Decatur Democrat, Volume 41, Number 30, Decatur, Adams County, 7 October 1897 — Page 1

I ALL the news, all the time.

VOLUME XL).

The Hon. A.N. Martin, of B nil 4 1 efy Hik w..1, being <lD ’ al tori.PV in the Ward-Diehl "ircmt «'• nit ease, "Inch is being tried for the second tune. M j SH Mamie, eldest daughter of and Mrs. Win. Geary, ■Jed Tuesday afternoon afier a long d lingering illness with consump ‘ The funeral was held this, Lning at the Cat hoi c church, ferment at St. Josepn cemetery. ; g j roon Good, an old and respect j •/citizen of Washington township, i ed at his home Tuesday morning fter a ling'ring illness of eight aee ks duration. The funeral was held at 10 o’clock this morning at, Washington church. Interment it the Beery cemetery. Since our last 'ssue the population of the county has somewhat Leased by the following arrivals; Mr and Mrs. Henry Heideman Ln girls; Mr. and Mrs. Champe, J v . Mr and Mrs. H. E Weist, ? id-Mr. and Mrs. Ira Lake, girl; Mr.’and Mrs. Ira Steele, girl. Clerk Lenhart issued marriage licenses this week to Robert B. JfcKeeman and Susie M. Hocker, Frederick Brunner and Cecila Marsbaud, Jasper Luning ami L Cook, .lay W. Brown and Essie 0. Kern, Benjamin Breiner lodMary Linn, El jah Libby and Grace Bell. Jerry Ward, f «rman of a ballasting gang on the C. & E , was struck by a hand car at Preble Monday morning and badly bruised. The rar was on the track and wbi e trying to get it off to allow a freight topass, the engine struck the car. His injuries are not serious and he will soon loe able to resume his duties. A terrible forest fire has been raging about two miles east of the tty for the past two days. The entire neighborhood has been hard K work for some time trying to stop the spread of the Hames The lire covers near one thousand acres and has a ready done great dam age to fences and timber. Unless we get rain soon the damage to farmers by tire will be inestimable The whipping episode of a few light 4 ago has scared two or three wife h aters into a condition of peaceful quie ude. Away down in heir hearts they have resolved to io better, ra her than be horsewhipped themselves. To improve the moral condition of man through the misfortune of others is not good teaching, yet if any good has resulted from the depredations of others, let ns hope that it has done trough good to make further law essness unnecessary. New circuit court cases tiled dur ing ifae past week are entitled, balding, Kinnan, Marvin Co. vs. JI. G. Atwood, account; demand 1200. Williams II Hood vs. Patick C. Kelley et al, foreclosure of thattle mortgage; demand S2OO. Elizabeth A. Parrish vs. James T ’airish, divorce John Studa•ker and Hugh Drugherty vs. Min H. Bass et al, venue from Hen county. Anna Shroll by lerguardian Frank M. Sehirmeyer r s. Jesse Clark, partition. John ). Edwards vs. Jonas S. Coverdale ( t al; damages; demand *15,000. teeph H. Cole vs. Edmund R Weeks et a l, account; venue from Wells county. 0u Tuesday, Oct. sth, friends ind relatives fathered at the home 'f Mr. and Mrs. Adam Kern to 'itness the marriage of their laughter, Essie, and Mr - Jay liowu, of Toledo, Ohio. Promptly ls :i o’clock as the sweet strains of the wedding march floated through be room, the bridal parly entered M was joined in boly wedlock by k*. J. M. Smith. The bride was [owned in c r eam cassimere, while 'l* e groom wore the usual black, supper was served. The )res nts were beautiful and numfruus. The bride will be greatly Hissed by her young friends, also 7 the Salem ch urch, of which she Sa ßau active member. The groom s also well and favorably known lere < but for the last year has employed in Toledo, at which wee they will make their future 10 ®e. These young people start ’ ut in life under the most favorable : ‘ rcQ nißtances, and it is the wish their many friends that the voyJP* on the matrimonial sea of life a y be smooth sailing, that the ar k clouds may never arise and Jersfaadow the brightness of the “ Q shine of love; nor thorns ever to choke the flowers that ’ °uld adorn life’s pathway.

