Decatur Democrat, Volume 42, Number 34, Decatur, Adams County, 3 November 1898 — Page 1

aIL the news all THE time.

volume xlii.

atomD but once, and stamp with I , a re but stamp within the Rooster s square. i nharlev Morrison of Blue Creek | Unship, ' vas in town yesterday, I g matters being the drawing card.. The 28th Indiana Battery, to which I n F Studabaker of this city belonged out of the service of facie Sam last Monday. c ver y young voter in the county is ! lir ged to meet at democratic head□rters Saturday evening at i o clock tnmareh in a body to the opera house to listen to our noted senator. Miss Anna Miller is spending a two naeks vacation with her parents on South Second street. Miss Anna ks been employed in the office of the American Bill File Company at ft. Wayne for some time. A merry party of young folks eniovel a hallowe’en party at the home of H. H. Bremerkamp on Madison street Monday evening. The guests wr e masqueraded and all report a jolly time. We mention below a list of subscribers, who have paid their annual dues to the Democrat during the past w k- Anna Miller. Jeff Lehman, John Kirsch, Louis First, Albert Walter George Crist, James Gage, Main Johnson, Fred M. Glous, C. Burghatiei. Wm. H. Beinke, Wm. Blackburn. H. B. Smith, John P. Steiner and John Horner. Senator Turpie will speak at the opera house Saturday evening, and arrangements have been made for the roung men of the county to meet at .'thedemoeratic headquarters and headed by the band march to the opera house in a body. Remember every voter in the county, especially the voung men are invited to join in this procession and listen to a speech by the grand old orator. The last weeks Portland Sun contains the following notice of the date for the trial of Albert Musser, who was confined in jail here last spring. “At Hartford City, Monday afternoon, the case of the State vs. Albert Musser for the murder and robbery of Mrs. Louise Stolz in the city, last* February, was set for Monday. November 14, 1898. Owing to Judge Vaughn’s illness, Judge Simmons sat as special judge. It is not known who will try the case, but it is thought that Judge Smock will be called. Both sides claim they have new and important evidence for the trial, and sensational features are expected. Mrs. Sophia Watson, of Linn Grove died at her home Sunday evening of typhoid fever. Mrs. Watson was the mother of Albert Musser, the man who has been charged with the murder of Louise Stoltz and it is said that her boy’s trouble so worried her that her system was an easy victim for the fever. The Portland Commercial of this week said: “Sitting in his cell in the Blackford county jail, awaiting trial on the highest crime on the calendar, Albert Musser received sad news today. It was to the effect that his faithful mother had given up life’s battle and grieved herself into the grave over her son. Musser’s mother, Mrs. Sophia Watson, lived in the little town of Linn Grove and as soon as she heard what had befallen him she took it greatly to heart. Day after day the thing wore upon her until at last she was no longer able to bear the burden of grief and suspense and laid her human burden aside. Musser appears to be making quite a good impression among those who have him at Hartford City, and feels that be is going to get out of his present predicament. Council met in regular session in their hall on Monroe street Tuesday evening. Mayor Beatty presided and the following councilmen were present. Suttles, Miller, Haeffing. Niblick and Chronister, Mann of the Third jyard being the only absent member. The minutes of the meeting of Oct. ra were read and upon motion approved. The report of the judiciary committee, with reference to the colwting of taxes, was presented and laid upon the table. Upon the recommendation of the finance commitJ*bills were then allowed as follows: Electric Light Appliance Co.. 5142.12; Lharles Peterson, labor, 60c; C. N. Jwrwin, S4O; Milligan Jackson. S4O; ■1- J. Mylott, $10; George Kinzel,s4s; ~n Geary, $5; Thomas Buckmaster, «10.u0; City Eengineer’s bill. $6; "ilson, Humphries & Co., $6: Bradford Billing Co., $31.14; Harrv B. Moss, $37.50; Varney & McConot, pw; American Carbon Co., $8.07; airsch & Sellemeyer, $33.55; Fire company for fake fire on night of Oct. “b C. N. Dorwin, $1.50; J. J. b| uting, $6.35; Street Commissioner's £7 roll, $130; J. S. Bowers. $83.10; TO company, $49.78; H. Kriek, sl. ouneilman Niblick then moved that , - committee on streets and alleys ~ mstructed to make a report upon I Q ext meeting night. A resolution a nunc pro tunc entry was preby City Attorney Bobo and opted by a full vote. Councilman uler was appointed bv Mayor Beatty / a mein ber of the judiciary commit- • Another resolution, munc pro „ llee, was presented and adopted and 'V 101 *, adjourned to meet again Nov*®ber 15Lh.

