Decatur Democrat, Volume 42, Number 18, Decatur, Adams County, 14 July 1898 — Page 1

aIL the news all THE time.

LUME XLII.

Sprang of Ft. Wayne, visited ! city over Sunday at the home Daniel' Sprang. Lehman and Peter Soldf Berne, were in the city Monday, . s being the drawing card. . Carry Sovine of Chicago, is 1 visiting numerous relatives, ’ ng thenibeing Surveyor Fulk and lily. Jountv Supt, Brandyburry is con- . to’ his home with an affection ihe left eye. While not serious is quite annoying. ) \V. Beerv sold to Harry Deem Bluffton, the finest coach team t e ver traveled down the pike. pv W ere beauties and brought a 2 neat sum of the filthy lucre, forman G. Lenhart is conductor on ra vel wagon running from this city the Bluffton and Decatur gravel d When he gets through with it will not look like a punny college dent. [ W. Bosse represented Dr. Mar jl’s Medicine Company in several ts of Ohio and Indiana this week, came home smiling under a neat J of future orders and a comfortabank account, the result of collect- • some old scores. jurveyor Fulk and family were in rtford township Sunday attending funeral of the former’s aunt Mrs. gust Steadier. The interment took ce at the three mile cemetery near in Grove. The deceased was forty irs old. o Thomas is home from Cardwell, ssouri, for a few days. He is mating the interests ot the Decatur gCase Company at that point, I reports them flourishing and on high road to prosperity. Their lory is one of the largest in the mtrv and is running to its fullest acity. lacob Butcher of Geneva, one of heavy legal lights of that domain, 5 looking after business here last day. His appearance was more irly marked by the smoothness of face, and we here testify without lice aforethought, that Jake is the ' st handsome man in all Adams mty. fur base ball boys were at Geneva iday where they were supposed to w a club there in a game of ball, y were simply bombarded and ven off the earth by a score of six ifty-six or thereabouts. The boys e sent for Dewey who will be ored to send a few broad-sides into enemy’s box, at the return game »played some time during the son. Ind now Decatur is to be favored h another live circus. W. Mciren, advance, agent for LaPearl’s at allied shows, was here yesterday 1 announced that his aggregation old show here Monday, August 1. ey have somewhat of a reputation being a clever lot of artists who ne as near verifying the monstross as illuminated on the bill boards as v combination on the road. They ne from Portland here. Ind now comes the information that i great and celebrated Ringling », circus, the king of the ring, will libit in this city on August 10. If s proves authentic Decatur is not ge enough to hold the influx of >ple who will be present to see the pliant in all its magnificence and gnitude. Without any question of ibt. this is the greatest show that vels and they have the most and 1 attractions. Our people will rember them some five or six years >, at which time they showed in s place. J. F. Hummel colossal show with dr elephant and other monstrosities it were larger and better trained m any other on the road, has been re and gone. The largest part of t* whole circus was their following the workers of the green. As usual feral suckers went up against a re thing and ten minutes later were t from one to thirty dollars. It ty seem strange that in this adneed age after these chestnuts have ® exploded from A. to Israel, that ople continue to go up against tni, but they do say that a sucker is rn every minute, and this accounts ‘it- They showed both afternoon d evening to fair sized audiences. Robert Evans, one of Root townip s most valued and respected citids was stricken with paralysis some ne last Friday, from the effects of u ch he died at an early hour Mony morning. He was seventy-six 3rs old at the time of death, and d lived in Adams county for sixty- \ years. In September 1828 he was in marriage to Elizabeth wks, and to their union eleven klren were born. The deceased B one among the first residents of Igonnty. experiencing all the priva pioneer life and seeing the improve to its present state of fcence and splendor. He was ■eminent in all matters of pubfovement and has done much ■e-time toward making Adams phe garden spot that it is. ■neral services took place y from the Alpha church, ■ment in the cemetery there.

