Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 15, Number 67, Decatur, Adams County, 20 March 1917 — Page 1

Volume XV. Number 67.

NATION PREPARING FORANYWAR ACT WILSON WILL MAKE NO AVOWAL OF HOSTILITIES AWAITING GERMANYS ACTION TOWARD FIRST ARMED AMERICAN VESSEL.

(United Press Service) (By Robert G. Bender) Washington. 1). C., Mar. 20— (Special to Daily Democrat)— Actual declaration of war by the I nited States against Germany appears to depend upon the fate which befalls the first armed American liner. It also appeared today that avowal of hostilities by Presi-I dent Wilson against the ial German government will not result from the sinking of the three American freighters last Saturday. \\ hile taking every preparedness step which he believes can be taken President Wilson is ioatne io take further action. , He has more aggressive steps under consideration, however, and this afternoon discussed all phases of the problem with his cabinet, which convened at 2:30. It has been definitely ascer- j tained that the president strongly questions the advisability of “forcing" the present situation, lie- is understood to feel that everything that possibly could be done to meet actual hostilities —.tow believed inevitable—is being done. He further questions whether calling congress into extra session before April 16 would accomplish any particular good. The president is understood to feel that the program he has outlined thus far does not call for an actual declaration of war. BULLETIN. Stockholm, March 20. —(Special to Daily Democrat.)—Helsingfore City, Finland, is in the hands of Russian troops following a week-end of riots. Admiral Njoeton was shot and fourteen officers aboard warships in the harbor were killed, according to information reaching here today. (Ry William Phillip Simms, United Press Correspondent.) With the British Armies Afield, March 20.—(Special to Daily Democrat.)—Historic Peronne is now a heap of rubbish. A deliberate, systematic, unreasoning policy of destructiveness was thoroughly carried out before the Germans abandoned it. , The Sixteenth Century church, one pride of the town, is in ruins. National monuments were destroyed wantonlv. Moreover, such destruction was not ( the work of British or French shells,' for their target was only the. German barracks. It was purely the work of the Germans, mostly by dynamite. Looking over the smouldering rums today, I failed to find a single shell hole in the streets of what was once Grand Place—and yet the fronts of all the buildings had collapsed in explosions from within, (hints w<r still blazing. Nothing was left by the Germans except starving cats, empty bot.fi s and filth. One German bulletin board, left prominently displayed, carried the admonition. “Don’t get angry.” Nothing was left anywhere except evil muck and such obvious “boooy traps” as run jars, cabinets and helmets filled with explosives, cleverly contrived so as to explode when

picked up or opened. Peronne is as complete a rum ' The invading British troops found a dummy effigy of Britannia piop.ie up in the Grande Place. (By Henry Wood. United Press Staff Correspondent.) With the French Armies Advancing from Rove. March 20. (Spec a , Daily Democrat.) -One hundred a.sixteen square milps of tern to y. burned black and rent with wantoi explosions has been the P _ , wrenched from the Geim.n,

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

French in the one little district from around Chatlines to the Oise. It is merely a part of a vast territory repatriated that by the French troops,i after hot pursuit of a German retirement that for precipitate haste re-' sembles the retreat from the Marne. | This 116 miles, however, is typical of I German ruthlessness in retreat. It has been a retirement by the! Germans marked by wanton destrucI tion and devastation exceeding even that of the original German invasion. 1 Traveling over the roads in every direction on the thirteen-mile front, around Boye, Chatlines and the Oise I today, one finds roads everywhere (blown up, trees and fences cut down.; houses and all other buildings razed! and the very land itself damaged tc as great an extern as possible, I Boe, the largest city yet retaken from the Germans in the French ad vance, was not burned, as was i Bapatime, but it was thoroughly mined and blown up. ! The city looks as though it had been stricken by an earthquake. The Ger mans, before they left, mined the street corners in such a manner as no’ only to cause a great crater when th* explosives were touched off. thus blocking the streets, but also caus-.di the collapse of all buildings on the! four corners. The whole city of Boye was thus ( mined to impede the French advance ! But the date which the German com-! manders had fixed for their evacuation had not arrived before French forces rushed in. Their sudden and unexpected appearance caused the Germans to touch off their mines at i o'clock Saturday morning—and with-; out any warning to the civil population. inhabitants of the village were hurled from their beds: great craters! 40 feet wide and some 30 feet in depth were blown in the principal streets. In these great holes tumbled the principal buildings of the city. ' The magnificent town hall with a score of others is a mass of ruins. The quick: arrival of the French enabled cutting of wires connecting mines which had been laid under whole streets of the: city so that some buildings were saved. • At the moment of their departure the Germans wreaked final vengeance on the city by entering houses and ' smashing the furniture, dishes— everything breakable. BULLETIN . I Washington, March 20—(Special io Daily Democrat.) —The United States government is preparing to recognize the new rule established by the Rus- . sian revolution, it was learned today. I As soon as the new Russian regime > definitely formulates itself, the Unit'd' f States will send greetings. NOTICE—CO WORKER 6. > _____. j Owing to the'Teacher-Parent mee'- , ing to be held at the Central school s building this evening, the meeting of . the Co-workers, which was to be heid, • this evening, will be postponed un tl; Wednesday evening at 8 o'clock. Co-' t workers please take notice and be on| v hand Wednesday evening * 8 o’clock I- prompt. MEL J. BUTLER. v President.

