Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 17, Number 260, Decatur, Adams County, 1 November 1919 — Page 1

Volume XVII. Number 260

BARN is burned \ Large Frame Structure. With Contents, on Old (.rant Williams Place burned £AST night Belonged to Frank Nundone of Blue Creek Towns(ljp—Origin Unknown p irP , of unknown origin, at 12:30 last night completely destroyed the , arge frame ham, with its contents, which included twenty acres of oats straw and farm implements belonging to Frank Neadstine, in Blue fre ek township. The "barn was located on the land which he purchased last spring from Grant Williams, nn d which adjoins the old Neadstine farm. No one was living on the place at the time of the fire. I When discovered by neighbors and passersby, the fire had gained such ( headway that it was impossible to save the building or Its contents. ‘ The barn was a good frame structure or the probable dimensions of 30 by CO feet. Owing to the fact that the heavy rains of the past several days had completely soaked che landscape there was no difficulty In preventing the spread to surrounding buildings and even the straw stack at the rear was unburned. Among those who witnessed the blaze, were several returning to this city from the box social at Monroe who stopped, attracted by the big conflagration. ! LIST IS COMPLETE City Red Cross Drive Committee is Now Fully Organized READY FOR WORK i Buttons and Banners Will Be Given—Firm Membership The following workers for the Red Cross membership drive to be held in this city next Wednesday, have been named in addition to those named yesterday: i Third Ward, B Precinct Captain, Mrs. George Wemhoff; > Mrs. Lewis Baker. Mrs. Fleck Hower, Mrs. Fred Nichols, Mrs. T. W. Bess, Mrs. Otto Reppert, Mrs. Ross Mallonee. I The name of Miss Jessie Holthouse was omitted from the names of the committee in Third Ward A as published yesterday. Membership buttons and banners will be given to each person renewing membership or becoming a new member at this time. | The business house or firm will receive a hundred per cent credit or banner if all employees and members of the firm enter into Red Cross membership, whether in their home district or in the business district. RECOVER TWO BODIES. (United Press Service) Amsterdam, 0.. Nov. I—(Special to Daily Democrat) —With the recovery of two bodies from the burning Y. & 0. Coal company mine here, rescue forces worked desperately today to clear the mine of gas and debris in the hope of saving the lives of twenty more men believed imprisoned further underground. “Uncle Jimmy” Gray. 67, foreman, was found in a sitting posture, pick grasped in one hand and a shovel nearby. He was stricken while throwing up a barrier of earth and coal against the lethal gases. The barrier was partly completed. A few j feet away the body of a foreign miner 'ay. He leaves a widow and two children. Gray was a widower and leaves ihree sons. TO ATTEND MEETING Mr. W. A. Klepper of the Cloverleaf Creameries and Mr. Earl Martin j of the same company will leave tomorrow for Omaha, Neb., where they will attend an important meeting of dairymen, farmers, creamery operators and government officials, it being hoped that some steps will be taken that will improve conditions of the market which have been uncertain for several weeks. They will be absent several days. WEATHER FORECAST Indiana—Cloudy and colder tonight probably rain northeast; Sunday probably fair, colder east portion.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

