Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 14, Number 285, Decatur, Adams County, 30 November 1916 — Page 1

Volume XIV. Number 285.

ROHRER FLIES: THEN JUL DIP Paul Rohrer of Berne Plunges Two Hundred Feet to His Death. THANKSGIVING DAY Was Making Final Test Flight of Newly Built Monoplane. Striking an air current during his third flight and as a consequence dashing to the ground two hundred feet below, Paul Rohrer, Berne’s first aviator, lost his life .yesterday afternoon. At the time he had been in the air for more than thirty minutes, had circled the town twice and made a long western drive. The machine was believed to be perfect in construction and air currents ar? blamed. Death was instantaneous. The fatal drop was at four-thirty o'clock. Rohrer’s face was literally mashed the magneto of the engine crushing him when he reached the ground. The machine was a mass of debris. The flight prior to the accident was deemed successful. He started from the aviation field at four p. ra., rose to a heighth of 1500 feet, drove five miles west, circled and returning to Berne circled the town twice at a good heighth. Making for the field where his mechanician Clyde Raleigh was to meet him. he arrived too soon, turning east for a few miles to return to the field. On the return trip as lie was coasting down to alight the machine suddenly dipped forward and Rohrer plunged to the ground, a distance estimated at cne hundred feet. A crowd of a thousand were near the edge of the field. They ran to his assistance and lifted the wreek- - ' ■ I Paul Rohrer. age off. Rohrers body was crushed his face mangled and death was instantanious. This was the third flight he had made in the machine, which he has constructed himself, piece by piece, in the cellar of his home. Twelve c days ago he made the initial flight, L driving more than five miles. Several days ago he made another flight reaching an elevation of seven hundred feet and landing safely. On both trips the machine worked excellently. i Nearly the entire population of Berne and the surrounding townships saw Rohrer fall. They knew I that he would make the final test flight yesterday afternoon and dozens of automobile loads came to 'he town to see him do it. This vast crowd lined the field and many stood on the streets of the town. Rohrer had spent a year perfecting and building his monoplane., lie learned aviation in a western school. Young Rohrer was so confident of his success, that he had made arrangements to make an exhibition trip through the south this winter. He had made several bookings and was ready to leave after he had thoroughly tested his machine. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Rohrer, his father being a pioneer temperance worker of the state and editor of the Berne. Witness. Funeral services will bo held Sunday afternoon at one-thirty o clock from the home, at two o’clock from the Mennonite church in Berne with burial in the church cemetery. Young Rohrer made twenty-seven flights while at the aviation school at Chicago and was considered capable