Dwcatilß

r Max Romberg was laid up in bed ] Tuesday where he nursed a slight ’ indisposition. Mrs. C E. Doty and son and Mrs. Albert Osborne are at Kokomo visiting with Rev. and Mrs. E. T. Gregg. C. F. True and family are recreating in Michigan, the objecting points being Golan and Kinderhook. They will be absent ten days. Miss Adda Parrott of Chicago, and Mrs. Ella Parrott of Valparaiso, attended the funeral of their sister, which occurred at their Hartford township home last Sunday. Auditor Mangold’s new residence is rapidly reaching a state of completion, and will be a handsome addition to the cozy residence appearance of First Street. The plasterers are now getting in their work. The new firm of Gregg & Doty will leave in a day or two for Bellefontaine. Ohio, where they will finish negotiation for the merchantile store already bargained for. Immediately afterward they will open the store for business. Fire entirely destroyed the residence of Henry Haggard, near Monroe, Sunday morning. The fire originated in the kitchen which was consumed before anything was saved. The total loss was about SSOO, with but a small fraction thereof covered with insurance. The Dan Bolds store at Geneva is now being repaired, the stock assorted, the room papered and the doors to the public will be opened Saturday. An agreement has been reached as to an adjustment of the loss by fire, which was recorded in these columns two weeks ago. The injury to the stock is said to have been severe. The advertising car for Island Park Assembly was in the city the first of the week. The Assembly opens on July 27, and closes August 10. The attractions this season are more numerous and better than they have ever been before, and if any one wants to recreate for a week at a little cost, the pleasures of Rome City are at your disposal. Agent Delong of the Erie, with his family were visitors in Ohio City over Sunday. The formers brother-in-law was the victim of a Fourth of July fatality that leaves him minus one hand. In celebrating the patriotic day he monkeyed with the business end of a cannon fire cracker, which exploded and tore his right hand into shreds. The wound was so serious that amputation was found neccessary. Fisher & Frysinger, the Hamburg exporters of fine horses, expect the return of John Weber some time this or next week. They are not devoting much time or attention to the business of buying horses now, but will resume full operations after a month or so. Just at present it is somewhat difficult to buy good horses as the farmers are all'busy in their harvest and they neither like to sell or the dealers buy horses that are being worked day in and day out, The county and city health officers through the county commissioners and city council have contracted with Weavers & Suttles for the erection of a pest house. The same will be located on the southeast corner of the old fair grounds, will be 18x30 feet in diameter, divided into two rooms, with the ceiling sealed, &c. The cost of the addition is $147. It is not thought that there is any immediate need for the building, but it is an impossibility to effect a quarantine without a pest house, so it is being built for such an emergency.

W. O. Kohler, clerk at the Bliss, left this city Thursday noon, and has sent back keys to the safe in his possession, together with other belongings to the hotel, an indication that he does not expect to return. The hotel employees sav he is short to a small extent in his accounts. He had been left in charge of the hotel during the absence of Landlord Thomas on his wedding trip. The prediction is made that he will not be back in Bluffton. It is not known where Kohler went except that he mailed a letter to Mr. Thomas Thursday night from some point along the Panhandle. At Ashland his parents are very respectable people, his father having been county auditor until recently — Bluffton Chronicle. Mayor-Elect Beatty was called to Dixon, Ohio, the first of last week, to defend John Kinzle of the grave charge of assault and battery with intent to kill. It seems that the day previous the defendant was . assaulted by one Frank Mangan, and in defense of violence to his person Kinzle fired three shots at Mangan, the first simply passing through the breast of his coat, vest and shirt, the second entirely missing him and the third passing through the thigh of his leg. The defendant was later arrested and Lawyer Beattv telephoned to defend him.' The trial was hotly contested but ended in a clear vindication of self defense and the prisoner was acquitted. Anytime Decatur attorneys get after the law, they mean business. It was a narrow escape for thedefendant in this ease and he should tickle himself under the chin every day until Christmas.

DECATUR, INDIANA, THURSDAY, JULY 14, 1898.