INITIATION WEDNESDAY. All those having application to join the Loyal Order of Moose in this city will please be at the hail at eight o'clock Wednesday evening. March 21. The class will be initiated then. _ -o— FRANZ FUNERAL FRIDAY. Funeral services for Ernest Franz. Root township pioneer, who died suddenly yesterday of heart trouble, will be Friday morning at 9:30 sun time from the home, and at. 10 o’clock from the Fuelling Lutheran church. Rev. 1 Dornseif will officiate.

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday Evening, March 20, 1917.

FAILED TO AGREE! ....... . ' 1 Jury Couldn't Get Together in Case Against Dr. Goheen of Fort Wayne. 1 MANSLAUG HTER CASE Doctor is Known Here— I Charge Against Him Here Later Dismissed. After deliberating for twenty-four hours without reaching a verdict, tl. ■ jury in the case of Dr .Charles M.i Goheen, of Fort Wayne, charged with: involuntary manslaughter because of the deaths of Paul and Paulina TTnjer, ■ i to whom he was charged with admin-, istering hyoscine, morphine and cac-| toid in operations for removal of to 1-1 I alls, was discharged at 5:30 o’clock Saturday evening by Judye W. H j Eichhorn of the Wells circuit court. The jury reported several times during the day that there was a hopeless disagreement, but the court each time would send them back to try it again. The entire week was requited to hear the case, which will have to be tried again. Goheen has figured in the Adams I circuit court on a charge implicating i him in the death of a Monmouth woman a few years ago was filed against him here. This was later dimissed when a charge was filed against Dr. Thain, whom she had visited late. i Thain was convicted and sent to state's prison, it will be remembered NOTOFF-NIGHT At Revival at Evangelical— Monday Eclipses All Former Records. ECHOES FROM REVIVAL Sunday School Classes Attended in Body Last Night—Revival Notes. Regardless of being Monday night it was not an off-night at the revival meeting at the Evangelical churth. The heavy work done on Sunday by ! : the Evangelist Kerlin did not detract I nor in any way weaken his effort at Ihe services last evening. He showed as much vigor and freedom at any time, in fact the speaker is growing and getting a grip upon the people. This was in evidence when the auditorium was packed and extra chaiis were needed. Three Sunday school classes of men were special guests last evening and i occupied seats, coming in a body. They formed a men’s chorus and witli enthusiasm sang two selections. With the evangelist there were six : ministers present. Rev. Frank Hartman came from Celina, Ohio, to attend the meeting and shake hands with his many friends. 'The other ministers were from the city and took an active part in the services thereby bringing new life into the meeting. The big: chorus, as usual, rendered fine and ap I preciative service. The sermon by Mr. Kerlin was inspiring and helpful. He spoke of the manliness of the Christian life. ‘‘lt is . pre-eminently a man’s job. It calls ! fortli the very best in us and develops ! that to the highest degree possible.” | the speaker said. After the sermon a I number of helpful and interesting tei- : timonies were given. The closing of j the meeting was very impressive, a j number came to the altar for conse- ■ cration and prayer. The general hand | shake by the people was thoroughly I enjoyed by all. Song service at 7:15: preaching at j 7:30. There is a welcome for all. i Echoes from Monday’s Meeting, j If you will not heed Christ’s call to service you are, of course, free to live the smaller life; but life’s deeper satisfactions and abiding joys are for you. You may try to feed your soul on ■ the trivial things of time and sense Jand the selfish frivolities of the wot Id, e but some day rhe. emptiness <>T it all n ! will overwhelm you with confusion ■. 1 and shame Who are the mourners and coin-

