of one of the most sensa- ’ tional cases that has even gone through the local courts came yesterday when Cora A. Eley, who lived | here two years as the wife of Lyman : D. Burnett, prominent horseman. ' brought suit against him for $1,500, ! claiming that sum due her for taking care of his general business, his banki ing affairs and paid his taxes. "The complaint, which was filed by Barrett, Morris & Hoffman, is brief, | but it is evident from the nature of the step that Burnett had cut loose from his paramour and turned her adrift without finarlcialy providing for her future. "When Barrett was arrested in Detroit in 1913 on a charge that he had conspired with the cashier of a bank for the illegal possession of funds and it became known that he had been living with a woman here while he i had a wife i nthat city, Mrs. Eley hurriedly left the city and eluded search for many weeks, when she returned , and re-established herself at the home on Edgewater avenue she had occupied with Burnett. Burnett cleaned himself of any criminal connection, with the bank cashier and his Fort Wayne property and money in local banks that had ben tied up for months were released. Mrs. Eley has rela- ' tives in the county and it is said that she is making her home with them.” C — o « ELECTION NOTICE. Decatur, Ind., Jan. 4, J 916. r Notice is hereby given that the annual meeting of the stockholders of 3 The People’t Loan and Trust Com- ’ I pany of Decatur, Indiana, will be-held ’ iat the banking house of said Trust •' Company in this city, s Tuesday, January 17, 1916, s at 10:30 a. m., for the election of di- - rectors of said Trust Company to I serve the ensuing year and until suc- | seeded. W. A. LOWER, 3tf Secretary. BEN HUR NOTICE 1 tl Friday evening the Ben Hurs will 1 have degree work. A large class will , receive the degree. Thursday will be y drill practice. All members are rej quested to attend both metings.

1 EVANGELICAL CHURCH. J Tomorrow evening at 7:00 is the time for the mid-week service at the Evangelical church. This is the first one of the new year. loot's start the year right by giving proper attention to essential things in life. The pastor would be delighted, and God would tie pleased if every member would be present. This meeting g will pave the way for the revival meeting, which will begin next Sunday. A welcome for all. J. H. RILLING, Pastor. o MRS. VOTE ILL Mrs. Lena Vote, residing on Elm street is seriously ill from apoplexy 0 A trained nurse is attending her. She moved to Decatur from her farm a X * few miles east of Monroe a year ago. [) - o TO BUILD ROADS f 1 Commissioners Order Audi3 , tor to Receive Bids February Bth On Eleven i BUILD THIS YEAR Five Others Continued a t Month--Petition Filed For Borums Run--OtherNews The county commissioners transacted considerable business today closing the January session. The Marion Andrews et al petition for the Boruni Run drain was docketed. No remonstrance was filed. Nrfah Beberstine the regular drainage commissioner being disqualified because of relationship to petitioners, the board appointed John C. Augsbhrger as commissioner. The auditor was ordered to advertise for bids to be received on Tuesday, February Sth on the following macadam roads which will be built this year: Jones, John F. Carpenter, St. Marys township; Elmer Eley, Blue Creek; John Pearson, Hartford; Lehman Thieme, Union; Miller, Kirkland: Robert Speicher, Wabash; Adams Beberstine, Hartford; Abe Stoneburner, Washington; John Smith and th? Amstutze and Newhouser. The following roads were continued awaiting the viewers report: Fred Minger. Wabpsh; Curtis Fritzinger and Henry Bauman, Root; Daniel Kaehr. Monroe; Peter D. Steiner, French and Wabash. The Joseph L. Hook petition for a drain was continued. The invoice of personal property at the county farm was filed today and the summary is as follows: Farm implements, tools, etc. .$1391.00 Live stock 3,755.00 Grain, hay, etc 3,010.50 (Continued on Page 4.) THE FIRE REPORT Twenty-four Fires Cause $4,214 Damage During the Year. ROOFS WORST CAUSE Average Damage at Each Fire is $175.58, Much Less Than 1914. Henry Dellinger, secretary of the Volunteer fire department has completed his report for the past year . and it shows exceptional work on the ’ part of the department. With 24 fires during the year the total loss was kept down to $4,214.00 averaging $175.58 1-3 per fire. The ( total loss is divided between, buildings $1,784. and their contents $2,430. Six false alarms were turned in during the year, making a total of thirty runs. The cause of fires show some valuable statistics for the average citizen. Defective roofs cause the largest number of fires, in this year being responsibile fcr ten; The childrenmatches combination caused I gasoline caused three; sparks from ■ locomotives caused three and un-| ■ known causes are attributed to six, fires. |

