Decatur Democrat, Volume 41, Number 38, Decatur, Adams County, 2 December 1897 — Page 1

[all the hews, I all the time.

VOLUME XLI.

Auditor Mangold and farai'y entertained a number of relativesand friends at Thanksgiving dinner. A number of young people were entertained at 'he home of Thomas Mvlott, Friday even'ng in h nor of yjss Kate Murphy of Huntington. Marriage lieense were issued to Lavi < a D- Gibson and Lulu G. Goff, Eli W. Hudson and Mary E. Gross. John Barto and Melissa J. Hart The p°tit jury came in Monday and have s nee been doing jury work. Up to this time not many eases h >ve been set down fc trial, bnt it is bard to te 1 how n any prize packges will be drawn before the present term ends. Dr Will Numbers of Philadelphia. spent a few days with ' ri nds in thi- city last week. The Doctor was raised in this city and h<s many friends who are glad to hear that he has atta" ed wonderful success in his chosen profession. All merchants who d -sire space in next week’s Democrat, as web as those who desire ‘‘change <f adv’t.” will please have their copy in the office not later than Monday morning. This request is for the mutual advantage of both advertiser and publisher. Decatur’s fifteen thousand dollar electric light plant is too small and is a disappointment. It will re quire several thousand dollars additiona' expense to put it i to gen eral use. B-sides what the town has to pay Edwards f r chopping down his poles and destroying his plant —Delphos Courant. On Thanksgiving day, Snpt Graber and wife of the county in firmary, entertained a number of trends. Roast Turkey was there in abundance and a genial, good social time was enjoyed by every one. The party was shown through the various apar mtmts of the conn ty institution, in all of which they found matness, ord>-r and good treatment prevailing. 4, Fo' my part,’’ said Colonel Robert G Ingersoll, the other day, “lenvy the man who has lived on the same broad acres from his .toyhood, who cultivates the fields wherein youth he p ayed,and lives where his f ther lived and died. I can imagine no sweeter way to end one’s life than in the quiet of t'>e country, out of the mad race for money place and power ’’ Thanksgiving day was genera'ly observed as a day of rest in this city The day opened with sunrise prayer meeting at the Evangelicd church. At 10:30 Union servicewere held at the same place. Business houses were generally closed to allow employers a"d employees to feast on good thingsand observe the d>y in religious worship. The con inual down pour of rain kept most people in doors and our streets bore an air of assumed peace. It is beginning to be a matter of comment that Decatur is becoming to be the finest resid'-nt city to be funnd on the map. The latest addition for public honoris the hand some and costly mansion now under co struction by R K. Allison, cashier at the Ohl Adams County Bank. It will be of the old colonial style containi g twelve large rooms, conveniently arranged A sixty six foot portico, nine feet wide with cine inch columns, will adorn the front, while a twe've foot driveway will also add to its beauty. It wi l ! be about the finest home in tbecityand Rufus should fairly bubble over with pride, and we suppose he does. Rev. H. W. Vitz of the German Reformed church has received and accepted a call to the First German Reformed church of Indianapolis, Indiana. Rev. Vitz has been the Pastor of the German Reformed ■church, in this city for a period of twelve years and du* ing that lime has endeared himself, not only in the hea ts of his congregat'on but the entire community. Ties of friendship have been formed that *ill never be eradicated. Rev. *itz is recognized as one of the ab’-st divines in northern Indiana and the change he is about to make is another step towards the top of the ladder of fa ne to which he is climbing. His recognized abil ty hason'y been attained by y< ars of “ ar d labor a'd his mmv friends °?th in and out of the city wish him success in his new field He *>ll leave the city to take charge of his congregation about January 1the vacancy caused bv his resigna*on has not yet been filled.