Rev. Freck and family, of Butler, Ind., are visiting relatives in the city this week. John Kelley, of Geneva, was looking after business interests here yesterday. It was his first visit to the town for over a year, not a very good showing for one of our substantial j citizens. Business about town has been too ; quiet to raise a noise for a week or : more, but a feeling seems to prevail that the good times coming will make up with interest the deficiency that now is prevalent in business circles. J. N. Smithey of Steele, came home from Marion Tuesday where he had been investing in another threshing machine. He is the owner of a saw mill in Blue Creek township, and works the threshing act between seasons. Three new circuit court cases have been filed this week, entitled Agues M. Andrews vs. Francis M. Andrews, guardian, et al, partition. Henry E. Keller vs. David D. Clark, slander; demands $5,000. German Building Loan Fund and Saving Asssciation vs. Abner S. Elzey; foreclosure, $275. The county institute this year promises to be exceedingly lively. Some of the best lecture talent has been secured and everything bids fair to be an interesting and beneficial institute. County Superintendent Brandyberry seems to know what is neccessary for an institute as well as for everything else appertaining to his office. With news scarcer than hen’s teeth, our local artist absent on a real outing, the office boys eating copy faster than a threshing machine and at the same time laughing up their sleeves, while sweat, drops like Spanish bullets down the bosom of our shirt front, is enough to make one despondent and feel that life is not what it seems. A few more weeks of bitter anguish like this and we will take to the Klondike. The board of review adjourned Tuesday until tomorrow at which time they will wind up their little ball of unfinished business and adjourn. Many changes were made in the assessments, especially among the merchants, and if they used the same scrutiny in looking up the mortgage notes which are worth one hundred cents on the dollar, all is well and good. The carpenters and painters are at work on the new furniture for the Boston Store. While it is only now in its infancy as far as appearance is concerned, yet it is far enough advanced to admit of rigid examination. That it will be beautiful in appearance and design is too true for fiction to be winking her left eye in derision. Decatur is becoming metropolitian at a rapid pace and much credit is due her enterprising business men for these advancements. The busy employees of the Boston Store had a square meal Sunday. Upon invitation they invaded the home of Henry Wass' and daughter of Union township, and while there sat around the festive board and freely partook of one of the finest dinners you ever read about. Mr. Wass is one the most prosperous farmers in Adams county and his country mansion is a haven of pleasure at any time. The guests of Sunday still taste the sweet perfumes of spring chicken and seem glad that they still live to tell the tale of pleasures galore. The following account of the marriage of Miss Bernice Bobo, a former Decatur lady, is taken from the Kingman county'(Kansas), Journal and will no doubt interest many of our readers. Miss Bobo is a daughter of Judge Bobo of this city, and has many friends here who join with the Democrat in offering congratulations. Wednesdav night at about ten o’clock, at the residence of the officiating minister, Rev. Hoyt of the M. E. church, Miss Bernice Bobo Ix'came Mrs. Alonso Barton. The wedding was a very quiet affair, only a very few of the intimate friends of the young couple witnessing the ceremony. Both the bride and groom are well and favorably known here, and they start out on their matrimonial career with the best wishes of the people of Kingman. Clerk Lenhart has just completed his yearly report tothe Indiana Bureau of Statistics, and from it we note that 223 civil cases have been begun during the past year, of which 124 are yet pending. Fifity-two criminal cases have been begun and twenty still pending. There have been two criminal convictions in felony, seven in misdemeanors, twenty-nine cases tried by jury, 105 days occupied in trving cases by jury and 230 days of court. On June 30 there were seven-ty-one administrations pending, twen-ty-nine letters issued during the year, twenty-six estates settled, 156 guardianships pending, seventeen issued during the year and twenty-two disposed of. There were also ninetythree executions issued, eighteen decrees of foreclosure, 210 marriage licenses issued and seventeen divorces granted, thirteen of which was to the wife and four to the husband. The report also shows that twelve persons have been admitted to practice law and that the total number of attorneys on the roll of our circuit court is forty.