I 1 NOTICE TO “JOKERS." j Notice is hereby given to the lioys who broke into the Stewart home on ' South Third street Thursday evening f and stole the pies from the kitchen range, that they call at the Stetrart i home before 9 o’clock Monday morning and make amends or a charge of i burglary will l>e filed against them. The penalty is a prison sentence. The names of the ladH were secured last evening, and they must make settlement. LOSS IS HEAVY | Floods Along the Wabash River Cause a Big I)am- •( age to Crops THE LOSS ON CORN In Fields is Great—Rise of Water General—Wabash Fears A Flood , The Bluffton Banner says: "A rainfall of three-quarters of an Inch last evening and today failed to stop the falling of the waters of the Wabash river up until 3 this afternoon and they were down to the ten and a half foot mark. “It is expected that there will be a reverse of conditions late this afternoon and by night the waters will be rising again. It is predicted that if the rain this morning was general up the river, the thirteen-foot mark will be reached by the river waters tomorj row. “While considerable damage to corn in the low lands is being done by the high waters, the damage there is no j more than that done by the rain on the high lands. Farmers coming to the city today say that the corn has been beaten down by the rain and the hot weather is causing the ears to sprout and the stalks to turn black., Wells county had a good corn crop, but conditions are very discouraging jto the farmer who hasn't his corn safely in the crib. (“Charles Hesher, living east of the city, has about ten acres of fodder I under water with a considerable ■ quantity of corn in the shock. The shocks are flattened in the water, i “Arch Waugh has twelve acres of corn under water, and Will Sleppy had two acres submerged. Frank , Stafford also has similar conditions 1 on his farm at Murray, j "High waters prevail over northeastern Indiana. A representative of the city of Wabash called here by telephone this morning inquiring as ito the high water conditions here. The pieople there are fearful of another flood. I “The north road out of this city remains open to traffic because the east road is cut off. Rural carriers are having to detour because of the overflow of the river and the tribuI tartes.” BURNED IN POCKET L. W. Kennett Confesses to Stealing of $250,000 of Bonds From the STUDEBAKER COMPANY Worried Him Continually and Finally Burned Over Half of the Bonds. (United Press Service) South Bend, Ind., Nov. I—(Special to Dally Democrat)—The tortures of illicit wealiu were described here today by L. W. Kennett, Studebaker company telegrapher, who confessed |to taking $250,000 worth of liberty bonds from the organization Jan. 4. The disappearance of the bonds, shipped to the company by a Detroit bank, raised a storm in South Bend. Kennett’s guilt was covered by his time clock record. He checked out | at 12:32. The bonds were noted as, I received at 12:47. « I Kennett said he reentered the of- , 1 flee after punching out, saw a pack- 1 age on the floor, picked it up and ’ thrust it into his shabby overcoat. For days, while he himself sent out I | messages regarding the theft, giving , I numbers of the bonds, etc., the 25 J SIO,OOO notes rested in his shiny 1 1 overcoat. Kennett said the bonds worried him continually until he decided to burn them. He thrust them one at t a time into a furnace fire until he r ' had but three left. He kept those. Finally, nerved to attempt dispos-

jWOULD AUTHORIZE J TAKING OF MINES t ' , Congressman Baer, North Dakota lntrodnces Bill Favoring Government OWNERSHIP OF MINES Attorney General Disagrees With Slack—Coal Distributors Appointed Washington, D. C., Nov. I—(Special to Daily Democrat) —A resolution authorizing President Wilson to take ■ over the coal mines and operate them until an agreement with the miners as to wage 3 and hours of labor until the dispute between the men and operators is adjusted, was introduced in the house today by Representative Baer of North Dakota. Washington, D. C., Nov. I—(Special to Daily Democrat) —The department of justice officials here today disagreed emphatically with the interpretation of L. Ert Slack, U. S. district attorney at Indianapolis, placed upon the injunction against the coal miners issued by Judge Anderson yesterday. Slack was reported as holding that the injunction did not apply outside Indiana. At Attorney General Palmer’s office it was announced that such an interpretation was “ridiculous.”

Washington, Nov. I—(Speciall—(Special to Daily Democrat)—Committees to take charge of coal distribution in the eight regional railroad districts have been appointed by Rail Director Hines, it was announced at the railroad administration today. The committee will have headquarters at Boston. New York. Philadel(Continued on page two) 'comeTtorcar — i F. H. Clark, Cashier of The People’s State Bank of Belleville, Michigan IDENTIFIES HIS CAR 1 Compliments Local Officials on Cleverness in Locating Owner. i F. H. Clark, cashier of the People’s I State bank, of Belleville, Mich., arrived here this morning to identify ar 1 drive back to nis home, his Ford which was stolen from the garage at his home on the night of October 18, and which was taken into custody here by Sheriff Sephus Melchi and his dep- ■ uty, Roy Baker, after being abandoned at the sugar factory by two youths, who are believed to have stolen the car. Mr. Clark highly complimented the cleverness and diligence of the local officers, through whose efforts he was able to recover his property. The car was taken into custody here Friday of last week, and after noticing the Michigan license number tag. the sheriff got Into touch with the Michigan secretary of state who informed him that the license was issued to F. H. Clark of Belleville, and in this way they were able to get into communication with him. - He stated that the local officers showed an interest and quickness of following up clues that is noticeably different from the greater number of the officers who are apparently negligent. Mr. Clark stated this his seven-passenger-8 Oldsmobiie car was also ’ in the garage at the time, but the youths never touched that car, apparently. According to mail left in the car, indications seemed to be that the * youths were Leslie Roberts of near| | Belleville, Mich., and John Treloar, of, Detroit, Mich. Mr. Clark knows of the Roberts boy, but not of Treloar. No clue as to the whereabouts of the boys | has been otbained. Belleville is located about twenttvfive miles west of Detroit. jal of the $30,000, he confided in his | friends. As a result of an alleged scheme to get them through the bank J George W. Good, jeweler, and John ( Cook, foundry superintendent, Kalamazoo, Mich., were apprehended, j Good and Kennett were in jail today j awaiting action by the prosecutor, j

