Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 20, Number 296, Decatur, Adams County, 18 December 1922 — Page 1

Volume XX. Number 296

TRACTION CAR HITS AUTO; KILLS MAN

CONTINUE CASE ON ACCOUNT OF ILLNESS TODAY Paternity Case Postponed Until December -26; .Jury Excused JURY TRIAL TOMORROW Several Cases Set For Trial In Circuit Court During This Week Owing to the Illness of witnesses for the defense, the paternity case of the state on relation of Edna Derrick son vs. Vinton Ray, of Geneva, was continued until December 26, when it 1 catne up for trial today. The ca«e is to be tried before a jury and the [ jurors were in their chairs this morn ing ready to hear the case. The court discharged the jurors until tomorrow morning at which time they will re turn to hear the case of the state vs Ivan Smith, who is charged with con tempt of court, through failure to pay . certain weekly allowances provided' for in a judgment rendered in favor of the defendant's wife. Several other cases are set for trial this week. Following the Smith trial, the case of Delagrange vs. the Todd Hat Store will be heard by the jury. tomorrow. On Wednesday the case ot Colchin vs. Augsberger et al, will be tried before the jury. Another jury trial is set for Thursday, the case ol Moser and Company vs. McKinzie et al. The ease of Brown vs. Brown, a case sent to this county from Jay county, has been returned to Jay county. This case was Set for trial in the Adams circuit court on Friday[ but the attorneys in the case reached an agreement whereby the case will be tried in Portland. Attorney W. L. Carey, represent ing the law firm of Carey & Cox, of Indianapolis, was in Decatur today foi an interview with H. H. Heaton, who has been held in the Adams county jail for the past two weeks on a charge of issuing a fraudulent check at the Kitson garage here. The court | gave permission to Heaton to telephone relatives in Indianapolis last week in regard to employing an attorney. The original affidavit filed against Heaton charged forgery, but after a motion to quash the affidavit was filed a new affidavit charging issuing a fraudulent draft, was filed by the prosecuting attorney, Burt Den hart. Heaton intends to enter a plea of not guilty to the charge, it is tin derstood. He claims to be working for a firm in Cincinnati and to have permission to issue drafts on that firm. Heaton answers the description of a man wanted in a number of cities , in Lnuiana on a charge of issuing fraudulent checks, it is said. The case of Sterlin vs. Jefferies, which was set for trial today, has been continued until the next term ot court. Attorney C. J. Lutz and the law firm of Hamilton & Weiking have appeared for the defendant in the case of Paul Smaltz, administrator in the estate of | Olive Smaltz vs. Robert Werling, and have filed an answer in one paragraph. The case of Rhoda Mahan vs. Asa Mahan and Mrs. Flo Bright has been dismissed and the costs in the case paid. o — INTERURBAN DELAYED The Fort Wayne-Decatur interurban ear, due into Decatur at 9:55 a. m. today, was delayed for an hour and forty-five minutes on account of the extreme cold weather. While stand j ing i n th e car barns at Fort Wayne the brake machinery froze, making it impossible to apply the brakes. The car did not leave the station until 10:45 a. m. SKATING AT CELINA — Friday, December 15, marked the opening of the skating season on the Grand. The ice making weather continued over Friday night and the youths with skates over their shoulders are now seen making their way tc- the reservoir. o — Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Krick of Convoy, Ohio shopped here today. |

