Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 17, Number 104, Decatur, Adams County, 1 May 1919 — Page 1

Volume XVII. Number 103

WILL INVESTIGATE THE COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE Will Hammell Absent From City-Can’t Be Located-No Funds to Pay Checks--State Board of Accounts Notified This afternoon the following message was sent to Indianapolis: “Gilbert H. Hendren. “State Board of Accounts. Indianapolis, Ind., “Clerk of court absent from oilice for several days. Bank will not cash checks. Office kept open on order of court. Give Instructions. “JOHN T. KELLY. Deputy Clerk.”

Grave apprehension is felt as to the whereabouts of Will Hammell, county clerk and the financial condition of his official affairs. During the past month he has spent but a few days at his office and has been absent from there since a week ago Monday. | He was in town Monday of this week but left during the day, presumably for the Fischer bath house at Fort Wayne but telephone reports say he, has not been there. Since the last of the year he has ■ been absent much of the time. Consequently affairs have been going badly at his office and the culmination came a few days ago when an official | check was marked “not paid for the want of funds." This caused surprise as the cash book at his office showed a balance of nearly seven thousand dollars. The cash book was made up Saturday evening or Sunday by Mr. Hammell, under date of April 26th and shows:

Checks $ 47.71 Currency 551.00 Silver . 400 Nickels 05 Pennies -02 Liberty Bonds 2500.00 Certificate of Deposit 3,365.00 $6,467.78 Cash on Deposit 318,22 ' Tjotal $6,786.00 Investigation at the local banks how ever shows that he has no funds deposited there either in open account or in certificates and the only funds accounted for is S2OO in one of the banks. The $47.71 check mentioned is Hammell’s personal check. It is possible that the funds may be deposited in some bank elsewhere but if so the deputy clerk nor any other official knows of it. Effort to locate Mr. Hammell has been made for two cr three days past but with no results and it was decided this morning that some action should be taken in justice to all cencerned. Accordingly Deputy Clerk John T. Kelly this aft ernoon sent the above message to the state accounting board. Hammell is under SIO,OOO bond with the London & Lancanshire Surety company, Walter Johnson, being the local representative. He has notified his company of the conditions and representatives of the state board of accounts and the bond experts are expected here by tomorrow to complete the investigation and take the necessary action. j The books of the office were checked up a year ago by members of the . state accounting board and were found excellent, one of the examiners making the statem'ent that the ords were as well kept as any in the state and the finances in excellent condition. At the present time it is said the clerk’s accounts at the bank is overdrawn to the extent of $43.86

THE VICTORY LOAN RETURNS Quota Subscribed L ownShiP $ 30,500 • $ 31,050 B°°t 34,000 17,250 PF e , b 1 ,e j 31.200 26,200 Kirkland 45400 44,200 Washington 29’200 8.050 St. Mary 14.350 Blue Creek 50’900 17,300 Monroe 32’200 13,600 Hartford 42 700 6,400 Wabash 28 700 9.900 Jefferson 79’500 112.900 Decatur <2OO 5,850 Monroe Corp oa’aoo 21 150 Berne • £g 00 34;200 Tota l s

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

and checks cannot be issued until some action is taken. Hammell was elected in 1914 and his time would expire next December 31st at which time John T. Kelly the present deputy will begin his term of office. Mr. Kelly resigned three weeks ago but ; was prevailed upon by the court to keep the office open. Just what developements will come cannot be foretold. ELECTION HELD County Board of Education Meets to Elect Attendance Officer and RECEIVE THE REPORT

Os Enumeration — Discuss the New School Laws Re- i cently Enacted. The members of the county board i ' of education met with County School I | Superintendent Ed S. Christen today, I to make their annual enumeration report. to elect the county attendance officer, and to attend to other business matters that might come up. The enumeration report was not all made this morning, and the total school census will probably not be known for a few days. The greater part of the- morning was spent in discussing the new school laws, according to the Acts of the recent legislature, the books having been received this morning. The laws in this will have a bearing upon the acts of the board of education, and an opinion regarding the same, is necessary before matters can i be determined by the local board. The discussion delayed the election ! of an attendance officer until two o'clock this afternoon. Late this afternoon, E. R. Merriman of Blue Creek township, was re-elect-ed attendance officer. DANCE FRIDAY NIGHT The Decatur high school will give a dance at the Masonic hall Friday evening at eight o’clock. Admission fifty cents a couple. Proceeds to go to the Athletic Association of the ' school. Good music and a good time I is assurred. BOARD AND ROOM Board and room in modern homo is wanted by three men employed at this office. Gentlemen willing to pay good price. If anyone can make accommodations for one, tw r o or three men, kindly call ‘Phone 51.

