Decatur Democrat, Volume 41, Number 37, Decatur, Adams County, 25 November 1897 — Page 1

I all the news, I all the time.

VOLUME ILL

Mrs. C. B. Ferry and Miss Mmnij Orvis will spend Thanksgiving 3t Fort Wayne. Ora France is home from Ann Ar bor, Mich., to spend Thanksgiving’with his parents. William Shoemaker and W. H. Shepherd of Hartford township, were circulating among their fri ends here yesterday. The railroads have greatlv increased their passenger traffic in the last few day, owining to the } ar ge amount of Thanksgiving travel. Rev. Vornhold delivered the sermon at the funeral of the late Abraham Mangold. Through some m stake last week we gave the minister’s name as Rev. Cowan. Mrs. Rosa Harrison of Kalama--200, Michigan, is visiting John Wesley and family. Mrs. Harrison resided in 'his city several years ago and will be better known to most of our readers as Miss Rosa Sorg, Ten or a dozen Decaturites go to Huntington this evening to hear Bishop Fowler deliver his famous lecture “Abraham Lincoln.” Bish op Fowler is a high up v)ethodi-t and one of the most pronounced pulpit orators of the day. Read the new advertisements < f Doty the tailor, Albert Osborne, Holthouse & Mougev, F. Schafer & Loch and Sprang & True. The Democrat is a record breaker as an advertiser, and your money’s worth is assured, both to the merchant and buyer. Milton Byers went to Fort Wayne Tuesday to have an operation performed on his nose. For some time an unnatural growth on his nasal organ has caused him a great deal of inconvenience and his many friends hope the operation will terminate in his recovery. Monday evening the laughable farce comedy “Larrgan’s Ball” will be presented at the Bosse Opera House. This is one of the side splitting comedies that keeps the audien e in a constant uproar from the beginning to the end. If you like fun, good whole-souled fun do not fail to attend. Attorney Lew De Voss has filed a complaint for divorce entitled Eli M. Ray vs Lydia Ray. The complaint shows them to have been marr ed June 17, 1895, and lived together until October 1, 1897. The defendant is accused of cruel and inhuman treatment. She wants a divorce and nothing else. A sensible husband said to his wife; “Susan, don’t spend a cent of my money with merchants that don’t advertise in the papers. The wife who was a business woman, replied; “you old goose, I learned better long ago than to go where I was not invited. You would be an old bachelor now if you had not invited me to be your wife Catch me going to a st >re without an invitation? I guess not.” The Knights of Pythias of the eleventh district will hold their third annual meeting at Winchester, the home of Grand Chancellor Hunt, on Thursday, December 9. Winchester Lodge No. 91 is making grand preparations to entertain about 800 visiting knights, and as their reputation for making a glowing success of any undertaking is well established, a glo r ious time is anticipated. We are sorry we do not belong to your district, but even then we may drop in to help eat the pie. Mrs. Rachel Brewbaker was born in Carroll county, Ohio, May 18, 1821, and died at Decatur, Ind , November 20, 1897, aged 76 years, 6 months and 2 days. She moved with her parents in 1836 to Adams county, Ind., where she lived un til June 24, 1852, when she was married to Jacob Brewbaker and moved to A’len county. There she resided until about fourteen years ago, since which time she has lived with her children. When but twelve years of age she united *ith the M E. church, of which ever since she has been a faithful and consistent member. She was sick only a few days, dying at the home of her daughter. Mrs. Mel Rice. On Monday, November 22, after a short prayer at the honv hy Rev. Hart of the Baptist church she was taken to Williamsport where the funeral was preached in th e M. E. church by Rev. Gregg, -he was interred in the cemetery near by. “Blessed are they who Hie in the Lord. ”

