Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 19, Number 304, Decatur, Adams County, 24 December 1921 — Page 1

Volume XIX. Number 304

MRS. HOFFMAN GIVEN DECISION Legal Fight Over Collection of Insurance Policy Carried by Fred Holl man WON BY THE WIDOW Filed Here Change of Venue to Jay County and Then to the Supreme Court. Mrs. Katherine Hoffman, widow of the late Fred Hoffman, won her fight for the collection of an insurance policy carried by Mr. Hoffman, with the Mutual Life Insurance company, in a decision handed down yesterday by the Indiana supreme court. The amount of the policy is $3,000, and the award comes as a very nice Christmas present to the beneficiary. The cause was originally filed in the Adams circuit court a few months after the death of Mr. Hoffman. A change of venue was taken to the Jay circuit court, and Mrs. Hoffman was given judgment against the company, which carried the matter to the supreme court, and the decision yesterday affirmed that of the lower court. The matter has been in the courts several years, and the Indiana supreme o«urt has had the matter for more than a year, and the decision which is taken from the records of the higher court is: 10609. The Mutual Life Insurance company vs. Katherine Hoffman. Jay C. C. Affirmed. McMahan. J. (1) The insured made application for life insurance and answered questions in whiph he failed to state two slight indispositions suffered in the last five years as required by the questions, and from which he had fully recovered, but the application provided that the answers should be treated only as representations, and the court found that the answers were substantially true. Under these circumstances the omission from the answers of the two indispositions and the fact that a doctor not named treated one of them, was not suffi(Continued on page two) MARRIAGE LICENSES AT CHRISTMAS TIME At the office of County Clerk John T. Kelly, the marriage license record book showed the following entries: Harold M. Drollinger, packer, Grand Rapids. Mich., born January 11, 1901. son of William Drollinger, and Susie Brandyberry, housekeeper, born December 21, 1903, daughter of John Brandyberry. Henry P. Graber, farmer, born Jan. uary 10, 1898, son of Peter Graber, and Adella P. Habegger, housekeeper, born March 10, 1900, daughter oi Peter Habegger. H. W. Hike( machinist, Danville. 111., born December 24. 1900, son of William Hike, and Naomi Warner, housekeeper, Pleasant Mills, born November 26, 1899, daughter of Lewis Warner. U. R. Longenbarger, general thresher, Pleasant Mills, born June 10. 1900, son of Stepsen iLongenberger. and Oval Fortney, clerk, Pleasant Mills, daughter of O. 8. Fortney. Tillman Affolder, thresher, Berne, born September 19, 1899, son of Fred Affolder, and Elma Fink, seamstress, Geneva, born September 20, 1898, daughter of George Fink. Lee Kenyon, tool dresser, Bryant. Ind., born May 19, 1901, son of Floyd Kenyon, and Margaret L. Pusey. housekeeper, born July 20, 1900, daughter of Charles Pusey; written consent of groom’s father was filed with clerk. Andrew N. Hilton, laborer, Decatur, born March 7, 1902, son of Wll- - E. Hilton, and Esther L. Sovine, housekeeper, born January 31, 1905, daughter Jonathan Sovine; written consent filed by groom's father and bride’s mother. Odis Ray Gould, farmer Monroe, born October 2, 1890, son of Henry Gould, and Bessie Blanche Lichtenberger, liousek'-eper, born March 23, 1896, daughter of J. 8. Lichtenberger. ♦ THE WEATHER FORECAST ♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ Indiana: Cloudy and much co '£ e r tonight with a cold wave; Sunday fair, colder in south portion. Lower Michigan: Part cloudy and colder tonight, cold wave in suotn and central portions; Sunday tai continued cold; fresh north ana northwest winds diminishing tonight. Upper Michigan: Fair tonight and Sunday, somewhat colder tonight, rising temperature .Sunday.