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday Evening, May 1, 1919.

FATHER IS DEAD John W. Runyon, of Linn Grove, Father of Eugene Runyon, Succumbed DUE TO PARALYSIS Was Eighty-three Years of Age—Lived in Hartford Township 71 Years. Eugene Runyon has returned from Linn Grove, where he was called Monday morning by the serious illness of his father, John W. Runyon, who on Sunday was stricken with paralysis. He was with his father when he passed away on Tuesday -evening at 7:30 o’clock. The father had arrived at the advanced age of eighty-three years. He was a resident of Hartford township for seventy-one years, being one of the prominent farmers of his community, until he retired from active service. He was born in Champaign county, 0., being a son of John and Mary Price Runyon. The family came to this county, however, when he was twelve years of age. and practically | all the remainder of his life was spent | here.

He was twice married. Children of the first wife, who was Miss Adelia Morrow, are: Edward, who died at Cayuga, about twenty years ago; Eugene, of this city; Mrs. Ellen Wechter, Salem, Oregon; Mrs. Jennie Smith, Hulsa, Oklahoma; Courtney Runyon, Linn Grove. The second wife, who was Miss Lydia Hill, survives with the following children, all of whom reside in this county: Della Buckmaster, Mrs. Tom Lehman, Harry Runyon, Ethel Duss, Mrs. Rufus Boas. A brother, David Runyon, lives at Linn Grove. The funeral will be Friday afternoon at two o’clock from the home, with iwutljn Greenwood cemeteiy.

I NEW ACTS HERE Book Containing Acts of Last Legislature Received This Morning BY COUNTY CLERK When All Counties Receive Quota, the Acts Will be Proclaimed Law

County Clerk Will Hammell this morning received Adams county’s quota of Acts of the last legislature, being the laws enacted by the seven-ty-first general assembly, begun January 9. These books will be handed out to those entitled to the same by law. When acknowledgment of the receipt of the Acts has been received by the secretary of state. William A. Roach, from all the counties, and the governor makes his proclamation thereafter, the laws will become effective. As Adams county heads the list of counties, alphabetically, and is therefore the first to receive her quota, it probably will be several days before all can acknowledge receipt. The book is quite a bulky one this year, containing 1046 pages, including the index. The tax law, itself is quite a long one, the index alone, containing eighteen pages devotea to this.

PEACE BULLETIN (By Fred S. Ferguson, United Press , staff correspondent) Paris, May I—(Special to Daily Democrat) —Mexico and Costa Rica,, like Russia, must demonstrate the stability of their governments, as well as show- they ar eready to accept the j principles of the league of nations before they are admitted to membership, it was learned today. The United Press was informed; that there is no significance in the failure to include Mexico among the I neutrals invited to immendiate membership, beyond what shows on the face of the action. PREACHING AT ANTIOCH Elder J. C. Moore will preach at the Antioch church west of the city next Sunday morning and evening. Everybody invited to attend these services.

I HUGH PERKINS HOME L Mrs. Burkhart received a letter from her cousin, Miss Olive Perkins, who has been teaching at Warren, 0. : telling of the arrival of her brother, Hugh Perkins, who has been in military service, in Italy, with the 332nd. Miss Perkins met him on his arrival at Cleveland, 0., Saturday and he , was mustered out of servjce that eveI ning at Camp Sherman, Chillicothe, i Ohio. MILLER ' RESIGNS As Local Agent for Prudential Insurance Co. — Job Takes Time IN THE EVENING ! That He Felt Should be Devoted to Motherless Children—New Agent. E. O. Miller, who has been local 1 agent for the Prudential Insurance i Company, since last June, has resigned his position on account of the work demanding so much of his time in the evening in calling on prospective pol--1 icy-holders. Mr. Miller’s wif edied last winter, a victim of the flu, leaving him with several little children. The insurance work rendered him un- ' able to care for the children as he : should in the evening, hence his res- ■ ignation. He has not yet decided up- • on his future course. : Mr. Miller will be succeeded by Mr. ■ Babcock, the insurance agent of Bluff- | ton, who will take care of both fields