D>CATIIR

Charley Armstrong of Geneva, is here making a ditch report upon which he was one of three viewers. Harry Rosenthal, who has been quite sick in the hospital at Toledo, Ohio, is reported much improved. Rev. Edwin T. Gregg is one of the lecturers who will entertain our citizens one evening during the Business Men’s lecure course. Baptist church Sunday next. Sermons by Rev. G. W. Pearce. Morning subject “Down in the Dumps.” Evening “Lessons From Ships.” The next term of our circuit court is likely to be one with lots of business. Already enough jury cases have been set down to take up* the largest end of the term, which with the new cases filed will make it a busy session. The New England dinner given at the Methodist lecture room last Thursday was a grand success. Fifty-eight dollars was netted and the ladies who arranged for the affair are very jubilant. The arrangements made by the ladies were very complete and the large crowd was handled in good shape, twenty tables each with it’s own waiters were used. John Niblick, A. J. Smith, John D. Hale, George W. Woodward and Jeff Bryson have been appointed an executive committee whose duties involve the general welfare of those who attend the conference of the Methodist church, to be held in this city in March. It is safe to say that nothing will be left undone for the comfort and pleasure of the out of town guests at that time.

Miss Helen F. Battenberg and Mr. Perry E. Mercer were married last Thursday evening. The wedding was a quiet one, only a few of the relatives and friends being present, and occurred at the Baptist parsonage, Rev. Pearce officiating. Both are well known young people of this city. The groom is employed as a bridge carpenter and is an honest and industrious young man. Miss Battenberg is the highly accomplished daughter of Charles Battenberg, the well known horseman, who is in Germany. The happy young couple will reside in this city and their many friends wish them a long and prosperous life. J. W. Place, whose reputation as a manufacturer and wholesaler of ice cream, extracts and soft drinks, has become familiar throughout northern Indiana and Ohio, has embarked into or added new lines to his large business interests. Buildings are already completed and properly fitted for the reception of poultry, butter and eggs which will be shipped to the eastern markets. He will become a permanent fixture in this business and will no doubt soon be known as one of the largest shippers in this section. This line of trade has increased to mammoth proportions, and for some time there has been a growing demand for additional enterprises in this line, which Jim readily saw and took advantage of. A Democrat representative took a peep at the buildings prepared for this new business addition, and we are led to believe that it is being entered into in a very business like way. Poultry, butter and eggs are alreadv being received and in a few davs business will be flourishing around this new institution. Acompetant man is in charge of its management. Again we are called upon to chronicle the death of one of the county’s oldest citizens, and one who for more than thirty years has resided among us. Christoff Kirsch died at his home on north Second street Tuesday morning at one o’clock. For many years he has been a sufferer from kidney troubles. He was not, however, in a dangerous condition until about two weeks ago. Since .that time he gradually grew worse until death finally came as a relief. He has always been an earnest Christian and an excellent citizen, and his many relatives and friends are grief stricken on account of his death. Christoff Kirsch was born in Dossenheim. Baden, Germany, March 10,1828, and died November 1 1898, aged seventy years, seven months and twenty-one days. His was an industrious and useful life. At an earlv age he learned the trade of collier, which he followed until he was twenty vears of age, when in companv with a brother he came to this countrv. He spent several vears here and then returned to his fatherland. He again resumed his trade and worked at it until 1868, when he again came to America. A number of his relativeshad already settled in this county and Mr. Kirsch and his family came directly here and settled on a farm in Preble township, where he lived until six years ago when henioved to this citv. He was married in 18.>3 to Katharine Stern, and to them eight children were born, four of whom have proceeded their beloved father to the Known land. The remaining our Matthias Kirsch, Peter Kirsch, John Kirsch and Mrs. Muchler- are all resn dents of this city, and with their aged mother are left to mourn their sad loss. Mr. Kirsch was a devoted member of the German Reformed church. Sd funeral will occur from the church L th s citv, at 1:30 o’clock this afternoon' Rev. Kruse officiating. Interment in Maplewood cemetery.