becatur daily democrat

REPPERT SELLS TWO HORSES D. M. Reppert, one of the popular trainers at Bellmont park, was smilingly happy today as he left for Jerome, Michigan for a week's visit with his son. Last evening he sold two of his racing horses, Great Nor val, a splendid colt and Little John to Young & Wllkenson of Kendallville. He still has one racer left. Dan Is a splendid citizen here and gets more pleasure out of the horse game than most men do from their business. WAR TAX REMOVED Lovers of Soda Water Products Will Hail With Delight Announcement by SOFT DRINK_ VENDORS Ruling Will Be Effective Jan. 1-A Provision in Recent Revenue Act. A notice from the treasury department to local druggists, confectionery store proprietors and soft drink venders. relative to the tax on all soft drinks, ice cream, sodas and the like, will prove of especial cheer to the youngsters of Fort Wayne and Adams county. Through the act approved last month the war tax on articlee sold at soda fountains will be removed and the purchasers will be able to buy their favorite dish or drink without the usual odd pennies after January Ist. It is stated by retail men that the tax will be placed on the materials used in the making of the dishes and drinks and will be absorbed by the wholesalers and retailers. In speak ing of the act local dealers stated to day this would probably be the result of the new law. In addition it is announced that the tax on medicines and drugs is also re pealed.

THE LAND VALUES Will Be Changed But Little, Say Assessor Who Attended State Meeting DURING THE WEEK Assessors Are Given Ques tionaire by State Board and Asked to Sign It. At a meeting of the county assessors at Indianapolis this week, hav ing been called there by an official order from the state tax board, all oi the assessors were presented with a questionaire concerning the values of city and farm property. They were asked to sign the same, and turn it in. William Frazier) Adams county assessor, refused to sign the questionaire, and told the officials he would take the matter up with the citizens and taxpayers of his home county, get their opinion as to what had best be done, nad would then re port. The questionaire follows: Question In the year 1921 or in January or February, 1922, a farm is sold at a fair voluntary sale at $200.00 per acre. During the same period an improved piece of city real estate is sold for $8,000.00. Supposing there is nd evidence that either buyer or seller has been worsted in either deal. What should be the valuation of these two pieces of property for taxation by the assessor March Ist, 1922? Answer The farm should be assessed at $ per acre. The city property should be assessed for $- • County Assessor. “Tire law says assess everything at Its actual cash value, and that's what vou must do,” is the statement given the county assessors by members of the state tax board. If th' s is ,lone ' Adams county farmers can expect the same high taxes next year, notwithstanding an exceedingly lean year for the farmers. According to realty men, farm lands are of approximately of the same value as four years ago when the land was appraised high. Thi coming spring all land will be reappraised by the assessors, and it the | orders of the state board are can led out the lands will be taken at about the same (Continued on page six)

Decatur, Indiana, Saturday Evening, December 24, 1921.

THE FIRST DEFEAT Os Season is Keenly Felt by Local High School Five at Hands of KENDALLVILLE TEAM Last Night by Score of 37 to 18-Second Defeat for St. Joe Team. The Decatur high school varsity basketball team, after winning four straight games this season were called to halt on their victorious march when they met the strong Kendallville five in this city last night and were forced to bow to defeat to the update boys by a score of 37 to 18. Althought the score Indicates a onesided affair, the contest was hard fought and proved a little rough at times. The Kendallville outfit showed great speed and undoubtedly outplayed the ocals in every department. The locals were swept off their feet in the first few minutes of play, the visitors registering a field goal shortly after the game opened and continued to climb to a lead that put the game on ice for them, they being in danger at no time of dropping behind, the first half ending 16 to 6 in their favor. In the second half the visitors continued to climb, they registering a marker almost at will which could not be stopped by the locals. Sawyer, the visitors running guard was the feature of the game, he leading his team mates in scoring, registering six baskets alone in the second half. The locals fought hard but were forced to defeat, the final score resulting 37 to 18. The preliminary staged between the high school seconds and the St. Joe team proved to be a real battle, both teams being evenly matched, the high school seconds winning after a hard tussel by a score of 21 to 18. Neither side was able to score for the first five minutes when the Catholics opened with registering a free throw. Two more were registered by them in quick succession, the seconds then coming back with a field goal. The Catholics ed nearly all the first half when the seconds jumped into the lead. The second half resulted in hard playing on both sides and was nobodys game until the gun was sounded, the Seconds leading at this time by three points. The score resulting 21 to 18. Lineup and summary of last nights (Continued on page five) COATING OF ICE Covered Mother Earth Today, Inconvenience to Transportation and TELEPHONE LINES Belated Christmas Shoppers Found it Difficult to Get to the Stores. The heavy covering of sleet and ice which blanketed mother earth over the north central states this morning, caused more or less inconvenience to transportation companies and telephone ami telegraph companies, and slackened up to a great extend, the holiday rush expected in business houses on the last day and the men who had put off buying until the last who resided in a remote section of the country, found it almost impossible to get to town. In the city of Decatur, the telephone communication was but slightly affected. On some of the toll lines poles were down, and workmen were engaged in making repairs during the morning. On the Fort Wayne lines, one toll line was entirely out of commission, and for a few hours the Monroeville line was town. Other small local troubles were reported, but as a whole the condition was better than officials had expected. The interurban cars were running behind schedule, as were all trains on the steam roads. Travel by automobile was extremely dangerous, and several cars bumped each other or slid to dangerous positions along the roadside. No serious mishaps had been reported early this afternoon, and all drivers are proceeding cautiously. Weather reports this morning promised rain, sleet or snow for this evening, with a cold wave; while Sunday will be fair, according to the forecast. The predictions of the - weather observers are coming true, and at 11 o'clock a slight snow was noticeable.

