Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 24, Number 13, Decatur, Adams County, 15 January 1926 — Page 1

Vol. XXIV. Number 13.

PARENTS HELD FOR MURDER OF INFANT

POWER OF LOVE IS DESCRIBED IN STIRRING SERMON Baptist Minister Declares That Love Is Oldest Institution In World LARGE attendance AT ALL REVIVALS The average attendance al lite spvpii Decatur churches holding Simultaneous Revivals was greatly increased last night and the pastors are confident that, by the beginning of next week, the attendance will l>e near 100 per cent. There wore 44 Decatur business men present al the Union prayer service at the Industrial room this morning. The next union meeting will be held Monday morning at 9 o’clock with C. F. Peterson as loader. "For God so loved the world, that He sent llis only begotten Son. that whomsoever believeth in Him. should not perish, but have everlasting life.” These few linos of scripture, taken from John, .1:16, formed the theme for a j owerfdl sermon, "An Old Fashioned lx>ve Story.” delivered by the Rev. O. E. Miller, pastor of the Baptist church, last night, to an interested and well-pleased audience. The service was the fifth which the Baptist church ha. held in cooperation with six other Decatur churches that are holding simultaneous Revival meetings until January 24. “Ijove is the oldest institution in the world.” Rev. Miller began. “It has often been said that John’s gospel'is the heart of the Bible and God's love for the world is the keynote of that chapter. God's love for us Is fur beyond our ability to understand," Rev. Miller continued, and then ho showed how, through the ages, love was the supreme institution. He told several interesting stories of how love had won many ncn-believers and savages to God. through God's love for them displayed by good missionaries. “When the Ten Commandments and many oth. er things have failed to move savages from their selfish belief.” he said, "The (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE) G. E.TEMPORARILY REDUCES FORCE Between 45 And 55 Employes To Be Laid Off Here Next Saturday In an official statement Issued this morning from the local office of the General Eelectric Company, it was stated that, a temporary reduction in the number of employes at the local plant would be made, effective Saturday. Dut to the large stock of motors on hands and in view of the usual curtailment of shipments during the months of January and February, it is necessary to cut down production, it was stated. Between 45 and 55 employes wilt be given temporary layoff and it Th hoped that the next sixty days will see shipment increased and the former employes taken back. It is not unusual to experience a slight letup in the manufacturing business during the first few months of the year as, during this time, many large concerns are busy with inventories and making plans for the year. Production at the local G. E. plant during 1925 was the lergest in the history of the company and. even In view of the temporary layoff. more than 400 people will still be employed at the factory. The company has about 65,000 motors manufactured ahead and these will be stored' in the warehouse of the Holland-St. Louis Sugar company here. Longley Funeral Today Noblesville, Ind., Jan. 16.—(United Press) —Funeral services were to be held this afternoon for William LongIcy. democratic leader of Hamilton county, who died Wednesday.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