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Webster Davis Lecture At Gym Tuesday Night Webster Davis, statesman, lecturor, and orator, will appear at the high school gymnasium on Tuesday night | and deliver his lecture on “Th.. | Square Deal." This will be the second number of the high school | lyceum course. Mr. Davis was secretary of the interior in President MeI Kinley's cabinet and was mayor of Kansas City at the age of 28 years. The lecture will begin promptly at I S o’clock Tuesday night. — oBANDITS OBTAIN $220,000 CASH Raid Federal Reserve Bank Automobile In Front Os U. S. Mint Today (I'nltril PrewM Service.) I Denver, Colo., Dee. 18.—(Special to' Daily Democrat)—Seven bandits in a [daring raid on a federal reserve bank [ automobile in front of the U. S. mine here today obtained $220,000 in curirency and escaped. | In an exchange of shots between guards and the bandit gang one guard of the bank car was killed and th.’ driver wounded. The bandits drew up in front of the mint in a closed car just as the hank .automobile which had been loaded [with currency started away. The other, covering the driver am' [the guard with shotguns, transferee i the money to their own car. [ Guards at the mint armed with rile, [and shotguns opened fire on the bandit car. : The bandits stood on the curb am! [laid a veritable barrage on the doo I [of the mint. I Employes of the mint shot at th< | bandits from windows and doors. The ; I hail of bullets from the bandits' gun. riddled the front of the mint and brok [ nearly every window on one side of the building. The license number o the car was obtained and police imme [ diately started a city wide search for the automobile. o Large Audience Heard Presbyterian Program An audience which filled the audi , [toriutn of the Presbyterian church a' most to capacity, attended the special: program given by members cf tlic | I church last night. The Rev. H. X. Cc. ■ [vert conducted a study of a few fam [ ous Christmas hymns. Mrs. Coven > i rendered an excellent organ recita'.l I Mrs. C. W. Knapp gave a number of; 'readings which were greatly appri [ dated by the audience. Dr. Fred Pat terson rendered a solo and the cholf [gave an anthem. TWENTY-SEVEN SAILORS DROWN I lilted Press staff Correspondent Sault St Marie. Mich., Dec. 18— i (Special to Daily Democrat)—Twen-ty-seven men. members of the crew of the tug Reliance wrecked last Wednesday, have lost their lives in the icy waters of Lake Superior, mariners here believed today. The men declared it is doubtful !if the sailors could have survived i the snow storm and gale that swept; the lake yesterday and last night. _ —o— - NOTICE All members of the V. I. S. class and the King's Daughters class of the! U. B. church please note that the Xmas party which was to have been . ; held on Tuesday evening at the home of Miss Laurinda Johnson, has been advanced to Monday evening. All) [ members iflease be present. _____ •_ — Penn State Leaves To play California Team I ’ By Henry L. Parnell parture of Penn State tomorrow, the I east will be moving in a good sized mass upon California in which has become an established annual invasion. The three large intersectional games remain to put the shroud on the farwestern gridiron that was applied to [ eastern fields several weeks ago. | Weßt Virginia and Gonzaga Die 1 ” No tre Dame" of the coast, will fur- | nish the first game on Christmas day.

SHEFFER SENT TO PRISON FOR LIFE SENTENCE Auburn Man Found Guilty Os Killing His Brother On 22nd Os June JURY OUT 17 HOURS Verdict Said To Be A Compromise By Jurors To Prevent A Deadlock Angola, Ind., Dec. 18—Nie Sheffer, ot Auburn, was found guilty of murd- ■ ering his brother, James W. Sheffer, I by a jury’/verdict returned at 2:12 o’clock Sunday afternoon. The jury | found Nie guilty of murder in the second degree and fixed his punishment as imprisonment in the stale penitentiary for the remainder of his natural life. The text of the verdict was: “We, the jury, find the defendant guilty of murder in the second degree as charged in the indictment; that he is of the age of 42 years and that he be imprisoned in the Indiana state prison during his life.” The scene in the court when Nie was acquainted with the jury's verdict, presented the same strange contrast which the opposite poles of his nature have injected into his every act since the murder of his brother and sister-in-law on June 22, 1922 at Auburn. » Quivering with fear as he awaited the written word cf his attorney as to his fate, Nie underwent a mar : ’velous transition when he learned. that he halt escaped the electric | chair. His physical fear reassured, he became the same mask-like figure he has been all during the trial- Fie immediately furnished reporters with a statement in which ho denied his guilt; asked that he be permitted to visit his father and see the place where his brother, Jim, was shot. Nie told his attorneys that he (Continued on page six) o PROMINENT FORT WAYNE MAN DIES! John H. Bass, Pioneer Manufacturer, Succumbs After Long Illness John H. Bass. 87 years old. one of the most prominent and well-known I business men of Fort Wayne, died at his country home, “Brookside,” at 10:25 o’clock Sunday morning, follow ing a lingering illness with nephritis. Mr. Bass was the founder of the Bass ; Foundry & Machine Works, one of Fort Wayne's largest industries, and ( was the dean of the pioneer manti I facturers of that city. Mr. Bass was intimately connected I with the building of Fort Wayne in probably more ways than any other person. In addition to his work in the Bass foundry, long one of the . city's substantial industrial instituI lions, the decedent backed the construction of the city's first traction j line and took an active part in many! other enterprises. Besides his Fort Wayne property he held extensive real estate and industrial investments in Chicago, St. Louis and several southi ern cities. H e was chairman of the j board ot' directors of the First Na-. tional bank. Mr. Bass retired from active life five years ago and since has devoted himself entirely to the development of his farm, "Brookside,” where he raised high bred stock and fancy poultry. He was a sufferer from rheumatism, I and his health broke seriously a year ago. He ate his Christmas dinner last year with the members of the family and one day later took to his room and he has since been under constant medical care. His death, Sunday morning, was not unexpected. e_ MARRIAGE LICENSE Amos Brunner, laborer, Adams county, age 20 years, to Emma L. Fravel, Adams county, age 18 years.

