Decatur Democrat, Volume 40, Number 37, Decatur, Adams County, 26 November 1896 — Page 1

„ ” IS Recorder’s Office aug The Decatur I )emocrat.

VOLUME XL.

K ■ ■ DIES AMID CRIMINAL I MYSTERY. ■ dRS. 3rON£3UuU\iFR I AND ULMER UNI DER ARREST. I THE GRAND JURY IS INVESTIGATING THE I CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST THEM I -SOME VERY DAMAGING EVII DENCE ALREADY AT HAND. ■ Berne is now revelling in the ■ midst of an excitement that is bitter ■ and condemning on the part of the I* people there against Dr. Joseph ■ Stoneburner in particular, and I against Dr. John C. Ulmer as an ■ accomplice, in a supposed crime, ■ that if proven true -will result very ■ damaging against both gentlemen. ■ Dr. Stoneburner has been in print I before, as our readers can testily. I Only last May he left a paying and ■ lucrative practice and a nice, kind I and loving wife and fled for parts I unknown, on the small pretext oi I incompatibility with Mrs. StoneI burner. But developments at that I time and since has revealed that the I Dr. had other desires, beside perI sonal welfare and comfort, which I he desired gratified, lie didn’t stay I hidden long from the scenes of ... his I home, but returned some two months I later, and has since been doing busiI ness on a smaller scab*, because the I people there lost confidence in him I as a man. But he didn’t seek a ■ compromise with the deserted wife, I but instead took up his the hotel. He also began suit for a I divorce alleging in his complaint a I bad temper, &c., on the partofMrs. Stoneburner. He also requested a I change of venue for the trial of the I case, and it was to Portland, I but up to this time has not come to trial. I Oh leaving Berne he sold, or is I supposed to have sold, his practice I and office furniture to Dr. John C. I Ulmer, a young graduate of some I well reputed medical college, whose L home is at Bluffton. We want to I say right here that young Ulmer up to this alleged criminal tranactiou, and even through it, bears a reputation for truth, honesty and morality. At Bluffton he is well spoken of, and at Berne, Where he has been since last May, he is accorded a good word by everybody. On re- ■ turning to Berne Stoneburner made Ulmer’s office his headquarters, and attended to what practice he had from there. For this Ulmer has been somewhat condemned, but perhaps he wasn’t in a position to stop it. But now to our story. There also lived in Berne a handsome young widow, by name of Mrs. Adelma Brown. Her husband has been dead for some twtfyears; since which time she has supported herself and child by keeping boarders. Since last May young Dr. Ulmer has been a constant boarder at her homes. Since Dr. Stoneburner’s return his abode was at the hotel, next door to "the Brown boarding house. Rumors . say there were strong and uncontrollable infatuations between Dr. Stoneburner and the widow. Last Friday Mrs. Brown took seriously ill, and Dr. Stoneburner attended g. her. She grew worse and Dr. Ulmer was put in charge as nurse. No relatives;or visitors were admit * ted. Some time Monday a sister-in-law made such emphatic appeals and demands, until she was finally admitted. The patient grew’ worse and Tuesday night between eight and nine o’clock she died. The funeral occurred Thursday, interment taking place in the new cemetery just west of Berne.

After this, all kinds of wild and fancied rumors began flying thick ami fast. The grand jury ordered the coroner to investigate. Friday the Drs. Clark took up the bidy, took out of the vagina the eureta, womb and bladder, brought them to his office here, and Saturday Drs Costello, Thomas and the Drs. Clark made an examination. That examination revealed that the bladder was lacerated, torn and punctured. The womb was also lacerated and the membrajies torn. A pregnacy was also found to exist. Upon the partial information then known to exist. Prosecutor Smith ordered the arrest of both Drs. Stoneburner and Ulmer. The complaint upon which they were a>ranged contained nothing but information, and alleged that Adelma Brown was pregnant with child, and had been administered poisen. The latter accusation doesn’t exist, however. It «ms made before the coro-