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

of operating a machine. Coroner D. D. Clark went to Berne , this morning, where he inquired Into | the causes of the fatality, finding it an accident. Dr. Clark’s report will in all probabilities be one of accidental death. » — —o— THE BERNE POULTRY SHOW. 1 he first event of the New Year at Herne will be the big poultry show, 1 for which preparations are now goring at a good rate. The association is getting out a very handsome prem- ■ ium list, which will soon be ready, and is free for the asking. Anybody t interested enough, just write to the secretary, John J. Hilty, and a copy will be sent to you by return mail. — — o- „ HAVE NO WORD 1 1 ‘ 1 American Officials on Bort der Have no Word of Fate of Americans. i —— ( FIFTY CHINESE KILLED t i Four of One Hundred Es- i cape to Tell of Harrowing Slaughter by Villa. i (United Press Service) ' (By Webb Miller) El Paso, Tex., Dec. I—(Speciall—(Special to i Daily Democrat) —On Thursday morning after his capture of Chihuahua 1 City, Villa began slaughtering the Chinese residents of the city, four refugees arriving here today told United States authorities. More than fifty Chinese had been killed when they escaped, they said. One Chinese refugee said that of one party twenty-seven of his country--1 men, he was the only one t oescape. Three other refugees were the only survivors of. a party of thirty-five. With these reports, little hope is entertained for the safety of six Americans known to have been in Chihuahua City. Four days have passed since the evacuation by defacto troops and no information has reached the border o* the fate of the foreigners in the northern capital. (By Carl I). Groat.) Washington, Dec. I—(Speciall—(Special t Daily Democrat)— Original orders tc. General Pershing to "get Villa’’ still stand the war department officially ( announced today. Officials said, however, that condi tions are so altered since Pershings expedition started into Mexico that lie would await fresh orders from Washington before making any < move. On the other band if oppor- k tunity offers he would strike a quick blow at Villa. | Army men said this would have to be a good opportunity. El Paso, Dec. I—(Speciall—(Special to Daily Democrat) —Shortly before daybreak this morning firing began about four miles south of Juarez. About fifty shots were heard but all efforts of ' United States authorities to learn I the cause were unavailing. Residents * of Juarez believed the city was already attacked by Villa and several 8 families ran to the American side of 1 the international bridge for protec- i J tion. Demoralized and without guns * which they had thrown away in their d hasty retreat from Chihuahua City * several hundred more Carranzista I 1 survivors reached here today. No ‘ word lias been received regardcig v the Americans who were in the city at the time of its capture and Ameri- 1 can officials redoubled their efforts 1 F to procure information. The Mexican government is making every effort today toward gather- 1 ing its scattered forces to hurl 1 ' against Villa at Chihuahua City. A ( new army to retake the city is being ’ massed at Juarez. The offensive « ’ against Villa will be started within 1 two weeks Mexican officials announ- 8 I ced. 1 ' 1 Ixmdon, Dec. I—(Special to Daily f Democrat)—Flat refusal of Greece j 1 to the disarmanment demands by the r allies today brought about a crisis j in the Greek situation. Dispatches from the Greek capital ( today stated that the allies were pre- ( k paring to land troops at the port of j n Athens. 1 h Tn the meantime the Greek govern 1 ' ment apparently is preparing for n«- ; n 1 tive resistance having ousted French . t officers detailed in charge of post- i e offices and telegraph stations.

Decatur, Indiana, Friday Evening, December 1, 1916.

AN UNHAPPY LIFE Was That of Grover and Mary Shanks—He Sues for a Divorce. WORK ON THE FARM Did Not Suit Wife—She' Attempted Suicide at One Time. Grover C. Shanks has applied or a divorce from Mary Shanks to whom he was married October I,j 1913, and who left him August 25, 1914. Cruel and inhuman treatment is' the burden of his complaint. He charges that at various times she would gb to her parent’s home for long periods of time; was possessed of an ingovernable and high temper; would be easily provoked and at times refused to prepare meals for him and his hired man, so that oftentimes he was obliged to take his hired farm hands to his sister’s home for meals, although the wife is strong and in good health. Ater their separation, he charges that she sued his father for alienation of her husband's affections, which was wholly unfounded . He sets out that she has told him she would rather live with another man than with him and that if she married again, she would marry a rich mtn and escape hard work. Farm life dissatisfied her and she told him she would much prefer living in town to escape hard work. On one occasion, the plaintiff sets out, at nine o’clock at night she insisted on his moving tier and her household goods to her fathers home. She threatened to commit suicide unless he did so. and actually attempted to take arsenis and also to shoot herself, 'holding a gun to her forehead. The efforts of himself and neighbors prevented her carrying out her attempts. All of which he states, greatly worled and harassed him and prevented him from a successful carryout of his farm and life work. o PLACE COTTAGE Cottage for Tubercular Patient is on Exhibition on Court House Lawn. SET THIS AFTERNOON Campaign for Sale of Red Cross Christmas Seals Began Today. The portable cottage for a tuberculosis patient, erected under the auspices of the Adams County Society for the Study and Prevention of Tuberculosis, was placed on the south east corner of the courthouse lawn this afternoon and will be there for public inspection a week or two, r.fter which it will be used by a patient. The entire furnishing was donated by the Delta Theta Tati sorority, and a paijt of this will be placed in the cottage for inspection. Later a Red Cross seals sales bureau will be operated here. The city has kindly donated the light for the cottage during exhibition. This is the second cottage, the first being used at Geneva. About two hundred letters inclosing seals for sale, were mailed out today by the president, Mrs. C. V. Connell and assistants. The mail order sales department will be greatly used this year. All those using Christmas seals are urged to use the Red Cross, thus helping in the good cause, locally >s well as generally, because seventyfive percent of the proceeds is us>d in the tuberculosis fight at home. G. A. R. NOTICE. — There will be a called meeting of the G. A. R. this evening at seven o’clock to arrange to attend the funeral of George Teeple. The time of the regular meeting is tomorrow, and the G. A. R. will assemble at the hall at 1 o’clock to attend the funeral. After the funeral they will reassemble at the hall to attend to the business of the regular meeting.