NEWBERRY IN DANGER. Washington. Doc. 24.—(Special to Daily Democrat).—An unexpected de velopment which for the first time urlng the long fight over his campaign expenditures definitely placed Ir. Jeopardy the senatorial seat of Truman H. Newberry, has occurred in republican senate ranks. Six republican senators whose votes Newberry backers have claimed, have served notice on Senator Curtis, republican whip, that they will vote to unseat thb Michigan senator, unless he arises in the senate and makes a defense of the money spent In his campaign against Henry Ford. alumnT’banquet Purdue Students, Ex-Stu-dents and Friends Plan Get-Together Meeting AT MURRAY HOTEL Tuesday Evening, Dec. 27C. W. Knapp Will Act as Toastmaster. The Adams County Purdue Club, an organization formed some time ago of Purdue students, ex-studentfi and alumni has planned a banquet to be given at the Murray Hotel in De catur next Tuesday evening, Decern ber 27. The holiday season furnishes practically the only possible time for an event of this kind and those in charge have taken advantage of the opportunity to have a regular old fashioned Purdue get-together. Be sides the regular three-course dinner there will be speeches by County Superintendent Christen, Prof. Worth man of the Decatur schools and present students of the University. Arrangements are also being made to have a representative from the uni versity club at Fort Wayne present for the meeting. Charles Knapp will act as toastmaster. Thus far over thirty tickets have been sold and indications are that there will be many more present since some alumni have not been reached. Several prospective students will attend to get their first glimpse of Purdue Pep. The present Purdue students are preparing to enliven the meeting with Purdue songs and yells and it is likely that the old timers who boosted the Purdue teams years ago with yells will not be found wanting. Since the banquet is not limited to Purdue students and alumni those in charge cordially invite anyone interacted in Purdue to attend. Those attending are asked to invite their husbands, wives or friends. Tickets can be obtained from students or alumni. The banquet will begin promptly at six o'clock. + + + + + + + , I , + + + + + + < , + + NO PAPER ON MONDAY + 4- + + Monday Is the legal Christmas + + holiday and as business will be + + entirely suspended in Decatur + ♦ there will be no publication of + + the Daily Democrat, Bank, + + iwstoffice and most of the bust- + 4- ness houses will be closed. Shop ♦ ■> today for over Monday. ♦ *++++*++*++++*++ FLOOD IS FEARER Weather Bureau at Indianapolis Sends Out Warning To River Cities A COLD WAVE DUE Which May Check the Rapid Rise of Waters in Various Parts of the State. Indianapolis, Dec. 24. —(Special to Daily Democrat).—Flood warnings were sent to river cities today by the weather bureau following a down pour of rain lasting through Friday and last night. The rain was general in central and southern Indiana. A cold wave with temperature ranging from 5 to 15 degrees above zero predicted for tonight may prevent the rivers overflowing their banks it was said. White river Is swelling at Columbus and Seymour and in Indianapolis, Fall Creek and White river arei rising steadily. It is feared the east fork of White river will overflow. Traffic along the river roads may be cut off at Seymour and Columbus unless the mercury drops. Some of the Baltimor and Ohio rail(Continucd on page five)