DECATUR, INDIANA, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3. 189«.

A false fire alarm was sent in Monday night by some wag who wanted to play a Hallow’een trick. Such jokes prove rather serious some times. Young men who wish to attend | Senator Turpie’s speech Saturday evening, are requested to meet at: headquarters at 7 o’clock to attend in a body. Marriage licenses have been issued to James F. Hudson and Flora Henderson, Samuel McCounehey and Iva J. Yeger. Albert Betts and Fanny Betts. Homei P. Crum and Hattie E. Houck, Noland D. Woodward and Minnie Miller, Thomas J. Durbin and Lena Hain, Joseph F. Winger and Alice B. Baxter, Perry E. Mercer and Helen F. Battenters, Jeff Lichty and Sarah C. Gillom. The following new cases have been > filed in the circuit court since our last report: Harry R. Moltz, Paul G. Hooper vs. Helen M Blossom, et al, complaint to quiet title. Isabella Williams vs. Peter B. Manley, et al, change of venue from Jay county. P. & M. Gaffer, doing business under the firm name of Gaffer Bros.; ys. Daniel Sprang, complaint to enforce mechanics’ lien; demand $109.45. Hiram J. Davidson vs. Matilda Young, petition to.have defendant declared of unsound mind and to have guardian appointed. The circuit court has disposed of the following business during the week past: Indiana Mutual Building & Loan Association vs Jacob Brinneman, dismissed and costs paid. N. Blackburn vs Isaac J. Bowman admr, claim allowed $14.40. Studabaker, Sale & Co. vs Isaac J. Bowman admr, claim allowed $7.75. James Richards vs Minnie Richards, judgment vs plaintiff for SIOO. Elijah Walters vs Joseph Walters etal, partition of real estate. State exrel Daniel C. Coffee vs Michael Smith etal, tried by jury, verdict for defendants. Fred Dreyer vs Isaac Wanner and Peter P. Ashbaucher, sheriff, now on trial. At length Decatur is to have a lecture course and an excellent one too, from all appearances. Through the untiring efforts of Prof. Brittson the required number of tickets have been sold and the lectures are a guaranteed success. The exact date of the opening of the course has not been announced but will very probably be i within a short time. The first event will lx* an impersonating lecture by Prof. Byron W. King, who stands second to none in this line of work. The second entertainment will be a lecture by Rev. E. T. Gregg, formerly of this city. The third evening of the course will consist of an illustrated lecture by the talented professor, Earl Wilfly, on the subject “Quo Vadis.” Prof. Wilfly is well known here, having attended several institutes in this city. Earl B. Newton and Miss Bessie* Hunter have been engaged to please the members of the course on the fourth night and the work of the season will be closed by an entertainment of an elocutionary nature byRev. W. E. Adams of Fort Wayne. Every one who has been engaged to take part in these lectures and entertainments are of the test in their line of work, and our citizens should help the thing abong by buying a season ticket. The entire course ticket costs but one dollar and no one can afford to miss such a treat. The foot ball teams of the International Business College, of Fort Wayne, and the Decatur High School met upon the gridiron in Fronfield’s park, just across the river, last Friday afternoon and as usual our boys were defeated. It is said that at least half of the boys who played with the Fort Wayne team were professionals, but be that as it may they were too strong for the High School team, notwithstanding the fact that the latter put up a pretty game. It was precisely 3:40 when Referee Archbold cried out, “Are you ready Fort \\ ayne and Decatur”? and receiving affirmatives replies from both blew the signal to start. Fort Wayne secured the ball and Kline kicked off. France secured the ball and then the game was on in earnest. Decatur made a small gain but her players were too light to make much headway and after eight minutes playing Fort Wayne secured the first touch down and then kicked goal securing in all six points. The ball was again taken to the center of the gridiron and Decatur kicked off. In ten minutes more the Internationals had scored five more points by makin«- another touch kown. It was agrain Decatur’s kick off, but as there was onlv two minutes to play on the first half neither side scored. In the second half of the game Decatur strengthened her team by putting Ora France and Will Schrock in the game and almost the entire time was gone ’ere the visitors again made a touch down. During the rest of the game neither side scored and the game closed with a score of 16 to oin favor of Fort Wayne. The High School team put up a nice clean game but were either out of luck or decidedly too light to win. The game, however, was replete with brilliant plays and the four hundred people who were present were highly pleased. The boys have not lost courage and are confident that they can win at Yan Wert next Saturday where they are scheduled.