I Industrial Expansion Company is Organized Indlanapolilnd, Jan. 15. (United Plisrj- An organization, : aid to Is . the only one of its kind in the nation, which will specialize in obtaining indurtiies for commercial orgainzations I in middlewostern cities was incorpor- | aled under the laws of the State of Indiana this week. Thi‘ company, to bo known as the Industrial Expansion Company, pill | have a capital stock of $20,000 and maintain its principal offices in Indian--1 a polls. AGED RESIDENT OF DECATUR DIES — Anna Elizabeth Mersman Expires This Morning After Long Illness Anna Elizabeth Mersman. 84. widow of the late William Mersman. died at the family home on North Second street at 6:15 o'clock this morning. Death was due to pneumonia and infirmities. Mrs. Mersman suffered a stroke of paralysis three years ago end has been in failing health since that time. The deceased was born in Telgte, Germany. November 12. 1842, and catne to Adams county 56 years ago. She was united in marriage many years ago to Theodore Rolver and after his death she was married to William Mersman. The. Mersman family was one of the early families . in this city and the family has long lived ; n the homestead on North SecI ond street. Three children survive. They are , Mms Katherine Rolver. Mrs. Joseph Kuapke and Mary Mersman. Four children have died. Mr. Mersman died in 1912 and since that time Mrs. Mersman has lived with her three daughters and two grandchildren She was the last of her family, all of her brothers ami sisters having preceded her in death. | Mrs. Mersman was a faithful member of the St. Mary's Catholic church. She was also a member of the St. Mary's Sodalite and the Sacred Heart . League. I Funeral services will be held from the St. Mary’s Catholic church at 9 .o'clock Monday morning. _o — I Slow Process Encountered In Trial Os Bank Case With several hundred cancelled ' checks to be introduced as evidence, and only 185 of them already intro- . duced, indications were that Die trial of the ease of I<evi W. Kimmell vs. the Bank of Poneto, which is in pro--1 gress in the Adams circuit court, would continue for several days yet. The cancelled checks are being used as evidence for the defense. They are checks that had never been returned to Kimmell, who is suing the I bank for S3O 000, alleged to be due I him on deposits. The tedious task 'of introducing each check separately. I was begun yesterday morning and only 185 hail been introduced al 2 (o'clock this afternoon. The attor- ' I neys are compelled to go through i the same process for each check. 1 1 - —-—o PASTORS GUESTS OF ROTARY CLUR Three Reformed Church I Ministers Attend Luncheon Meeting Os Club > I ‘ The Rev. J. F.'Tapy, superintendent ' of the Reformed Orphan’s home, Fort Wayne; the Rev David Grether, new ' pastor of the Reformed church at Mag- ' ley, and the Rev. A. R. Fledderjohann, I pastor of the local Reforme dchurch, ’ were guests of the Lecatur Rotarians i at their luncheon last, evening. Rev. Tapy delivered a short address, sayinug that "there are times when religion can listen to business and that there are times when business can I listen to religion. There are six days • for business and one day, Sunday, - which is the Lord's day." A. R. Asht baucher acted as chairman of the meetlug. t *

AUCTION SCHOOL GIVES DIPLOMAS TO THIRTY MEN Commencement Exercises Held This Morning; Supt. Worthman Gives Address GRADUATES LEAVE FOR HOMES TODAY M F. Worthman. superintendent of tin*'Decatur public schools, delivered the commencement address as thirty 'men from all parts of the United States and Canada received their diplomas at the closing exercises or the Repperl School of Auctioneering this morning. The men have been in this city for more than three weeks, taking the cynrae from Colonel Fred Reppert and his able staff of instructors. Alva Ellis, who was graduated from the Reppert school in 1922 and is now located at Richmond, Indiana, attended the exercises. Mr. Ellis has enjoyed a good business since he attended lhe ' local school and has assisted Colonel Reppert several times in the crying of cattle sales. Forest Schafer, Guernsey cattle breeder, of Van Wert. Ohio, whose son is a member of the class whose session just clo.-ed, also attended the closing exercises. The men left this afternoon for various parts of the United States, all ' signifying their regrets al leaving this telly, but glad that they had attended i the school. Mr. Worthman. in his talk, urged the men to work hard and I saying that they would be bound to 1 succeed. He also stressed the motto I of the school, “You, can if you will." The members of the 1926 clans are !as follows: E. B Miller, Woodbine, i Maryland; Frank Montgomery. Living. ; ston, Montana; Earl L. Severance. I Wixom. Michigan; D. M. Young. CaneyI ville, Kentucky; John H. McClain, R. I R. 1.. Wauseon. Ohio; Wilson WiinberI ley, Kearney, Nebraska; Scott D. LewI is. R. R. 2, Martinsville, Ind.; Walter I Carlson. Monterey, Minnesota; G. M. ! Playfair, Baldur, Man.. Canada; R. G. Nelson. Racine, Wisconsin; Lee Morgan, Mt. Hope, Wisconsin; Ray CorJ nell, Unfayette, Indiana; Hugh J. Gorman, Peotone, Illinois; Murray Spen, cer. Nortonville, Kansas; Wm. 11. Kruger. Jr., Tilden, Nebraska: Fleete Gephart, Miamisburg. Ohio; Robert C. Schaffer. Van Wert. Ohio; John Beath, Jr„ Hartford City. Ind.; L. C. Hoover. (CONTINI ED ON PAGE SEVEN) o YOUTH EXECUTED 8Y RIFLE SQUAD Defiance, Ohio, Young Man Pays For Murder With Life In Utah Prison Salt Take City. Utah. Jan. 15. — (United Press.)—ln the gray light of early dawn, Ralph W.y Seyboldt, Defiance, ()., convicted slayer of Patrolman David Crowther, was shot to deatli at the state prison today by a rille squad. Execution of the 26-year-old prisoner followed vain appeals of fellow j Ohioans and pastors of local churches for commutation of sentence to life imprisonment. Seyboldt faced the firing squad a few seconds before 8 o clock. At 8; 01 a. m., the to fire was given, the rifles cracked and Seyboldt crumpled in a heap. He was pronounced dead a minute and forty seconds later. Seyboldt went to his death without a tremor. As he walked down the corridors between the cells with his guards the other prisoners maintained a death like silence, broken only by lhe tramp of feet on the concrete floor. Down in the prison yard a screen had been set up. Behind this screen were the riflemen, selected for their prowess as dead shots. Seyboldt walked to the prison wall a few paces in front of the screen and faced about with his back to the wall. One of the guards stepped to his (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE)

