Decatur Democrat, Volume 41, Number 45, Decatur, Adams County, 20 January 1898 — Page 1

Z ALL the news ALL THE TIME.

VOLUME XLI.

Uncle Isaac Baker is lying at the home of his son Lase, in a precarious condition caused by disease i ici lent to old age. Un<4« Isaac is one of the oldest inhabitants of Adams county. A. G Briggs of Geneva, secre tary of that branch of the Logansport & Wabash Valley Gas Company, was here Tuesday in conference with the manager, John S. Bowers. Miss Maggie Wieand entertained a number of young people at her home west of the city last Thurs day evening. The guests of honor were the M sses Durkin and Beaver of Mansfield, Ohio. Druggist Nachtrieb is arranging to erect a very handsome and com tnodious resilience on his Winches ter street property. Work on the structure will begin bright and early in the spring and pushed to completion. James Harkless left for Paulding Monday to assn ne his newly accepted position tn a bank of that city. His smiling face will be missed at the Decatur Nationa where he has held a position of trust for a number of years. Amos Foreman and Adam Brown have returned from a lengthy business trip to Germany. They have been engaged in exporting horses to that country. Their return voyage was everything but pleasant, as they encountered a storm of two days duration The Roh er brothers are now on trial in the Adams circuit court, charged with riotous conspiracy. This is the famous white capping case and is attracting a great deal of attention. The court room is crowded Avith curious spectators, auxious to hear every word of the evidence. A person can hear some funny things over the ’phone. The other day we beard a young busin ss man of Berne inform a young lady of this city, that he would quite soon tie himself up in matrim tty He cautioned the utmost secrecy about it, and this is the cause that we are no more specific in our own announcement. The city council did no' meet on I Tuesday eve iug, but postponed their session in order to give the the street commissioner time to find out where he is at. The meeting was expected to be held last night, but the proceedings could not be obtained in time for this issue and we will make up for lost ground next time.

Court will adjourn this week for a two weeks vaca.ion and then another term of ten weeks will begin. Although Adams county now has more court than ever before, the docket is crowded with untried cases and legel business is as far behind as ever. The division of the twenty sixth ju licial district came at the right time or litigants would have suffered in the dispo sition of their cases. A temperance meeting will be held in the Christian church on next Sabbath at 2:30 p tn. There will be singing by the choir and a bible reading will be conducted by Rev. Adams Recitation by Mabel Edwards, song by Master Frank and Miss Lulu Updegroff, song by Margaiet Richar, essay by Jessie Blossom, recitation by Charles Allegar, Jr., recitation by Agnes Schrock, song by Master Earl and Miss Marguerite Hughes, and three minute speeches from any c.ue in the audience who may feel so disposed. Everybody is cordially invited. The democratic primary of Wells •county was held la«t Saturday, and thirty-eight candidates aspired to fill some office to their liking. Eight candidates presented themwelves for cletk and Hugh Studabaker was the successful candidate with a plurality of 368. Among the three candidates for auditor W. A Marsh had a plurality of 288 Eight candidates for recorder were lea by John Mdler who showed a plurality of 227. The race for treasurer was close and exciting and among the nine candidates, Wg H. Rupright came to the front by the small plurality of 43. The other offices did not have as many aspirants and were not as exciting. W, H. Eichorn was nominated for representative, W W. Mcßiide cosbner, William Higgins for sheriff,! Lon Batson for surveyor, John 18»nch county assessor, R. C. Reynolds commissioner 2d district and J. Haflick commissioner 3d dis- j