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oftirials <»t Krit? wcrw: in thee iv riiHMiay. Their business was not nude kn >wn, h< wewr, and the object •>! their visit' rem .ins a secrect. Ata meeting of 'he Ft deration I <>f Musieale and Literary Clubsi h"ld at the resilience of .Mi<s Lizzie 8 udaoaKer viorr son, it was decided to hold a lecture course in this city. A course of six lectures will be given and the price of tickets Was placed at *l. Solicitors are now soliciting membership to make the course an assured fact. Last Thursday evening as Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Peoples were driving home from this city their team took fright and upset the buggy, throwing out the occupants and breaking Mrs. Peoples collar bone. She was >aken to the home of J. W. Lower near where the accident occured for medical attention and at this writing is greatly improved. Only a few’ knowing ones understood the suspicious cap rs of Dr. McKeernan on his arrival in this city last Tuesday evening, uutil it was learned that he was united ■n marriage that evening to Susie Hoc'ier. The ceremony took place at the residence of Ed. Coffee ami was performed by Rev. Horton in the presence of a few relatives and friei.ds. They wi I reside at Mon roe, where the Doctor has an extensive practice. The big Jay county fair last week was a success, as they are every year. Ou Thu.sday 11,000 paid admissions concluded the day’s receipts, which added to the 3,000 or 4,000 season and complirnentaries represents the total number of people on the ground that day. The display was unusually attractive and the racing all one might expect. The fair association have made lots of money but the sur plus, instead of lining put into dividend 4 and paid the stockholders, is placed into improvemen s of the grounds and buildings. This tells the tale of their success. The sixty-sixth birthday of Rev. W W. Watts, of Monmouth, occurred last Sunday and the children and friends had p.eviously arranged to celebrate the event. When everything was in leadiuess fiends and relatives fro linear and far suddenly appeared on the scene aui greatly surprised the venerable old gentleman. Os course plenty of good things had been prepared, and the time was spent in having a grand good time. Be sides the friends present, from this vicinity, there was also present Messrs, and Mesdames Judge R. T. Watts, of Adrian, Mich . James N. Watts, of Mendon, Ohio, O. N. A. Watts, of Lima, Ohio Hugh Hamilton, Mendon, Ohio, and Ace Mahan, Van Wert, Ohio, Mrs. Bunie Lenuyon, Mendon, Ohio, Mrs. Ida Smith and Miss Myrtle Tucker, Dayton, Ohio. The free silver barbecue at Mon roeville last Thursday wa< a glit tering success in point of attendmce and enthusiasm. Xot less than 5,000 people listened to the speakers and to k part in the exercises of the day. The large crowd was remarkable from the fact that no election is near in this st de to stir up enthusiasm. It must have been sour grapes to our republican friends, for it clearly indicates that free silver is rot dead, neither is it sleeping. The large crowd was made up of silver enthusiasts. The exercises were begun long before the hour advertised, owing to the great crowd of people and their great desire to hear something about their favorite theme. The neighboring towns sent large dele cations, this city contributing near 500 people, but the majority of the spectators were well to do farmers who were there to listen and learn more of the only political topic now before the people. The Hon. Wal pole G Coleiick of Fort Mayne, presided and after a neat speech made way for the army of speakers that were to follow. The enthusiasm that followed the closing remarks of each speaker, was re markable and plainly showed which way the wind is blowing. The exercises were concluded late in the evening, and during all this time the crowd never abated, but grew larger and stronger The people of Monroeville are to be commended for their heroic work Everything was carried out as planned, and the committee hav ing the matter in charge labored night and day to make things pleasant for the large crowd. I

DECATUR, INDIANA, THURSDAY. OCTOBER 7. 1897.