Decatur, Indiana, Friday, January 15, 192 G.

Police Will Not Halt Questional Picture Show Indianapolis, Ind., Jun. 16.—(United Preis) Eugene O'Neill's drama. "Desire Under the Elms,” will finish its week’s appearance at a local theater without interference, police decided today. Police Chief Johnson conferred with other officers on the report of a censor who saw the picture but decided not io ask the theater management to lone it down. fobyocu

NAMES ROAD SUPERVISORS J —_.. .....— Charles Magley, Highway Superintendent, Appoints His Assistants County highway superintendent Charles E. Magley has appointed the district road superintendents, wiio will assume their duties on January 23. Three new assistants were appo'nted by Mr. Magley, they being Martin Bultemeyer, John Bucher and Sol Luginbill. The other district superintendents and the districts assigned to them follow: Wm. Bittners, district No. 1; Geo. L G.i.ie, district No. 2; August Busick. district No. 3; John E. Manns, district No. 4; Fred Qstemeyer, district No. 5; Fred Selking. district No. 6; Martin Bultemeyer. district No. 7; J. A. Hower, district No. 8; John Bucher, district No. 9; Vai Snell, district No. Hl; Milton Edged, district No. 11; C. P. Troutner, district No. 12; Ed Miller, district No. 13; Sol. Luginbill, district No. 14; C. ('. Beer district No. 15; J. C. Augsburger, dis tr'ct No. 16; Ed Beer, district No. 17; Milo Sales, district No. 18; Otto Ray. district No. 19; Vernon Miller, district No. 2ft.

BUYS STORE IN BRONSON, MICH. A. I). Hunsicker, Decatur Business Man, Plans To Leave City Soon A. D. Hunsicker. prominent Decatur bttsines man for many years, announced today that he and Mrs Hunsicker would leave the latter part of January for Bronson. Michigan, where he had purchased a Five and Ten Cent and Variety store. Mr. and Mrs. Hunsicker will locate permanently in Bronson and their many friends in Decatur and this community wish them success in their new undertaking. Mr. Hunsicker has successfuly conducted several businesses in this city during the last ten years. He and his brother, L. H. Hunsicker, who is now located at Buller, Indiana, conducted a confectionery store where the Pumphrey Jewelry store is now located, for many years, loiter, they bought a grocery, which is now known as the Porter grocery. Later, the Hunsicker Brothers conducted a wholesale fruit store, which was sold recently. Mr. Hunsicker has always had the interest of Decatur at heart and the local business men regret very much his departure, hut Vish him success in his new field. Donald Hunsicker, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Hunsicker, who is employed at the Teeple and Peterson Clothing store will remain in this city, he said today. — o Police To Stop Sled Riding Behind Autos Chief of Police Sephus Melchi announced today that young people will not be allow’ed to tie their sleds on the rear of automobiles in the future, due to the great danger connected with this sport. Police officers have been instructed to forbid the practice and report any violation of the order at once. Weather Fair tonight. Colder in extreme north portion. Saturday increasing cloudiness and warmer in north portion.