Misses Blanche and Helen Blackburn of Fort Wayne, visited the Misses Nellieand Hattie Blackburn of thi* city last week. One of the jurors in the case of S a e vs Touhey and Andrews was taken sick yesterday afternoon and the case was adjourned until this mornmg. J. W Place was attacked with severe hemorrhages of the stomach last Wednesday’ and for some time his life was despaired of. He is r'pidly gaining strength and will soon be able to look after business The death of Mrs. William Scheid occurred at her home in Prebetownship last Wednesday. She was twenty-seven yearsof age at the time of her death, and was a offerer o f consumption. The funeral was held Friday. The irrepressible small boy has been get ing in his work f r some time, destroying posters on bill boards. Considerable comp'aint is heard from this source, and the small boy should amuse himself at something else or p rhaps he may suddenly come to grief. Mrs. B. W. Sholtyand daughter Mabel are at Phoenix, Arizona, wher j they have gone to benefit the latter’s health. They will be gone about six months or perhaps longer if the climate should make any improvement in Miss Mabel’s health. Her many friends hope that she will return to thecity fully recovered. A large number of our business houses are assumingan a rof brilliancy with the assistance of newarc lights. Up to this time Niblick & Co., The Boston store, Isaac Rosen thal, The Burt house, P. Holthouse & Co., Coffee & Baker, Kern, Brittson & Beeler, DyonisSchmidt, Sprang & True and Jacob Ftillenkamp have added the arc light to their conveniences The h-avy rain of last Thursday caused an overflow on Monroe street. The catch basins were evidently clogged up and no way was fnrn shed the water to escape. The street c mmissioner is not to blame, he is too busy looking after his salary, and k>-ep'ng himse f in readiness to obey the orders of the council. When it comes to cuttingdownelectric light poles he is a hustler. Last Fiidav morning a son of W. S. Hughes captured a carrier pig eon i i this city, with a small alum inutn band around one of its legs, marked “K 31151 ” It is generally brlieved that the bird is one of the number that was shipped to this city rom Fort Wayne and set fee by Express Agent Archbold. Five of ihe birds lost their bearings and did not reach home and are supposed to have remained in this city. The bird has carri- d its last message however, as it was accidently killed. Is our city council in a comatose condition? Another week has rolled around and no meeting has been held by this illustrious body. What means this sombre silence? Can it be possible that they have under prep ration a voluminous resolution having for its purpose the raising of the street co nmis sinner’s salary, or are they sleep ing, only sleeping? Come, councilmen, awaken to your sense of duty Your constituents hungry for more stock companies by resolution. Gol 'en opportunities are flitting by and no time should he lost in getting things in running order. “Lo* er the rate and turnon the Incandescent lights.” The circuit court has done the following business this week: Thomas Lord et al vs Merril T. At wood, set for trial Dec mber 15 Dan el Donovan vs Samuel Chronister, judgment vs defendant for |63 90. H. H Bremerkamp vs Sol M. Schnepp adm’r, claim of 133.72 allowed. Isaac Rose vs Blanche Rose, set for trial December 1. Grand jury indictments numbered 5,6, 7,8, 9, 10 and 11. State vs Lee Smith et al., Alva Nicholsand Henry Ashbaucher plead guilty to riotous conspiracy, and are at liberty on a 1500 bond. Charles F. Gross admitted to bar. Minerva Murphy vs Jos-ph W. Murphy, set fortrial December 22. Mary O. Tatten vs Manhattan Oil Co, set for tiial December 30. Decatur National Bank vs Sol M. Schnepp adm’r, claim for $434.13 allowed. Petit jury sworn in. Isaac B. Havs etal vs David Oberman e' al, j F Mann as trustee files his final report. State vs Nigger Andrews et al., now on trial.

DECATUR, INDIANA, THURSDAY. DECEMBER 2. 1897.

Do you owe your sub cription to the Democrat? Quite a number promised to pay up “eoon” at the time we were making our yearly collections in August. Our books must be closed and paid up by January 1, 1898. If \ou are in arrears or will owe a year’s subscription at that time, we insist upon payment We don’t propose to carry any subscription in arrears longer than one year. It is not business nor can wo afford to do it. Give this friendly notice your immediate attention.