ABOUT THE SICK Mrs. Ferdinand Bleeke Submitted to Serious Operaiton for Adhesions OF THE GALL BLADDER Mrs. Joe Spangler Taken to Fort Wayne for Gall Stone Operation. Dr. D. D. Clark returned on the 1:05 train from Fort Wayne where he assisted in performing an operation up on Mrs. Ferd Bleeke, this morning at ten o’clock, at the Lutheran hospital, for a serious case of adhesions of the gall bladder. The adhesions were broken up and a drainage accomplished. It is believed she will get along all light. Five years age Mrs. Bleeke underwent an operation for gall stones, eighty being removed. There were also a number of adhesions at that time, and the appendix was also removed.

Henry Haugk, west ward school janitor, is recovering nicely at the j Lutheran hosiptal, Fort Wayne, and is able to be up again. Mrs. Joseph Spangler, of east of the city, who suffered an attack of gall stones and peritonitis, was taken In: the Scherer ambulance to the St. Joseph hospital, Fort Wayne, last even-j ing by Dr. H. E. Keller. Her condi-1 tion was found to be such-that the operation was not performed last evening. Dr. Rosenthal is the surgeon in the case. She was accompanied by I her husband and by her parents, Mr. j and Mrs. Uleman. Mrs. Rachel Stoneburner came home yesterday from the Lutheran ; hospital, Fort Wayne, where she und- ; ! erwent an operation. She is getting along well. Dick, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ray; Teeple who had an operation for the | drainage of a lung, is holding his own ; and is getting along well. Dr. Elizabeth Burns called on her patients at the LuUheran hospital Fort Wayne, yesterday. Mrs. Minnie Asehleman, who had an operation tor. gangrenous gall bladder, is getting along well. Mrs. Lulu Gessinger Andrews is resting well and is getting along nicely. Miss Amelia Tonnelier has returned from the Mayo Brothers’ Institute at Rochester, Minn., where she has been taking treatment. She returns practically recovered. Her sister, j Mrs. John Garvey, of Anderson, was with her, z

0 H 8 TEAM WON I Defeated Postoffice Baseball Team by Score of 8 to 6 BIG GAME TOMORROW International Business College of Fort Wayne Will Play Here. * ~ — “ The high school base ball team made god yesterday on their resolution to lose the first game and then ! “cop off” all others played and finish the season with a god percentage, by defating the fast postoffice nine by a score of 8 to 6. The game was play- j ed on the south side diamond and was | an interesting one throughout, the first three innings neither team scor-I ing a point. In the third the high ■ school made a score while the postof-1 fice team crossed the home plate twice. Between the fifth and the I ninth inning the postoffice team made I four runs, while the high school sluggers ran in seven, making three of them in the eighth inning. O. H. Odell officiated as umpire. The score and line up was as follows: , Postoffice High School 1 Baltzell C Myers! Macy /-- p Archbold! Knapp IB Hyland} Biggs . ~28 Ross! Laurent 38.... White-Baltzell i Macy SS Peterson Lachot LF Case; 1 Hocker CF Durkins Frank RF McConnehey Game Tomorrow • The International Business College I nine will play the local high school : team Friday afternoon at four o’clock lon the south side diamond. AdmisI sion fifteen cents. _ ■ ■■■- c,

SIXTH ANNUAL Pythian Sister*; of Fourth District Will Hold Sixth Annual Convention IN THIS CITY FRIDAY Eight Counties and Twenty four Towns Will Send Delegates Here. • The members of the local Pythian Sisters’ temple are arranging to entertain a large number of delegates j from the eight counties of the fourth I Pythian Sisiters’ district at their sixth i annual convention to be held here tomorrow. I Counties in the district are Miami,!