J. D. Burrell. United States naval constructor, now located at Maysville, California, spent a few days this week with Mrs. A. K. Grubb and family. It is rumored on pretty good authority that the 160th Indiana regiment will be moved to Columbus, Ga., leaving Camp Hamilton, at Lexington, Ky., Sunday- morning. It was hoped by the friends of Co. B that they would be sent home on a thirty day furlough before their departure for another camping spot. The five year old daughter of Charles Fahrenbach, who lives on south Second street, came near burning to death last night. Some trash was being burned in the rear of the lot and the child got too close, her dress eaught fire and in a moment she was covered with flames. The child’s screams brought her mother to her side in an instant and the flames were soon smothered out. The child was quite badly though not seriouslyburned, and Mrs. Fahrenbach’s hands were severely blistered. The escape was a narrow one and the fond parents are thankful that it was no worse. Miss Francis Thompson, the highly accomplished daughter of Howard Thompson, left yesterday for Great Falls, Montana, where she goes to accept a position as clerk in a mammoth dry goods house of that city, where she worked for several months when on an extended trip through the west a few years ago. Miss Thompson is one of our brightest young ladies, having been a teacher in the schools of the county for several years. She has also served as deputy in the office of the countyclerk. Her many friends here wish her a safe and pleasant trip and hope her all possible success in her labors in the far west. Mrs. Nicholas Miller died at her home on Madison street at twelve o’clock Tuesday night after an illness extending over several years. Anna Johns Miller was born February 26, 1861, and died November 1,1898; aged thirty-seven years, eight months and six days. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Johns who were for a number of years respected citizens of this city. She w-as reared here and received her education in our schools. She w-as married to Nicholas Miller in May, 1885. For only- a fewyears they lived happily, when disease took hold of her and for ten years she has been almost constantly sick from nervous troubles. During the past year she has been weaker than usual and has been bedfast most of the time. On last Friday afternoon she received a paralytic stroke and from that time until her death she was unable to receive a single bite oi food or nourshment. She was a loving wife and mother and has always teen a true and faithful Christian, having united with the St. Mary’s Catholic church many years ago. The funeral will occur from the Catholic church at 8:30 Friday morning. Interment in the St. Joseph cemetery. A loving husband and one son, eleven years old, are left to mourn their loss and the sincere sympathy of the entire neighborhood are with them. The Ladies’ Shakespeare club met with Mesdames Dugan and Dorwin at their elegant home, corner of Monroe and First streets, last Friday afternoon. This club, which is one of the foremost in the city, have two sections, one known as the “Chatuque Circle” and the other as the “Current Topic Club”. During the year, however, the clubs hold a number of meetings together. several of which are held in the fall and the remainder in the spring or at the close of their work. During the past two months the club has met together and taken up several ot Shakespeare’s famous works, the latest of which was “King Lear”. The work has been carefully studied and analyzed, and as last Friday’s meeting was the last one at which all the club would be in attendance for several months, a general review of the work was in order. Mrs. C. M. Kenyon read one of the test prepared papers ever given before the club. Her subject was “King Lear and the way in which she handled her subject showed that she had teen a thorough student of the work; Mrs. Dorwin read an interesting essay upon the character of Kent, holding forth his true and noble traits; Mrs. Morrison and Miss Hattie Studabaker followed with excellent papers upon the characters of Gonerel and Regend; Mrs. J. D. Hale told in her pleasing way the traits of Edmund; Mrs. J. C. Patterson dwelt at length upon the character of “The Fool” and her effort was deserving of much praise. An excellent paper upon the play which was prepared by Mrs. Charles True, was read by Mrs. W. H. Nachtrieb. Mrs. P. G. Hooper entertained the club in an excellent and meritorious manner bv giving a synopsis of the plav of King Lear. Then followed quotations from the subject by Mesdames Trout, Holloway, Nachtrieb, Dugan, Ellingham and Heller. Each and every member present had their subject well in hand, showing that the work of the past two months had teen in earnest. The clubs will now meet seperately until spring when their meetings will again te combined for the purpose of the study of 1 ederation questions.

