Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 22, Number 291, Decatur, Adams County, 8 December 1924 — Page 1

Volume XXII. Number 291.

TELEPHONE CO. j AND CITY SUED FOR LARGE SUM _ — Three People Bring Suits ' [.’or Total Os $17,500 Damages RESULT OF ACC IDENT Automobile Overturned When It Struck Guy Wire On Pole Thr<>< suits for damages totalling sl7.,;uii were filed in the Adams <irr,ii( court today against the Citizens; Telephone company ami the citj of Decatur, as a result of an automobile accident which occurred r.t the north end of Second street last Augu : The plaintiffs in the three case: are Fred 11. Zehrback. his wife. Zoe Zelrbach and Maggie E. Fuhrman. Mr Zehrback demands judgment for f 1.5110 for damages to his autonubile when it struck a guy wite on a di-pbone pole and was turned over; Mi Zehrbach demands $15,000 for peistinal injuries; and Mrs. Fuhrman demands SI,OOO for personal injuries The accident happened on the night of August 1 1924. The three plaintiffs were in an automobile driven by Mrs. Zehrbach and were going north on Second street. The car struck the guy wire on a telephone title on the east side of the street, hist beyond the old mill, and was turned over. Mrs. Zehrbach was 'lio sly injured and was a patient at Memorial hospital for some lime Th 1 plaintiffs in the case allege i that the defendants unlawfully maintained the guy wire or cable, which is on obstruction to the street and that the defendants failed to ere. t a warn in sign to advise motorists of th., danger. Attorneys for the pTainffiTs are lore B. Erwin and the firm of I.en hart £• Heller, of this city. Mr and •Mrs Zehrbach reside in Bluff on. 0 . onl Mrs. Fuhrman lives al the north; ■ Ige of the city. — -o Wrigley Must Pav Big Sum To A Competitor Chicago, Dec. B.—Judge J. H. Wil kerson in federal court today ordered t h e William Wrigley. Jr . company, chewing gum manufacturers to sl.-.. 471 101.37 to the L. P. I.arson company. a competitor for infringement on a Larson company patent. The amount is supposed to represent profits from 1914 to 1918 Th. court held the name constituted an in fringement on I.arson's patented name of "Wintermint." A master in chancery had formerb t>w riled Larson $2,860,000 on hi claim. Judge Wilkerson reduced this '■mount by changing Larson with Wigley’s advertising bill on doubemint gum. BUTTER MAKERS ELECT OFFICERS • A. Klenper, Decatur, Elected Treasurer Os State Organization W- A. Klepper, of this city, general manager of the Cloverleaf Creameries company, was elected treasurer of 'he Indiana Manufacturers of Dairy Products, at the convention of the association held at the Claypool hotel in IndianapoLs last week Samuel Schlosser, of Plymouth, was elected president of the association ai >d R. l. Hammond, of Indianapolis, was re-elected secretary. hoed Schafer, Muncie, was elected chairman of the butter division and I'h'ank Liggett, Indianapolis, seen* 1 j ry. D. Spugnardi, Indianapolis, was elected chairman and R. Schuhart, Newcastle, secretary of the milk division. For the ice cream division 1 harles Reeves. Indianapolis, and H W. Fleischer, Lajayette, were elect P( l chairman and secretary, respect! vely. In an effort to bring the nationa’ '■ ai ry show to Indianapolis in 1925 *he convention voted to send Mr Hammond to Chicago to extend s '"'■'"al invitation to the Nationa h’airy Association. The conventior fcn ded with a banquet and dance.