ObcatUr

I)i,n P. B Ids is now looking - ft»-r business interests at Geneva. He fi ids occasional time to visit friends in this city, however, and will retain his residence in Deca fur. Marriage licenses have been issued this week to William Colter and flattie M Riwl*y, Peter J. Moser and Jane Mcßride, William M Goff ami Harriet R Coolman, William O. Cordua and Bertha L. Roop The American Girl appeared at the opera house Monday evening tonne of the largest audiences of the season. The company is one of ihe best on the road ami the drama the finest ever seen in the city. Dr. .lames M Dinncn of Fort Wavne, wa- in our citv Thursday in consultation with Dr. II E Keller in the case of Joseph Par ent, Sr., who is dangerously ill with lung trouble, and very little hopes of his recovery. David Dilling <>f Preble, came to the citv bright and early Saturday morning tick led tod ath A boy make h s appearance at his h >me the day before and in consequence Dave wa* tfie happiest man in the county. Mother and babe doing nicely. Dr. 11. F. Costello, secretary of the board of health, reports that seveial cases of diphtheria have developed at Preble and Magi y and in the vicinity of these two towns. Steps have been taken to stop the spread of the di-ease and a str et quarantine will be placed on aftlicied quarters The protracted meetings at the M. E. church are being held n ghdy and the attendance is constantly on tne increase. Great interest is being manifested and already the good work has greatly added to the membership of the church. The meetings will be held for some lime in the future. New circuit court cases filed are Arlington A. Bergman vs Fred Droyer, note $l5O 00. Emanuel Woods vs City of Decatur, account sl2uo. George W. Sr mt vs Ike S Rose, account S7O '. Paul Girod vs I Noah Beberstine, from J. P. Wil liam II Hood vs Ike S. Rose, attachment s3oo John Robinson vs Al my B. Robinson et al, demand 1200. On Friday evening, January 7, the W R C. installed the follow iug officers: President, Ltbbie Roebuck; Senior Vice, Mary Williams; Junior Vic , Sarah Purdy; Sec’y. Nora Parrish, Treas. /•■ma* M lotte; Chaplain, Lou K triedy; Conductor, Hattie Nichols; Guard, Ida Chron'ster; Ass’t Conductor, Anna Buhler; Ass’t Guard, Margaret Louthen; delegates to department convention, Rebecca Phipp-i alternative, Emma Buhler. Mrs. Elizabeth Shawl died suddenly Monday morning at 2 o’clock at her home on North Main street. For some time she has been a sufferer of heart disease, and this dis ease was the cause of her sudden death. During the night she was taken with a violent coughing spell and on attempting to arise from bed fell to the floor. The inmates of the house came to hei rescue and physicians were smu moued but before they arriv* d she was d ad. She was forty-five years old at the time of her death and had been a sufferer from a compli cation of diseases for some time. The funeral was held yesterday morning at 9 o’clock.

It is with considerable pride, yet not without a tear of regret, that this paper and those connec ed with its publication, sever their business and st>cial relations with Herman L. Center, associate editor After this week he will no longer be connected with the Democrat, a faet that has caused even the office devil to wear a long Methodist face and a drooping spirit. We are more than sorry to part company but rejoice with him in his future success, knowing that it all is deserving. Himself and family will leave next Wednesday for their new weste rn home at Sturgis. South Dakota, where the responsible po Bition of assistant cashier of the Meade County Bank, awaits him. Were it necessary we could dwell at length bearing testimony as to his excel'ent moral and bu-iness character, his superior judgment and advanced ideas, his devotion to his employer ami a thousand and one other important and ne ccssary accomplishments that make business a success and a pleasure.

DECATUR, INDIANA, THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 1898.

The following officers of the St. Marys Oath lie church were elect ed last Sundav t<> serve for the en suing vear: E. X Ehinger treasurer, John Losche secretary, ami Frank Gass, Dyonis Schmidt and Peter Center trustees. Henry Kohne was elected trustee for the St. Joseph cemetery. The question is being frequently asked, why is it that a candidate for representative is to be nuim nated at the coining primary election, instead of se ection by convention as heretofore! Because the last legislature gave Adams county a representative, instead of one for Adams and .Jay as heretofore. Wtn. Erwin, a prominent ami prosperous farmer of Union rown snip, has purchased the furniture and undertaking business of M. Strass ar Monroeville, and has moved * ith his family to that city to take charge of his new pur chase. Mr. Erwin has long been a resident of this county ami our loss will be Monroeville’s gain. The Van Wert times is now de fendai t in a suit for damages filed by a Venedocia barber T <e Times should grow biggerand better than ever befo **, as libel suits only help the newspaper against which the action is brought, a d rarely, it ever result in any good to the plaintiff. Here’s to you Bro. Kohn. May you lick ’em at every turn of the r<>ad. Wilson Merryman is seriously ill with appendici'is Dr. Porter of Fort Wa\ ne, assisted by Dr. Boy ers of this city per formed an operation yesterday morning. The operation was a sucees arid the patient will soon be mi the rapid ro id to recovery. This is the second time that Wilson has been dangerously ill within a short period, and friends hope for a speedy recovery