r” — ' t planters? They are the ones who ar * i making small sacrifices, the half-way Christians. Entire consecration is religion marie easy; it is tire ball-bearing, lubricated Christian life. There is more pulp than pluck in a great deal that passes far piety nowadays. It is an audacious attempt hi t get a free ride to heaven in a drawingroom car with select company and : good faro on the road. Sacrificial service is the only wav I into heaven’s aristocracy. Oh, ta it' Christians would be more ambitious;! heaven’s back seats are going to b< crowded. Christ makes no provision for any vacation or, interregnum iit the Christian life. Beware of ever thinking you have acquired enough capital in the ChrisI tian life to retire from active servic. Desertion is a disease of the +>.ir I racks, not of the battlefield. Get on! : the front firing line as a Christian l (Continueo on Fags I.) GEO- HISER DEAD Well Known Poe Pioneer Farmer Died Last Night at Ten .O’clock. ILL ALL WINTER - Was Past Four Score Years of Age—Uncle of 1). H. Hunsicker. D. H. Hunsicker. conductor on the Decatur-Fort Wayne interurban, received word this morning of the deo’h lof his uncle, George Hiser, of near Poe. Death came last night at 10 o’clock, after an illness that endured the greater part of the winter, superinduced by infirmities of old age. Mr. Hiser who had lived more than four score years, was a pioneer farmer of his communty, but during the past several years had lived a retired life,! makipg his home with his daughter. Miss Allie Hiser. He leaves several daughters and sons, the wife dying several years ago. Mr. Hiser is a brother of Mr. Hunsicker’s mother.! Mrs. Catherine Hunsicker of Bluffton. The funeral will be held Thursday morning at 10 o’clock. BASEBALL DOPE BOOK OUT. The baseball season for 1917 has! surely arrived, the first schedule book having made its appearance, it is the dope hook published by C. C. Spink Sons, St. Louis, Mo., publishers of The Sporting News. Besides containing schedules, there is to be found in this little book, much information of real value to every fan, including “Casey at the Bat,” records of 1916, as well a.records of all prominent feats on the: diamond, and complete biographies of: stars of the game, telling where tiny, were born, with what clubs they h ive played, how they bat and throw, etc. There is also instructions on “How tc • Score,” “Giants' Great Winning i Streak” and “Alexander's Pitching Feat of 1917.” If you want a breezy j little booklet, vest pocket in size, that you can carry with you, and make any fan who thinks he knows it ail, j look as though you had forgotten as much as he knows. Send five cents ; to Spink & Son, St. Louis, for a copy! | of this booklet. n — PROHIBITED FROM CANADA. Under the consolidated orders respecting censorship issued by the do ! partment of the secretary of state of Canada, a number of German papers printed in the United States and in-1 eluding the Christlicher BundespoU*. printed at Berne, in this county, have ben declared to contain objectionable matter and iheir possession within! Canada has been prohibited after Feb ruary 17, 1917. 4.4.4.4.4-4-4-4--!-d*-i-'{--i-i* + MAYOR IS GRATEFUL. + + + + I wish to thank all the citizens + 4> who so liberally donated to the + 4- relief fund for the Newcastle + 4- sufferers, and believe it will re- + 4- turn them a hundred fold in + 1 + blessings in the future and I + ’ + know it will be greatly appre- + 4> dated by the people of New- + ‘ + castle. ■5” i + CHAS. N. CHRISTEN. + 4. Mayor. + ■4. 4. 4. 4. 4. 4. 4. 4. 4. 4- + + + +