DEC ATI J H DAILY DEMOCRAT

< ounly Assessors And Auditors Will Meet A meeting of the County Assessors and County Auditors In the State will be held this week nt Indianapolis.’ the a'"'*SS()rs Will be is session three (lays. December 10, 11 and 12, and the auditors will he in s , ls , : j on December 12 and 13 County Assessor William: Zimmerman and County Auditor Martin Jaberg will attend the meetings. The assessors and auditors will meet | with the state tax hoard and subjects of interes' pecait ing to the assess-1 Ing will be dismiss, d. CLAIMANTS GET FORTT PER CENT Final Report Made In Receivership Os Coppock Motor Car Co. The final entry in the receivership of the old Coppock Motor Car Company. a Decatur industry several years ago, was made Saturday afternoon when the final report of the receiver Arthur D. Suttles, was approved ami the final distribution among the claimants ordered. The entry < made by Ferd 1.. I.itterer, who was appointed special judge Satur-1 day by Judge Jesse C. Sutton, who [ declined jurisdiction in the case on 1 account of having been of counsel for some of the claimants prior to his I election as judge. A< l ording to the final report the I total amount for distribution among the claimants is $5,789.32. but of ;that amount of total of $5,065.60 has already been distributed by the receiver on order of the court, leaving a balance of $723.72 yet be distributed. The total amount of the claims in the receivership was $14.473.58. and the total amount distri.bitted represents 40 per cent, of the! •toa4 amount-of the claims A suit or a note and for the appointment of a receiver for the com- : pany was filed in the Adams circuit ] court by William J. Vesey, April 30, ! 1910. Mr. Suttles was then appointed receiver for the company. The company had ceased manufacturing auto- ' mobiles more than six months before the filing of die suit and had sold and .disposed of most of its property. The company occupied a building in the northwest part of the city which was later occupied by the Decatur Motor -■ill by the Schafer Saddlery. The Saddlery later burned down and the factory of the G-rher Ladder Company now stands on the site. The Coppock Motor Car Company was engaged in the manufacture of pleasure cars and the company came I here from Marion. Many local people purchased took in the company and a large amount of money was lost in the business by local investors. The Decatur Motor Car Company, which succeeded the Coppock comanv, manufactured trucks. After the Coppock company ceased business here much of the machinery and equipment was sold to people in Grand I Rapids, Michigan. . Mr Suttles, in making his final reporl gtated that Hie final settlement 1 on act ount of certain actions pending in the courts of Kent 'conntv, Michigan and in the Supreme » court of Michigan, to compel pay-, ment of str k subscriptions to the: 'Grand Rapids Motor Car Company, a debtor of the Coppock Motor Car 1 company. The receiver stated that he s had been informed that the courts j f had decided adversely to the claims y of the creditors. e _ I Advertisers To Meet In Industrial Rooms Tonight II An impotrant meeting of the De- '* ca tur Advertisers Association will be ( held in the industrial Association i’US at ’clock this evening. <1 considerable business wdl be up ’■ .disposal ami all members of the M ent. k — 11 First Shipment Os ;• Christmas Trees Here N T ],p first Shipment of Christmas T ,t in the citv this morn- ” r iX; X f-em Vermont s* lnß ' T r 'lm Evergreen variety. r , and are of the Bverg ' The trees ranßt* in I a,T , .9 00 for residence trees, i Xu XVmal! table trees cost about | fifty cents each.

ADAMS COUNTY FARMER COMMITS SUICIDE SUNDAY William F. Burkhart Hangs Self In Barn On Farm In Bluecreek Twp. ILL HEALTH IS CAUSE Nervouse Prostration Believed To Have Prompted Rash Action William F. Burkhart, age 46. wellknown Adams county farmer, committed suicide early Sunday morning by hanging himself to a rafter in a barn on his farm in Bluecreek township. Life was extinct when his body was discovered a few minutes later by bis wife and son. Nervous prostration is believed to have prompted Mr. Burkhart to end his life. Coroner L. L. Mattax was called to make an investigation soon after Mr. Burkhart had been pronounced dead by the physician who was called. The coroner returned a verdict of suicide. Arose Early In Morning Mr. Burkhart arose about 4 o'clock Sunday morning and when Mrs. Burkhart heard him moving about in the house she called to him and asked him what he was doing. He replied that he was building a tire. She asked him how he felt, and the replied that he felt fine. Next Mrs. Burkhart heard her husband light a lantern and leave the house. A fewminutes later, Mrs. Burkhart became uneasy about her husband and. accompanied by their son, Charles, age 15. went to the barn The lantern was seen hanging In the old barn, which is located at the side of a new barn erected recently.' As Mr. Burkhart and her son drew near the barn, they saw Mr. Burk-