WHEELS SILENT B ■ t Backwater from High River in Interurban Power House Basement. ? 1 STOPS THE ENGINE —— ■■ And Consequently the Service Between Here and Ft. Wayne Was Annulled. ' The wheels on the interurban were 1 silent today after tile 8:30 car pulled in from Fort Wayne, the first run having been made. The basement(or the pits) at the interurban power house, north of the city, is full of ’backwater" from the river and the engine was given a vacation. Continued use of the engine, it is said, wculd have drawn the water up into it with the almost certain result that the cylinder head would have been blown out. In that case, it would mean a total disability, and a great damage to the engine, hence the complete shut-down, to wait in the falling of the water, was thought best. As there is nothing to do but to sit and wait and let “nature take its course" in the falling of the river, it was, of course unknown this morning (CotittnueO on Page 4 J HE READ_ BIBLE And Refused to Work Stating a Person Who Read Bible Continuously NEED NOT WORK Wife, Mrs. Cecile Miller, -Wants Divorce—He Failed to Support Her. Alleging that her husband, William Miller, of Wabash township, failed to support her; that he was lazy and indolent and sat around and read the Bible or some other book all the time, saying that any person who read the Bible continuously would get along without working; and that he was cruel and inhuman in his treatment of her, Cecile Miller has filed a suit for divorce. She also asks SSOO alimony. Mrs. Miller is the widow of the Mr. Girod, who was run over and killed by a G. R. & I. train some time ago. while returning home from the Decatur fair. She and Mr. Miller were married September 5, 1914, and a little more than one year of married life was all that they could endure, separating last April 30. Mrs. Miller sets out in her complaint that she has seven children by her first marriage, "the eldest, Jesse Girod, being eighteen years old. and the youngest two years old. She says Mr. Miller well knew this when he induced her to marry him, and that he agreed to help her in their care and support. This he failed to do, and what little means she and her family did earn, she says, he helped to use up. He refused to work and sat around and read. When the provisions were getting low and she told him so and that it would be necessary for him to work he fold her that If it wasn’t for “them doggone kids” he and she could get along all right. She says he told her that he was not going to stay around “them doggone brats and kids,” and that he was going to leave. She says she got a job for herself and such children as were able to work, cutting and shocking corn in a field of a neighbor and that her spouse went to the neighbor and got the money arter they had done the work. When she asked him to buy provisions with it, she says, he told her he would have to use it to pay his debts, and when she asked him if he could not pay his debts by reading the Bible, too, he said he could not. She recites further, that she was sick and confined to her bed at various times, and that he was guilty of cruel and inhuman treatment of her, in not giving her the care that she required, refusing to come into the room or to ; keep her company in her illness, and , failing to provide medical attention |so that she was dependent upon

f neighbors and friends and relatives. This has caused her great humiliation ami embarrassment among the associates she had prior to her marriage, she says. She says that he is ■ stout, able bodied and able to earn at least fifty dollars a month. F. M. Cottrell, Heller, Sutton & Heller are her attorneys. o AT THE MADISON HOUSE. J Mr. and Mrs. William Heiner of Lagrange arrived in the city today and have taken over the management of . the Madison House, the popular and home-like hotel at the corner of First and Madison streets. They will run the hotel on the American plan. The Madison House is a very popular place among the traveling men who enjoy the excellent meals served there and I i the good, clean bedding. Mr. and Mrs. Heiner formerly ran a hotel at Lagrange and will no doubt make the Madison house more popular than ever. NO WISH BONE Came to Irene Driscol,Aged 7, from President Wilsons Turkey.

