Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 20, Number 212, Decatur, Adams County, 9 September 1922 — Page 1

Volume XX. Number 212

NEW TELEPHONE SYSTEM CONTEMPLfITEDJOR CITY DIRECTORS OF CITIZENS' TELEPHONE COMPANY MAKiNG INVESTIGATIONS Os VARIOUS PLANTS TO FINO MOST SATISFACTORY ONE.

The lioard of directors of the Cititens Telephone company are contentpiating some extensive Improvements looking towards the betterment of the local service and placing the telephone plant in this county alongside the best in the land. They have reached that point where they are now conducting a careful investigation of various plants in the middle west with the view of ascertaining which is the most satisfactory and, if the people are willing to meet them by paying a slightly increased rate, making the investment a worth while one. which will permit them to break even, the improvement will be made. Mr. Herman F. Ehfnger, the manager is a "crab" on good service and his ambition is to have the best system possible here. In this he should be supported. The directors including Messers Lee Yager. E. X. Ehinger, S. E. Hite, C. J. Voglewede and H. F. Ehinger this week visited Huntington. Wabash and Bluffton where new systems have already been installed using the common battery which requires no ring, eentray being reached by simply taking down the receiver. Next week they trill visit Lima, Van Wert and other Ohio cities where the automatic uJ autornanual systems are used, requiring no central office or Tn she auto manual only one or two central operators. Any of the proposed systems are wonderful improvements over the old plant. At Huntington the trouble register shows but twenty complaints during four months, while here Mr. Ehinger says it is not unusual to receive that many "kicks” in a single day. Decatur wants an up to date system and should have. Its up to the (Continued on page four) o MANY GALLS FOR CERTIFIED SEED Many Farmers Order Certified Seed Wheat Through County Agent Since the announcement a few days ago to the affect that certified wheat could be obtained through the county agent's office at a reasonable price, farmers from detferent parts of the 1 County have ordered wheat for sow-1 Ing this fall. Certified wheat is wheat which has been inspected by men from the Crops Department at Perdue during the time the wheat is in head in the field. It has also been inspected after being threshed and is recognized by Perdue as being a variety which is adaptable to Indiana conditions and reaches the standard as to purity and ; freedom from disease and weeds. In order to be certified wheat it must contain not more than %% loose smut, not more than 1% mixture and must contain no weeds, rye or cheat. The variety which the farmers are "anting is a small, hard, red wheat, beardy, and has done well in neighboring counties having the same type 01 soil as is found in Adams County. Anyone wishing further particulars should see the county agent. YV arsaw—Tomatoes are selling for $lO a ton in Kosciusko county.. Evansville—Although police seized a gallon and a halt of white mule intended to wash down the wedding f "ast, the marriage of Albert Forcum took place next day according to schedule. *♦♦♦♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ + WEATHER + **♦♦*♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ with lANA ~Partly cloudy weather, ° Ca Sunder showers this afnorti^J 1 , or ton **ht in east and west erally V j C ° Oler tonig ht; Sunday gen-