Miss L raise Bradley entertained a number of young friends last Saturday evening, at the home of L'heodote Kenuedv in honor of hei brothers Joseph and Frank who wi I soon leave the city to enter college, Joseph at Danville, Kentucky ami Frank at Valparaiso. I’he evening was pleasantly spent and ttie refreshments were dainty. The boys received the well wishes of their many frien's before departing on their journev. C. E. Everett, the Fort Wayne politician, erstwhile candidate for governor, electric rai road pro > oter and colonizer, was released Saturday morning on a bond of #4,000, furnished by the following well known gentlemen: C E Ev erett, R S. Robertson, D N. Foster, John Deibelbiss, J. W. White, W I . Page, N. R. Leonard and R K. Erwin His trial will be held some time in Febru >ry, the exact time not being set, and ihe distinguished gentleman will then lie given a chance to establish his innocence and show his good intern tints. At pre-ent, however, it haiks rather blue, and he may have some trouble in selling himself right. A brief re -ort of our past four months of school will no doubt be of interest to many- The follow ing items are taken from the Superintendent’s report to the board of education: Average number of pupils on roll for the term 771.5. Average number belonging lor the teim 746 5 Average daily attend ance for the term 730. Average per cent of attendance for the terra 97.8. Average pei cent of attendance for last month 97 92. Largest num tier of pupils neither tardy or absent for any one month 534. Smallest number of pupils neither tardy or absent for any one month 466. Total number of visits for the term 437. One of the most encouraging of the above items is that of average daily attendance. The average per cent for the first four months is the best for those respec tive months that has ever been recorded in the history of onr schools Both teachers and pupils are put ting forth every effort possible to be able to report a perfect abend ance. The highest per cent for any one room last mouth was 99.5, which was made by grade BA. The best per cent of attendance for any one mouth by any one room during the term was 99 7. This honor belongs to room 4, west ward. A few other rooms are very close to this mark. Boys and girls, what room of you can I report as first having a perfect attendance, and what room is going to have the best per eent for this mouth! W. F. Brittson, Superintendent.

The Citizens Telephonecompany held a meeting Monday evening at which time a change in the personnel of the directorate w’as maue. J. W. Place was exalted lothe re sponsible position of president made vacant by the resignation of A. I). Locke. Henry Krick was elected to succeed Mr. Place as vice president, and F. M. Schirmeyer was chosen to fill the vacancy on the board of directors. While a prominent young man of Bertie was on his way home Saturday evening, after having paid a social visit to a lady friend, be was brutally assault* d bv parties whose names could not be learned. The aforesaid assaulted young man is one of the prominent young men of Bertie and has friends by the score who are making desperate efforts to have the culprits captured and punished Last Friday afternoon the Daughters of America presented the city schools with American fl rgs and they were raised above toe buildings with appropriate ceremonies. The schools sang “America,” and C. L. Walters presented the flags in a neat speech which was responded to by Supt. Brittson, followed by the song of “Red, White and Blue.” The e< tire ceremony was excellent and created a lasting, loya' impression upon the young minds The disposition of cases in the circuit court during the week past, is as follows: State vs C. E. Everett, bond of S4OOO approved. Decatur Investment Company vs John Koos, judgment vs plaintiff for costs. Heien M. Bobo vs Samuel L. Reicen et al., new trial granted Reisen. Anna M Lutz et al vs Agnes Walkup. Commissioner Shaffer Peterson files a final report which is accepted and appioved. Albert O Marsh et al vs James A Showalter, continued. Decatur Investment Company vs Jesse Clark et al, judgment vs defendants for *67.65. State vs Lee Smith el al, on trial. This is the famous white capping case, further mention of which will be found elsewhere.