Elizabeth A. Parrish has made application for i.ivor e from her husband James T. Parrish. She alleges in the complaint that the defendant treated her in a cruel and inhuman manner at, divers time 4, until she was obliged to take to her bed. They weie married in February, 1879, and lived together until September 28, 1897. She also asks the care amt custody of their three children. Arrangements have,been made for the opening of the new opera h use during the week of November Sth. The Holden Comedy Co. has been engaged to open the house, thus giving to the public of our city the opportunity of seeing one of the tines' theatrical companies on the road, as well as aking in the new opera house. Arrangements are being made to entertain everybody in royal style, and nobody should m'ss seeing the new opera house during this week, thus showing your appreciation to the proprietor. Monday evening Musical was entertained at the home of M'SsOrvie last Monday evening, it being the beginning of the meetings for the winter with Miss Mil er for president and Miss Orvis, secretary. A brief outline of la-t year’s work was given and the following pro gram was rendered: “Angels ever bright and fair”, Mrs. Townsend; “Leave me to languish”, Miss Alben; “Bach’s Invention”, Miss Addlesperger, “Menrnt de BoenpHavdu”, Miss Orvis; “Handih’s Lango”, Miss Rademacker. Miss Bunn, of Akron, Ohio, was the the guest of honor. The district meeting of the W. R. C. was held in this city Tuesday. A large number of visitors and out of town delegates were present to assist in transacting the business. The meetings were held in 'he G. A. R. hall and the rooms above Gerb r & Sprunger’s meat market. The morning session was devoted to hearing a report of the Xational convention held in Bus falo. After this came a general discussion of business for the benefit of the organiz >tion. In the afternoon district officeis were elected and it was decided to hold the next convention at Jo esboro Mrs John Watson of Geneva was lected department president, and Mrs. Mollie Gilson of this c tv, was chosen as delegate to the next Xational convention. The citv council met in regular session Tuesday evening with all members present. In the absence of the mayor Dr. J. 8. Coverda'e was elected mayor pro tem. The proposition of Auditor Mangold to place the city property on the tax duplicate for taxation for the sum of *6O was rejected. The judiciary committee reported that it was part of his duty as county auditor to list city property for taxation without compensation other than his regular salary. The prayer of W. H. Meyers and others petition to vacate streets and alleys in the W. H, Meyers addition to the city was also rejected. The judiciary committee reported th nt the property was more valuable for taxation in its present condition. The following bills were allowed: Standard Gil Co., *8.24; Street Commissioner’s pay roll, $2145; Gas Co., *51.30; C. Dorwin. S4O; N. Jickson, 40; Democrat, $1.50; J. Buhler & Son, *6.76; John Watson, $13.05; John D. Andrews, *2B; Kirk Mann, *9.51; H Cutting, $33 91; H. H. Bremerkamp, $1.50; Wm. Geary, *5. The bill of H A. Fristoe was referred to the judiciary committee. The committee on streets and alleys reported that they met at the city hall to listen to complaints on the Gregory a'ley and none of the property owners appearing they recommended that the report of the city engineer be approved. The matter of extending the stone w alk on the corner of Dr. Thomas property was referred to the street committee with power to act. The salaries of the school trustees were allowed as follows: A. J. Smith,sso; J.E Kern,s9l.66; C. A. Dugan, $33.34; R. K. Alli son, $75. Contracts made by the electric light committee with Mar-1 tin Mylott as electrician and Geo. Kinzle, lineman, were read and approved. They were both em-: ployed for a period of one year, | the former at a sa'ary of SSO per month and the latter at a salary of *45 per month. There being no midnight business to transact the council did not go into executive session but adjourned until next Tuesday evening.