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

MCKINNEY FOUND I GUILTY BY JURY Bluffton Man, Known Here as Jeff Jones, Faces Life Imprisonment Bluffton. Ind., Sept. 9. —Word was i received here last evening that a jury at Wilmington. 0.. after deliberations > of three hours, returned a verdict at 4:40 p. m. today, finding Clarence i (Roy) McKinney guilty of murder in the first degree, for the alleged slaying of Policeman Emery McCreight, on February 14, last. The jury’s verdict included a recommendation to | the court for mercy, and according to the Wilmington dispatches, this will save McKinney from the electric ■hair, but will mean a life sentence in prison. Clarence McKinney, aged 49 years, s a son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. McKinney, living west of Bluffton He was jointly indicted with his wife's incle. James W. Reno, of Cincinnati, or the murder of Policeman MeCreigUt, who was shot by two burglars. whom he and a fellow officer. Henry Adams, detected trying to enter a store. Reno is to have a trial later. Officer Adams, on the witness stand, positively identified McKinney as the man who fired the fatal shot. Mr. Kin ney's defense was an alibi, and eight >r ten witnesses testified to having seen him in Cincinnati the night of the murder. The conviction came as a -surprise here. McKinney and Reno were first arrested for liquor law violations and were found guilty and drew penalties of a year in prison and fines of 12,000 each on those charges. UNION CHAPEL CLASSES MET AT THE HOME OF MR. AND MRS. CHARLES BAILEY Classes 4 and 5 of the Union Chapel church met Friday evening at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bailey at Monroeville, Indiana. The classes made the trip by automobiles. Reorganization of the classes took place. A very enjoyable time was had by all. Refreshments of ice cream and cake were served. All I departed at a late hour. The followi ing were present: Mr. and Mrs. Chas. | Bailey: Mr. and Mrs. Freeman Schnepp and duaghter, Iona; Mrs. B. B Blauvelt; Bert Wolfe; Celeste Franklin. Florence Worden. Marie Wolfe. Erma Rabbitt, Justine Stults. Opal Worden. Frances Blauvelt, Helen Blauvelt, Lucille Morris, Irene Bailey, Mabel Bailey. Clark Funk, Harold Blauvelt, Orlan Brown, MarI ion Brown, Cecil Franklin, Lawrence i Franklin. Albert Cramer, Earl Rabbitt. Bernard Rabbitt, David Worden, John Walters, Forest Walters, Robert Bailey, Chester Builey. Million Dollar Rain Over Illinois Today Chicago. Sept. 9—(Special to Daily ' Democrat) —A "million dollar rain fell over the entire grain belt today, relieving a drought of long duration. A soaking rain was reported from the extreme southwestern states to the northwest. The moisture was needed for late corn now maturing and to allow farmers to prepare their ’ ground for needing for winter wheat. 1 Plowing throughout the southwest ’ had been held up to such an extent that serious curtailment of acreage , was necessary. k Dr. J. W. Vizard of Pleasant Mills was attending to business here today. Mr. Albert David, of Milford. 111., is 1 the week-end guest of Jenner and Annice Pearson.

HEAVY TRAFFIC ON SEVENTH ST. TO BE STOPPED — Notice Served on Truck Owners to Cease Hauling on New Pavement MAKING DEEP HOLES Property Owners Along the Street Made Complaint to the City Council City Attorney J. Fred Fruchte, following instructions from the city councilmen served notice on truck owners and drivers hauling stone from the E. L. Carroll and Son coal yard on Seventh street to discontinue using the street until the bed was firmly settled annd the street had a chance to set. The truck owners and drivers agreed to abide by the order. North Seventh: was bricked this summer and was opened to traffic several weeks ago and since that time it has seen heavy service. Truck owners, including road contractors who haul stone to where the roads are being built in the county had the cars set on the side tracks at the Carroll Coal yard from which place the stone was unloaded from the cars into the trucks by automatic hoists and was then hauled from that place. The trucks weighing several tons themselves when loaded with stone weighed just that much more and as Seventh street was newly laid the bricks and bed had not settled yet and in many places deep holes were being made in the street. Property owners along the street complained to the ouneil and several made the statement that they would not pay their assessments unless heavy hauling was stopped for a time sufficient to give the street a chance to settle. The city, in urder to accomodate the truck owners and contractors offered them the use of the city’s coal loading device along the Clover Leaf tracks and from now on the stone will be un loaded at this point. Carroll and Son will be permitted to use the street for the hauling of coal, but as the firm has no coal on hands at present, the street will not be used to a great extent. Property owners along the streets are thankful to the truck drivers and contractors for agreeing to discontinue to use the street at the present time. saysentombed MEN ARE ALIVE Chemical Engineer Says Miners Not Dead Following Tests Today At the Argonadt Gold Mine, Jackson. Calif., Sept. 9—(Special to Daily Democrat) —The forty-seven men entombed in the depths of the Argonaut mine are still alive Dr. H. Duschav, consulting engineer of the Industrial Accident Commission, announced early today. He based his announcement on chemical tests made for putrefaction at the 240 foot level in the Muldoon shaft and below the 250 foot level in the Argonaut shaft. He found no signs of putrefaction and declared that if any of the men were dead his tests could not have failed to show it. Jackson was wild with excitement when the announcement was made. Wives and children of the men who have been entombed nearly two weeks rushed to the shaft mouth and hysterically urged on the rescue squads. Mine officials offered a reward of $5,000 to the rescue party which is first to break through from the Kennedy mine to the Argonaut workings. •_ NOTES ABOUT THE SICK The Misses Irene and Esther Stevens of Union township who had their tonsils removed at the Dr. Burns home last Thursday returned to their home yesterday. Catherine Shell, Jour year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Shell, of St. Marys township had her tonsils removed yesterday. Mrs. Jennie Shilts of Van Wert, Ohio, who had her tonsils removed at the Lutheran Hospital was able to be out for the first. The operation was quite a serious one and Mrs. Shilts was confined to her bed for several weel.i.