THE CHRISTMAS MAIL What To Do And What To Help Speedy Delivery. Postmaster Bosse is in receipt of a bulletin from headquarters In which it states that during the month of December, the affixing of seals or stickers other than regular I stamps, to letters will be allowed. | It is urged that these be affixed to the back of letters, however. The I correct and detailed addressing of > | mail is urged, to affaeilitate a com-! plete at.d more speedy delivery. The name, town, street, buildfag, numbers, etc. and even the designation of the corner, where an intersection of streets occurs, should be written in detail. <—e | CASH IS ASKED I 1 Representative Walker Ap- ■ I points Committee to Raise S3OO for State Parks. PART OF CENTENNIAL T. M. Gallogly, S. W. Hale and C. A. Neuenschwander Are Named. - « Joseph W. Walker, representative i elert from Adams county has receiv'led a letter from Governor Samuel M. > ’ Ralston and Governor-elect James P. t Goodrich asking him to aid in the , work of raising money to be used - to pay for the new state parks recently purchased by appointing a i committee for that purpose. He has r named Thomas Gallogly of this city, S. W. Hale of Geneva and C. A. Neu enschwander of Berne who are ied to raise the sum of S3OO in this t county. The state park movement is a part of the Centennial Celebrat ion , and is being boosted by the Indiana f Historical commission. They have purchased two sites, Turkey Run in t Parke county and McCormick Creek Canyon in Owen county. The bulk of the money necessary lias been secured in Indianapolis but there in still a large sum to be raised ad i this county is asked to donate the 1 sum mentioned S3OO. Your check or cash should be sent or handed to one of the three members of the committee. Q GERMANY WILL PAY (United Press Service) (By Robert J. Bender) Washington, Dec. I—(Speciall—(Special tc Daily Democrat)—Germany stands ready to pay indemnity for American lives lost in the torpedoeing of the steamer Marina, to offer an apology for the incident and to punish the submarine comander responsible if ' it develops that the vessel was sunk unjustly. This offer was given today in Germany’s formal reply to American inquiries and during a confidential vis it between Secretary of State Lansing and Ambassador Von Bernstoff. t o i CHRISTMAS TREE: t Meeting Called for This Ev- ’ ening at 7:30 at the ' City Hall. _ i TO DISCUSS PLANS t ( Will Decide Whether to j Have Another Municipal ‘ Tree This Year. Whether Decatur will have a muni- 1 cipal Christmas tree tins year, as c last, will be decided this evening at tiie first meeting of the season, which has been called for 7:30 t o’clock tonight at. the city hall. t An organization effected last year, i comprises C. E .Bell, president; Mrs. 1 C. S. Niblick, secretary; and Jesse Sellemeyer, treasurer. The tree last year was a decided success and there are many anticipations <f another tills year, in the hearts of c many of the little folk. 1 All those interested in the munici- t pal tree are requested to be at Hie 1 meeting. <