hart's body suspended from the raft*] er. Mrs. Burkhart ran back to the house and rang the dinner bell. Then she and her son tried to get. Mr. Burkhart's body down, but owing to I his great weight they could not man age it. A neighbor, who heard the bell, soon arrived at the Burkhart i Continued On Paee Four) PLANNING FOR SHORT COURSE — Large Attendance Expected At Dairy Short Course At Berne Arrangements for the “Dairymen s < Short Course,” to be held at the Berne . Condensery Tuesday and Wednesday ’ of next week, are progressing satis- i factorlly. according to word received from the office of L. M. Busche. county agent, this morning. He states that many farmers are planning to attend, according to their statements. Information to practically the same effect has been received from Harrv Stoner, manager of the Condensery and accordingly a good attendance is being looked for. Mr. Stoner states additional radiators are being installed in the large sugar room on the second floor of the building in order to provide plenty of heat in case of cold weather. Seating room will be providede for at least 200 and arrangements can be made for still moe seats, if needed. Sessions will be held only in the; afternoon and evening of the two days and G. A. Williams, who is in i charge of cow testing association I work in Indiana will give a dairy talk at each session. The four subjects he will use will all be different and farmers should plan to attend each session. In addition to the talks, motion pictures on dairying will be shown at the evening sessions. Radio music will be provided in connection with the pictures. Mr. Stoner has declined to state, as yet. just what the nature of the refreshments will be but from indications. a pleasant surprise is in store for those who attend. Every one interested is asked to remember the dates. December 16 and 17. and to plan to attend each session. since there will be a different program at each meeting.

Decatur, Indiana, Monday, December 8, 1921.

GOOD FELLOWS ( LI B -Il Give Your Bit And Make Some Poor Child Happy On December 25 A total of $3.05 was added today to the Christmas fund being raised by the Good Fellows Club to provide a I merry Christmas for the poor children of the city. The chib is being I ! sponsored by the Delta Theta Tau ! sorority and contribution boxes may ] be found in each of thte three banks i and the Dally Democrat office. The new contributions are: 41 Previous total $68.98 A Friend .50 W. A. Klepper 1.00 A Friend .25 .A Friend .20 A Friend .10 John Peterson 1.00 t Total $72.0.31 WILL MOVE AUTO |. t LICENSE OFFICE: < Licenses To Be Issued At Graham & Walters Office J After Dec. 15 i The office of the Adams ('ounty , Bureau of the Hoosier State Auto- t mobile Association will be moved 1 from the Schafer Hardware Company : : i building to the Graham and Walters law and insurance office on South , Second street and will be opened for 1 business on December 15. Formal 1 notice of the transfer of the license ' bureau was received this morning by L. A. Graham, republican county | 1 chairman, from H D. McClealland. manager of the auto license department in the office of F. E. Schorte- ( meier, secretary of state. Mr. Graham made* application for ( the location of the license bureau in

j his office a few weeks ago and the; formal notice received this morning ] informed him that State Motor ] Policeman Ayers, of Portland, would I supervise the change Miss Nova Yost, who has been in charge of the local bureau since it ] ! was located in the Schafer Hardware ] company two years ago this month | will still remain In charge of the of- ! flee and will continue to issue the ! new license plates. The news p'ates ] have been received and will be issued] to automobile owners for 1925 after; December 15. The office in the ] ! Schafer building will be closed December 13 and after December 15, the | auto license plates will be issued ! ! from the bureau located in the Gra- | i ham and Walters office. REVIVAL DRAWS . ! RECORD CROWD I i Bantist Church Filled To Capacity At Service Last Night — One of the largest crowds ever seen in the Baptist church attended the revival meeting last evening. The house was packed before the service started, and in a few mln- ! utes afterwards every available inch >f floor space was taken up by folding chairs, quickly brought in. Rev. Antrobus brought a remark-! tble message on "The Evidence of a Life Hereafter" The Holy Spirit was manifestly nresent and two men surrendered to Jesus Christ. A spec'al delegat'on from the Pleasant Mills Baptist church will attend the services this evening, and [ their boys' chorus will sing. The men of the local Baptist church w'll make up the choir on Tuesday evening. Candidates for baptism will be immersed tonight at the dose 6f the preaching service. Services will continue each night up to and including Friday of this i week.