Trustee Buckmaster of Jefferson township was here Monday on business. Allen Porter has returned from a three week’s recreation and fishing trip in Michigan, where he succeded in having a good time. Prosecutor Smith has completed some excellent improvements at his residence, which adds much to the com fort, convenience and appearance of Dave’s happy home. Wheat is being marketed here in rather scrumptuous quantities, there being a prevailing fear among the farmers that the price will decline. By this they believe that a bird in the hand is worth a half dozen in the bush. Steel’s Park Sunday attracted a few of our people, and those who enjoyed the beauties that surrounded this magnificent park were entertained with a band concert or a boat ride on the lake. In a few years Decatur can boast of the most beautiful park in the universe. A. J. Smith, C. A. Dugan, L. D. Adams, Henry Hite, Charles Bell and John H. Heller composed a jolly fishing party which left here Monday morning for Colen, Michigan, where they are engaged this week in fishing and hunting. Their return will mark another paralei in the greatness of tales when mixed up with fish tails. Smith & Bell have not as yet made public their decision relative to the re-building of their mill. We hope to hear that they will erect their milling business here as it means much to our laborers and much to those who supply them with timber. They did an extensive business, disbursed and handled lots of money, all which helped to oil the wheels of commerce in our busy little city. The street fair at Portland is reported to have been a grand success in every way, and the strangest part of the whole circus is the fact that the money raised by subscription more than equaled the expense, thus compelling the committee on arrangements to pay more than $6 to the poor, that being the overplus. They had a large crowd, good attractions and everything was lovely. “Well, sir,” said the old farmer, “this here gol durned red tape government is the devil. Why, you’ve got ter stand a regular school examination for everything. Fust they turned Jim down for the postoffice, jest kase he did ’t know nothin’ ’bout spellin’ an’ ’rithmetic, an’ now they won’t take him in the army kase he’s bow-legged in one leg an’ knockkneed in the other. How kin they expect people to live happy under a government like that ?” C, E. Doty the tailor, and Hiram Gregg have formed a partnership, purchased a tailoring establishment at Bellefontaine, Ohio, and will embark in business there. Gents furnishings will be added to the tailoring department. We hereby notify the wearers of fine clothing there that they will be better fitted in the latest style than it ever before was their privilege. Mr. Doty knows the business thoroughly besides both are enterprising business men of high standing and will succeed as they deserve and should. Their ocean of friends here regret their departure but wish them success by the car load. Samuel H. Marshal one of the accused murderers of Louisa Stoltz, at Portland last February, and who has been confined in the jail here for some time, was taken to Portland Friday > for trial. Mann & Beatty have been j engaged with R. H. Hartford for the defense. According to the Sun great interest is being manifested in the trial, the court room being crowded with anxious spectators all of whom are eager to get a glimpse of the prisoner and to hear the testimony in the case. Marshall claims innocence and says at the time of the murder he was more than a hundred miles away. The trial of Musser, his associate, will follow immediately after they settle the fate of Marshall. The trial of Marshall has been venued to Randolph county; a change being de- ■ manded by the defense. Much as we regret to acknowledge the fact, yet when the published re- ' ports of our state geologist each year report a decrease in the natural gas resources, we are compelled to uncover the eye somewhat. The last report among other things plainly says: “The natural gas field of the state originally embraced almost 3,000 square miles.' Today the productive area is less than half that size. The average rock pressure was in the beginning 325 pounds; today it is less than 200 pounds. Mr. Leach reports that in the heart of the field an area of 250 square miles, located in Grant, Madison. Blackford ami Delaware : counties, the pressure decreased j thirty pounds in 1897, and now aver- ! ages but 215 pounds; while in these four comities, which are the most productive of the entire field, the average pressure is but 200 pounds. The decrease in rock pressure, added to that of an exhaustion of one-half of the original productive-area and the constant encroachment of salt water toward the center of the field, all point to its final exhaustion.