Decatur, Indiana, Monday Evening, December 18, 1922.

G. T. Burk Named Trustee Os The Christian Church <l. T. Burk was elected a trustee of the Christian church at the meeting of the congregation held yesterday. The other two members of the board are Dr. Burt Mangold and A. D. ArtI man. Mr. Burk was elected to the three year term. Other important matters pertaining to the congregation were disposed of, announcement of which may be made within the next few days. CHRISTMAS FUND STILL GROWING Another Hundred Dollars Needed In Good Fellow Club By Thursday The Good Fellow Club desires another hundred dollars between now and Thursday evening. They could use more but this amount will permit them to give pleasure to a large number of children whose Christmas will otherwise be sad and gloomy. This is the week before holidays and the time when we should all join in i the work in the right spirit. Do it! now. The fund to-date: — Previous total $140.16 Uncle Dudley 1.00 i Jesse A. Swartz 1.00 W. R. C 2.00 A youngster 05 A friend 36 Martin-Klepper Co 10.00 Total $154.57 Mercury Sinks To Depths Unknown Decatur and surrounding community was in the grip of the most severe cold weather of the year today. Early this- morning thermometers registered as low as 10 degrees below zero. The sun warmed the temperature; slightly and the mercury mounted to [ a few degrees above the zero mark ! during the day. Forty Per Cent Os Gold Is In America! • I ultril Pr«»NN Service.) Chicago, Dec. 18. —Forty per cent of the world's gold is in American banks and one-third of the diamonds in existence on the fingers and bosoms of American women. Dr. Nehemlah Boyn- [ ton, of New York, declared here today. Boynton has just completed a 30,000 mile trip to all parts of the world. He warned Americans to guard their prosperity. “America needs a tighter grip on religion," h e said. ASKS DIVORCE AND ALIMONY — ’ Hazel Snyder Filed Complaint Against Ralph R. Snyder In C. Court Hazel Snyder filed a complaint for I a divorce and alimony in the sum of SSOO against Ralph R. Snyder, in the Adams circuit court Saturday evening. The case was filed by Attorneys Merryman anil Sutton. Mrs. Snyder states that she was married to the defendant on December 28, 1919, and that he abandoned her without just cause on December 11, 1920. She avers that the defendant has wholly failed to support her during the past two years. In addition to a divorce and SSOO alimony, Mrs. Snyder asks that the court restore ner maiden name of Hazel Tague. No children have been born to the couple. ! mH 7 ysto ItcWY ISTMAfeCJJ-o AX 'theAcfo Jh 1