WRECKED MINES GIVE UP BODIES OF THEIR VICTIMS Combined Toll Os Two Mine Disasters In Two Days Is 132 Men MOST RECOVERED TODAY Fairmount, W. V:t„ Jan. 15 (I nil<‘d Press) It was reported unofficially late Ibis afternoon tlial the bodies of all 39 miners had been located. Fairmount, XV. Va., Jan. 15—The inner recesses of mine No. 8, of the Jamison Coal and Coke company at Farmington, W. Va„ today gave up the bodies of eight men, victims of yesterday's jjxplosjon wrecked the workings and took a toll of life estimated at 39. A rechecking established that 47 men were in the mine at the time of the explosion. Eight of them escaped alive. Fairmount, W. Va.. Jan. 15 —Hampered by debris and dense smoke 3,000 feet below the surface, rescue workers toiled with but little progress today in their efforts to reach 39 miners entombed in No. S mine of the Jamison Coal and Coke company. The miners were trapped underground by an . xplosion shortly after midnight. Jagged timbers and mounds of earth piled in lhe passage way slowed lhe rescue workers. Several men who were working at the foot of the hoist shaft were brought to the top after crying out for help Wilburton, Okla.. Jani. 15— Wilburton was still counting its dead this morning with the DegnanMcConnell death toll raised to 93. Eighty-seven bodies had been taken from the wrecked mine at 7 a m. today. Six victims remained.-in the debris strewn and water logged recesses of the pit, while rescue work moved steadily forward. One hundred and three miners were trapped with the blast. Ten men escaped alive and 93 perished. Eighty three bodies, transported by trucks moving all night long are in the Wilburton provisional morgue, partly prepared for burial and all identified.

o MOVE TO BLOCK AN EARLY VOTE Irreconcilable* Work Like Machine To Delay Action On World Court Plan Washington, Jan. 15. — (United Press)--Working like a machine, senate irriconcilables today moved to block an early vote on the world court. Senator Fernaid. Maine, republican, was selected by the irreconcilables to open the day’s debate with a speech in which ha surprised administration senators by coming out against the court previously it had been expected Fernaid would vote for the court. o Bluffton Man Charged With Robbing Restaurant Fort WajHie, Ind., Jan. 15. — (United Pres?) —Charged with robbery. Max Weibel, of Bluffton, is held today for grand jury action. Police say he admitted rifling the cash register at a restaurant where he worked and telling a story of being held up. His father is a minister in Bluffton. o Al Smith Announces That He Will Retire This Year Albany, Ni Y., Jan. 15 —(United Press) —What was construed, as official, a public announcement by Governor Al SmUb, that he intends to retire to private life at the close of the year, was made by the governor at the meeting of the democratic state committee here today.

Legion Strongly Favors Citizens Military Training Indianapolis, hid., Jun. 15,—(United Preset —The American Legion today stands squarely behind lhe government in its stand for citizens military training camps and a strong reserve officers corps, as a result of a scathing denunciation on pacifists made at yesterday’s session. Officers from every stale in the union are here for the dosing session of the meeting of the executive conn cil of the organization The organization is expected to name the date of lhe 1926 Philadelphia convention at the meeting today. KIRKLAND FARM INSTITUTE J AN. 22 Prizes Offered For Exhibits Os Corn, Bread, Pastries, Art And Canned Fruit The annual Kirkland township farmers institute will be held at the Kirkland high school building southwest of this city next Friday. January 22. -A morning and afternoon session will be held. Mr. E. B. Moore, of Scireleville, Indiana, and Mrs. E. T. Stanley, of Liberty. Indiana, will be lhe principal speakers, sent here by Purdue University. Both speakers will deliver ad. dresses at each session of the institute. Exhibits of corn, bread, cake, canned fruits and vegetables, dairy products, and art will be held in connection with the institute and premiums will be given to the winners in each exhibit. The tales for entries of exhibitors are as follows: 1st —Exhibits must he in place for judging by 9:45 a. m., Jan. 22. 1926. 2nd—Entries limited to one in each class from any farm or family. 3rd—Exhibitor must prepare and pre sent his or her own exhibit. 4th—Judging to be done according to Purdue rules. sth All exhibits to be judged in ah fence of exhibitors. 6th Exhibits Io he retained by ex hibitors after judging. 7th All coin must be grown in 1925. 8th —Corn exhibits in boys’ class must be grown by exhibitor, Parent or Guardian. 9th —Corn exhibits in mens' class must be grown by exhibitor. Those who donated premiums for the exhibits were; Preble Stale Bank, $5.00; Craigviile Bank, $5.00; Old Adams County Bank, $5.00; Peoples Loan & Trust Co., $5.00; First National Bank. $5.00; Cloverleaf Creameries, £5.00; Schafer Hardware Co., $5.00; Adams County Auto Co.. $5.00; Craigviile Elevator, $2.00; Craigviile Hardware, $1.50; Durkin Garage, $2.00; Zimmerman-Carper Co., $1.00; Craigviile Garage, $1.00; Monroe Bank. $1.00; Elberson Filling Station. $2.00; Burk Elevator, $3.00. Teeple & Peterson, $5.00; J. T. Meyers, $5.00; Vance & Linn. $3.00; Lee Hardware, $3.00; Gerlier Bros., $1.00; Holthoii)<e-Sc.hulte Co.. $3.00; J. J. Helmrich, $4.00; Homer Crum, $1.00; Preble Equity, 25 lbs. flour; Gerlier Bros., 25 lbs. flour: Magley (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE) o ■ — ROBBERS ENTER LADDER FACTORY About $75 In Cash Taken; Robbers Attempt To Burn S2OO Worth Os Checks About $75 in cash was stolen fr.oni the safe in the office of the Gerber Ladder company, on West Washington street, sometime last night. Checks totalling more than S2OO were taken from the safe, also, and piled in a heap in the boiler room of lhe factory and fife applied to them, but only a few of the checks were destroyed by the fire. Most of the checks w’ere found undamaged, this, morning. Entrance to the factory building was made through a window in the new office room .which is being built on the west side of the building. The (CONTINUED ON PAGE SEVEN)