SHE GOT A BOX For Christmas from a Decatur Lady—Letter Received from Irene. Irene Driscol, 7, a poor little Chicago girl, got her name and picture in the paper when she wrote-unknown to anybody, the paper says—to President Wilson asking for the wishbone from his Thanksgiving turkey, that she might have it to write to Santa Claus on. A Decatur lady residing in the south part of the city, determined to make Irene's heart happy on Christmas, so she sent her a box, filled with good things to eat, candy, nuts and a doll that talks and a mandolin for Irene's brother. Yesterday a letter came to her from Irene, the writing and spelling being unusually good for a child of Irene's age.: Chicago, Dec. 28, Dear Friend: .Received your kind letter, also the box of Christmas presents and we thank you with all our hearts for your kindness in helping to make our Christmas a happy one and when we say our prayers at night we will not forget to ask God to bless you. We wish you a happy New Years’ and wish that your life will be happy and prosperous is the earnest prayer of your little friends, Irene and Thomas. B. S. The president didn’t send the wish bone but we had a merry Christmas just the same. THREE 2W es Will Be Built In Adams County This Year —Council Authorizes the Loan IN SESSION TODAY Reallot Funds Turned in from Various Sources— Typewriter For Clerk The county council held a special seslon this morning as provided by law, to reallot the funds over from the various county officials, that amount being saved from the sum appropriated. This was used to pay off various accounts and to meet obligations of the county and in addition to this the council authorized by resolution a ’ loan of $20,000 arranged in series or . SSOO each ,to be used for building . three big bridges,in the county as fol- ! lows: , William Burk bridge, Wabash town- , ship, $16,000. George W. Gates bridge, Monroe : township, $5,000. i Blue Creek bridge, Blue Creek [ township, SB,OOO. : The other items allowed today were , for minor bills, anid included an ap- > propriatlon of SIOO for a typewriter in I the office of the county clerk. The i total appropriations today were $29,II 933.30. i

Price, Two Cents.

WOR STNOW OVER I Belief of Men Fighting Water at Holland-St. Louis Sugar Plant. RAISED OVER NIGHT Came Up Eight Inches Last Night, But Has Not Raised During Day. ’ At two o’clock this afternoon it wah reported that the water had not raised any since morning, being still at forty inches. It is believed that the water will go down during the next twenty-four hours and the men on the job are hoping that the worst is over. Conditions at the local plant of the Holland-St. Louis Sugar company continue rather serious today. The water which last evening had reached a depth of thirty-two inches on the main floor this morning measured forty inches and was still rising. All day

yesterday, as well as all night Sunday t and all day to day, a force of men w-ere constantly at work placing bags of sand at the doors from the main room into the ware room to prevent the water from reaching the 5,000 barrels of sugar stored there and their efforts were successful. The flood was caused by back waters from ice jams down the river ’ and today forces of men were going s i down the river in an effort to break ! up the gorge. In the meantime Mr. F. H. Hubbard, the local manager, accompanied by C. J. Lutz, the well a known attorney, went to Fort Wayne t. to ask officials there to assist them i in clearing the river of ice. The war ter started to recede Sunday at St. Mary’s, Ohio, but at Willshire and here the rise has continued, showing that 1 the ice dam is below here. So fa*, there has been but little , damage to the machinery at the sugar - plant, the greatest loss being in the i i loss of time. The run would have ?, been completed by the fifteenth and r i the delay at this time means a very great inconvenience to the company. The water became dangerous Saturday night and beet cutting was suspended Sunday morning, though the , I fires were kept up and the sugar packr' ing continued all day Sunday. The . men in charge are doing everything , in their power to relieve the congest tion of water and thus do away with , any further danger to the big plant. I This morning it was reported that the I water had crept through into the ware .. room notwithstanding the almost heroic fight made against it and if the ' water continues to rise it is feared I there will be a severe loss, though the i men are still hoping to avoid it. ST. ELMO TONIGHT. Brieflly told the story is as follows: “St. Elmo, the high-strung, sensitive scion of an aristocratic family, discovers a clandestine love affair between his fiance and his best friend, Murray Hammond. In a frenzy of rage he challenges Hammond, kills him in a duel and thereafter, his faith in humanity shattered, he lives the life of a scoundrel and a profligate. He outrages the feelings of his family. insults his friends and his mad career of dissipation is carrying him perilously close to the verge of mad--1 ness. Then fate intervenes. He meets the woman, who is destined to be his salvation. A mere slip of a girl is Edna Earl, an innocent, unsullied by contact w r ith the world, but she does what the pleadings of a 1 mother, the adjurations of a minister f of the gospel have been unable to e bring about. Through her, St. Elmo t renews his trust in God and man- - kind, and his moral and spiritual res generation fully accomplished, he sins ally wins her for his own.” At the B Crystal tonight; five and ten cents for a six big reels. o MRS. NOAH MOSER DEAD 5 . ■ 1- George Zehr of Hartford township yesterday received a telegram announi- cing the death of his daughter, Mrs. Noah Moser at William, Minn. The b body ip being brought back to this county for burial and is expected to < arrive at Geneva by tomorrow morning, the funeral party having left will--5 iams yesterday morning according to the message. Mr. and Mrs. Moser i went to that country five years ago. ' Mrs. Moser was a sister of Mrs. Chris - Eicher. No further particulars of the death have been learned.