LOOKS LIKE A GO I Committee of Business Men I Agree With Mr. Reed of 1 Also Products Co. 1 1 I TO BRING PLANT HERE C. .1. Voglewede and I. A. Kalver Working Out Contract Today. I Indications at this time are most favorable that the Also Products Co. 1 will locate their factory in Decatur! and will be in operation by next May or June. The committee in charge met Wednesday evening and discussed the proposition with Mr. Reed and piet again yesterday afternoon in ■> three hour session during which ail tiie points were gone over resulting in an agreement with Mr. Reed to bring the plant here. Tho local business men agreed to give them free light and water for two years, to pay the rent for that time and to reimburse them with six per cent interest for a cement floor that is necessary if they are operating at the end of two years and to assist them in every way possible in getting the plant started. A committee consisting of C. J. Voglewede and I. A. Kalver was named to meet today with Mr. Reed and his attorneys, Heller, Sutton & Heller to work out the contract. The location of the plant w’ll | be decided within a short time. Mr. Reed is very enthusiastic about his proposition but states that they must have two or three years in which to develop it to the place where it will be a great thing for thp community. They will start with about twenty five people the force to be added to from month to month as needed. SPECIAL PROGRAM , A special program will be given Sunday evening from 6:15 to 7:00 o’clock at the Christian church by the Christian Endeavor society, M’ss Thelma Williams being leader. Several good talks from business men will be included. — o GEO, TETPIE DEAD George W. Teeple, Pioneer Decatur Resident, Died This Morning. AFTER LONG ILLNESS i Funeral Services Saturday Afternoon From Methodist Church. i George W. Teeple, lor nearly sixty years a resident of this city, died , at his home corner Adams and Ninth streets, this morning at six o’clock 1 after a long illnets from a compliei- ; tion of diseases. He was the son of Samuel and Ester Teeple and was born in Knox county, Ohio, July 13th., 1834. His : wief, Caroline survives. 1 Mr. Teeple spent practically his 1 entire life in this city, for many ‘ years being janitor of the Methodist church here. 1 He is survived by his wife, a son, _ William B. Teeple of this city, two 1 daughters, Mrs. Henry Westerfield, 1 Alberque N. Mex and Mrs, Emma ‘ Howard, Louisville, Ky., also the following brothers and sisters: Thomas ( IT. Teeple of this city; Mrs. Elijah Walters, Decatur, and Mrs. Emma ‘ Zimmerman. Cedarville, Indiana. Two brothers and two sisters preceded him in death. Funeral services will be held from ‘ the local Methodist church Saturday afternoon at one-thirty o’clock witli burial in Maplewood cemetery. Rev. * William Langenbach will officiate. ‘ The G. A. R. will officiate with their < ceremonies as Mr. Teeple was a , member of the 89th. Indiana Volun- ( teers. game is Called off On account of the accidental death of Paul Rohrer of Berne the basket ball game scheduled for tonight in this city between the Decatur and Berne high school teams has bem i called off. <

UNCLE HEZEKIAH OBSERVES. | Th’ Blngville Bugle is a week late. While instructin’ th’ editor how to write a piece an’ directin’ th’ reporter where an’ how t’ go t’ git th’ details uv a murder at Scottsburg, th’ printer let a galley of his type fall, thus producin' a pie that was impossible t’ cut in th' time allotted him with his uthur manifold duties. o ILL A WEEK Rev. F. G. Rogers returned late V/ednesday night from Missouri at which place he was called by the illness and death of his brother, Rev. Edwin Rogers of Springfield, Mo. Death followed a week’s illness of pneumonia. Burial took place at Mexico, Mo. TRI KAPPA BALL Hawaiian Dance Wednesday Evening at Masonic Hall Splendid Event. A PRETTY SETTING And Distinctive Features Characterize Annual Charity Ball. Os unusual prettiness, suggestive of the tropical beauty of the Hawaiian paradise of flowers was the Masonic hall Wednesday night for the charity Hawaiian ball, given by the Tri Kappa girls. Hidden in delicate strands of gorgeously colored flowers and foliage were tiie chandeliers, while from a Hawaiian thatched hut in one corner, came the music, rendered by Parker’s colored orchestra from Columbus, Ohio. At 8:30 the grand mareh opened the ball, the eighty-five couples being lead by Madge Hite and Eugene Fitch and Frances Cole and Paul Saurer. The programs were dainty and unique affairs, being in the form of a thatched hut. in white and brown, tied with brown thatch fiber. From the one-step opening dance, through the fourteen waltzes, fox trots and others to the closing extra, the mo--1 ments were enjoyed not only by the I dancers but by the many spectators who found delight in watching the dances and the ladies in their unusually pretty costumes. An especially pretty feature was that introduced during the Tri Kappa dance when vari-colored balloons were sent floating through the air to be caught up by the dancers as favors. Supper was served in tiie Masonic ball dining room by the Eastern Star ladies, A partial list of out-of-town guests includes Helen Aurentz, Norwood Markey, Dr. Catalet, Eugene and Delphi Fitch, Mr. Bailor, Luella Bergman, Mr. and Mrs. Leo Itenbach, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Locke, Miss Zoa Miller, Fort Wayne; Miss Isabelle Weeks, Mr. Briggs, Geneva; Paul Saurer, Markle; Lillian Rice, Mr. Dickinson, Richmond; Mr. Gill. Fort Wayne; Brice True, Chicago; Miss Peggy Lewis, Canton, Ohio. o “F INE FEATHERS” TONIGHT. Tiie Fine Feathers company, which appears at the opera house tonight, arrived this morning from Marion, Ohio, where they played yesterday to capacity business, matinee and night. This is an exceptionally good company and comes recommended from Marion as the best attraction appearing there this season. This is the first time that this company has played at less than SI.OO prices and every one should take advantage of this opportunity to see this wonderful production. The company carries all special scenery for each act and an exceptionally strong cast, and guarantees to be the best attraction this season. o “SHINE GIRL" ANSWERS DEMAND Better, cleaner pictures is the cry of the Federation of Woman's dubs and there comes a response from the , famous Pathe company in the form of a Gold Rooster play produced by Thanhouser. It is called “The Shine Girl," and it will play an engagement at the Crystal theater tonight. In the photoplay, Gladys Hulette does some really remarkable character work in the part of a little girl who makes the lives of all around her brighter and happier. Her splendid acting is a tribute to William Parke, the director. who has realized the importance! of “the big little things." i