Decatur, Indiana, Saturday Evening, September 9, 1922

/ s REGISTER At Your Voting Precinct Polls Open ’till 9 p. m. v < Henry Hite and Nathan Ehrman wmit to Niles Michigan last evening 'o consult an eye specialist. They wil. return this evening. Miss Margarate Vesey is visiting her sister, Mrs. E. W. Kampe. here. YEOMEN MAKE A CHANGE IN DATE OF VISIT Mr. McKee and Mr. Farmer Postpone Visit to Decatur One Week MR. GILBERT WRITES Vice-President of Yeomen Sends Letter of Thanks for Hospitality A telegram from Mark T. McKee, chairman of the location board of the Brotherhood of American Yeomen received this morning reads: "Des Moines. lowa, Sept. 8 John Heller, editor Daily Democrat. Decatur, Ind. —Will be unable to make Decatur next Thursday as planned. Can probably come following Thursday. Will you notify Rotary club? Mark T. McKee.” When the directors and officials were here August 22nd, Mr. McKeearranged for Mr. Farmer and himself to return here September 14th to make further investigations concerning the location of the home and school, at which time he expected they would go over the proposed sites with great care and asked that a survey map be prepared showing the parcels of land, the owners and the price asked. In other words they will on this trip get down to some real business. He also asked that the meeting be arranged on a regular meeting date of the Rotary club and they will be entertained for dinner by the club on the evening of their visit. The telegram postpones the visit here one week, very probably due to the fact that Mr. Farmer, who was summoned home, could not arrange to come sooner. They will also be asked to address the Industrial club and one or two other organizations while here and will visit our schools. Mr. Gilbert Writes A letter has been received from Mr. Fred P. Gilbert, vice-president of the Yeomen in which he thanks the people of Decatur cordially for their hospitality and the good will extend--3d on the 22nd, a "never to be forgotten day,” as he puts it. He adds ‘ln picking up the Decatur Democrat (Continued on page four) ladyoFland SERIOUSLY ILL IN WASHINGTON Wife of President Harding Fighting Grim Battle With Death Today CONDITION THE SAME Condition is Critical and Her Recovery is Not Assured Yet By Lawrence Martin United Pre»» Stuff Correnpondent Washington, Sept 9. —(Special to Daily Democrat) —Deep in the valley of the shadow, Mrs. Harding, wife of the president, today fought a grim bat tie with death. "Mrs. Harding whose illness is a recurrence of attacks experienced before coming to the White House developed complications Thursday and Friday nights, which make her condi(Continued on page four)