On last Wednesday the Israelites celebrated the day of atone m-nt, cal ed in Hebrew “Yom Kippur,” or the day of sacrifice. It is laid down in the scriptur s as a day for repentance and prayer for forgiveness of sins and shortcomings committed during the past year The Jewish people, reformed as well as the orthodox, observe that day in ire than any other holiday. They abstain from any manual labor or business and g" to their synagogues, where they devote the whole day to the service of God. A beautiful custom con nected with that day is the general reconciliation and dropping of all enmities t' at existed among them, a custom worthv of imitation by other creeds. Barney KalverLkey worshipped at Fort Wayne on this occasion. The circuit court has disposed of the following business during the past week: Jennie Walker vs William Berkley Walker, divorce granted plaintiff, S3OO alimony and custody of child. George W. Zim merman vs Richard B. Johnson, Clark J. Lutz appointed special judge. Lhaben Gge vs Precilia Gage, divorce granted defendant on her cross complaint; judgment vs pla ntiff for costs. Edward Marshaud vs Magdalena Marsbaud et al, cause of action dismissed by o’aintiff. State vs Joseph 'V. Stoneburner, verdict of not guilty rendered by the jury. Isaac Johnson vs Toledo, S'. Louis & Kansas City railway, dismissed; judgment vs defendant for costs. Cora Cook vs Robert N. Steele, finding for plaintiff on plea of abatement; judgment vs defendant up to this time and that defendant plead over. Isaac Robinson vs John King, set for trial October 28. Jacob Weidier vs Henry Dauber, defendant adjudged insane and dangerous to community. State vs Jacob Wolf, defendant discharged. James H. Ward vs John T. France, ex'cutor, now on trial. After deliberating for twentytwo hours the jury in the celebra ted case of State vs. Joseph W. Stoneburner, reached a verdict that may well cause premediated joy to the defendant The long deliberation was anything but favorable to Stoneburner, and if he sweat and had great anguish of mind, he had license so to do, for the long time consumed by the jurors in doing justice to all <on cerned, was decidedly unfavorable to the defendant. The case was called to trial Monday morning of ast week. The first day was consumed in selecting a jury. The testimony of witnesses began Tues day morning and continu'd until some time Friday. Between seven ty five and one hundred witnesses were examined, among the number were six medical experts, and with them much time was consumed. Their testimony varied somewhat, although in the main it contained I nothing that showed conclusively I that Stoneburner was directly in I strumental in the death of Lavina Brown. The circumdantial eviI dence offered contained many points that had a tendency to lend color to the Dr’s, act ons and intentions, but evidence was lacking to directly prove them. However, the state was able to produce enough evi dence to cause the jury to give some consideration to the probabilities exposeil, and among a few of them a conviction would not have been disappointing. The jury retired at nine o'clock Saturday morning. The first ballot standing seven to five for acqnital. After a few hours and several ballots the vote narrowed down to ten io two for acquital. The vote remained this way until seven o’clock Sunday morning, after much argument and on the twenty-sixth ballot a unanimous agreement of acquital was agreed upon, and Judge Heller and the attorneys were sent for After the usual preliminaries inci dent to the receival ot a verdict into open court, the verdict was accepted and the jury discharged. Much divercified opinion has been ventilated upon the probable guilt or innocence of the defendant. It is a hard case to secure a conviction, owing to the fact that two much circumstantial evidence is necessaiy to carry the proper effect for a conviction. The death of Dr. Ulmer had something to do in weakening the case for the state.' Nevertheless Dr. Stoneburner may well congratulate himself. He has been declared not guilty of a charge that if proven true would have meant several years confinement in the state’s prison:

A large number of the old sold iers of the county met in the city Tn sday to perfect a county organization and bring the ties of friend ship existing between the old veterans still closer together. The j meeting was held in the Studabaker block on south Main street ami when called to order the large hall was well filled with the boys in blue. Short addresses were made by Judge A. O. Marsh, of Winchester, Hon. A. N. Martin of Bluffton and R. S. Pett rson, of this city. The officers chosen to manage the affairs of the new orgmiza tion are James H. Smith, presi d-nt, Jo-eph Hocker, vice presi dent, William A. Wisner, secretary, and Ezra Cowan, treasurer. In the evening a camp-fire was held in the court room, at which place several short speeches were i made, interspersed with songs and I essays. Annual meetings will be held and one day set aside for the entertainment of the boys who ■ fought for their country during the ■ rebellious period. The citizens of Decatur were greatly excited Sunday morning over the appearance of white caps in the city the night previous, at which time a well known citizen and officer of the law was cruelly whipped. For some time it has been rumored that constable James Parrish has been whipping his wife and the neighborhood in which he lived was greatly wrougth up over his actions. Late Saturday night a small band of men eu tered his residence on north Ninth street, and after assuring his wife that they only intended using him in the same way in which he had been using her, passed upstairs into the room < ccupied by their victim. They found him in bed sound asleep and placing a rope around his neck, jerked him out onto the floor before he wa 4 awake Another strong pull landed him against the banister of the stairway and broke it into splinters. In this encounter one of his ears was nearly torn off and after a desperate effort Parrish succeeded in displacing the rope from his neck. His captors however grabbed and led him out into the street. Clad only in his night lobe they marched him about three squares and then whipped him until his entire body was covered with welts and gashes. All this time the poor man begged for mercy but his appeals were not heard by his toimentors. He finally escaped from their clutches and made a bold dash for liberty, and the white caps took a few shots at him. None took effect, however, and he reached home in an exhausted condition Clothing himself he came down street to the office of Dr. Boyers to have his wounds dressed. The white caps after performing their mission mysteriously disappeared, since which time no trace of them has been found. Parrish cannot posi tive'y identify any of his lormen tors although he thinks he knows who they are arid desperate atI tempts will be made by the officers of the law to locate them ar.d bring them to justice. Public opinion is divided on the question as to whether or not he received his just deserts But it is unanimously conceded that the perpetrators should be brought to justice and i made to pay for their depredation before the majesty of the law. Parrish has undoub edly learned a lesson which he will not soon forget, although -ince the flogging has taken place, many stories are being circulated that he is not alone to blame. Parties who claim to know say the wife is oft times to blame for stirring np the temper of her liege lord. Be that as it may, she is an invalid and some allowance shou d be made for her exhibition of temper, and an effort made to soothe her brow in her declining days. The fair name of our cty is again besmirched by the actions of this gang of white caps, a d it will be many days before the wrong doings which have taken place in the last few days will be entirely wiped out. Parrish wid recover from his wounds and wife beating may be checked in this vicinity temporarily, but for years to come strangers will point to our city as a lawless vicinity and business of all kinds will receive a serious backset. Parties -eeking locations will give us a wide berth on account of the stigma resting over the city. Let us hope that no more crimes of a like character will mar the pages of history, and endeavor to uproot the evil influences this episode has planted and start anew as law abiding citizens.