“On the Yukon,” the attraction at the opera house Monday, January 24 is said to be one of the dramatic novelties of the season. The cast contains some very clever people headed by Sam Mori is, who as a delineator of Hebrew character is without a peer in America. The piece is magnicfieutly staged, every set being special and carried by the company. The plot may briefly lie summarized as follows: During these exciting days of min ing in the Klondike, a kind hearted and jovial Jew, journeyed with the I wealth seekers to the coast, following the vocation of peddler, making a specialty of the money bags from which he derived his sobriquet. Before the incidents of the play take, Moses has rescued Phil Carrin ton from a river into which he had fallen. A strong friendship springs up between them, and Phil meeting him in Dawson City some months later insists upon a visit to his cabin in the nountains nearby, and Moses accepts. John Golden, guardian of Phil’s affianced wife, and his p rtner, Guiesseppe Duranti, dispose of their n ine, dividing the proceeds. Golden conceals his share while arranging for a return to his eastern home. Levi buys Golden’s cabin and arrives at it to find him in the agonies of death, having b en shot and robbed of his papers by his partner. Moses lieing found there is accused of the murder and is about to oe lynched when Phil interferes. Moses is tried and acquitted, and with Phil visits Golden's family in New York. There they find Duranti who is endeavoring to try to swindle Mrs. Golden out of some Australian raining property belonging to her late husband. To rid himself of Phil and Moses he causes a false telegram to be presented calling for their immediate presence in Dawson City toconsumate the sale of a valuable mine. Blanche Chenoworth, Duranti’s mistress, an eye witness to the shooting and acquainted with the whereabouts of ti e concealed money, hearing Duranti intends to marry Mrs. Golden, leaves upon the train car rying Phil and Moses for New’ York, arriving in time to thwart the Italian’s schemes Duranti at temps ti e life of Levi, but is shot by Blanche Explanations follow and from the gloom of tradgedy springs the sunshine of happier days.

Inv'tations have been issued for the marriage of Harriet J. Patter Son to George S. Morris, which takes place at the home of the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. R. I). Patterson Wednesday, January twenty sixth, at four o’clock. The bride to be, is one of the social leaders of this city, while the groom elect is one of the prosperous you ng business men of our neighboring city of Bluffton. The contracting parties have hosts of friends who will heap upon them congratula tions galore at the appointed hour Some of the leading farmers in the vicinity of Peru are taking ad vantage of the oil boom and are using the crude product to feed their swine. One farmer, Israel Minnie, put some of the oil in the feeding trough, and found the pigs became wild for it. He finds it an excellent preventive for cholera and has been able to keep bis herds, while those who did not u«e it have lost many animals. The oil can be bought at the wells in Pern for forty-three cents a barrel, and is found a very cheap and es fective feed for hogs. Coroner Kappel of APen county, h '8 given his verdict in the deaths of Viola Marquardt and Michael Miller. After hearing all the evidence and carefully viewing the bodies, he has decided that the lovers c •mmitted suicide. Both died from a pistol shot in the right side of the head The verdict bus tains the general belief that it was a double suicide, and not a murder and suicide as many people be lieved. It appeared quite evident to the coroner that Miller had first set down upon the bed, had raised the pistol to his head and pulled the trigger, dying before his head touched the bed. Miss Marquardt then took the gun from her dead lover’s hand and standing with her face to the bed fired the bullet into her own brain and falling to the floor, where it is thought she suffeied great agony before dying. According to the January distribution sheet compiled at the Auditors office, we note tha' Union township has 348 school children, pays $26.80 congressional school tax, $435.13 common school tax. *203.27 township tax, $811.48 “pecial school, making a total of *1,476.68. Root. —School children 393, congressional $79.42, common school *442.25, township SSBB 96, special school *788.75, tuition $195.25, total $2,094.63. Preble.— School children 473, congressional $30.58, common school *597.28, township *470.99, special school $471, total *1,569 85. Kirkland. —School children 438, congression al sl6, common school *565 49, township sl2l 39, special school $728 12, tuition $242.94, total $1,673 94 Washington.—School children ss22,congressional $36.78, common school *656 11, township $1,233.96, special school $395.02, tuition $249.16, total *2,571 03. St. Mary’s.—School children 375, congressional $34.58, common 5ch001,5463.19, township $188.06, special school $375 74, tuition $626 97, total $1,688 54. Blue Creek.—School children 391, con gressional *24, comm >n school $495, township $189.82, special school $lB9 82, tuition *95 40, to tai *994 04. Monroe —School children $834, congressional *18.60, common school *1,088.46, township $499.60, special school $333.47, tu ition S2OB 92, total *2,149.05. French —School children 415, congressional $21.35, common school *529 52, township *342.47, speciil school $456.60, tuition *228.19, total $1,578 13 Hartford —School children 456, con gressional *ll6B, common school $593.61, township $458.24, special school $916.47, tuition $305.73, total *2,285 73. Wabash. —S< hool children 653, congressional *26.97, common school 5839 82, township *366.75, special school *377.62, tuition *357.14, total *1,968.30. Jefferson. —School children 417, congressional *40.74, common school *512.79, township *278.33, special school $832 92, tuition *92.44, total *1,757 22. Decatur. —School children 1,314. common school *1,744.21, special school $1,805.26, tuition *1,757.41, corporation *8,673.46, library *138.92, total school *5,445 80. Geneva. — School children 409, common school *542 90, special school $560.20, tuition *497.33, c rporation *1,305 42 total school *1,600.43. Berne — School children 314, common school $416.80, special school *925.21. tuition *465.96, corporation $1,229.36, total school *1,807.97.