DOUBLE WEDD'NG Rev. Tinkham Officiated at Ceremony Which United Lives of Two Couples AT 11 O’CLOCK TODAY One Couple to Live in St. Mary’s Township--Other at Danville, Illinois. Rev. Charles Tinkham of the Methodist church, nt 11 o'clock this morning officiated at a double wedding ceremony, the participants being Miss Oval Fortney and Ralph Longenberger and Miss Naomi Warner, nil of Pleasant Mills and Mr. Harold Hike, of Danville, 111. The young people are all well and favorably known in and around Pleasant Mills. Mrs. Longenberger is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. O. S. Fortney, and her husband is a son of Mr. tnd Mrs. Stephen Longenberger, the families having resided in St. Mary’s township many years. Mrs. Hike is a daughter of Lewis Warner and Mr. Hike a son of Mr. and Mrs William Hike, of Danville, 111. He is a machinist by trade and according to the records at the clerk's office is today celebrating his twenty-first birth anniversary. The couple had planned to make the rip to Liberty Center and have the Baptist minister, the Rev. W. H. Day. rerform the ceremony, but plans were hanged. Mr. and Mrs. Longenberger will make their home for the present with his parents, while Mr. and Mrs. like after spending the holidays here vill go to Danville to make their home he groom being employed there as a nachinist. Their many Adams county riends will extend to them their heart iest congratulations. WOULD SHORTEN WHISKERS Indianapolis, Dec. 24—Shearing the imateur Santa Claus of his long cot on whiskers and substituting close rropped ones of vandykes is suggest ;d by Newman T. Miller, state fire marshal. as a inonim of reducing fires luring the holiday observance. “Long ■otton whiskers often become accidentally ignited and many times serious fires result," the state fire marthali pointed out today. Merchants too, were cautioned to watch careful iy their Christmas stocks which might easily burn through carelessness of shoppers. Candles on Christmas trees also were cited as responsible for many fires and he urged extreme care in handling them. THE DEBS ORDERS Have Been Sent From Washington and Will Become Effective Tomorrow AS CHRISTMAS GIFT Efforts Will Now Be Made to Secure Citizenship Papers for Him. Washington, Dec. 24—(Special to Daily Democrat)—Official orders for the release of Eugene V. Debs and the 23 other political prisoners from the three federal prisons left the department of justice this morning, according to James A, Finon, pardon attorney, A definite decision was reached at a conference of President Harding and Attorney General Daugherty at the White House last night not to release any of the war prisoners until tomorrow—Christmas day. Washington. Dec. 24—(Special to Daily Democrat)—A move to secure citizenship rights for Eugene V. Debs is expected to be started by his friends immediately following his release from Atlanta prison. Officials said today that until the courts restore his citizenship, Debs cannot vote or exercise other civil functions. The commutation of sentence granted Debs and 23 other socalled “political prisoners" merely terminates their terms of imprisonment without removing in any way the civil disabilities which prison sentences carry. After the holidays President Harding will continue his study of the remaining 173 cases laid before him by the department of justice. Those involving men who were guilty of sabotage will be laid aside Indefinitely as President Harding is opposed to any leniency for them. The others will be passed upon as rapid-, ly as possible, it was said, and given their freedom as fast as favorable decisions ar ereached.

BOUGHT A HEALTH BOND At the regular meeting of the Rotarians Thursday evening the club voted to purchase u $5.00 health bond, thus aiding In the sale of the Christmas seals. The Christmas program was carried out at the meeting, the members of the club exchanging small gifts, while the boys' work committee will see that Santa Claus visits the homes of the boys and girls who do not know the joys of receiving gifts from Santa. SECURE SPEAKER Maurice Douglas, Former Secretary of Indiana Federation of Farmers HERE NEXT SATURDAY Membership Drive for Local Organization Under Direction of Officials. David J. Schwartz, President of the Adams County Farmers Association yesterday received a wire from the Indianapolis headquarters of the Indiana Federation of Farmers Association stating that Maurice Douglas, former secretary of the state organization, would attend the meeting in Decatur next Saturday afternoon. The regular annual meeting the Adams County Farmers Association will be held at hat time. In addition to Mr. Douglas the officers of the county organization are planning on having W. H. Settle, district director of the state organization present. The Poe Quartet has been arranged for and the farmers are counting on a real meeting. In addition to the regular routine of business the annual election of officers will occur. The county association is planning on a membership drive as soon as the new members take office. THE HOLIDAY TIME Will Be Observed in Decatur in Usual Way-Christmas Entertainments AND FAMILY REUNIONS Business Generally Will Be Suspended Until Tuesday -Poor Taken Care of. The Christmas season it at hand, and every one in Decatur will experience the usual Christmas spirit. Many Decatur families will visit with relatives elsewhere, and many relatives from out of the city will come home for the annual family gatherings, hence there will be numerous family dinners and exchange of gifts. The poor of the city have not been forgotten, and every case reported to the various charitable organizations has been looked after. While it is true that the business at this season of the year was not as good as is usually the case, it was not to be expected, as many of the heads of families, and other members of the family had not had the employment, at the higher wages of former years, the number of sales was probably as great, but the money value of the gifts was not so large. The spirit of the giver remains the same, however, and gladness prevailed everywhere. Every church in the city will have a special program, tonight, Christmas morning, afternoon or evening, and every one will have an opportunity of attending one or more of the services. In the schools of the city and county on Friday afternoon, Christmas programs were given by the children, and treats were also given the pupils by many of the teachers, especially in the primary grades. The coming of dear Old Santa Claus during the night is eagerly awaited by the youngsters and the grown-ups, and here’s hoping that none will he disappointed. Business of course will be suspended until Tuesday, Monday being observed in the business world as the legal holiday, and in many instances the same rule will be observed at New Year’s a week hence. NOTICE ENDEAVORERS! The Presbyterian Christian Endeavor will be held at 5 o’clock Sunday afternoon immediately after the 4 o’clock services instead of at 6:30 as formerly announced.