John T. France was at Milwaukee I the first of the week taking depositions and collecting evidence in the Musser murder trial, which comes up at Hartford City some time this month. The commissioners Tuesday morning filled vacancies in the board of election inspecto.s by appointing J. W. Kleinhenz in precinct B. first ward, Jonathan Fleming in B. third ward. C. W. Hocker north Monroe, John T. Kelly west Jefferson, and Davidson Mattox in south Blue Creek. From all appearence company B will again be graced by thecommanding form of First Lieutenant Edington. We mentioned the fact last week that the company was desirious of again having Chat in his old position and that he had gone to Lexington for the purpose of securing the place if possible. Tuesday afternoon R. S. Peterson received a telegram from Edington which states that the election had teen held and that the vote resulted as follows: Reichard, ten; Barnhart, four; Meyers, twentyone and Edington thirty-nine. This elects the latter so far as the company are concerned but he will be required to pass an examination before he can be mustered into the service again. His friends however are very confident saying that he passed it once and can do it again. They will no doubt know the result in a few days. Jack A. Leslie, “around the world in two years”, reached the city last Sunday night and rested here for a short time with his old friend, C. E. Lee, the night operator at the G. R. &I. depot. He having left Omaha in July last on an agreement with Robert C. Parmlee to walk around the world in two years, starting from Arch of States, Exposition grounds, Omaha, Nebraska, at 6 p. m., July 20, without a cent and to come back in two years with $2,000 which must be earned in any ligitimate manner. He had reached Indianapolis in fifty-two days walk when he was taken sick with malarial typhoid, which confined him to his room one month. The trip comprises 42,000 miles, 12,000 of which must te walked. Mr. Leslie says that he must average fifteen miles per day to make the trip Prior to his sickness he averaged thirty miles every day he walked. He is earning the $2,000 by working at any thing he can get to do. He corresponds with two papers, the Omaha Enterprise and the Fremont News. Out of the fifty-two days he took to get to Indianapolis he worked sixteen. He carries a book with him in which he has the railroad agent’s stamp, the official stamp of the company with the time of his arrival and departure. In this way his employer has impartial proof that he has lived up to his agreement. Monday night was Hallowe’en, the night when every small boy and a large number of larger ones and many girls and young ladies are in their glory. According to ancient traditions on the evening of the last day of October the most horrible unheard of events are sure to happen, goblins and disembodied spirits tramp the earth and all sorts of queer things occur. The customs of our boys who celebrate that evening are well known to every one, gates are torn off and thrown away, out buildings are overturned, signs are destroyed or hidden away, in fact a general destruction of everybody’s property but your own seems to te the thing to,'do. Marshal Hart, with a large number of deputies, were on duty Monday night and no great damage was done. The saddest thing we have heard of, which happened on this Hollow’een, was the kidnapping of Curley Rademacher’s faithful cigar clerk, Willie Penn. As was his usual custom he was standing in front of Curley s place of business about six o’clock in the evening, when suddenly as though swallowed up by the earth he disappeared and although a dilligent search was made for several hours he could not be located. About eleven o’clock, however, some stragler going down Main street made a horrible discovery. During the past few months a wire, upon which was hanging an American and Cuban flag, has been fastened from Curley’s building to the Smith building just across the street and there on that wire the stranger beheld the inanimate body of poor Willie, swinging like the pendulum of a clock, the box of cigars, over which he had been so faithful, was gone and a death-like, hang dog expression was on his face. Quite a crowd soon gathered and many ideas as to whom the criminals who had committed such an act were, but the dark, bloody deed could not te fathomed and the crowd was about to dispurse after coming to the conclusion that nothing could te done to add to the happiness of Sir YY illiam, when suddenly as though the grave-yard had vawned and the ghost s were trooping forth the effigy let go his grip upon the wire and with a dull and sickening thud struck the brick street at the very feet of the culprits who had tried to put an end to his useful career. It is even said that a finger of scorn was pointed directly towards a little group and a voice, sepulcher | like, in its very deepness said, “There stand my murderers.” The body was carried away by tender hands, a large supply of Elixer of life was injected and* Curley’s sign is still on duty.

