Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 21, Number 263, Decatur, Adams County, 6 November 1923 — Page 1

Volume XXI. Number 263.

MINE DISASTER TAKES SEVERAL LIVES

ELECTIONS ARE BEING HELD IN SEVERAL STATES •’Off Year” Elections In Thirteen States Today Watched Closely. KLAN IS AN ISSUE Kain Keeps Voters Away From Polls In Several Places; Close Races. H'nlted Press Service) “Off year” elections in thirteen states were in progress today with politicians watching tor indications of the national (rind, on the eve of a presidential year. Rain in many parts of the east failed to keep the voters from the polls, an unexpectedly large number voting early. New York—A heavy vote was being polled for members of the assembly. now republican by a slight margin. Ohio—The Ku Klux Klan issue fig nred in many municipal elections. Kentucky—The vote was unexpectedly light with a full state ticket being elected. The Kentucky gubernatorial result is considered highly significant in indicating the national trend. Maryland—A quartr of Baltimore’s total vote was cast in the first three hours of voting for governor. Negroes were reported voting for the democratic candidate because the Ku Klux Klan supported the republican. Illinois—Four hundjed _ thousand ballots were expected in Cook county's judicial election. Virginia — Victory for Virginia's $50,000,000 good roads bond issue was forecast when rain kept the farmers from the polls. Nbrth Carolina-John H. Kerr, i democrat, was being elected to con-1 gressional seat of late Claude Kitch-. in. There was no opposition. Mississippi—Election of full dem-1 erratic state slate conceded there being no opposition. New Jersey — Remarkably heavy vote cast for legislation candidates despite rain. Vermont —Democratic weather prevailed—rain —and democrats claimed to be polling bgigest vote in history of Vermont, although G. O. P. victory is practically assured. A senator and representative to be chosen. Elections in other state were of minor interest. Klan Issue in Ohio Columbus, 0., Nov. 6—(Special to Daily Democrat)—Forces of capital and labor and klan and anti-klan matched strength in the off-year elections in Ohio today. The Ku Klux Klan issue dominated nearly a score of city elections and capital and labor took sides on two state wide proposals—one to amend the workmen’s compensation law and the other an Initiated old age pension measure. The latter will provide a minimum income of $350 a year for the helpless aged of the state under certain conditions. It was initiated by organized labor. Light Vote in Kentucky Louisville, Ky., Nov. S—(Special to Daily Democrat) —Despite predictions of fair weather throughout the day a relatively light vote with neither gubernatorial candidates winning by more than a fifteen thousand majority was in prospect as Kentucky went to the polls to elect a full state ticket today. Congressman William J Fields, (Continued on page flva) Forgot To Hold Election Two Years Ago; Vote Today Kirklin, Ind., Nov. 6—Citizens of Kirklin forgot to hold the usual town election two years ago. Today they went to the polls to name i the successors to the officials who I ruled two years longer than they were elected for because there were no successors to take their places. t