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Ihe Methodist ladies will serve! dinner today in the basement par-1 lots of the church. A netv transfer house is being built at the junction ot the three railroads to take the place of the one destroyed by fire July 4. Wm. Powers of Bluffton, who has drawn the plans and specifications for the R K. Allison new residence. was in the city Tuesday on business. There will be a Union Temperance meeting held at the court house next Sunday afternoon at two o’clock conducted by the ministers of the different churches. A general attendance is desired. Again we present you many new advertisements, which we invite our many readers to carefully note. Newspaper advertisements can save buyers considerable money in the course of a year, and should be read by everyone. Mrs. Rachel Brubaker, of Warsaw, Ind , died at the home of her daughter Mrs. M. F. Rice, in this city Saturday afternoon. The de cea ed was seventy-six years of age and death was due to intimities incident to old age. The body was taken to Warsaw tor burial. Marrage licenses were issued this week to William H. Burnside and Dora D. Hilyard, Clyde L. Davis and Lizzie Daugherty, Byron Buckmaster and Adelia O. Runyon, Christian GiHiom and Bar bara Neuenschwander, Abraham Kneuss and Barbara Von Gunten, Raymond Barber and Mellie Myers. Postmaster Weltley celebrated his sixty-first birthday last Satur day. No unusual demonstration took place and the Colonel kept the office open during regulation hours Ex-president Cleveland sent congratulations and advised him to hang on until the new com I mi-sion was formally handed to —‘ Whoa Bill! We came pretty near giving away a secret, but stopped just in time to see what we shall see Prof Fellows of the Chicago University met his first audience here last Saturday evening. About one hundred and twenty gathered at the Christian church to hear the first of a course of six lectures, on “Nation Making in the Nineteenth Century.” The lecture gave the ■■harac eristics of the great Napoleon, the growth of his family and empire, the coalition ot the powers of Europe against him, and the fab of the great colossus. Described the reapportionment of Europe and the bad effect npon it’s people. Salesmen are thick in Adams county, selling ranges to the farmers, and selling them too, at a good round figure, S6O. Decatur affords three of the largest hardware stores in any county seat town in the state, and at any one of them you can buy a range that is equal or better than the one now being 1 peddled out, for $35 or S4O. These salesmen are like others of their kind, they have a slick tongue and tell fairy stories about the peculiar kind of steel in their ranges, it’s perfect adaption to the needs of the farmer’s wife, &c., &c.,butit Mil be dollars saved by purchasing your ranges of home dealers. The folly of buying goods of peddlers is well illustrated in the -teel range business. Last week’s Wabash Tribune gives a list of 130 names of people in this county who have bought ranges of the peddlers who have been operating in that county with Wabash as headquarters and aids that “many more names could be added to the list if space permitted.” These peddlers 8 ’ld their ranges at $69 and this list of names represents nearly SIO,OOO taken out of the county. This is a big sum of money, but when it is considered that the price , paid for the ranges is about twice ' what they can be bought for at any good hardware store in the county, it assumes the proportions of an outrage. A store in this city is offering a good steel range for $33. It is only recently that ranges have come into use among the farmers and nine men out of ten do not ktl ow anything about them or what they are worth. For that reason a slick-tongued peddler can very easily impose upon a customer and get any price he asks. We have no doubt that a very large number of neople whose names appear m the list are “too poor” to take their home paper which always exposes frauds of this kind.—North Manchester Journal.

DECATUR. INDIANA, THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 25. 1897.