WILL SELL OUT !.. A. Holthouse Will Close Out Livery Business at Public Auction on WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1 Holthouse Fireproof Garage to Occupy Building —Horses Will be Sold. When you ride take a taxi. In order that the Holthouse Fireproof garage will be able to take carrot’ the hundreds of automobiles and their rapidly growing business, in.dnd- , ing the Overland auto agency. L. A Holthouse, proprietor of the Holthouse livery and horse barns, will hold a public auction of the livery stock, harness. cabs, a complete funeral out- ! fit ad twenty-four head of horses on Wednesday, April 4th, beginning at 10 [o’clock in the morning. The large I building now occupied by the livery i business will he somewhat remodeled and turned over to the garage. It’ anyone is in need of a buggy, str wants to start a livery system or: needs a good horse on the farm they] will do well by attending this big sale. I About twenty-five sets of good liar-i ! ness and eight automobiles w ill also I I be sold. Mr .Holthouse also has the county j agency for the Delco lighting system ; and the Willard storage battery. Th" new room will be used to a great ex-! i tent in branching out into this bird-; ness. Strikes Keynote of Revival at the Christian Church Last Evening. THE REVIVAL IS ON Evangelist Martin Gives Excellent Sermon—Prof. Kay Leads Singing. An exceptionally targe audience for Monday evening attended the Chris!-! tian church last night, and seemed to be well pleased with the many comments heard on all sides of the excellent singing and preaching. One of the fine features of the services was the singing of the Booster chorus which was organized by Prof. J. A. Kay. There was not a dull moment in the whole meeting. The chorus, under the able leadership of Prof. Kay, were swept along with enthusiasm. Prof. J. A. Kay sang an other one of his fine solos, which was very fine indeed. The Christian church orchestra will render another one of' those excellent selections tonight, and; Prof. Kay will sing another solo. Evangelist E. L. Martin preached ; a very forceful sermon from Romans I 12:1 on the subject of “Practical Re-; ligion.” It was very practical, undeistandable and to the point: in all it j was the kind of a sermon tha l helps; a man every day of his life. Evange- i list Martin will preach upon this sub- j j ject Wednesday night; “People in Decatur That Don’t Pay Their! Debts.” You are given a special in 1 vitation to attend these services. Thoughts to Think About. The best time to hold revival meetI ing is when folks really want one - | when they are willing to put everything aside and the supreme thought with them is to make the world better. Pray and set about deliberately to I answer it. The great big problem before th ■ 2i'»rch today is the conservation of ! its own resources. You never learn anything without the use of this physical body. [ Jesus spent His time helping men J to solve the problems of this life. J Some people ha.ve a religion like , | their Sunday clothes, they lock it up ,i in the closet six days out of the week. ,! The only religion worth while is with ,! a man seven days. . What we need most today is less . theorizing, philosophizing and dogn i • Itizing; and real practical religion. • | What the world needs is more, holy,

’ converted, aunctified, dedicated in n in the work of the Master. No church will ever convert the world to Christ by mere argument -'l ! words. Not much Use to preach to a man about heavenly mansions, when the; rent on the cottage lie is living in is not paid, and he is. expecting to he st t out in the street the very next day. WILD RUMORS’ CAUSE STIR. Rumors unverified by any reliable » news agency, rushed wildly over the wires this morning and were circulated in every town and city this morning. As is usual with these unthenticated stories there was no truth in the report that Kaiser Wilhelm lm-11 been assassinated and that Berlin was| ■ burning. The newspaper press asso-i ■ ciations may be depended upon to re--11 port the big news and the record of this fact in the past should be sufficient evidence that it will be so in ' the future. PIONEER IS DEAD Esther Ann Welty, Widow of Abraham Welty, Died This Morning ♦ AT TEN O’CLOCK 1 At Home in Union Township—Was Sister of the Late J. S. Lower. I — Esther Ann Welty, widow of Art iliam Welty, a pioneer resident of tin*; : county, died this morning at 10 o'cloi k ( ! at her home six and a half miles norm-, east of this city, in Union township/, at the age of S 3 years. The deceased; made her home witli her only son, William Welty. 4 She was the daughter of Wiliirti i and Catherine Lower, and the eldc t. i .girl of ten children. She was boin|< October 25, 1834. Death was due io, : old age, a dropsical condition growing j i out of ailments and infirmities . t Several grandchildren are among; < the surviving members of her imme- t , diate family, a daughter. Elizabeth'! ! Rittner, dying several years ago. ; > The late J. S. Lower was a brother. I t Two brothers are living, they being t William S. Low of Whiting. Kas., an.l I r , Rev. J. W. Lower of Warsaw. The funeral will be Thursday aft'-r-K ' noon at 2 o'clock, sun time, from th ; Pleasant Grove church. Burial will be r in the family cemetery at Pleasant I j Valley. ; I COUR! HOUSE NEWS. Frank W. Gordon and Peterson S [ | Moran, attorneys for Arthur P. Kellv.; 1 'filed a suit against August Schli<k-|( ' man on note and account, demand.! ] SIOO. | Objections to R .H. Hartford serv-l ing as special judge in the Bruce Dib-1 , ble vs. Martin-Klepper company’., | ! ease, were filed by the defendant and , were overruled, to which the defendant excepted, ten days being given to i I file bill of exceptions R. H. Hartford; ; filed his oath and appointment as spe-| j cial judge, the defendant thereupon ! filing objection to his jurisdiction. Real estate transfers: Frank Click ; to George T. Cook. 13Vj acres of Jefi ferson township. $722.20; Unite 1| I States patent deed to George Sand-. '! born. 179 acres of Root township: the I Straus Brothers’ company to Edith E. I Munro, real estate in Hartford town ! ship, $30,400; the Straus Brothers corni pan yto Asa C. Munro, realty in Hattford township. $15,010; Isabel Neptune 'lto J. Q Neptune. 40 acres of St. 1 ; Mary's township. $3,000. A jury and the judge arc hearing the; > case of Edward C. Vaughn vs. D. I. Hostetler, on note and account, . case being from Wells county. Pl pH - f of tender to the plaintiff and ansn'r , were filed. Motion in writing, by il. ti plaintiff to strike out the second pa } i agrapb of the answer, the same being , the tender filed herein, was sustained., to which the defendant excepted, le.t I i , days being given exceptions. 11 , Answer in general denial was filed. I Tender was also filed separately. 1 ‘ MEN’S MEETING' si Evangelist A. L. Martin will speak -i at a men s meeting tc. be held at ti e i Christian church, April 1, at 2:30 p. tn. ,| Subject will be announced later.