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Stokes Divorce Trial Is Recessed Over Election New York. Nov. 6. (United I ’ress. i -The re trial of W. E. D. Stokes suit I for divorce was recessed over'election day. It will be resumed tomorrow and Is expected to go to lhe jury be I fore the end of the week. . The defense rested yesterday when Samuel I'ntermyer, counsel for Helen i Elwood Stokes, was balked by the court in his attempt to re-call the 73-year-old husband of his client to the stand. Four witnesses were called by Max Steurer, Stokes' attorney, in rebuttal, none of whom brought out anything very damaging to the defense. GOOD FELLOW'S CLUB PLANNED Delta Theta Tau Sorority Sponsors Plan for Kiddies’ Xmas Cheer. Arrangements were made at the regular meeting of the Delta Theta Tau sorority last night for a Good Fellow's club to be formed during the month of December for the purpose of bringing Christmas cheer to the poor children of the city. The meeting was held at the home of Tootz Keller, on North Fourth street. The sorority sponsored a Good Fellow’s club las-t year and many children enjoyed a happy Christmas who otherwise could not have been happy. Boxes will be placed in the various stores uptown and all people who donate to the fund will be enrolled in the Good Fellow’s Club and their name published in the Daily Democrat. The boxes will be placed in the uxtres about Dfc. cember 1. Nearly $250 was donated In the Good Fellow's Club last year. The money was used in buying clothing. food an dtoys for the children of the city. TEACHERS MEET INBERNENOV.I7 Speakers Announced For the Annual Meeting of Adams Co. Teachers. The annual meeting of the Adams County Teachers’ association will be held at Berne on Saturday. November 17. All teachers of the county are expected to attend the meeting. There will be two sessions, one in the forenoon and one in the afternoon. Addresses will be delivered during the forenoon session by Prof. Ixmg. of Tri-State College, Angola, and E. S. Christen, superintendent of the Adams county schools. Music will be furnished during this session by the Berne high school orchestra; the Berne high school girls’ glee club. In the afternoon, A. L. Trester, sec retary of the Indiana High School Athletic Association, will give an address on. “Problems of the Modern School.” The Geneva high school girls’ glee club will provide music during the afternoon. The business session will be held in the afternoon also. The present officers of the association are: Don Collom, Geneva, presi. dent; Clyde Hendricks. Bertha Bunner and E. S. Christen, executive committee. Following is the progam foi the meeting on November 17: Forenoon Se s sion, 9:30 Opening exercises —C. O. Lehman, Supt. Berne schools. A. Music—Berne H. S. orchestra. B. Invocation. C. BerneH. S. Girls’ glee club. Address, "Social and Athletic Activlt ies in the Schools of Adams County.’’ Co. Supt. Christen. Music —Berne H. S. orchestra. Address —res. Long. Angola College. Appointment of Committees. Afternoon Session, 1 pm. | Music —Berne H. S. Girls’ Glee Club. I Business Session. Music—Geneva H -S. Girls’ Quartette. Adrees, "Problems of the Modern Schools.” A. L.Trester.Sec’v. I. H. S. A. A. Dismissal

ROBBERS BLOW SAFES IN TWO BANKS;ESCAPE I ■ Obtain $13,000 In Bold Robbery At Spencer, Ind., Early Today. TOWN IS CUT OFF Robbers Cut All Electric Light, Telegraph and Telephone Wires. H’nltr Service) Spencer. Ind., Nov. o—(Special to Daily Democrat)—Sheriffs tmd police officials of Southern Indiana joined in a man hunt today for the bandit gang which escaped after robbing the First National and Exchange banks here of $13,000 and wounding two citizens as they fled. The gang numbered al least fifteen men and came to Spencer in four autos according to Sam Vaughan, town night watchman. The bandits found and gagged Vaughan and left him in the city hall while they entered the banks. Spencer, Ind.. Nov. 6. (United Press.) —Bank robbers blew the safes of the First National and Exchange banks here early today and escaped with $13,000 in cash and securities, according to W. C. McCarty, sheriff of Owen county. The bandits cut all electric light, telegraph and long distance telephone wires before committing the robberies. Spencer was completely cut off . from communication with the outside world for hours. According to McCarty, the robbers obtained ffi.ooo from the First National bank and $7,000 from the Exchange bank. Tlie robbery occurred between 3:30 ■ and 4 o'clock this morning and was executed by four or five men. Think They Fled To Indianapolis Although no automobiles were seen here at the time of the robbery, it was believed the bandits escaped in cars parked at the edge of town and drove in the direction of Indianapolis. After the robbery McCarty drove to Gosport and reported the robbery fro mthere. Posses of citizens were quickly organized to aid in searching for the bandit gang. (Continued on Page six)

THE FIRST LAND TRANSFER IN ADAMS COUNTY First Deed Recorded on October 15th. 1836. in Record "A” in Recorder’s office in old wooden Court House. James Hipes conveye dand sold title to 73 acres to Eli Zimmerman. Document contained all of the legal descriptions known at that time. Description of land.