i Wabash, Wells, Jay, Adams, Hunting-1 ; I ton. Blackford and Grant. There are I. twenty-four cities and towns, they be-1, ing North Manchester, Huntington, | i Portland, Bluffton, Decatur, Andrews. I Pennville, Ossian, Redkey, Roll, Jones boro, Marion. Dunkirk, Converse, War I ren. Van Buren, Upland, Wabash. Ge- s neva. Tocsin, Montpelier, Bunker Hili 1 Uniondale, Gas City. The convention will be called to < order at ten o'clock tomorrow morn- I ing, by Minnie Sprinkle, of Portland, ' who is the district deputy grand chief. There will also be an afternoon session at one o’clock and an evening session at 7:30. The program in full was published a few days ago. WAR BULLETINS. Paris, May I—(Speciall—(Special to Daily Democrat) —What in effect is the firs., meeting of the executive council of the league of nations be held Monday, when the organization committee will take up certain preliminary work. The organization committee comprises nine members, selected by the nations which will compose the first I excutive council —the United States, • Great Britain, France, Italy, Japan, ! Greece, Serbia, Belgium and Spain, t Either President Wilson or Colonel t House will represnt the United States , | Among other things the committee ? will consider Switzerland’s renewed j plea for continued neutrality.

THE SCHROEDER FUND The fund to assist the Schroeder I family is growing and charitable people will see that they do not suffer. ! The amount to date: Reported $19.50 Jim A. Hendricks 1.00 Mrs. Nettie Roop I.oo| John W. Smith 1.00 A Friend 1.00 * $23.50; inTffecTtoday New Revenue Tax on Soft Drinks and Ice Cream is Effective Today ONE CENT MINIMUM Tax Must be Paid by Purchaser—Ten Cent Drinks Cost Eleven Cents. —— Indianapolis, Ind., May I—Section1 —Section I 630 of the Revenue Act of 1918 becomes effective on May 1, 1919, and reads as follows: “That on an,d after May 1, 1919, there shall be levied, assessed, collected and paid a tax of 1 cent for each 10 cents or fraction thereof of } the amount paid to any person con- , ducting a soda fountain, ice cream parlor, or other similar place or busi- , ness, for drinks commonly known as I ' soft drinks, compounded or mixed at! ! such place of business, or for ice | cream, ice cream sodas, sundaes or ■ other similar articles of food or drink j when any of the above are sold on or after such date for consumption !in or in proximity to such place of business. Such tax shall be paid by the purchaser to the vender at the time of the sale and shall be collect-; ed, returned and paid to the United States by such vnder in the same manner as provided in Section 502." “Rate of Tax—The tax is measured by the price for which the food or< drink is sold. It is on the actual sale i

| price at the rate of 1 cent for each 10 j cents or fraction thereof of the I amount paid for any of the articles I mentioned in Section 630. Each sale for 10 cents or less is taxed 1 cent and each sale for over 10 cents is tax ed 1 cent for each 10 cents or fraction thereof of the price. “The tax is upon the whole amount j of the price paid by the purchaser When the price is paid at one time though in payment for several articles which are the subject of a single I transaction of purchase and sale. The total and price paid is the unit for! computing the tax; thus, if the pur-! chaser orders two sodas at the same ; time and each sold for 16c the tax is 3c and not 4c. If, however, he buys 1 one soda for 15c the tax is 2c, and if| |he then immediately purchases an-j | other 15c drink the tax is 2c on the ■ i second sale which cannot be treated j J as part of the first sale. Any means by which separate pur-1 . I chasers pool their order for the pur- ( I pose of defeating or escaping the tax | i imposed by Section 630 shall bo care- ■ fully guarded against by the vender,. j for its employment subjects the pur- j chaser and the vender if he connives in it to the penalties provided in Section 1308 of the act. Articles Taxable-Examples; The