CIRCULATION 2400 WEEKLY.

NUMBER 30

ONLY $15,000. J. D. Edwards, the once was | electrician of this city, has been I wearing red war paint since his retirement from business, the date of which takes ns back to that memorable night when the city council laid law and order on the shelf and endeavor' d to demonstrate to our citizens and their constituents that they were the law and the inlers thereof. Not much surprise was manifested Saturday when a voluminous looking document was filed with the clerk of the circuit court, and which wa 4 a complaint upon which will be based a civd suit, with demands for damages 'n the aggregate sum of $15,000. It is an individual suit entitled J D. Edwards vs Jonas S Coverdale, William H. Niblick, John W. Vail, Judson W. Teeple, Mida'd F Rice, Ezra Cutting, Millard F. Cowan, George Debolt, Martin Mylott, George Kinzel, James F. Mann, Amos P. Beatty and Henry Stevens. The defendants in the suit include five of the six councilmen, street commissioner, marshal, attorneys, and those who were known to be actively engaged in the destruction of the property in issue. The complaint is written in three paragraphs the first alleging the cutting down of the electric light p les and destroying property maliciously for which the plaintiff alleges damages f r *7OO. The second paragraph alleges collusion for the purpose of des roying property, and sets out specific property destroyed, such as poles, wires, insulators, &c, and makes a general demand for dam ages for *15,000. The third paragraph sets up a franchise 'o the Thompson - Huston Company or their assigns, the same being granted in 1889. The franchise gave the Thompson Huston Company the privilege of erecting poles, and stringing wire for the purpose of carrying or furnishing electric light 'o the citizens and public. That by the malicious acts in destroying the property and franchise, ’he plaintiff has be n deprive! of a means of livlihood for him«elf and family, which consists of himself, wife and five children, and has suffered great anguish of body and mini, and humiliation, and damaged in the sum of *15,000. Attorneys R. 8. Peterson, Peterson & Lutz, Paul G. Hooper a'd RK. Erwin prepared the complaint and will fight the case in the courts for the plai tiff. The suit is against the defendants individually, and in no way connects the city with any liabi ities Following is the record at the time the franchise jvas granted: COPY OF ORDINANCE. To the Honorable Town Board of the City of Decatur, Indiana. Gentlemen: We are here f or the purpose of installing an Electric LUht Plant in your town, to furnish your citizens with both arc and incandacent lights, and therefore ask the privilege to plant poles and string wires in the streets and alleys of D catnr. Thompson -Hus to n Electric Light Company, report of committee. We the committee to whom was referred petition of the Thompson Huston Electric Light Company, won <1 recommend that the prayers of the petitioners be granted, and that the erection of electric light poles be p’aced under the direction of our street commissioner, and consent of property holders in fron t of whose property poles are placed. A. J. Smith, I) Showers. Councilman Niblick moves to ac cept the report. RESOLUTION. Resolved, That the Thompson Huston Electric Light Company be and are hereby given and granted permission to plant and erect poles in the streets and alleys of beettur, for the purpose of stringing wires thereon, to furnish electric lights to the citizens of said city: The plan'ing of such poles shall be made under the direc'ion of the street commissioner of said city, and not erected so as to inconvenience said citizens: That the said council hereby reserves the right to revoke this grant, and demand that the poles be removed, and remove the same if necessary. The adoption of said resolution being in order, the ayes ami nays were called, resulting as follows: Showers, yea; Woods, yea; Smith, yea; Niblick, yea; Mayor declared same adopted. The defendants’ first appearance in the courts will be on October 14, at which time they will be called upon to answer the complaint.