By F. Q. In the year of our Lord 1835, one James Hipes anil Elizabeth, his wife, executed a deed of conveyance to Eli Zimmerman, conveying the north fractional part of the northwest quarter of section twelve in township twentyseven, north of range fourteen east and also the northeast fractional part of the northeast quarter of section eleven in said township and range, which deed was recorded on the 15th day of October 1836 and spread of record in Deed Record "A" in the Recorder's office of Adams county and recording duly attested by Hon. Esaias Dailey, Recorder. Now at first blush, that may not seem to be anything unusual, the simple execution and recording of a deed of conveyance —there has been many deeds more sensational committed in Adams county—but at the same time and by the same token this was an unusual proceeding because it happened that this deed was the first one made and recorded in our beloved county. Somebody had to start the real estate game and James and Eli were the boys who started the boom. James and Elizabeth must have had plenty time, paper and ink the day they executed this deed, for if that deed missed any of the “granted, sold,

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday, November 6, 1923.

Senior Girls Are Wearing j Pretty White Sweaters Nbw The girls in the Senior class at the Decatur high school have blossomed ! forth in white sweaters of uniform style. The girls make a fine appear- '. ance in their distinctive garb and I they can readily be recognised in ' crowds or alone. The girls held a benefit picture show recently and the money derived in this manner was used in buying the sweaters. o—r . CHARITY BOARD MAKES REPORT . County Jail and Infirmary F In Good Condition; One , Recommendation. t A report of the inspection made by -a representative of the state hoard I of charities of the county jail and the 4 county infirmary was received by the i county commissioners today from J. t A. Brown, secretary of the board. - Only one recommendation was con- ) tained in the report the board under t the head of “needs" recommended I that "locking devices at the county t jail be repaired." f The buildings and management' of the two institutions were said to he good, by the charities representative.. The report on the County infirmary I was as follows: "Farm buildings in good condition. Fences poor. Yards! ( attractive. Buildings are clean ami bedding Is standard. Health of in mates good. Three meals a day are served. The food is good in quantity f and quility. Religious services are held twice a month. The countv p commissioners visit farm monthly. Farm is managed by Harry P. La Y Fountain.” ~ The report on the jail was as follows: "It is a strong and fairly safe s bulling Ventilation is good. The j jail is clean. Closets are clean and , sanitary. The jail is managed bv Sheriff John Baker- and inspected daj [Uy by the sheriff. Three meals a , day are served. The food is the 1 same as the sheriff has." At the I time of the report only one inmai ’an insane was confined in the jail. t Reading matter is furnished the pi'isi oners. ‘ The report was placed on record hv the countv commissioners. i. _____________________ , Weafher Generally fair tonight and Wedg nesday; except unsettled tonight in southeast portion;' slightly colder tonight.

and conveyed” and “appurtances" and ■ "appertaining to’s” we have not been , able to discover that lapse. In that deed James stipulated that: “bargained, granted, sold, alienated, released, conveyed and confirmed all his right, title, interest, claim, demand whatever in law and in equity of in and to the said premises and also every part thereof together with all and singular the privileges and appurtances to the same belonging or in anywise apper- ’ taining to the same and the rents and profits thereof to have and to hold the said premises thereby, bargained, i and sold or meant or intended so to be with the appurtances to the only proper use, benefit and behoof of the said party.” There you have it, just exactly and unconditionally and particularly what James sold. Perhaps James did not ■ believe it necessary to put all that stuff in but might have been forced to do so by Eli. Eli might have ip - sisted on the words "the use and bep etit and behoof” being put in, because i from what we have beard of Eli of the old times, Ell was very liable to have insisted on several things. Now, it was just as plain as plain could be that Eli got every blessed : thing that James bad in and around , that real estate but may we ask, what