Price 2 Cents

ANEWPRPOSAL MADE BY HUGHES Reduces U. S. and Great Britain Submarine Fleets to 60,000 Tons MAY ACCEPT THIS France is Still Obdurant and England Will Take Time to Give Answer. United Pftm Mervlre. Washington, Dec. 24—(Special to Daily Democrat) —Secretary of State Hughes today proposed to the disarmament committee that the U. S. and Great Britain cut their submarine fleet to a total of 60.000 tons leaving Japan. France and Italy with their existing submarine strength. Under this alteration of the original Hughes’ program the United States would scrap 35.000 tons of U-boats, Great Britain 22,464 tons while the other powers would retain their tonnages as follows: France 42.850, Japan 31,400 and Italy 20,228. Originally Hughes suggested a 90,000 ton limit for America and Britain but today’s move constituted a concession to both the British and French view point. Britain wanted submarines abolished and France wants a revision upward so 90,000 tons would be the minimum for any nation. Under the new program France gets a better ratio of submarines than she would have had had the original scheme gone into effect. Under the original France could have had only 31,500 tons. Conferees discussed the proposal at a lengthy committee session and then took a recess until 3:30 this afternoon when the submarine topic was again to be considered. Upon leaving the meeting Secretary Hughes appeared to be cheerful and declared that some progress had been made. While it is not anticipated that either Great Britain or France would make immediate acceptance it is believed that a ground work for final settlement has been laid. Washington, Dec. 24. —(Special to Dally Democrat). —If France prevents an agreement on submarine tonnage, Great Britain will reserve the right to build up a tremendous anti-submarine fleet. This notice stood out today as the naval disarmament committee gathered, hoping to end before Christmas its "debate" on the submarine question. The French with their suggestion of 90,000 tons of U-boats as the minimum effective for any nation, were apparently bidding their time before making known their auxiliary craft desires. They had indicated that their requests for tonnage in light cruisers would be contingent largely upon what the conferees did with the 90,000 ton submarine request. Should France lose in this line, as it evidently will, it would as a proportionately larger tonnage in cruisers, it was indicated. In any event, it was said definitely that the question of ratio on capita! ships cannot be disturbed. If the parties cannot come to satisfactory conclusions then each power will be free to tlx its own course concerning submarines. Equally each nation will be free to define for itself what constitutes an adequate protection against submarines. in this spirit, the British contend that war-time experience showed that an anti-submarine fleet many times as strong as the U-boat fleet must be maintained if merchant shipping is to be protected. For instance in waters exclusive of the Mediterranean, about three thousand sub-flghtiug ships were maintained against a German undersea fleet which probably at no time exceeded 120 ships in commission and generally never more than a dozen actually operating. MISS ELIZABETH CORBUS Q;ed at 3:15 This Afternoon at Home of Slater, Mrs. D. D. Heller Miss Elizabeth Corbus, age ninety, died at 3:15 o'clock this afternoon at the home of her sister, Mrs. D. D. Heller, on Fifth street