Attorneys in the case of Edwards vs J. S. Coverdale et at, were at 1 Bluffton Tuesday aud argued demuriers. Tne judge r served his decision until some future time. Frank A Everts of the Journal, who was appointed to a position in the governme it printing office some time ago, is now enrolled in one of the classes at the Columbian Law School, preparatory to fitting himself to enter the legal business. Frank will prove a hustler at any avocation he may follow. We are somewhat overloaded with advertisements this week, but our readers will be protected by the addition of four extra pages the next two weeks. Xmas and the holidays come but once a year, and are a happy time in the lives of everybody. The extra advertisements will prove profitable by a careful perusal. “Larrigan’s Ball” was presented at the Opera House Monday evening to a crowded house Standing room was ata premium. The show was very good and the large audience was kept in a continual uproar. The play was replete with funny sayings and high class specialties. On Tuesday evening they presented the same play to a fair sized audience. The mayor of Noblesville has been indicted by the United States grand jury for obtaining money under false pretenses. Upon the promise to marry a widow of Dowagiac, Mich., he secured $3,500. After obtaining the money, he declined to work in matrimonial harne-s. She sought to recover the money, but the mayor was found 'o be execution proof—Huntington News Democrat, Rev. Charles D. Wendel of Decatur, was here Friday and Saturday, to lead the quarterly meetings at the Ev. hall in ihe absence of Elder D. Martz. On Sunday, how ever, Mr. Mar'z was here to conduct communion services and preached s'irring sermons in the morning and evening, and in the evening especially delivered an address that was to awaken every Christian to his sense of du'y, He took his text from Remans 14, 17, and showed that the spiritual church is the kingdom of God — Berne Witness.

The cantata “Joseph” will be given by the Decatur Choral Union at Bosse’s Opera House on New Years night. Decatur’s best musical talent will take part in this entertamment, which will consist of solos, duets, trios, quarettes aud a chorus of seventy five voices. “Joseph” was composed by J. Astor Broad, author of the cantata Ruth, which was given by the Choral Union last summer, and is fully equal to that much enjoyed musical production. The Choral Union h?s been mater ally strengthened and the chorus is being thoroughly trained. This will probably be the best entertainment from a musical point of view ever given in our city. Last Saturday morning Alva Nichols, one of the absent white cappers returned to the city and gave himse f up to Sheriff Ashbaucher. He was placed under bond and released. In the afternoon he, together with Henry Ashbaucher, another of the young men under arrest, appeared before Judge Heller and plead guilty to the charge of whitecapping. Judge Heller postponed the sentence with a view of hearing evidence in the case before inflic ing any punish ment. Both of the boys are minors and under the law, can receive a jaff sentence, at the discretion of the court. Both of the boys have always borne a first cla-s reputation and this being their firs’ of-fen-e, it is generally believed that their punishment will not be severe. This will undoubtedly be a warning to the boys and should also be a warning to all youg men. Acts of this kind are severe breaches of law and order and should not go unpunished.

The advertisement <ff the hust 'ling clothing, boot and shoe firm of Kern, Brittson & Beeler can easily be found this week. They spread all over page eight and offer you bargains that will make your head swim Gently 'urn th's paper ’toother side up aud re»d to your heart’s content. New circuit court cases filed during the week are George H. Foote et al vs Mary Clo s, account, deman i; S4OO. Charles F Grosexparte. admission to bar. James IW. Middleton vs Fred G. Boyd, from J. P. Huber Manufacturing Co. vs Je.-seM. Parrish et al., notand so ec'osure of chattie mortgage; demand $250. There are three lawful excu-es for not attending school under the compulsory 7 law; firs', living more than two miles from the school house by the nearest traveled road; second having a d ploma from t >e common schools; third, being phys ica ly or mentally incapacitated for the work. The third excuse must be certified to by the official physician. Mr. and Mrs B. G. Lynch and Miss Florence Campbell last Wed nesday evening entertained the D’s. of P. in a most delightful manner Prizes were won by Miss Lena Barthol and Clefn Holthon-e, and boobies by Nettie Smith and Frank Durkin. At the conclusion of the games a most e egant supper was served. It was one of the most pleasant evenings spent during the existence oi the club. On December 7th the Erie road, in connection with the Santa Fe, will establish a new throti h tourist car line between New York ami Los Angeles. In the making up of this new tourist line it has beep arranged that a tourist sleeper shall leave New York on and after • December 7 every Tuesday on the Erie train No. 12. This car will arrive in Chicago the following evening at midnight and be hook ed onto the Santa Fe fast mail, which leaves for the West at 2:45 a. m. It will airive in Kansas City in time to be attached to the Santa Fe’s fast California train and continue on its way to southern California.