ner and physicians had made their investigation and examination. The defendants were bound over for further action qf the grand jury, under a bond of SI,OOO each. Stoneburner’s bond was signed by 'his father, Isreal Stoneburner, and the sbond of Ulmer contained the signatures of E. C Awkerman and W. I. Evans of Bluffton, and Isreal Stonebnfner. They were arranged before Mayor CJuinn, where this action took place. The bond is very small, but if the grapd jury succeed m gathering evidence of any convicting nature, the bond will be swelled to $5,000 at least. The grand jury is now busy looking into the alleged criminality of case, and examining witnesses with a view of returning an indictment. It is safe to say that there will be no doubt an indictment being returned. We don’t wish to try the case before the courts get a chance, but to a man up a tree it looks very much like the gentlemen had a.sour case on their hands, and one too, in which it will require an unusual preponderance of the evidence to clear theirskirts. The sentimentand feeling al Berne doesn’t favor Dr. Stoneburner to any extent. But we will waif the further action of the grand jury, and then give their action on the matter. RANDALL GAME DINNER. Dick Townsend’s Fifth Annual Game Dinner was given Saturday evening at the Randall. As usual a large crowd of people partook of the feast. These dinners are noted tor their uniqueness and have made a reputation for the Randall not possessed by another hotel in the country. Colonel Dick is “Alles gesund-” For the benefit of those who have attended these dinners, and who mav wonder .whtt they are like, we publish the bill of fare: ... MENU. Blue Points. Puree of Larks with Chestnuts. Terrapin clear. New Let.uce Salted Almonds. Sliced TomatoesColumbia River Salmon—French Style Smoked Peer Tongue, with Spinach ROAST Saddle of Black Bear, Loin Antalope—Jelly Wild Turkey, with Cherries. Spoon bill Puck, Jack Rabbit. Qulnees Red Head Puck. Black Tail Peer. Ground Hog, Green Wing Duck. Ruffled Grouse, Soild Pigeon Teal Puck, Grass I’lovvr, Racoon, Haunch of Elk, Cinnamon Bear, Butter Ball Duck Brant, Prairie Chicken. , Small Rabbits. Mountain Goat, Saddle of Venison—Plum Jelly Wild Goose with Currants. Canvas Baek Duck, Wood Cock, Millard Buck, Quail, Pin Tail Dyck. Blue, Wing Teal Jack Snipe, Golden Plover Sand Snipe, Grey Squirrel, Pheasants. Fox Squirrel, Leg of Mountain Sheep with Capers, Yellow Leg-Plover,—Squash, Opossum with Sweet Potatoes. Escalops of Young Hare with Olives. Smail Patties of Game. Randall)]Fotel Punch. BROILED. Bear Cutlets' Quail. Antelope Cutlets. Venison Steak. Partridge Breasts. Ruddy Duck, Starling, ' Read Birds, Black- Birds. Doe Birds. Mashed Potatoes, . French Peas, Hubbard Squash, Succbtasli, Wild Turkey, en Aspic Gaiatlne of Teal Duck, l ain of wild Geese Liver, Game salad. • Macaroons. Fresh Strawberries with Iced Cream, •*, Bfie Cheese with T, P, A'-Uroani, Nuts. Emits, Figs. ( ’offee. . • Reinecke’s, Orchestra. ' ~ J Some discussion has been had in regard .toAvbether the city teachers would draw their salaries during tile time the schools were closed on account df diphtheria. A' state law, also rule of the state superintendent, specifies that when schools aroclosed on account es sickness or epidemics amopg scholars and people, the teachers shall draw their salaries the same as when actually employed.

DECATUR, INDIANA, THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 26, 1896.