following articles of food or drink arc subject to tax within the meaning of Section 630 of the Revenue Act of 1918: All beverages when compounded or mixed at the fountain, such as Orangade, Lemonade, Pineapple Juice I Coca Cola, Root Beer, Moxie, Phosphates, Fruit and Flavoring Sirups I compounded or mixed with carbonated water or plain water, Milk Shakes in any form, Cream and Egg Shakes.' Joe Cream, Ice Cream Sodas, Ice Cream Sundaes, Ice Cream Sandwiches, Flavored Ices and all other; similar foods or drinks. Beverages Not Taxable—Examples; ’ ’ There are certain drinks which are . ■ often sold at soda fountains, ice cream • f, parlors or other similar places of bus-1 -jiness which are not regarded as soft -! drinks or ice cream products or similai articles of sod or drink within the meaning of Section 630 of the Reve- - hue Act of 1918. Such beverages are e > exemplified by Hot Bes Tea, Coffee,; t 1 hot, cold or iced, Tea, hot, cold or [ i, iced; Buttermilk, Milk, Hot Chocolate; i, lor Cocoa, Clam Broth, Hot Clam Bis-i .’ que. Hot Tomato Bisque, and Hot To--1 mato Bouillon. No tax applies on the s sale of beverages or drinks such as e Ginger Ale, Root Beer. Moxie, Miner-; /al Water, Etc., when served directly. i I from a container, in which ease thej

Price, Two Cents

PEACE SESSION OPENED TODAY Negotiations with Germany Officially Opened at 3 O’clock This Afternoon DELEGATES READY Present Credentials—Many Injured in May Day Demonstrations. (By William P. Simins, United Press staff correspondent) Versailles, May I—(Special to Daily Democrat)—Peace negotiations with Germany were officially opened here at three o’clock this afternoon. At that hour foreign Minister Brockdorff and Herr Landsberg, German delegates, handed their credentials to Jules Cambon, Henry Whit® and Japanese Ambassador Matsui, representing th eallies. The meeting lasted only five minutes. Paris, May I—(Special to Daily Democrat) —Many soldiers and civilians were Injured in clashes here this afternoon resulting from May Day anti-government demonstrations. A great crowd ignoring the government order against manifestations penei trated a cordon of infantry and cavalry. About half the demonstrators were allowed to continue until the , cavalry reformed and rushed the re- ! mainder. The crowds shouted “Down with Clemenceau, vive Wilson, vive America.” • Cleveland. O„ May I—(Special to ! Daily Democrat)— Several persons I were shot, more than 100 arrested and scores were in hospitals following . the breaking up of “Reds” May Day parade and meeting late today. Among those arrested was C. Ruthenberg. former socialist candidate for

i mayor. — ,! Paris, May I—(Special to Daily j Democrat) —Business was practically ; at a standstill today as the workers j of Paris celebrated Labor Day. Transportation was completely tied up. ' Even the newspapers failed to pubi lish, constituting a precedent for ' labor day. The government had forbidden demonstrations in the streets. TRIAL POSTPONED The trial of McClemens charged | with selling whiskey, which was to j have come off in the mayor’s court I this morning, was postponed until j next Thursday, as McClemen’s lawj yer. L. C. DeVoss is moving; IS SERIOUSLY ILL Word received today from Dick Miller is that his oldest daughter. Miss Genevieve, was taken seriously ill Monday in school and rushed to the Methodist hospital at Indianapolis where an operation revealed that she was suffering from appendicitis and gangrene and her condition is most serious. Miss Ireta Butler is her special nurse. Miss Genevieve is well known here having visited several times at the J. H. Heller home

— ■ —a ROAD NOTICE The idea or practice of using farm tractors and Fordsons on the highways for pulling loads must be stopI ped or prosecution will follow. Every ' day we hear complaints about holes j in the roads —and you can’t secure a I license for such engines anyway and I we cannot permit this practice. JIM A. HENDRICKS, Highway Superintendent : manufacturer's tax on such drinks has already been levied. See Section j 628 of the Revenue Act of 1918. How- ' ever, if any of the drinks or beverages | herein mentioned are compounded or I mixed with carbonated water or extract or othr ingredient at the fountain they are taxable. Beverages Not Taxable —Medicinal, There are certain medicines such as Bromo Seltzer, Citrate of Magnesia, Rochelle Salts, Seidßtz Powders, j Bicarbonate of Soda, Caster Oil, Epsom Salts and Essence of Pepsin ' which are often sold at soda fountains, ice cream parlors and similar places of business which are not soft drinksvor ioe cream products or similar articles of food or drink and hence are not taxable." PETEK J. KRUYER, Collector.