ONE KLANSMAN CHARGED WITH KILLING ANOTHER Phil E. Fox Charged With Murder of Attorney For Opposing Faction. WERE TO KILL OTHERS Fox Likely To Be Tried Next Week; Killed Attorney In 11 is Office. rCn'»-d P-»o« Atlanta, Ga„ Nov. G —(Special to Daily Democrat) —Phil E. Fox. publicity agent for the Ku Klux Klan, was charged with murdering W., S. Coburn, attorney for the William Joseph Simmons faction, within the klan in. an indictment returned by the grand jury today. Fox who has refused to make any statement since he-killed Coburn in his law office late yesterday will probably go to trial next week. Atlanta. Ga., Nov. 6—(Special to Daily Democrat)—Phil E. Fox, slayer of W. S. Coburn, planned to kill all other leaders in the insurgent faction of the K. K. K. organization, including Emperor William Joseph ■Simmons, authorities were informed i today. Dr. Fred B. Johnston, once chief of staff for the Simmons faction, said when Fox called at Simons’ home Sunday night, he said: j “You, Simmons, E. Y. Clarke and Bill Coburn are slated to go." f- AtbiiHe. Ga. Nov. 6—Scores of private investigators joined authorities today in probing the murder of W. S. Coburn, leader of the Colonel William Joseph Simmons faction in the internal war in the K. K. K. Coburn was shot and killed in his office here late yesterday afternoon. | Office attaches apprehended Phil Fox former Texas newspaper man and editor of the Night Hawk, official publication of the Imperial Palace of the K. K. K. Fox was formally charged with first degree murder. Coburn for years has been prominent in klan affairs. He was grand dragon of California at the time of the Ingleside riots a few years ago .in which several people were killed. , Recently Coburn has been chief conn- ■ sei of the Simmons legal force in the fight to oust Dr. Evans and others I from control of the organization. He lead the attack last week in the sensational receivership hearing brought by David Rittenhouse of Philadelphia and others.

the dickens did James have anyway? We have it from an eye witness (an old gentleman who now has his second sight and who acquired this particular knowledge from his own father) that that land conveyed in said deeif at the time of said conveyance was absolutely naked as far as having any adornment thereon placed thereon by any human hands. That in reality and in fact the land so conveyed amounted to seventy-three acres (not to say anything of the Kekionga river, which cut the land almost amidships) and was within a stone’s throw of what is now and what was then to be Decatur, Adams county. Indiana. We inquired therefore, naturally to what and for whyfore was the said deed cluttered up with "together with all and singular the privileges and appurtances to the same belonging or in anywise appertaining." Now, there may have been and probably was nothing particularly meant by those profound legal Incousequentials, yet on the other hand perhaps there wan. The deal was made In the fall of the year and the hickory nuts were in bloom also were the butternuts and walnuts etcetera. (Continued On Page Four)

District Superintendent of M. E. Church Is Dead Muncie, Ind., Nov. 6—The Rev. James A. Beatty, superintendent of Muncie district of the North Indiana Methodist Episcopal conference at his home here Monday afternoon after an illness of one year. He tin clerwent an operation in an Indianapo lis hospital late in the summer am apparently rallied hut a few days age he suffered a relapse. He was one of the state's best known Methodists, and had occupied a number of I Indiana pulpits. The widow. Mrs. Ina C. I’eatty, and son. the Rev. Dilf C. Beatty, pastor of the Normal City M. E. church, of Muncie, survive. LUTHERAN SCHOOL TEACHERS MEET To Hold Three-Day Conference At Lafayette Beginning Wednesday. The Lutheran parochial school teachers of Northern Indiana, Missouri Synod, will hold a conference in Lafayette. Indiana, beginning tomorrow, November 7. and continuing until Friday evening, November 9. AH i of the Lutheran parochial teachers in ; the vicinity of Decatur. Fort Wayne and surrounding territory will attend the conference. Among those from Adams county who will attend the conference are P. W. Dorn, of the Fuelling settlement; Mr. Rossman, of St Johns; .Mr. Stolp. of Preble; Ed Schuricht, of Freidheim. and-Mr. Schmitt, of Union township. They left this afternoon for Lafayette. During the conference the Lutheran schools in the county will be closed. Oscar Lankenau of the Boston store is looking after business for the firm at Fort Wayne this afternoon. DECLINES TO ACCEPT OFFICE A. D. Suttles Turns Down Justice of Peace Job; Other Co. Matters. Although the appointment had been made, A. D. Suttles withdrew the petition presented to the board of conn- ■ ty commissioners yesterday asking 1 that he not be appointed Justice of the Peace in Washington township. Mr. Suttles gave business reasons for not wanting the appointment. Ten Decatur citizens signed the petition . asking that Mr. Suttles be appointed to the office. The commissioners did not appoint a man to fill the vacancy after Mr. Suttles declined. Routine Matters. The commissioners authorized Harry P. LaFontain, superintendent of the county infirmary, to sell a calf and hog und to report the sale at the next meeting. 1 The Jesse D. Buckmaster road in ' Jefferson township was accepted from ' the trustee and added to Adams conn 1 ty’s highway system. The petition 1 for its acceptance was filed by Dore ' E. Amspaugh. ! The David Mazelin macadam road 1 in Monroe township, the Myers road 1 in St. Marys, and the Luby Road in ' Monroe and French townships were accepted by the commissioner.-. These ‘ roads were constructed last summer. Frank Armantrout was authorized 1 to purchase a desk for his office at a price not to exceed $15.00. Mr. Armantrout is the county truancy of- ■ ficer and has his office in the same room with the county school superin1 tendent’s office in the court house. o Tri-State Merchants iMeeting In Ft. Wayne I Dan M. Niblick, of the Niblick and , Company store, is attending a meeting of tlie Tri-State Retail Dry Goods As I sociation in Ft. Wayne today. Today s is known as buying day and the dry 8 goods dealers who are members ol B the association go together and pur chase various lines of merchandise getting it at a low price so that they can save their customers money.