CIRCULATION 2400 WEEKLY

MlMliEli 45

Emanuel Woods lias begun a suit against the city for $1,200 foi ex tras and extra work performed «»r» Winchester ami Sixth s’ reels He alleges that the extra material and extra labor performed was at the direction of the city engineer, and «as not so describe* in the plans and speefications. He claims that the cost of extra material ami labor performed will amount to *1,200 and that in fo'lowing the d r*etious of the city engineer he built these streets at a loss. Had he been allowed to do the w rk as at fiist specified he could have tilled the contract at a small profit f*r himself. Be that as it may, the city is the defendent and will necessitate the expenditure of a large sum of money to protect the people’s interests. Oh! this is an • conomic administration this is, and suits are piling up just the same Dr. H. F. Costello secretary of the county lioard of health, has made out his report for the quarter ending December 31, 1897. showing the number of births, deaths, marriages and the number of contagious diseases as follows: Total number of births 99, October 33, November 26, Deeendier 40, males 43, females 56, u bite 99, colored none, still biittrn 2, illegitimate births 2. Total nnnil*erof deaths 23, October 10, November 6, December 7, males 10, females 13, colored none, o dest ma e tietween 80 and 90, oldest female betweeu 70 and 80. Total numtier of marriages 66, October 25, November 13, December 28, foreign born grooms 4, foreign born biides 2, oldest groom 70, oldest bride 67, three grooms were under 20, and 23 brides were under 20. Total number of contagious diseases 11, October 2, November 6. December 3, deaths from tynhiod fever 10. The commissioners commenced this week to settie with the township trustees, and make distribution of the judgment of *954 <ib tained by the county in the second suit against Dan P. B «lds, growing out ot the raised road receipts The case that was tried wherein the county obtained a judgment of S6OO against Mr. Bolds for the years 1893 and 1894 is still pending on a motion to tax costs, but the second case wherein by argument the county obtained a judgment for 5954 for the year 1895, has been disposed of and the cash paid into the county treasury. The settlement and distribution has proceeded far enough to show’ almost to a certainty that the amount received by the commissioners will pay to each township trustee the full amount of the shortage of road fund due them for 1895. Thus the commissioners have by their actions assured to the several townships that there will be no loss. All the trustees have not yet been before the commissioners to settle, but if the others mn in the sane proportion as those who have already settled, there will be a surplus in the county treasury. This shows the wisdom of the settlement with Mr. Bolds which some of the repul licans have so strongly condemned. If you want to i-ee wherein the county and townships are benefittetl by the settlement, you have but 'o contrast the >wo suits. The first was tried by a jury and after thirtv days trial the ji ry returned a verd ct for S6OO. To collect this *6OO it cost $1,457. We take only t' e largest items The total shown above was all paid out to recover a judgment of *6OO, and there is still pending, a motion to require the county to pay over *4OO of the fees of some of the witnesses who were subpoenaed at the trial and not used. It the motion is sustained the total above stated will be larger by that much. This amount was expended justly by the county, but when we consider that it is a total loss to the county, and that the S6OO recovered will only pay about 40 per cent of the amount of road tax the township trustees ought to have received for 1893 and 1894, then you can readily see the wisdom of the settlement made by the commissioners in the second case. In the case litigated and tried, they recovered S6OO and paid out *1,457.70 to do it, and the trustees will get 40 per cent of the amount due them. In the second case, settled without a trial, $954 was obtained, it cost no attorney fees and other costs to gel it, and the trustees will likely receive 100 cents on the dollar. Onr ■republican friends will kick, even .though convinced of the error of i their ways.