Decatur, Indiana, Saturday Evening, November 1, 1919.

DRAWING DEADLY WEAPON | Charles Duer made affidavit against George Hiller, charging him with drawing a deadly weapon on him, to-wit a shot gun. Both are residents lof Jefferson township and the fracas is said to have resulted from ill feeling that reached a climax in the alleged gun-drawing affair of last evening. Prosecuting Attorney E. Burt Lenhart drew up the affidavit and filed the same <n the court of Mayor Charles Yager, In this city. A BIG SUCCESS Was The Hallowe’en And Box Social Given by the Monroe High School YIELDS A BIG SUM For Piano Fund—Several Hundred Enjoy the Fine Entertainment In the neighborhood of two hundred dollars was inadfe last night by the Monroe high school, of which Byard Smith, son of Judge and Mrs. D. E. Smith oil this city, is principal. This money which was raised by giving a Hallowe’en and box social, will be given to the piano fund. The affair was a decided success, not only financially, but socially as well and yielded up one hundred per cent of fun. Fred Schurger, of this city, was high official starter of the evening's program, and when it got started, which it did promptly, the ball was kept roll ing. unwinding one entertaining feature after the other in rafid succession. Between three hundred and fifty and four hundred people attended and these came masked. After mingling for some time, they were lined up, and the judges, Jim Hendricks, E. W. Busche and Robert Shirk, awarded the prize for being the best masked to Miss Smith, daughter of Sim Smith, a teacher of the county. ’ Then came various games of all kinds and amusements. The school rooms were arranged on the manner of a carnival ground, with various booths and stands and sideshows in Hallowe’en setting. Corn fodder, pumpkins and other Hallowe’en emblems prevailed, while the class colors were also used in the decorations. Miss Naomi Gilbert was elected the most popular girl. In a bie-eating contest, little Johnny Moore came out with first honors. Various entertainment stunts were pulled off by the various classes and there were several “cake walks.”

A big feature was the selling of the of lunch. Fred Seliurger, assisted by Jeff IJechty, auctioned these off and the boxes sold for the proverbial “high dollar.” ABOUT THE SICK Miss Leah Porter, granddaughter of County Assessor William Frazier was brought home fro* the Lutheran hospital yesterday where she was a patient two weeks. She is recovering very nicely from an operation for tumor. Mrs. Henry Rodenbeck is improving very well and it is thought that by next week she will be able,to be roiught to her home near Monmouth. William Scherer, who has been a patient at the St. Joseph hospital, Ft. Wayne, was brought home last night in the Black & Oetting ambulance. He stood the trip well. He resides in this city, having recently purchased the S. D. High property on South Thirteenth street. Mrs. King, mother of Mrs. Fred Patterson, is 111. NOTICE OF MEETING There will be a meeting of all soldiers, sailors and marines at the Elks hall Monday evening at 8:00. This l is a very important meeting in regard to organizing an American Degi ion. and all soldiers, sailors and marines are requested to be present. Committee: FRED McCONNELL, JAMES STALEY, FRED ELZEY. GETTING ALONG NICELY. Harold Magley, who underwent an operation Thursday night at the Lutheran hospital, Fort Wayne, for an attack of acute appendicitis, is in good cpndiMon, is resting easy, and getting along fine, according to word from the ■ hospital.