CONTEMPT OF COURT. JUROR ROOP UNDER S2OO BOND. AFFIDAVIT AND EVIDENCE FILED POINTING TO THE GUILT OF THE ACCUSED-GREATSEN-SATION IN COURT. The plaintiff’s counsel in the case now on trial, Sloops vs the City oi Decatur, sprung a surprise in court Tuesday which may seriously implicate one William Roop, a juror in the above entitled cause. Judge Heller sent the jury to their room, alter which a motion to challenge 'Roop’s right to act as a juror, which was substantiated by affidavit signed and sworn to ~by Harvey Daniels. The affidavit charged Roop with the unlawful actsdf talking about the case, and saying among other things “that you can count on me for I don’t like Stoops very well any way.” The contents of the motion and affidavit sprung a Sensation that caused all the lawyers then present to discuss the facts relative thereto. As a matter of fact they all bitterly condemn it. The counsel for the city, after a few moments cor. I sultation, left the matter to the discretion of the Judge, without any suggestions further than that they were entirely ignorant of any such unlawful acts, and they didn’t care to defend the juror. Judge Heller at once began looking into the law and justice of the action brought. He will satisfy himself, and if the juror is guilty he will get the benefit of the law, without any valuation or appraisement laws. A fine of SSOO can be imposed, also imprisonment not to exceed three months Following i's the Daniel’s State oi- Indiana ) Adams County, j ■ Harvey M. Daniela on oath savs that he is of the age of 36 years, that he resides in St. Marys township, Adams county. Indiana, that he is acquainted with Willism Roop one of the jurors in in the case of Joseph E. Stoops vs. the City of Decatur, also John Everett*; who reside? in the city of Decatur, Indiana, and Benjamin Shultz, who resides in Van Wert county, State of Ohio, and after said Juror Roop had been impaneled and accepted as a juror in said cause, and after the jury had been sworn to try said cause, and before any evidence had been offered in said cause, and during the ntermiasion given by the court to the jurv in said cause, in the forenoon of the 23d day of November, 1896, this affiant saw said Juror Roop in the gtocrv store of Everett. Hite & Co., in the city of Decatur, Indiana, and there saw him engaged in conversation with Mrs. Hoop, his wife, John Everett and Benjamin Shultz, overheard the juror say in substance that be had been selected as a juror to try said case and said John Everett then spoke to said Juror Roop and said ir, substance, now if the verdict of that jury is not handed in right we will spot the jury. Then the said juror Roop said in substance you can count on me, as I am an old stayer when tbefy leave me there to which said John Everett made same reply which this affiant did not then fully understate! and then said Bonj&zSn Shultz said to said juror Roop and to said John Everett yes you can court on him, he is alright and then made the additional remark, I never did like that Stoops any how. That said three persons at that time lowered their voices so that this affiant was unable tb understand any further connected remarks, but he overheard enough words to believe and know that that they oojitinued to talk about said cause and said Stoops. . Henry M. Daniels. Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 24th day of November, 1896. E. Burt Lenhart, Deputy Clerk A. C. C. Since the above was written, Judge Heller returned the jury to the court room, informed them that affidavit and damaging evidence lia.l been tiled against one of their number, William Roop, and that the law, 'common M-ense, and decpiray made his course very, plain, y He dismissed the case then on trial, and ordered Prosecutor Smith to draw up the necessary complaint for an action against Mr. Roop and ordered the sheriff to take charge

of the juror. The complaint was filed and the bond fixed ats2oo which was signed by John Everert. The dt fcmlant is now at liberty. He is a resident of Blue Creek town ship ami about forty-five years old. If guilty, he is old enough to know better The charges are serious and may mean troub] > for him, to say the b ast. The grand jury has returned five indictments, and if you will promise n<>t to say a word about it, we won’t tell you who, what and when —when we find out. The (). N. (). club met at the home of M iss Jebse McLean on south Fourth street, Thursday. Progressive pedro was indulged iri by all present, and the winners of the prizes were Charles Voglewede and Flora Confer of the first and Loyd Dalrymple ami KateToHhey of the tyoobt. Diet Townsend has returned from a western trip in quest of game for his annual dinner, which was held last Saturday night. Mr Townsend has made the game dinner one of the features which has made Hie Randall Hotel not ’d all over Lie country. Many citizens of Fcrt Wayne took advantage of the opportunity to partake of the delicacies spread before them. A wreck occurred on the Clover Leaf iii this city Sunday morning and was caused by a broken axle on one of the cars. Three ears were demolished, 'and apples and hardware were scattered over the south imi ‘ .wri f’ M CUC 4 cleared the track. In the mean time trains were transferred to the C. & E at Ohio City, and transferred again at Kingsland to the L. E. & W. and then to the Clover Leaf via Bluffton. Mr. N. C. Swartz will be here in a few (lays to give Decatur and her business interests a writing up. Negotiations have already’ been consul limited and as Mr Schwartz has had years of practical exper ience, you may expect only the best. It will be no cheap sign board affair, but something real beneficial and interesting. Something you can send your friends, and take a pride in sending it. An edition numbering 5,000 will be printed. Get ready to get into the band wagon. ■ : r — The latest clew to the man killed ■by the Chicago & Erie railroad was furnished by Attorney R. K. Erwin. A few days ago Attorney’ Erwin was at .Muncie taking depositions in the now famous Brown-Gemmell seduction cas£, where he was informed that Joe Gemmell, an important witness in the case, could not be located. When last heard of, he was in Minnesota and was expected home about this time. The man who was killed, had several cards bearing dates of different cities in that state, and it is now supposed that Gemmell was killed I while stealing a ride to his home. | Decatur will turn out two foot J ball teams on Thanksgiving day) and there is plenty of material left j for two or three more teams. One eleven plays at Huntington and the other at: Bluffton. The first team or the “finest” l ave been playing three years, and in al! that time they have never —well, they never have! But they 7 have horns on their legs, and corns on their nose caused by ploughing up the earth with their face. The average weight of the team is DO pounds and the average height is 5 feet and Hi inches,,, and hair, gee whiz! You want to see it. Now if we can’t win with all these appurtenances, fell with foot ball.