Price Two Gents.

BRUTAL MURDER OCCURS TODAY IN MUNCIE HOME Father Faces Murder Charge: Mother Held For Insanity Proceedings MOTHER LAYS BLAME ON CHILDS FATHER Muncie, hid., Jan. 15—(Knifed Press) Charles B. Cray, accused by his wile of inflicting injuries that restilled in the death of their baby. Charles. | Jr., will be held tor the Delaware county grand jury, which will be asked to return an indictment charging first degree murder. Coroner Frank Kilgore announced at noon today after completing his inquiry. The wife. Zepherla, probably will face insanity proceedings, the coroner said, it having been learned that she has been an inmate in the state asylum. Gray’ is alleged to have beaten his son, causing the infant to be thrown into convulsions. It was learned this morning that Gray is a deserter from the U. S. Navy, but that naval officials took no action against him when his father-in-law promised to "make a man of him.” The child's body indicated that he was severely beaten. The face was practica'fl’ covered with bruises while the body was lacerated and marked. The father and mother showed little signs of remorse, the mother only’ breaking into tears once during the morning that Ming when she was returned to a detention cell at police station. The father refused to admit liis guilt and contends that he did not hear the infant crying until he was called by his wife. The family formerly lived in Indianapolis and came to Muncie only’ a few months ago. The mother is the daughter of a well known Muncie man. The coroner’s probe was nearing completion at noon and Kilgore said that charges probaldy will lie filed during ttie afternoon. Police believe the last story told by < CONTI MED OX I'vt.i: FIVE) FAMOUS TOURIST RESORT BURNED Old Section Os Chateau Froontenac. In Quebec, Destroyed By Flames Quebec, Jan. 15. (United Press) —The old section of the Chateau Forntenac. winter tourist headquarters and one of the most famous Show places of the cont'nent, lies in ruins today. After a ten hour battle in which four firemen were badly injured, the blaze, which started on the fifth floor of the structure and spread rapidly, finally was brought under control. The famous Colonial suite, which has been visited by thousands of tourists from all parts of the world, the Canadian suite and the Royal suite, fell prey to the flames. Firemen were called hack to safety when the copper roof melted by the intense heat, began to sag. Dining and sleeping cars dispatched to the scene by the Canadian Picific railroad, took care of the overflow of guests who liad failed to find accomodations in neighboring rooming houses. Many members of the Quebec legislature, which is now in session, were forced to go to Montreal for the w'eek-end recess. Early last evening when it appeared practically certain that firemen were facing a long battle with tile flames, tourists from across the American bori der. travellers from overseas ami other I guests, numbering approximately 400, began moving their effects from the hote', aer’H't ng plnli ■ sn’iicilly the inconvenieni ooi making imk liiit aecomodat ions. The loss lias not been estimated.