ARREST TWO IN ! ! SHAFFER MURDER CASE THIS P. M. Man And Woman Questioned At Anderson In Connection With Case IDENITY KEPT SECRET New Clue Obtained Today In Baffling Killing Os , Man And Wife T’nlted Peess sitin' Correspondent Anderson. Ind,. Dec. 18 —(Special to Daily Democrat) —A man and a woman were to be arrested here this afternoon for questioning in connection with the hatchet murder of Mr. and Mrs. Wm- Shaffer on their Honey Creek farm near New Castle. Orders were received by police 1 from Prosecutor Jeffreys of Henry county to arrest the man and woman whose identity was kept secret. It ' was learned that the dead man had i 1 been in Anderson the night of Dec. 6 when the murder is thought to have i been committed. The theory is that : he took some one home with him and that whoever was in his automobile i wielded the hatchet that split open his skull and that of his wife. Samuel Shaffer of Danville, 111., ar- , ! rived at New Castle today with a post card mailed from Anderson on , the night of the murder by William, I, who was his brother- This presented , a new clue and proved that the dead : [ man visited Anderson shortly before ( [he was slain. it is believed the murderers with the blood on their hands rushed into the barn and stole lhe Shafter automobile escaping and abandoning the car on the streets of New Castle. Two men and two women were seen leaving the automobile by Mrs. Engle ' Laird before dawn on Thursday 1 morning, December 7 but she was not ! able to identify them. Mr. and Mrs. William Weber of! [ Washington township were here today on business. , • ! CHURCH OF GOD REVIVAL ENDED I Very Successful Meeting Is j Brought To Close < Last Night A very successful revival was closed at the Church of God last night, one which will linger long in the memory : cf many. The attendance and inter- 1 lest throughout the service was exeptionally good. There was a total ol fifty-two conversions during the revival and possibly twenty consecrations. At the meeting last night. Dr. J. Q. j j Neptune sang a beautiful solo entitled : I ["Somebody Cares.” Dr. Neptune and : the Rev. Langley sang a duet also. [ I The theme of the Rev. Bragg's sermon i last night was "The Word of God Our I Guide Through Life.” The altar was i filled for heart purity service at botli < meetings yesterday. t At the closing meeting, all who de i sired the Rev. Langley and Rev. Bragg < Io return to conduct another revival t at the local church sometime n the fu- < Iture, were asked to stand and prae < | tic-ally everyone present arose to their.l feet. They have done u great work!: during the revival just closed . I: A Christmas entertainment will belt given at lhe Church of God on Sunday I 1 evening. December 24. The public is cordially invited to attend the ser-i 1 vices. - —o C. C. H. S. Lost To Baden Hall Saturday j< — u Fort uayne, Dec. 18.—Badin Hall, of t Notre Dame, proved a little too strong 1 for Central Catholic High School's has- 1 ketball toosers at Library hall Sul- t urday night and the locals were de- 1 seated by a score of 15 to 11. Strong t guarding by both teams kept the score t down, the first half ending 7 to 3 for 1 tho visitors. t

Funeral Services For Koenig Baby Today Funeral services were held' from the St. Marys Catholic church at 9 o'clock this morning for Mary Martha Koenig, the nineteen months old daughter of Mrs. Fred Koenig, of Washington township, who died Frl-J day evening from lhe effects of burns[ [ she received when she fell into a pail jof scalding water on Thursday.' i Burial was made in the St. Joseph cemetery, BEEKEEPERS TO HOLD MEETING Adams County Association To Hold Session At Decatur And Berne The Adams County Beekeepers Association is planning two meeting to be held next week which will be of interest to every bee keeper in the county. .On Wednesday evening, DeIceber 27th, a meeting will be held at the county agent's office. On Thlirs day evening a similar meeting will be held at Berne. In this way every bee keeper in the county will have an opportunity to attend one of the meetings without having to go a great distance. Arrangements have been made to show a set of lantern slides at lhe nictings which take up bee keeping completely. Atteinps are also being made to have C. O. Yost, State Bee Inspector attend at least one of the meetings. W. A. Foner, president of the county association is arranging details for the meeting at Decatur while J. B. Welty, is taking care ot the arrangements at Berne. Further details may be obtained by inquiring of either ot these men O. L. Vance, Secretary of the association will send notices to members of the association sometime this week. o Mrs. Starr To Sins Over Radio Tonight Decatur radio fans will have an o|e portunity tonight to hear a former resident of Decatur sing from a broadcasting station at Youngstown, Ohio. Mrs. Harry Starr, ot Bluffton, formerly Miss Florence Sprunger, of this city, will be on the program which will start about 8 o'clock tonight. Mrs. Starr is an accomplished vocalist and, no doubt, many local people will take advantage of hearing her concert tonight, by gathering around a radio receiving instrument. CHICAGO MARKET CLOSE I nltfed I’resM Staff Correapnndeut Chicago, Dec. 18- Wheat: Dec. $1.27%; May $1.24%; July $1.16' 4 - Corn: Dec 75%c; May. 75%c; July, 74%c. Oats: Dec. 45%c; May 47%c, July 43%c. o Lecturer And Reader At Kirkland H. School Professor J. Raymond Schutz, B. A. and M. A. will deliver a lecture at the Kirkland township high school on next Friday evening, December 22. Prof. Schutz is an educator, preacher, and lecturer of North Manchester. Indiana. He comes highly recommended as an advanced thinker and lecturer and will give an interesting discourse on the subject of “The. Four Dimensions of Life." Miss Della Lehman, of North Manchester college will accompany Plot'. Shhutz and give two readings. The public is invited to attend the lecture which will lie frac, an offering will be taken to defray the expenses of Prof. Schutz and Miss Lehman. ■ Revival In Progress At Winchester U. B. Revival eetings are in progress at the Winchester United Hrethern church. The services are being conducted by the Rev. C. E. ('hupp, pastor of the church. The church building has been repaired recently until it had taken on a decided change in appearance and comfort. A new roof, fresh coat ot paint (exterior and interior), metal ceiling, and new carpet, are the improvements added. The public is cordially iiivited to attend the .revival meeting.