A BUSY MONTH Was October for Red Cross Public Health Nurse— Report Given Herewith VISITED 31 SCHOOLS Inspected 704 Pupils— 480 New Cases Were Found by the Nurse. , Miss Jeanette Storey, Red Cross Public Health nurse, employed by the Red Cross for work in the county, has been very busy, as her report for the month of October shows. Especially busy has she been in

school Work—visiting the various schools and inspecting the children. Children who are found to be suffering from latent diseases, subject to certain tendencies, or found abnormal in any way are referred to the parents or to physicians, oculists or dentists for treatment. The work is proving a great one. Attention is again called to the fact that interest should be taken by all in the annual Red Cross membership drive, which begins tomorrow, as one-half of all funds raised in this county in this way, are retained for use in this county, and a part applied in maintaining the public health nurse. Miss Storey’s report shows that during October she visited 31 schools and inspected 704 pupils. The number of miscellaneous visits is 14. Five townships were visited being Union, Root, Preble, Kirkland and Washington. The number of new cases is 486. The following are the number found defective: defective vision, 182; defective hearing, 6; nasal obstruction (adenoids) 138; enlarged tonsils, 270, goitre, 7; defective teeth, 100; defective speech, 9; suspicious tuberculosis, 181; heart trouble, 20; malnutrition, 34; mental defectives, 10. The time that Miss Storey spent in school during the month, was 126 hours. The talks given to pupils inclass numbered 30, The number of cases referred to dentists was 100; to oculists, 182; and to physicians, 290. Gave Special Talks The following are special talks

given: October 3 —Talked at Teachers’ Institute at Monmouth. October 6 —Explained her work to the Adams County School Commissioners. October 7—Talked to the mothers at Riley school. October B—Explained her work at a meeting on Child Welfare at the Presbyterian church. October 20—Gave a talk to the pupils of Kirkland high school. October 23—Talked to the Root township Mothers' club. FIELD IS SLOPPY Continued Rain Threatens to Halt Indiana-Notre Dame Football Game THREE BIG GAMES Middle West Fans Anxiously Wait Outcome of Contests Between Colleges (United Press Service) Indianapolis, Nov. I—(Speciall—(Special to Daily Democrat)—A sloppy field greeted Notre Dame and Indiana university football elevens when they came here today for another mix-up. Continued rain threatened to postpone the game. Betting favored Notre Dame. Chicago, Nov. I—(Speciall—(Special to Daily Democrat) —Middle west football followers anxiously awaited the outcome of three big games today. The Northwestern-Michigan game will be watched closely. Two undefeated teams were scheduled to play, Chicago and Wisconsin who are to meet Illionis and Minnesota respectively. Followers of the gridiron said Chicago will walk away with the Illini squad. Wisconsin was a slight favorite over Wisconsin. Ohio State, the favorite of the “big ten” had an open date. The following games were scheduled for today: Chicago at Illinois. Northwestern at Michigan. Minnesota at Wisconsin. Michigan Aggies at Purdue. South Dakota at lowa. Ames at Nebraska.

UNION LEADERS CLAIMING 400,000 MEN ARE OUT STRIKE OF COAL MINERS IS A REALITY -INCLUDES PRACTICALLY EVERY UNION MAN—THIN6S ARE QUIET, (United Press Service) Union leaders claimed today that nearly 400.000 or two-thirds of the bituminous coal miners in the country had responded to the strike call effective last midnight. This figure represents practically the entire union membership. The operators generally made no estimate of the number of men out in their respective districts. In the few instances where they did their figures were much lower than the union claims though in one or two cases the rival estimates agreed. Although officials of the United Mine Workers were technically restricted from directing the strike by the restraining order issued yesterday in the Indianapolis federal court the miners were apparently sufficiently instructed to initiate the strike without further orders today. Federal troops were scattered throughout the principal mining districts but their services had not been required to suppress any disorder up to noon. The latest step in government coal distribution was the appointment by Rail Director Hines of committees to take charge of this work in the eighth tegional railway districts with headquarters in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Pittsburg, Cleveland, Chicago and St. Louis.