Price, Two Cent*

CONTINUED ILL HEALTH LEADS TO SUICIDE Mrs. Sarah Hale Gregg, of Chicago, Ends Life V\ hie on Visit IN THIS CITY Had Been Despondent Over 111 Health—Body Found by Little Niece. Despondent over continued ill health, Mrs. Sarah Hale Gregg, wife of Hiram T. Gregg, of Chicago, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John D, Hale of this city, committed suicide yesterday afternoon at some time between the hours of two and tour o’clock, by inhaling gas at the home of her sister, Mrs. John S. Peterson, on Jefferson street. She was alone in the house at th * time, and had gone to the batli room, where she disconnected the gas tu'r* leading to a small heating stove fr >r.i a fixture in the wall. She placed lie end from the stove connection in her mouth tying it in place witli a cloth about her mouth and head, first tutning on the gas from the mains. She had been dead probably two hours when the body was found at four o'clock by her niece, Lois Peterson, on iter return home from school. Though physicians reached the scene within ten minutes front ti e time the body was found, heart stimulants were applied and other means taken to revive her. including more • than an hour's work with the pulmotor. all ffiTorts to resuscitate her proved fruitless. Mrs. Gregg had been very ill during the past year, and last August hr.l undergone a serious operation. She came here three weeks ago on a vis't, and during that time had suffered periods of despondency, although yesterday she had seemed unusually’ cheerful. She had been assisting about the house and had helped her sister, Mrs. Peterson, prepare for a trip to Anderson, Mrs. Peterson leaving on the 1:05 train on the G. R. & I. to attend a Woman's Franchise la-ague meeting. Mr. Peterson had accompanied his wife to the train at 1:05 o’clock and had returned to the Masonic club rooms, from which place he telephoned to his home about 1:30 o’clock. Mrs. Gregg answered the telephone. s.> the deed was committed some time subsequent to that. About four o’clock her niece, little Lois Peterson, with one of the little Christen girls, bad returned home. The little Christen girl remarked on a peculiar odor in the house, which Lois explained was due to the fact that the house had just been re-papered and revarnished and offered to show the little girl the newly finished house. She said they would first go to 100 kat the bath room and then to another room, and last of all, to her. Lois’ room, because it was the prettiest of all. wi'h i its new paper. Tails went ahead and opened tlie ; bath room door. She saw the body of her aunt lying on the floor, and realizing the tragedy’ from the arrangement 'if the gas tube, and the odor of the ' gas which was overpowering, and : which was probably the odor the gills had noticed on entering the house. ! she quietly but quickly pttshed the little Christen girl back, without explaining a word, and closed the doe”, saying only that she would have io go ! at once to her papa at the Masonic chib rooms to tell him something. Lois hurriedly went to the Masonic hall where she tcM h pl ' father, and he in turn called Dr. E. G. Coverdale from his office in the same building. They arrived at the Peterson home within ton minutes and all that was possible to be done in the hope of reviving her was tried without avail. To all the many friends of the family. and of the deceased, who had spent her girlhood days in this city, the tragedy comes with an exceedingly heavy note of sorrow. Sarah Blanche Hale was born in Genevat April 24. 1877. Had ,she llv d ; until next April 24. she would have been forty years old. In 1883. In r parents, Mr. and Mrs. John D. Hale. (Continued on Page 2.)