Manufacturer A. T. Lynch was at I St. Louis several days this week looking after business in which he is interested. Mrs. H. F. Bucher and children of Van Wert, Ohio, were guests over Sunday and the first of the week at the home of J. H. Stone. Eugene Morrow, a resident of Bluffton and a reader of the Democrat, with his family have gone to their, summer home at Oden, Michigan. Mr. Morrow was for years a resident; of Adams county, residing at Linn Grove. Julia E. Parrott again furnishes the Democrat readers a long and well written account of the heathen youths of Burma, India, where she is actively engaged in missionary work. She has been absent there for some three years and seemingly has cultivated a great interest in the work. Street Commissioner Mann has been doing some very satisfactory work during the past few weeks in cleaning up our streets. Xearly every manhole was filled with dirt and filth. These have been cleaned, the streets likewise and if the lick is kept up our citizens need not feel ashamed of the appearence of our streets and alleys. By proxy we have it that Major R. B. Allison is thoroughly enjoying life amid the embracing air of his Oden, Michigan home, and that at a very early date the spirit will move him and with his own hand he will diagram a few of his well-timed originalities, which later will be laid before the many readers of the best and newsiest newspaper, on earth that is the Democrat. The Fort Wayne Driving Club are displaying lithographs announcing their annual meeting which occurs August 8,9, 10, 11 and 12. According to their side of the story the races this season will be a record breaker, with premiums totalized at something like $35,000. The entrys are being rapidly taken up. Decatur and Adams county will no doubt furnish the usual grist of sightseers who have grown in the habit of taking in the races. James Waldron sets at rest all rumors that he had gone to join the angels, by writing his sister, Mrs. C. S. Niblick, that he was still whole and alive. The letter was written on the U. S. S. Morgan off Santiago, Cuba, and reports him more than pleased with his trip. At the time the letter was being written the gun boats were reducing the forts at Santiago, and he did not seem a bit nervous; about coming in bitter combat with the enemy’s pop guns. Arrangements have been made for quite a social event near Salem next Saturday evening, which promises to be a pleasant one. An ice cream social and musical concert will be held in Beatty’s grove, one mile and a half south and oue mile west of Salem. The Berne Brass Band will furnish the music and the concert will continue all evening. No pains or expense have been spared and the occasion will no doubt be an enjoyable one. Take your family and attend. Leave business cares alone and spend the evening in enjoyment. Remember the date, Saturday evening, July 16th. Some of Van Wert’s newspapers have been wearing war paint for a week or two on account of our officials bombarding against her smallpoi eon tagion. They have been contending that such a course was worse than folly itself, besides being selfish and detrimental to their welfare. With due regard for their rights to howl we feel it our duty and privilege to uphold our officers, who had in view the protection of our people. After an investigation by Health Officers Costello and Clark, Mayor Quinn and A. P. Beatty the veil has been lifted. They report t hat several cases in a mild form still exist, but over them a strict quarantine has been effected. With care there need be no further spread.. ing of the contagion, and soon the social relations between the two towns will again assume that natural trend. Monday attorneys France & Son, James T. Merryman and R. S. Peterson filled a complaint with the clerk of the Adams circuit court, which was entitled Henry E. Keller vs Dayid D. Clark, and is a suit for slander, demanding damages in the sum of $5,000. It seems that the doctors have their troubles just the same as white trash. The complaint covers seventeen closely type written pages, is written in eight paragraphs, and after the usual preamble about the residences of the interested parties, avers that the defendant maliciously and otherwise spoke of the plaintiff in a defamatory and malicious manner, thereby destroying the confidence of the public in the plaintiff as a physician as well as otherwise injuring him. It seems that the suit first grew out of some difficulty between the two at the time of the death of the Crawford child whose home was with J. C. Fisher and family. The child died Keller contending that death resulted from diphtheria, Clark disputing the same. A war of words ensued which resulted in the suit for slander and the end is not yet. Mann & Beatty and Lutz A Snow have been retained by the defense.