On Wednesday evening, November 24, a few relatives gathered at the home of Jonathan Ev r* ft near Dasie, Van Wert county, Ohio, to witness the marriage of his daugh ter Viola B. Eveiett to Wayland Wood of Winfield, Kansas, son of the late Rev Ben Wood of Adams county, Indiana. The marriage was solemnized by Pastor H H. Smi h. The bride an I groom took tie train at Decatur Thursday ev ening for their future home at Winfield, Kansas. Viola isa most estimable young lady and will be greatly missed in chu'ch and some ty by both odand young and she and her talented young husband take with them to their western home the love and well wishes of their many friends. The range people are still at work in this county, and it is said with good effect. We can truthfully say, and say it as we do, back ed by our home dealers, that better and more substantial ranges can be bought of Decatur merchants for less money. Farmers, isn’t it strange to you that these men do not bother the people who live in cities and towns? They could save travel and expense by canvassing this city, for the population is more dense and they could see more peo pie in one day than by making long drives in the country. They are too smart for this. The towns people could easily drop in at our stores and compare prices and thus their little wild cat schemes would be thwarted. Keepc'earof these people they may never get you but once, but that once may be awful haid. This friendly warning is given in justice to the people of Adams county. It is a duty we owe to our friends and neighbors and we trust that it may save you hard earned dollars.

On next Thursday the oistrict meeting of the Knight of Pythias will be held at Winchester. Elaborate arrangements at" bei' g made to entertain the visitors, and among the many treats promised is an ad dress by Supreme Chancellor Colgrove. A number of Knights from this city will attend Early Sunday morning Mrs. Geo Middl ton became temporarily insane and wandered away from her home in the west end Friends instituted sear<h and after scouring the country she was found in an open field near the corporation limits. Traces of insani y have been no iced in her actions quite frequently of late and application was made for admission to the Richmond insane asylum to which place she was taken Tuesday morning. A pair of c'ever thieves were captured Saturday afternoon by Marshal Baxter and Officers Fronetie d and Adams. They gave their names a- George Heim and I tick Hudson of Adams county, In 'iaua. They we e arrested on a warrant signed by AquiUa Tenner, of Har rison township He charges them with stealing three turkeys from his farm Mr. Tenner identified his Hock at Temple’s poultry yard where it had been disposed of. A horse and wagon belonging to the thieves was found at the stalls, on the People’s Mill yard. The wa gon was an ordinary looking vehicle, but con ained a secret apartment used f<»r s oring stolen stuff The sheriff of Adams county was in town Sunday. He ide tided the prisoners and pronounced them bad citiz ns. They will be given a hearing in Mayor’s court Wednesday at 10 o’clock a. m.—Van Wert Bulletin.

A few days ago it was reported th<.t Charles Werst had made a (lying confession regarding the murder of Amos Backes o, for wh ch he received a life sentence Through 'he kindness of Sheriff Ashbaucher we were ab'e to trace the matter to the bottom and find that no coufesston was made A Jette frmu James Worst, a brother of the deceased, and at whose home the accused man died, states that no written confession was made but in a conversation with the dying man he sti I procla'tn p d h's jnuQce ice and claimed that he was not given a just sentence in bis trial. His brother also says that he kept a diary fr m his childhood an 1 also during his prison life. In his prison diary he often spoke of his innocence and claimed to lave no knowledge whatever of the crime. During all the time he spent behind the prison walls he was known as a mod i p isoner. All the services required of him given faithfully and well, and the prison offici ds and even the convicts spoke in highest terms of his conduct, and expressions of his innocence were heard on all sidee. He stood high in 'he estimation of officials having him in charge, and many I liberties were accorded him not enjoyed by common place prisoners. His death recalls the famous tri?l in which he was convicted a d sentenced. The case was hotly con I tested on both sides. John T ! France as prosecuting attorney and I Daniel D. Heller, now judge of the | circuit court, for the defense, f right ‘ every inch of the way in their bat tie for a human life. The most I damaging evidence against the pri-oner was given by Davy Smith and it was the general opinion tint his evidence sent the prisoner to a life which eventually sea’ed hidoom. There may still be some doubt in the minds of the people as to who c< mmitted the crime, yet it is generally believed that the prisoners received tneir just deserts. Fred Richards, now in Michigan City prison serving a life sen tence, still stoutly maintains hisi innocence. Now if both these men were innocent, it would be strange indeed if no evidence should come forward after all these years of waiting, to contradict the evidence given at the time of the trial. The circumstantial evidence produced was wound around the men so strong that no loop hole for escape remained, God forbid that any man should suffer innoc- ntly and it is h ped that if any evidence does j remain that will establish t he innocence of both the dead and alive, it will come forward at once. This forever c'o«es one chapter ot j the terrible crime that startled our citizens several years ago, and fur -. ther knowledge, if such is ever attained, must be secured from Ups uot hushed in the stillness of death, i