Price 2 Cenl

HOAGLAND MAN MEETS TRAGIC DEATH TODAY I - - - - - I Accident Occurs Three And One-Half Miles North Os Here This Afternoon IS KILLED INSTANTLY Death Is Due To Crushed Skull; Believed To Have Struck Trolley Pole Patil Linker, apparently about 40 years of age, poultry buyer of Hoagland, was killed almost instantly at 1:40 o’clock this afternoon. when his automobile was struck by a south bound Fort Wayne-Decatur interurban car a short distance south of Stop 17 and about three and one-half miles north of Decatur. His body was brought to this city on the interurban car and taken to the.Gay-Zwick & Myers undertaking morgue, where it is being held pending an investigation by the county coroner. His skull was cushed. According to Motorman (’. L. Meibera and Conductor D. H. Hunsicker, in charge of the car. and passengers on the car. Mr. Linker was going soutli on the road which parallels the interurban tracks, a short distnneo ahead of the interurban. Suddenly he turned his car directl/ across the tracks in front of the approaching interurban car in attempting to drive into the barnyard at the'home of rt*mry Allman. The interurban struck the Ford automobile squarely and Mr. Linker was thrown clear of the wreckage. He was found lying at the foot of a trolley pole and it is thought that his head struck tiie pole. The wreckage of the automobile was carried a short distance down the track and remained under the front end of the car. A deep wound was cut on the right, side of his head at the base of the skull. Neither ot his legs or arms wore broken. .Motorman Meibers said that he was running fast down grade but that he had sounded the whistle on his car for a distance of many rods. Indications are that Mr. Linker failed to look to the roar before he turned to cross Hie tracks. The side i-urtains were on his car. The cow-catcher was torn off the interurban ear and the headlight was broken in the collision. Tiie automobile was a total wreck. A call was sent into this city for an extra interurban. Another car was brought into the city from tiie car barns and made the regular run to Fort Wayne at 2 o'clock. o I‘ortland Wants District Basketball Tournament Portland. Ind., Dee. 18.—Arrangements are being made by the Portland chamber of commerce to get the district basketball tournament for Portland this year. The quintet which represents the higli school hero this year is the best in many years and Coach Cook is rapidly moulding a championship team, which has won five of the six games played so far this season, having defeated tin- fast Decatur High school quintet, last year's champions of tills district, here Friday niglit by a score cl 26 to 19. Tile new armory in.r will provide ample playing* space for the. tovrnamant in event it is secured for Portland. o Former Geneva Resident Died At Home In Marion Bluffton, Ind. Dec. 18. — Milo Kelly, aged 64, well known in Wells and Adams counties, died at liis home in Marlon at 3:20 o'clock Thursday afternoon. He was stricken with paralysis several Weeks ago and grew gradually worse. Relatives had Iteen at his bedside all of tile last week. Mr. Kelly was born in Geneva and lived there uutil about 12 years ago when he moved to Marlon. He had been employed there as a towerman tor the Pennsylvania lines.