Charles Spuhler, employed at Vail's factory, had part of a finger taken off while oiling machinery Saturday morning. Linn Grove experienced a disastrous fire on last Sunday morning. The Hames devastated quite a space, and a heavy loss is heaped upon this enterprising little town. Postmaster Weltley reports unclaimed letters belonging to Sallie Steele, F. E. Staley, Ike Levene, Mrs. D. F. Mahan, Walter A. Wood, Will Nelke and H. F. Carroll. It is reported that Mis. Dr. Jesse Mann who resided in this city several years ago, is slowly dying at her home with a cancer. Her many friends in this city are sorry to hear of her bereavement. . We are glad to note the present prosperity of the Winchester Dem crat, which blooms forth last week chuck full of advertising and news. Its managers seem to know how to publish a newspaper, and we hope to see them succeed. The electric lights are only run | until midnight at present. They are now run under the direction of C. L. Olds the contractor, and will be for ten days after the com pie tion of the plant. After that time it will become city property and then the lights will be run a'l night. The foot ball team had arranged for a game with Huntington today, but for some reason the game was cancelled by the Lime City boys. The local team have gone to con siderable expense for a trainer and hair grower and now it looks as though they would have no use for their brawny muscles and shaggy manes. Mr. and Mrs. Brockmyer of Preble township, celebrated their golden wedding last Sunday. A large number of relatives and neighbors were present to insure a pleasant time to the aged couple Their many years of married life have been exceedingly happy, and the gur sts wished them many more years of pleasant journey. Dinner was served to the guests at six o’clock and the sumptuous repast was heartily enjoyed. The following subscribers have increased our wealth sim e our last report: Mrs. H. W Thompson, Sam Shugart, Geo. W. Showers, James Gage, Henry Blakey, Mrs. A. Daugherty, L. L. Heaston, J. C. Lee, Julia Parrott, John F. Snow, Mrs. Nancy Wingate, M. Christianer, S. T. Cast, Henry Stettler, C. H. Baker, H. A. Fuhrman, James R. Smith, W. B. Reynolds, Elijah Nidlinger, J. T. Archbold, John R Cline, L. C. Culbet. son, E. Heller, Dan Neuenschwan der, Fred Blakey, Wm. Deiterich, Henry Lankenau, Caleb Roe, J. M. Van Vorhis, Adam Hower, Jos. Schilling, H. II Meyers, Louis Worth man, Fred Sellemeyer, Henry Peters, John Hendricks. Court proceedings this week include J A. Laisure vs Thomas H. Andrews administrator, claim of $2 allowed- Cora Cook vs Robert N. Steele, set for trial December 21 F. Schafer & Bro. vs Isaac J. Bowman adm’r, c'aim ofs2lß 40, allowed. John T France executor, vs Isaac J Bowman adm’r, claim of S3B 37 allowed Decatur Invest ruent Co. vs John Koos, set for trial December 22 Decatur National Bank vs Elsie E. Bollman et al, judgment vs defendant for sl,044.57, order for foreclosure or dered State vs Lee Smith, bench warrant issued for the arrest of Smith. Grand jury returns four indictments, State vs Lee Smith et al, set for trial December 29. Mary Faltz vs Noah Bergman, judgment vs plaintiff for costs James H. Ward vs John T. France executor, appeal granted. Delilah Warner vs David Warner, judgment vs plaintiff for costs. Emma E Mann vs Nora Linn, set for trial December 23. John M. Frysinger et al, vs Chicago & Erie R. R., change of venue to Wells countv Jacob Berger vs Clarcy A. Diehl adm’x, claim of $23 08 allowed. Charles Clark vs W. H. Niblick executof, claim of $14.50 allowed. L A. W. Luckey vs Elijah Waltets adm’r, claim of $173.37 allowed John H. Lenhart vs Clarcy A. Diehl adm’x, claim of $9 83 allowed. Chris Stogdill vs Clarcy A. Diehl admin’x, claim of $102.16 allowed. Decatur Inystment Covs F M Schirmeyer etal, claim of $6 allowed. Seth D Beavers vs Benjamin Harkless executor, claim of $64 allowed.