GERMANS VOTE ■ IN FAVOR OF : THE REPUBLIC* Republican Group Wins Decisive Victory In National Election KAISERISM REBUKED Radical Groups Runs Far Behind Republicans And Democrats By Carl D. Ghoat, (I'nited Press Staff Correspondent 1 Berlin. Dec. 8. The republican group in Germany won a victory in the national elactions which were] hehl throughout the country Sunday. I Returns from practically cell election districts at 9:30 a. m. showeel the socialists, democrats anil centrists ran decisively ahead of the nationalists, communists anil fascist!. The latter were practically wipeel out. Approximately 85 per cent of the electorate went to the polls to choose the new reichstag. the vote being the* heaviest ever polled in Germany.] Many disturbances between adher ents of rival parties kept police busy ] throughout Saturday night ami Sun day. The former group won so decis-j ively that it will be possible to form a republican or middle regima which will have* a clear majority ami will not have to bow to the nationalists as was the case last summer when Chancellor Marx hail to make concessions to save the Dawes plan. Federal Prisoners Taken To Leavenworth Today Indfatyipolis. Dee-. S.—Thirty-two federal prisoners sentenced in federal court following arraignment before Judge Anderson Friday and Saturday were taken to Leavenworth. Kas., this afternoon to start serving their sentences. Simon Hickman, deputy I’. S. mar shal was in charge of the "roup He was assisted by ten guards. Among those taken to prison were Mel J. Butler, sentenced to 18 months for stealing from the mail' 0 SUNDAY SCHOOL WORKERS MEET Meeting Os Presbyterians Scheduled For Tuesday At Fort Wayne Sunday school office:s ami teachers from over northeastern Indiana will meet Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock at Fort Wayne for an all-day session in connection with the meeting of ministers of the Fort Wayne presbyterv at the Y. M. (.'. A. Rev. B. N. Covert, pastor oi’ the Presbyterian church in this city will be one of the speakers at the afternoon session, his subject being. “The Local Council of Religious Education." Attorney C. J. Lutz, of this city, moderator of the Ft. Wayne district, will preside at the meeting. The program will include two adI dresses by Rev. Harold Mac Fee Robinson. D. D-, of Philadelphia. Dr. Rob inson is secretary of the Presbyterian board of Christen education having charge of the division which deals i with the home church anil communlity. | The complete program is as fol- ; lows: 10 to 12:30—Business session of Ft. Wayne presbytery with report of simultaneous evangelist campaign for 1925 and 1926. Also address by I I representative of the boat’ll of min Material relief mid susteiitation. 12:30 to 1:30 —Noon lunch at the i“Y." I:3o—Address. "The Time Element in Religious Eudcatlon.” by Rev. Harolel MacAfee Robinson. 2;00 —"The Local Council of Re-1 ligious Eelucation," Rev. B. N. ( overt, of Decatur. 2:15 —"The Superintendent as Su-1 pervisor of the Sunday School. Rev. Robert J. McLandress. of Indianapolis. 2;45 — "The Three-Hour a-Week Churc/h School," Rev. Harolel MacAfee Robinson, D. D. 3:30 —Devotional hour led by Rev. Walter Elliott, of Garrett, lud.

Masons To Hold Election | 1 Os Officers Tuesday Night I The annual election of officers will be belli by the Masonic lodge of this city Tuesday evening, at 7:00 o’clock The lodge* is bringing to a elose a successful year. A large attendance of the membership is urged for the meeting Tuesday evening, o L. Vance is the present Worshipful I ■ Master. The meeting has been call- ! 1 eel for seven o'clock in order that the election may be held and other business disposed of in time for the members to attend other meetings I ami affairs scheduleel for Tuesday night. j o— ELKS MEMORIAL I WAS IMPRESSIVE 11 Eighteen Deceased Members Os Local Lodge Honored Sunday ~ I V Impressive memorial services were held Sunday afternoon at the Elks hall in memory of the eighteen de- 1 ceased members of Decatur lodge* B. 8 P O. E . No. 993, the Elks and many relative's ami friends of the deceased , members attending The program ; was carried out as announceel Satur < day anil Dr. Harry O. Jones, of Berne * a member of the local lodge, deliver f : eel a beautiful anil inspiring mentor- ■ ial addri' ,s. Dr. Jones spoke* for' about twenty minutes ami his address was filled with inspiring thoughts ( and expression of love for the de- ( ceased members of the lodge. An excellent musical program, in . charge of Mrs L. A. Holthouse, was given. Mrs. Holt house and Mrs. ! ( John Walters favored the audience with a number of vocal selections and Mrs Carrie Haubold acted as pianist Fred T Schurger, exalted ruler of tin* local lodge presided during the services and an address was made by D. M. Hensley, past exalted ruler on what the Elks lodge was doing in a ] benevolent way The ritualistic work i was in charge of the officers and the : ceremony given was a beautiful one As the names of the* deceased members are called and no response is made one of the lights in the wreath ] around the large Elks head is put j out ami the secretary reads tin token , of respect to the eleceaseel member. ! The eulogy of the dead was given! by Walter Wilkinson, bis subject be ' ing in keeping with the Elks slogan.] "The faults of our brothers we write ‘ upon the sand. Their virtues upon the tablets of ’ove and memory." Memorial services in memory of ] the deceased members are held every year by the Elks throuoghout the! country Feast Os Immaculate Conception Is Observed J Today the feast of the Immeculate I Conception was observed in the St : Marys Catholic c hurch. The feast i j day is a holy day of obligation ami I : masses were celebrated at five*. | seven-thirty and nine forty-five* this I morning ; Legion Post To Hold Nomination Os Officers Adams Post No 43. of the Ameri- .! can Legion, will meet this evening at ] - , the Legion hall for the purpose of i ] nominating officers for the ensuing , year. All members are requested to ] Jbe present. The election of officers: .[will be hehl at tin* last meeting in - : this month. Funeral Held Today For Mrs. .lane Allison Crabbs ■ Funeral services for Mrs. Jane ; Allison Crabbs were held from thA Mrs. Jessie Dearn home at 2:30 this; afternoon. The Rev. B. N. Covert conducted the* services. A duet was sung by Mrs. E. 1). Engeler ami Mrs. | D. 11. Tyndall Pallbearers were C. | S. Niblick, C. A. Dugan, L. C. Waring.! I W A. lower, (’. D. Teeple and J. 11. Heller. Mrs. Crabbs was eighty-eight years old, being born in Waynesburg. ] 1 Pa.. April 20, 1836. and has spent . most of her life In this city. | Weather Unsetled tonight, rain in extreme north portion, turning to snow flur* : ries. Tuesday probably fair, much i colder tonight aud Tuesday.