INJURIES WERE FATAL TO MAN INJURED HERE John Solfrank Died Early Today from Injuries Suffered Yesterday INTERNAL INJ URIES Injuries to Lungs and Other Vital Organs Caused Death of Aged Man John Solfrank, who was injured when run over by an automobile oi> Second street yesterday forenoon, died from the effects of the injuries at 4 o'clock this morning, at the De atur hospital where he was taken following the accident. In addition to the broken ribs, disloiated collar bone, and many bruises and cut, Mr Solfrank suffered internal injuries of the lungs and other vital organs. Mr. Solfrank. who was "0 years old was crossing Second street opposite the court house when he was struck by a car driven by Mr. David H. Gerig of Fort Wayne. Following an exam (nation by a local physician, it was not thought that Mr. Solfrank was injured internally. However, his condition gradoally grew worse and th eend came early this morning. The deceased was born in German? May 6, 1852. He came to this coun try early in life and has resided in this city and surrounding communitj for many years. He has worked as r laborer in this city for a number ot years and was known by many local citizens. He was never married Three brothers and three sisters sur vive. They are Henry, Dennis am William Solfrank; Mrs. Christ Ahl schwede. Mrs. Charles Scherer, anil Mrs. Henry Scherer. Part of tht relatives reside near Hoagland am’ part in Fort Wayne. Funeral services will be held fron. the Gay, Zwick, and Myers morgut at 9 o'clock Monday morning, thi Rev. A. W. Hinz, pastor of the Luther an church, officiating. Burial will b< held in the Decatur cemetery. Charles S. Mumma of union town ship left this afternoon for Van Bu will canvas the state the next weei ran, where he will join a party wht in an effort to raise funds forth. United Brethren college at Hunting ton. FARMER'S DEATH CAUSED BY HEAT Coroner Mattax Makes Re port in Death of Absolone Ginter A report made by Dr. L. L. Mattax ot Geneva, county coroner, who in vestigated the sudden death of Ml Absolone Ginter yesterday forenoon states that death was due to a inter cranial heminorhage caused by ex treme heat. In the opinion of Dr Mattax, death occured about 9 o'clocl yesterday morning. His body wa: round in a corn Held where he hai been cutting corn, by his son-in-law lesse Johnson, about 11 o’clock. Funeral services will be held fron the home on the James A. Hendrick; farm, one-half mile north of Monroe at 1:30 o'clock Sunday afternoon. Bui ial will be held in the Beery cemetery o . Dick Heller left this morning tot Bloomington where he will re-entei Indiana University. Thetus Hocker left yesterday t’oi Bloomington where he is a student it Indiana University. DAILY CENSUS REPORT The eight pound girl born to Mr and Mrs. Paul Brown at the home ol Dan Helm, east of the city, Thursday morning, has been named Gloria Bane. The mother before her marriage was Miss Mary Helm. The twin daughters born to Mr. and Mrs. A. N. Acker of North Seventh street are getting along fine. The twins weighed thirteen pounds. The mother is doing well. It was stated in this paper that a baby girl was born to Mr. and Mrs. John Arnold as Oak street. This was an error in name, the babe being born to Mr. and Mrs. John Reynolds and has been named Elizabeth Luella.

COUNTER INJUNCTION TO DAUGHERTY ORDER ISSUED ORDER RESTRICTS FEDERAL AUTHORITIES FROM BREAKING UP UNION MEETINGS UNLESS THEY VIOLATE DAUGHERTY INJUNCTION,