CIRCULATION 2400 WEEKLY

NUMBER 18

J. F. Roher editor of the Berne Witness was a pleasant caller at the Democrat sanctum Monday. He reports Berne as moving along in the even tenor of her ways, being chuck full of business and all right. Dick Townsend now sports the finest turnout that graces the marble paved streets of our fashionable little city. A handsome pneumatic tired driving buggy when attached to his blooded stepper simply takes a tear from your eye. The vacant room next to Page Blackburn’s drug store, is being papered and fitted up for the reception of the City News Co. and the Wells Fargo Express Agency. They will be at home therein a few days, thus making it convenient for both themselves and their patrons. Bluffton is now agitating a street fair, but we surmise it will be up-hill business with them, so soon after working off on an innocent public the greatest fake of the age, and that too on the Fourth of July. You can work some of the people all the time, &c., but there surely is not enough suckers left in Wells county to bite twice. Our correspondent at Linn Grove accused the north metropolis of Adams county with trying to induce the Grand Rapids officials to change their trains back to the old system. If such is on the wing we have heard it not. To our knowledge the new service fills the bill just right, with no kicks registered. As a whole Decatur will be greatly benefitted by the new system. The patriotic people of Monmouth celebrated the Fourth last Saturday evening, and it is said that their display of fireworks simply beat the band, and would have made even the enthusiasts of this city green with envy. While our information is limited yet we are tipped that the program was splendidly arranged and everything went off like greased lightning, not a jar occurring. We feel disposed to score one for Monmouth. Auditor Mangold has not been able to finish the June distribution owing to the failure of the state officials to send him the amount due and owing from the great commonwealth of Indiana to the school fund of Adams county. The amount should have been here and properly distributed by last Monday. Township trustees and treasurers of cities, towns and school boards cannot receive their allotted share of the June distribution until the state whacks up. The old settlers’ meeting will be held in this county within the next few weeks. The officers and committees on arrangements will meet shortly to make final preparations. Judge David Studabaker is the president of this society and George H. Martz is vice-president. These meetings are becoming more interesting each year and are anxiously looked forward to by the pioneers of the county. The officers are trying to make'the coming meeting the most successful ever held, and if their untiring efforts count for anything, it certainly will be. The exact time and place will appear later. Last weeks Portland Sun contained the following account of the marriage of James J. Moran, one of Adam's countys brightest products: James J. Moran and Miss Libbie Somers left yesterday morning for Ft. Wayne, where they were united in marriage by Bishop Rhadamacher. The groom is' one of Portland’s most popular, talented and successful lawyers and is the democratic nominee for prosecuting attorney for this judicial district, a young man of sterling worth withal. The bride has for years been a teacher in our public schools and in that capacity gave unlimited satisfaction, and during her residence in this city has made an unlimited number of friends and acquaintainces. The newely married pair will go to housekeeping on west Arch street. In common with their other friends, the Sun joins in congratulating the happy couple. Sheriff Melching accompanied Sheriff B. F. Hull, of Columbia City, to Decatur yesterday to help capture a runaway husband and an eighteenyear- old girl whom the runaway had taken with him from Columbia City. The pair and the man’s father were located at a camp about a mile out from Decatur, and when they saw the two officers approaching the camp the man took to the corn fields’and escaped, and the girl fainted, thinking the men were her father and a preacher. The officers brought the girl back, and she will be returned to her parents at Columbia City today. The man is still at large, but will probably l>e caught today and taken to Whitley county for trial. His name is Al Martin, and he has been here a number of times, selling easels made from boughs of trees, and other rustic I articles. He was here on the Fourth i having sent his wife and baby to the home of her parents in North Manchester, before running away with I the voting girl, whose name is Emmy Egglemeyer. He then brought the girl here, and they were joined by Martin’s father, and the trio set out for a season’s trip in a covered wagon. —Ft. Mayne Journal.