The city council did not meet last Tuesday evening, probably by mistake or through intent. Which ever it might have been, ’tis sad. Mrs. Foughty died at her home two and one-half miles east of this city, last Wednesday of that dread disease consumption, at the age of twenty years. The funeral was held Friday. Ike Rosenthall is advertising a closing out sale with a view of quitting business Himself and family have been residents of our city for the past twelve years and have many friends who would re gret to see them leave. S. E. Nicholson, author of the famous Nicholson law, member of the legislature, candidate for con gress, ab around politician and minister of the gospel, was m the city last Thursday between trains, “ong root” 'o Angola, where he delivered a lecture. Caminnic ac d, the alleged new cure for consumption, is a white, crystalline, oder ess substance, formerly obtained from the fragrant rosin storax and oil of cinnamon, but now made from benzine The German discoverer claims to have treated 400 cases with favorable results, G Berling shipped several car loads of poultry to the eastern market for the Thanksgiving trade. Just before the holidays other large consignments will be made and the poultry stock in this vicinity will be greatlv diminished. Decatur is one of the best poultry markets in the state, and Griners come for miles around to sell their poultry. Charles T. Thomas of Willshire, and Miss Lulu M. Heaston were married at the home of the br de in St. Mary’s township, on last Thursoayevening, the Rev. Horace Kohn officiating. Quite a number of relatives and invited guests were present. A sumptuous repast was -erved and an enjoyable time had. The bride ami groom were the recipients of many valuable pres ents. The Democrat joins their many friends in wishing them happiness. The introduction of Shakesperian drama in this city was celebrated at the B >sse opera house last Thursday evening. The Elihu R. Spen cer Co. in “Julius Caesar” weie given a cordial welcome and with one bound installed themselves as prime favorites with our people. The entire company is exceptionally fine, and the support given Mr. Spencer by Miss Isabel Pengra and Messrs. Macomber and Hennig was grand. Mr. Bosse is endeavoring to secure nothing but first class attractions and with the introduction of this more than clever company, made a decided hit. The company have promised a return engagement some time in February, and should they appear will have an even larger audience than before. The mania for stealing seems to be spreading. The country districts are now mostly infested and everything is stolen that can be carried away. Three young men are now lying in the county jail for stealing in the southern part of 'he county. They have carried on their nefarious work for some time and farmers were the principal victims’ Now comes word that, St. Mary’s township is also besieged with thieves and already several well-to-do farmers have felt their thieving power. Wash Kern was one of the principal losers. Seventy chickens were stolen together with two sheep. Philip Koos also lost two sheep, and in both instan ces where sheep were stolen they were killed and dressed in the fields, leaving the pelts lying in the field. This shows that the thieves are becoming more daring, but are careful not to take anything that might furnish con vine ing proof of their guilt. Upon top of all this, news reaches the city that burglars entered the home of John Logerman just south of this city, and within a stone’s throw of the corporate limits, last Friday night and stole a pair of pants containing $35 and after ransacking the pockets hung them on the fence near the house. Officers seem to be unable to frustrate their daring deeds, owing to the fact that the scenes of their stealings are continually changing and an army of officers would be required to do sentry duty throughout the county. An organized gang is evidently at work, and nothing but strict vigilance will apprehend their misdeeds.

D. C. Menefee, a former resident of this city, now editor of the Black River Falls, (Wis ) Journal, visited in this city Saturday. Mrs. Jude Hofer of Monroe, died at the insane asylum at Richmond last Friday, where she had been confined for the past year. Funeral was held at Monroe Sunday morning. John Yager returned to the city Monday after an absence of four weeks at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Fort Wayne. While there he had an operation performed on his right eye, which caused a great deal of inconvenience and for that reason John looks rather pale, but he will soon assume his normal condition. An entertainment will be given at the opera house Thursday evening, Dec. 2, by tl e Ran-om Entertainers for the benefit of the school library. This company is under the direction of the Central Ly ceum Bureau, which alone is sufficient to guarantee a first-class entertainment This together with the cause, should insure a good crowd. New circuit court cases filed this week are John H. Holmes et al vs Frank E. Franceet al, note; de mand $225. Eli M Ray vs Lydia A Ray, divorce. Minerva Murphy vs Josepn W. Murphy, r< plevin. No. 2 Indiana Mutual Building and Loan As-ociation v s Martha A Lachot et al, foreclos ure; demand SSOO. Daniel Dono van et al vs Samuel Chronister, note; demand SSO. Decatur InvstsmentCo. vs Caroline David, note and f-Tclosure; demand S3OO. Word reached this city Saturday that Charles Werst recently paroled by Governor Mount from the Northern prison, had died at the home of a brother. Rumor also has it that he made a dying confession m the Backesto murder case, and gave the names of ail parties implicated, how the crime was committed, and all the details in connecti in with the terrible tragedy. Whether these reports are true we are not prepared to say, but this paper is now making an effort to secure the confession, which wib be given to our readers if ch ained. For years there has existed a doubt in the minds of numerous persons as to the parties implicated and it is hoped that this confession (if made) will cast some light upon the almost forgotten crime. The recent whitecap mystery in this city is nearing a determinate end. The grand jury now in sessi m returned indictments against Henry Ashbaucher, Ed and Buck Rhorer, Leo Smith, Jacob Gross and Alva Nichols. Os this sextette the former three have been arrest ed and released on bond in the sum of SSOO. The latter three have flown and their whereabouts is at present unknown. The officers have never ceased in their efforts to unravel the mystery and success now crowns their effort. The affair is to be greatly regretted owing to the prominence of all the parties concerned, and to the severe penalty attached to the crime. If proven, a penitentiary sentence awaits them, except in the ca-e of Henry Ashbaucher and Alva Nichols. These two young men are minors and may be more for tunate than their accomplices, as the law has fixed a lighter sentence for persons still in their minority. It is earn estly hoped that the boys will establish their innocense. A report was in circulation for a few days that one of the boys had turned states’ evidence. This report we have learned is without foundation and the evidence upon which indictments were found, was secured from occasional remarks made by the boys to friends. It is not believed that the boys did the whipping with any intent to com mit serious injury, but did it more with a view of having some sport, little realizing that the offense was so serious, and that Mr. Parrish would be obliged to undergo long hours of suffering. This, of course, does not excuse the boys, and if found guilty will suffer the consequences. Most of our readers re member how the whitecaps entered the home of Mr. Parrish sometime during the night of October 2, and placing a rope around his neck pulled him from the bed and taking him to a spot a short distance from the house unmercifully whipped him. The outrage occasioned a great deal of excitement at the time, and the public were unanimous in the belief that the white cappers should be punished.