Price: 2 Cents.

TWELVE KILLED; THIRTY MISSING IN CALIFORNIA Explosion In Coal Mine Causes Disaster; Grave Fears Held For 30. RESCUERS AT WORK Cause of Blast Undetermined ; Scenes of Deep Tragedy At Mine. 'United Spfvlc’a) Beckley. W. Va„ Nov. G (Special to Daily Democrat) Twelve bodies have been recovered from the pit of the Raleigh Wyoming Coal company (Hen Rogers mine, near here, which was wrecked by an explosion this morning, according to a statement issued at noon today by company officials. Thirty men are believed still entombed, the statement said. Sixty-five workers went down the main shaft of the mine at ■dawn. Twenty-three made their wav to the surface soon after the’blast. They were uninjured. Mine officials expressed grave, fears for the fate of the thirty men who have not come up. Rescue squads were making headway through the debris in the mine at noon and several more bodies were being extricated, the mine officials said. The cause of the blast has not been determined definitely but it is believed to have resulted from a pocket of gas collecting far back in ' the mine. j Wives and children of the men who earn their living far below the earth’s surface presented a scene of deepest tragedy as they gathered around the mine. The twelve bodies, many of them badly mangled, were brought, one at a time, to the little group at the top ’ of the shaft. —o — No Trace Found of Girl Missing From Muncie Muncie. Ind.. Nov. 6.—No trace ns , yet has been discovered of Miss Marguerite Dearth. 22. daughter of Judge and Mrs. Clarence W. Dearth, who , has been missing from her home since r 11 o’clock last Thursday. A mass meeting of several hundred Muncie . 1 citizens was held in the circuit court ( room Tuesday morning and plans , were made to search Minn ie and the I entire stirrounding country. Judge I Dearth presides over tile Delaware . circuit court und his daughter was attached to the juvenile department of his court. I °- Mrs. Fisk Delighted Audience Last Night A large audience greatly apprei elated the entertainment given at i the high school auditorium last night by Mrs. Marion Ballou Fisk, noted i cartoonist, lecturer and entertainer. ■ This was the second number of the senior lyceum course. I Mrs. Fisk delighted her audience I very much with her clever cartoons, i She is a great artist in that line. She ■ gave very interesting stories and > sketches while she was drawing the cartoons, explaining each clearly. I o i Mrs. E. F. France and Miss Rote Christen spent lhe afternoon in Ft ■ Wayne visiting friends. Paid Farm Hand With White Mule; Arrested Princeton. Ind.. Nov. 6—Walter U Baird, a Gibson county farmer ac(J cused of paying Bennie Knust, a g 16 year old farm hand, with white s . mule, was arraigned today before v Judge Neimier on a charge of sely ling liquor. Instead of paying ,f Kuust in cash every Saturday afternoon. Baird gave him a jug of rt white mule, according to the v charges.