I (By O’Sullivan, United Press staff' correspondent) Indianapolis, Nov. I—(Special to Daily Democrat) —Question of interpretation of the extent of the restrain ing order issued by Judge A. B. Anderson in federal court to prevent a strike of miners arose today. U. S. District Attorney L. Ert Slack, who is assisting the government in presenting the pteition for the restraining order said: “Judge Anderson's jurisdiction extends only to the boundaries of the state of Indiana. The restraining order is binding however on the defendants wherever they may be. The f idea of the order is to stop the international officers of the miners union from going through with the strike.” Slack would not say whether or not he believed the restraining order binding on local union officials in other states. That is a question and probably wil lhave to be setled by the courts he indicated. Indianapolis, Ind., Nov. I—(Speciall—(Special to Daily Democrat) —Government agents here admitted today that as long as miners obey the federal restraining order, their hands are tied until November 8. as far as further court action toward Interfering with \ the strike of bituminous coal miners is concerned. With the strike an actuality, it was| said, no further steps can be taken by j the government here toward compelling miners to return to work until j next Saturday, when Federal Judge Anderson will hear arguments on issuance of a temporary injunction. Included in the government's appeal for an injunction is the request that the court order officials of the United Mine Workers of America to withdraw their strike order. It is on this point that government attorneys here today based their hope of preventing a national disaster. They believe if the strike order is withdrawn the men will return to work. It is on this point chiefly that attorneys for the miners will fight the injunction. They will contend that an injunction can merely restrain future action; not compel that past orders he rescinded. Mipers today decided to fight the government to a finish on the legal battlefield. They have leading attorneys of the country on their permanent staffs. Henry Warum. their chief counsel, will direct the miners' ease. Judge Alton B. Parker of New York is also on the miners' staff and may come here. Warum lias full authority to call in any further counsel he believes necessary. He had not chosen the men who will aid him today. Several leading attorneys in every state in which the miners have an organization, are retained by the district organizations and Warum may summon any of these to assist him. Absolutely no statements were isIndiana vs. Notre Dame at Indianapolis. Missouri at Oklahoma. Kansas Aggies at Kansas. Grinnell at Drako.

Price Two Cents

sued from the miners’ headquarters today. Officials even suggested that by talking about the strike they might ■ be violating the injunction. Acting President John L. Lewis was .'at his office early. He found his desk I piled high with telegrams. He was i greatly interested in reading bulletins ! furnished him hy the United Press, ' j telling of thousands of coal miners throughout the country answering the ‘ strike call. No estimates of the number of men . on strike were received at the head- , quarters as far as known. None will I be given out, as it might be considered as violation of the injunction. '} Indianapolis. Nov. I—(Speciall—(Special to I Daily Democrat) —Deprived' of the | ! , guidance and leadership of their of- ! ficials by federal court order, bituminous coal miners of the nation officially opened their industrial war for higher wages and shorter hours at 12:01 a. m. today. The strike called the entire membership of the United Mine Workers of America —351.657—t0 lay down their tools. Thousands of miners, on leaving for their homes after finishing their day’s work yesterday, prepared to I stay away indefinitely. Shot firers did not enter the mines to blast loose the coal for the next day’s work. Only enough men for protection of mine property were ordered by the I union to remain at work. The $15,000,000 strike fund is tied I up by the restraining order. They base the belief of a quick ■ victory on the fact that the supply of ■ coal above ground will be completed in three weeks, and necessity will force operators to accede to their demands. HALLOWE’EN STUNTS. The usual Hallowe’en stunts were pulled off last night. While fun and frolic prevailed inside in many parties, the restless spirit of youths also walked abroad and wielded soap and parafine sticks very effectively on windows of homes and business houses; or overturned loosely moored buildings or otherwise played prankishly. In the rural districts, travelers on the highway found corn fodder or rail fences built across the roads, thus "delaying traffic.” At the Guy Brown home in this city, half of the cement cistern top. weighing five or six hundred pounds, was removed, the hydrant turned on and other pranks played. PRESIDENT RESTED GOOD. (United Press Service) Washington, D. C., Nov. I —(Special 1 to Daily Democrat) —President Wilson had a good night and his condition to- ' day was satisfactory, it was stated at ■ the white house. The president show- • od no ill effects from his exertion in 7 connection witli the coal strike. SCHERER HOME SOLD The residence of Mr. and Mrs. Murray Scherer on Madison street, has been sold by them to Mr. and Mrs. Emerson Bennett who will move to this place soon.