FRED 0. BELL TO LEAVE BLUFFTON Fomer Decatur Man Sells Interest There; To Locate in Fort Wayne Announcement was made today that Fred D. Bell has disposed of his interests in the John A. Morris com pany. manufacutrers' agents and I jobbers, with headquarters in Bluffton. of which he has been secretary and general manager, and that he will locate in Fort Wayne. He will > established a new company in the latter city, witli other Bluffton par -| ties interested with him in financing I the company. The new firm to be established in Fort Wayne will be similar to the Morris company here, j selling to retailers, their line being largely' for sale to novelty stores and 5 and 10 Cent stores. Mr. Bell went to Bluffton from here 14 years ago. and has been identified with the Morris company since that time. He has been active in civic affairs, having served two years as president of the street fair association. He is also a member ot the Rotary club and chair. ' ber of commerce. He stated today; that his new company will open in Fort Wayne within a few months, and will select one of three locations hey have in view. Mr. Bell will be succeeded in the Morris company see•etaryship by Ray Brown, who has been associated with the firm for several years. Mr. and Mrs. Bell are both former residents of this city, where both! were born, and since going to Bluff on they have been among the active | spirits of that city. Botli are well iked, while Dick, the older son, is me of the live wire "kids” of Bluff- ■ on, and will be missed in school and I m the baseball field especially. FORMER RESIDENT OF DECATUR IN SERIOUS CONDITION AT CELINA Mrs. Henry Rodenbeck received a' letter from her sister, Mrs. J. H. Yaney, of Celina, Ohio, this morning, | elling of the serious condition of heir mother. Mrs. Annis Mercia, who ell last Sunday, cutting a deep wound in her head. The wound, t which required nine stitches to close, bled very profusely, and Mrs. Merica is suffering from the loss of blood. Mrs. Merica is well known here, having lived in this city for a number of years. kged Geneva Woman Died in Bluffton Thursday Mrs. Harriett Bucher, aged 80 years died at the home of her daughter. Mrs. Alfred Kelly, on West Market street at 8:40 o'clock last evening. She was stricken with paralysis, which rendered her helpless and speechless, last Tuesday. The deceased desided in Geneva and vicinity most of her life, coming to the- home of her daughter a few months ago from the home of the grandson, Ross Miller in Geneva. She was the widow of Joseph Bucher, who died at Geneva fourteen years ago. Surviving are the two daughters, Mrs. Kelly and Mrs. Francis Decker, of Geneva; two brothers, Joseph Eckrote, of Geneva, and John Eckrote, of Linn Grove; five grandchildren and eight grand children. Tlie funeral service will be held at 2:30 o'clock Sunday afternoon at the United Brethern church at Geneva, where she held membership, and burial will be in the Geneva cemetery. Mrs. C. A. Dugan, Mrs. J. W. Tyndall Mrs. D. M Hensley and Mrs. J. 11. Heller will be over Sunday visitors at the T. M. Reid cottage at Rome City.

Price 2 Cents

Washington. Sept. 9 —(Special to Daily Democrat) —A counter injunction restricting federal authorities of I the district of Columbia from breaking up union meetings, unless such meetings are in violation of the Daugherty rail strike injunction was issued equity court here today. The court did not pass on the validity of tlie Daugherty injunction specI ideally and stated that the nternational Brotherhood of Electrical ; Workers which entered plea that the Daugherty injunction be vacated could renew its pita any time after Monday. The plea will not be prejudiced by the order, it was emphatically stated. This postpones any decision on the legality of the Daugherty injunction by the Washington court until after the hearing in Chicago Monday, when th efederal authorities will at- ' tempt to make it permanent. if the injunction is made peratan- ' ent. the workers may re-enter their plea against the injunction any time after Monday, under the ruling which was issued by Judge Bailey of tlTe equity court. The counter injunction merely holds local U. S. marshals to the Daugherty injiiiction until Monday and prevents them from breaking up local union meetings, which union i leaders say had been threatened. The electrical workers had asked the court to issue a counter injunc- ! tion which would nullity the Daugherty court order, but this plea was not sanctioned by Judge Bailey. Attorneys representing the electrical workers told Judge Baijey they had been informed United States i Marshal Edgar Snyder intended to break up local meetings of their organizations. (Continued on page three) REGISTUATION HERE WAS LIGHT Very Small Per Cent of Voters Qualified for Fall Election Today The registration in Adams county today, first for the year, was the lightest up to noon ever held here ■ and indications are that the total number of voters to qualify today will be less than twenty , i t percent of the entire vote and perhaps less. Up to noon less than five percent of the vote had been registered in this city and reports from the rural districts and other towns in the county showed that but little interest was manifested. There was evidently no organization or effort to get the vote out and workers seefned to be waiting for the October registration to make tlie drive. In A precinct of the first ward at 12:80 only twenty-two men and seven women had qualified by registering and this tn a precinct with a total vote of more than five hundred. Lack of interest was attributed to the extremely hot weather and the fact that neither' of the old parties has completed an organization for the campaign. This will be done within the next couple of weeks it is said and the last six weeks prior to the election will be busy ones. > Lutheran League To Select Delegate Today Members of the American Luther League of Root township and Union township will meet tlie Fuelling school house in Root township at 7:30 o'clock next Tuesday night. The purpose of the meeting will be to select I a delegate to the National convention to be held at Elgin, Illinois, on Oc- ■ tober 8 and 9. All members are urged to be present at the meeting.