CIRCULATION 2400 WEEKLY.

NUMBER 38

WHO IS WHO? Congrrawman Henry Come* to Town to Invoice l*o«totilce Possibilities. Yesterday was a big day in 'own. Congressman Henry was “at home” to his frie-d< in room thirteen at the Burt House, and the way the trail to that fatal room was kept, hot was a caution. His mission in town is reported to have been for the purpose of summarizing the situation and getting ihe expression of the party members as to who was entitled and should heappointed postmaster of this city, to succeed John Welfley, the present gold bug representative, who was <ppi inted by Grover C eve'and in 1894. The coming of the congressman was heralded abroad a few day- previous, making the anxiety ot the many would lie’s that much more painful, and also causing the party faithful to get a doublehump on themselves. The latter they did to a queen’s taste Thev called upon him early, late and all day. They petitioned, prayed and argued the case in true political style. I Each cai didate and his friends got in their work to the best of th>ir ability—and that is saying a good 'deal. Up to the hour of going to press th" candidates are D. ’Fee ch Quinn, Ed S. Moses, P L. Andrews, R. S. Pebrson, B. W Quinn, Samuel Anderson, Davi 1 Lehman and Paul Hooper. Iris claimed 'hat Hooper is a new recruit to the list of candidates and hat the job is thoroughly understood by both Hooper and Andrews and perhaps the congressman. If the appointments made elsewhere in the district are a citer ion, Andrews will be the lucky “Ike,,” and the congressman’s coming was simply a hoax to make the other boys feel good. However, if he was sincere in wanting to know the tenor of the people, the many friends of D. ’French Quinn surely impressed him, and in point of numbers la d the rest of the candidates way in the shade. The support of the soldier element and older heads of the party press' d the claims of R. S. Peterson, and the friend- of B. W. Quinn were by no means silent or out of sight It can solely be said that one of the four above mentioned, Peterson, Andrews, B. W. and French Quinn will be successful, unless Congressman Henry shows his smallness in recognizing Hooper—who if a candidate, is s uch because Andrews can not bag the game. Congte-s---mau Henry left the city last night over the Clover Leaf, and will leave for Washington tomorrow, in order to be present at 'he opening of con gress Monday. While he gave no intimation as to who he would reccommend to the department, yet it is believed by every one, that his mind is made up, and that when the time comes no hesitancy or delay will be made. At this time, however, there are about eight I anxious candidates, all waiting for I lightning to strike them, and strike them right The county commissioners meet | next Monday and the meeting wdl ' be important on a count of changes I that take place in the personnel of the board. At this meeting Com-missioner-elect Doak will assume the reins of office and Commissioner Brake will rtet're to private life. Fora per od of nine years Commissioner Brake has performed his official duties faithfully. During all that time he has zealously guarded the people’s interests and was ever awake to the duties entrusted to his care. Ever watchful and mindful of the people’- interests, he has never swerved from the path of duty, and eveiy official act has been to the interest of his constituents. Many changes and improvements in county affairs have been made under his guidance ami direction, aud the people with one accord praise him for his unswerving fidelity. Tne in coming commissioner needs no introduction to the people of Adams county, as this is not the first time he served the people in an official capacity. In 1892 he was elected to the office of sheriff and for t«o years be served the people faithfully. He has long been a resident of this county, is thoroughly conversant with the needs of the people and bis exceptional business faculties together with his knowledge of county affairs peculiarly adapts him for the position so long and ably’ fil'ed by Commissioner Brake. Success to the ins and outs.