CIRCULATION 2400 WEEKLY.

NUMBER 37

Chas. “Poodle” Meibers, went out hunting Monday morning and returned in. the evening with thir-ty-four quail and four rabbits. Oh, yes! “Poodle” is a poor one. Decatur merchants are getting readv for the holiday season and trade It will be wholly unecessary for anyone to go elsewhere to purchase Xmas presents. You can get anything you want right here and get it for less money. Just keep your eye on the Democrat, tor it will tell the tale. Miss Julia Parrott who is engaged in missionary work at Toungoo, Burma, renewed her subscription to the Democrat. She says the paper reaches her promptly, (owing to the improved postal facilities enjoyed exclusively by this paper) and is a great boon to her during her trials and tribulations among the heathen Karens. The Democrat reaches every known foreign clone. Now is the time to subscribe. The street commissioner armed with one laborer and his official power, did for one consecutive day, manage to get west of Main street and make an attempt to take some of the mud off of the streets. This we believe was on Friday. Since that time he must have fallen hrough his good resolution and broken his intentions, for the work has oeen few and far between. The mud is now monarch of al it surveys and the street commis-ion-er, where, oh where, is he? Echo answers, not in the vicinity of any mud puddles. The residence of Councilman CoverdaL was entered by thieves last Friday night, but were scared away before securing anything. Councilmen of this grand municipality should be afforded letter protection than that, and for that reason the police force should be be t nlarged Whereas, great danger of being robbed exists, which was clearly proven at the home of Mayor pro tem Coverdale last Friday evening. Therefore be it resolved, that a policeman with the necessary official powers be stationed at each of the homes of our illustrious councilmen to protect them from all danger and more especially to keep unscrupulous persons from spiriting away in the night time any member of the council, and the city thus be deprived of their valuable services. Sic Lightum onum turnum. How many of our citizens are aware that the electric light line is not completed? And to put it into condition to furnish a general service, means an extra outlay of several thousand dollars. The line as now built is not in condition to give an incandescent service in all parts of the city. Incandescent wires are only hung between Jackson and Adams Streets on Main and Monroe to Fifth. All the balance of the city is out of reach of the incand scent line until the same is put up. On many streets poles will have to be set on which to string the wires, and this together with the expense of labor, means the outlay of many thousands of dollars When the electric light plant was built, people were lead to believe that the plant would be complete for both arc and incandescent service at a cost of $15,000, which is near the con'ract price. But now comes a time when the plant is given a test and we find that more labor and a great deal more expense will be required to comple'e it. Members of the committee gave as an excuse for the present condition of affairs, that they were unable to foresee who would want to use lights. This is flimsy and far-fitched. The plant belongs to the people and for that reason should have been completed. It looks very much as though the members of the council did not care to place the contract price too high, and thereby escape severe public condemnation. After the plant was partially completed it would be too late to kick, and nothing else remains but to make the necessary expenditures and thus have the city indebtedness increased $5,000 or $6,000, and no money in the treasury to foot the bills. It has also been hinted that the prices for incand< scents were placed so high that the people could not use them, and the cost of the extra line would thus be saved until the city is in position to pay Little by little is the city indebtedness craw’ling beyond the reach of mortal man, and the taxpayers helpless in their efforts to stop the perpetual squeeze. “Turn on the incandescent lights.’ ’