Price 2 (’ents.

GENE STRATTON PORTER KILLED IN CALIFORNIA Famous Adams County Novelist Fatally Injured In Auto Wreck FUNERAL IN WEST Funeral Services Set For Thursday In Los Angeles, California ll’niteil Press Service) Los Angeles, Dec. 8. Funeral services for Mrs. Gene Stratton Porter, the novelist, will be held, Thursday following tin* arrival of her husband, Charles G. Porter from Geneva, Ind.. Mrs, Porter was killed Saturday night when her automobile collided with a street car. The accident was believed to have been unavoidable. Death occurred at 9:40 o'clock last night, an hour and 45 minutes after the collision. The injury from which Mrs Porter died was a basal fracture* of the skull. Mrs. Porter's machine, struck on the side and back of the driver's seat by a car on a downhill grade, was reduced to wreckage. James Cowdy, the writer's chauffeur. was slightly hurt in the collision. According to bis account of the accident, he had slowed down to nearly a stop to allow an eastbound ear to pass and was on the tracks before he noticed that he was directly in the path of a westbound car. Although a coroner's inquiry will be held probably Thursday, police who investigated the accident said tonight they were convinced it was unavoidable. James W. Cowdy. chauffeur for Mrs Porter, was again questioned, as were the mntorrnan and conductor of the street car Cowdy. who was slightly hurt in the crash, said !he had slowed down almost to a I stop to allow a street car to pass and did not notice that another car was bearing down on him from the I opposite direction until it was too | late. Many telegrams and messages of : condolence came to the writer’s stirI viving relations hero today from ! friends and business associates in ] southern California, where she of late had been supervising the filmI ing of a number of her stories, ami from prominent men and women of her own home state. Indiana, anil the nation. Gene Stratton Porter. American author, ornithologist and illustrator, was born in Wabash county. Ind . in 186 S. Her parents were Mark and Mary Stratton, In 1886 she married Charles D Porter, a well known I banker, of Geneva. Ind. For two years she was the editor (Gonrmtted on Pave six) FUNERAL TO BE HELD THURSDAY Several Decatur People To Attend Bishop Alerding’s Funeral The funeral services for Rt. Rev. Bishop Herman J Alerding. bishop of the Fort Wayne Catholic diocese, will be held Thursday morning at 9:30 o'clock from the Cathedral at. Fort Wayne and several Catholics from this city are planning to attend. Rev J A. Seimetz, rector, and Rev Otto Peters, assistant, of the St. Marys Catholic church in this city, will be among the priests who will attend the services, Helen May Irwin, in writing the plans for the Bishop's funeral in the : Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette, says: "Further arrangements for the funeral of Rt. Rev. Herman Joseph : Alerding. bishop of the Catholic dio- . eese of Fort Wayne, were made at a meeting of the clergy of the city Sun- ] day afternoon at the Cathedral recI tory. Rev. Thomas M. Conroy, who is in charge of the arrangements, announced that the remains of the venerable prelate, still at St. Joseph s hospital, where he died Saturday afternoon, Will be placed in the casket this morning, and this afternoon at (Contlaued On Page Four)