Thursday as the north section crew of Berne were at work along the track they were accosted by a man who produced two revolvers and ordered the men to get on their hand cur and take him north. The men readily gqt on their ear, but ipsteiul of starting north they went south at a good speed, leaving the supposed robbt-r Standing by the track. As yesterday was pay day'the nien had about one him dred dollars with them, and it probafelv the object of the highway milli to get the men to some secluded spot where it would be hasy for him to make his escape, and then’compel the men to give up the r hard earnings. Officers were sent out at once, but no clew was found to the fellow. Reports reached the city Friday, that the would-be robber , was between Monroe and Decatur headed towards this city; and officers were notified to look out Tor him.

Postmaster Wei Iley reporls tin claimed letters belonging to ( . F. Horning, E D Bartholomew, Freeman W. Elzey, Sidney Chap man, Mrs. Adam Benz, Fred Busse’, Nellia Johnson. President Freeland of the Clover Leaf railroad has made application in the United States courts for the discharge of receiver Pierce of that road He charges the receiver with mismanagement of the company’s affairs, and other misdoings too numeions to mention. ' Perry Mercer who has been held two weeks.to await the action of the grand jury in the recent po zoning case, was released from en--ody Tuesday, OA'ing to the lack of evidence against him. The statutes on this question are a trifle weak, and unless more serious cur from th» act, persons cannot be held. He informs us that he will resume his old position next Mon day. To be a candidate for presid 'd! i of the United States does r.ot empower a man with any special privi- ) leges, as regards the going and I coming of sickness. The horn -of William J Bryan at Lincoln, Ne braska, has been quarantined on account of diphtheria in his family Ruth the 11 year old daughter of Mr and Mrs. Bryan, is afi! ted with the disease and this precaution was taken to prevent a spread of the disease. J. N. Freeman, one of Bluffton’s old time business men up to a few •y- »'s ago, suicided Saturday n; I. ixt i lie time us the deed, the suicide was in bed. He placed a tweiuytwo calibre, revolver over his heart, pulled the trigger, and sent a bill let through hiaheart, dying a few minutes thereafter Domestic trouble is attributed, and while he is now supposed by many' to be de- . inenfed, yet the wagging tongues of knowing gossips tell a different ta’e. He at one time was one ot Bluffton’s most influential business I men. The poultry market iu this county 7 has been unusually 7 good this year. Our leading poultry buyer Mr. G. Berling, paid out near $4,000.00 in one day for poultfy, i land business has been exceedingly ! I brisk for s me time, especiallyr i:i 1 i the turkey line. An army of men and women have been employed by Mr. Berling preparing poultry for i the Thanksgiving market. Thousands of dollars have been paid to our people during the past four weeks and our business men and farmers i hould feel glad that a man of Mr. Berling’s calibre is located in our midst. The teachers’ institute to be held in this city Friday and Saturday of next week will be the largest and perhaps the most successful ever held in the county. In addi ; tion to .lay con ty teachers, Adan s! county instructor will attend in a ) body, thus making it doubly 7 snei cessfui both from p >int of atteu i- ■ ance and work. There are in Jay I county about 190 persons holding tvachers - license. Os this nuinl -r about 105 have and will be employed during this year. In Adams) county there are about 150 teachers i while the ratio of employment is about the same as here. All persons holding license are requested to be present if intending to teach. As w 7 ill be seen, the combination of the two bodies will tend greatly to its effectiveness. The program will be a good one.—Portland Suu. The following is clipped from an exchange and we give it for the benefit of the stock breeders of Rice county. The remedy is cheap and simple, and nothing could have a stronger recommendation than is given to it by Mr. Nelson: “I would like to give a cholera preventive which I have used over 30 years, and have the first hog yet to lose with that disease.- While I lived in Illinois m 1 lowa hogs died all around me, an 1. even my hogs ate the dead hogs, y t none of mine died. Some of m\" neighbors have tried it with tlft ; same result. Take air-slacked lime . sulphur, and common salt, mix t. - gether and put in a long trough, in a dry place, where the hogs can I have free access to it; don’t let the I trough get empty, and you will ) never be bothered with cholera. I’ pays to buy the sulphur by the barrel. I pay 4.1 cents a pound Jor it To a half pale of the lime use one q’mrt each sulphur and salt. 1 these directions are followed, I will pay for all the hogs that die of cholera.—E. J. Nelson, Rock, county, Minnesota.