CIRCULATION 2400 WEEKLY

NUMBER 34

The following unique notice is taken from the Gaston Gazette of October 27, and will interest many of the friends of Rev and Mrs. G. Hunter Myers: “It is reported that at prayer meeting at the M. E. church, Rev. Myers read from Isa., 9th chapter. When he reached the 9th verse he read, ‘For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.’ Suddenly stopping he said: ‘This is surely a mistranslation for it’s a girl and weighs eight pounds.’ Bro. Myers will probably recover his usual equanimity and the mother and child are doing first rate.” In last week’s issue we mentioned the arrest and conviction of Andrew Judy, of Geneva, on the charge of assault and battery. According to the Geneva Herald the young man who had him arrested has also received a dose of the same medicine: Geneva has been considerably stirred up the past week on account of a little disturbance at the U. B. church on last Sunday morning at Sabbath school. Ralph Drew was roughly ejected from thechurch house by Andy Judy, for putting rubber on the stove, the burning of which produced an unpleasant odor. Monday Marshal Halt,of Decatur, came to Geneva and took Mr. Judy in custody, charged with assult and battery upon the person of Ralph Drew. He was taken before Mayor Beatty in Decatur, who found him guilty and fined him one dollar and costs, amounting to $20.75. But there was more to follow. Tuesday charges were preferred for improper conduct in church. The case was set for Wednesday when it was taken to Squire Yeley’s court and tried before the jury, with Jacob Butcher for the state and Wm. Drew the defendant. The verdict was rendered for a fine of five dollars and costs, which will figure up nearly $45. We have never for one moment doubted the cleverness and hospitality of the citizens of Geneva, but since last Thursday we are doubly sure that they stand unequaled. Sometime ago a number of the worthy gentlemen who reside in and near that thriving little city asked for a charter for the organization of a lodge of Masons. A dispensation pending the issuance of a charter at the proper time granted, further arrangements were immediately made towards the institution of the lodge. Elegant rooms were secured and propelry fitted up and in due time four candidates were made ready to receive the final degree of the order. The members of the lodge, twelve in number, decided to make this the occassion of a general good time and invitations were accordingly sent out to the F. & A. M. order of Winchester, Ridgeville, Portland, Willshire, Decatur and other places and in consequence more than sixty visitors were present on last Thursday afternoon to share the hospitality of the fieveva brothers. Thirty-one members of the lodge in this city attended and the occasion is reported as one of the most brilliant of the kind ever given in the state. Everything done by the citizens of Geneva was just exactly right and the boys are warm in their praises of the way they were received. The committee on reception met the visiting brothers and conducted them to the .lodge room where they greeted old friends and met new ones, enjoying themselves immensely until four o’clock, at which time the work commenced. Four candidates, Brothers Meyers, Barrett, Crlendenning and Towns were initiated into the mysteries of Masionery in their turn and the afternoon and evening was not only an enjoyable but a very profitable one to all present. At six o’clock the guests were invited to the Shamrock where an excellent supper was served. At seven o'clock work was again resumed and continued until high twelve and then followed a banquet, with everything necessary to appease the inner man, even down to a luxuriant Havana cigar. Toasts were given by Brothers Merryman and Smith of this city and were well received. Work in the lodge room was conducted byteams from the Portland. Willshire Geneva and Decatur lodges, thus affording ample entertainment for everyone. The day was certainly an enjoyable one and will long te remembered by those in attendance as one of the green spots in one’s life, the good effects of which will last forever. The members of the lodge in this city are willing to do homage to the Brothers of the Geneva order and will no doubt endeavor to return the compliment in the near future. Besides the guests from the cities already mentioned, a number of distant Brothers were present, among them was B. F. Frost, of Lookout Commandery, No. 14, Knight Templars, of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Brother Frost is surely a “joiner”, having joined the Odd Fellows in 1867, the Knights of Pythias in 1869 and the Red Men in 1870. He is also a member of the B. P. O. E. Brother Frost has teen here for several days in the interest of the Mosier Safe Company. He is one of the oldest safe agents on the road, having teen in the employ of the same company for more than fifteen years. He was’highly pleased with the work and the entertainment at Geneva and says he has never been more royally entertained. So say every one who was there and we doff our cap to the Geneva boys.