Price, Two Cenb

IS ONE PERCENT At Least One Per Cent of the General Population is Defective. MUST BE CARED FOR Report of the Commission Made Public—Recommends Institutions. A (United Press Service) Indianapolis, Ind., Dec. I—(Special to Daily Democrat)—Recommending an extensive program for the care of Indiana's insane, epileptics and feeble minded, the special committee appointed by Governor Ralston to make a study of tiie mental defective problem in the state, today made its reporL The committee made a survey of two counties in the state and on results determined from this investigation. based conclusions and recommendations for the entire state. The board reached the following conclusions: At least one per cent of the general population is mentally defective. Only 9.484 mental defectives, or thirty-five one-hundredths of one per cent of tne total |>opulation are now on public support. There are 1,300 epileptics needing institutional care, 1,000 in the community at large or in institutions not suited to their care; and 305 in the Indiana Village for Epileptics. The problem of care of insane in Indiana has been carefully worked out during the last forty years until now 85 per cent of the insane ar& cared for in institutions. The actual problem of care of the feeble minded is greatest as it ap- , pears that the state is caring for but 1.350, or 20 per cent of the estimated I number needing care. Mental defectiveness is a large factor in the cause of crime, delinquen- .' cy, pauperism, ineffciency and other social ills. Further study of the cause and prevention of mental defectiveness is imperative. In view of these conclusions, the following recommendations were made by the committee to solve the problem. Additional provision for the care for women at tiie village for epileptics and enlargemetU of the village to I 1.200 capacity and provision for larger medical facilities. Indiana should provide at once for additional institutional accommodations for 1,000 patients now in need of hospital care. This should be done by providing psyshopathic departments at each of the existing hospitals: by the erection of additional buildings and the purchase of land for farm colonies and the erection ot inexpensive buildings thereon. Detention wards should be established at general hospitals throughout the state for observation and detention pending commitment to state hospitals. No person suffering from a mental disease should be placed in jails. A law providing for voluntary admission to state hospitals should be enacted. Tiie enlargement of the school for feeble minded at Fort Wayne by the establishment of a colony in the southern part of the sate on not less than 1,000 acres of land. A law providing for the commitment of patients to the school for feeble minded the same as to the village for epileptics. There should be a mental as well as pitysicial examination of schopl children and separate schools of separate rooms should be established, and tiiat a law should lie enacted, providing for a commission with sufficient funds to study the entire mental defective problem in Indiana. MENU ANNOUNCED The December section of the Evangelical Indies' Aid society announces the following menu for their penny supper Saturday evening |at the old laundry building: mashed I potatoes, gravy, baked beans, potato I salad, pickles, cottage cheese, sandwiches, coffee, pie and cookies. WIRE-PINCERS LEFT A dozen chickens or more, roosting in trees in the John Sehurg->r barnyard, were stolen. A pair of wire-pincers were left and tb«so may be had by the owner if be calls [and proves property and pays for i this ad.