NUMBER 37

The state normal school at Terre Haute will open its winter term January 5, 1.897, one week later than had previously been arranged, this was done so as not to conflict with the meeting of the State Teachers Association. The foot ball teams that will line up against Bluffton and Huntington, Thanksgiving, will be greatly weakened, one by the other. The teams are weaker in the line now than at any other time this season owing to the splitting up of the tackles and guards. The first team expect to make their best gains by the backs going around the ends, while the team that plays at Bluffton expect to win by strategem. There are no new developments in rhe Stonebnrner-Ulmer abortiop csae. The grand juiy is investigating the horro’R that accompanied the death of Mrs. Adeline Brown, at her home in Berne, and perhaps won’t finish theexaminaion for a day or so. Many of Berne’s citizens have been summoned before that body, for the purpose of throwing all the light possible upon the probable guilt or innocence of the arrested and accused. .

Eddie Ellsworth and Gephart Bogner resolved that Decatur was too small for them, so they loaded up their dolls and tin whistles and left town. They went to bed all I ' w right but they trailed down a lad der afterwards and left for parts unknown. The first heard from them was at Lima, where they had.been arrested for loitering. Ed Ellsworth went after Them and brought* them home, and they now are enjoying the warm embrac s of their parents. They are no doubt wiser and will enjoy,things hereabouts until they read another chapter of Diamond Dick. Marion, Indiana has a sensation that bids fair to outrival anything' in its.class. Pearl Bogue of the firm of Bogue <Xr Thom, abstractors, *s accused of being the instigator of a plot to blow up the Grant county court house and destroy the county records in the office of the recorder. Bogue & .Thorn have the only complete set of al stracts in the county, outside of Those in the recorder’s office, and Bogue’s plan was to destroy the omnty records, and make their own set of abstracts very va! liable The scheme was.however nipped io the bud, and the young man is having a hard explaining matters At 2 o’clock Sunday morning, ( ! water works whisthand the lire aroused our citizens from a peaceful slumber. In a few moments all was excitement, but it was soon discovered that the tire was not in the" city, and everybody returned , to their homes. Yesterday it was learned that the large barn t wo and one-half miles south of the city belonging to Joeph Dai’ey, was to together with all its contents. The tire is supposed to be of incendiary origin, as buggy tracks were discovered leading to and from rhe barn, and,from all indications they were made the night 'of the fire. Nobody is living on the farm where the barn is located'and the owner has not visited the place for some time. Should the fire fiend be caught lie will suddenly cmne to grief and wish he had never been born. On Thursday afternoon, November 19th, the Presbyterian aid society met at the home of Mrs. Dorwin, corner First and Monroe streets. The president with a few other members of the society gave out special invitations for the membership to be present, as there would be a special program for the afternoon. The business part of the society adjourned after transacting the business, and the company of aboir forty were served with delightful refreshments, and then Was 'made known the special feature, which was the baptism of Naomi ami Dorothy' the little daughters of Mr. and Mrs Dugan, k duet nrnst impressively rendered by Mrs. Tow ispnd find Mrs. Pattarson was followed by Rev. Horton admiinsf wing the rite Os baptism. T'ne scene was beitfitifuT in the -e.O- he; to see two lovely ch ’'d re a~i ven in their .innoseuce to the loving Savior in baptism, who in His. own words commanded, •‘Let-’lilt a* Children conie unto Me, ami I'm bid then o n." Surely i1 is bie ing did vesLon these little ones an pure a;d loVely. Th*'ceremony will' not sou i be forgotten,» and all felt that the blessing of our Heavenly Father had sanctioned this Holy rite.