Decatur Democrat, Volume 42, Number 39, Decatur, Adams County, 8 December 1898 — Page 1

ALL THE NEWS ALL THE TIME.

VOLUME XLII.

John Moran the deputy prosecutor at Berne, is this week filling Prose cutor Smith’s shoes, with the grand I inrv, owing to the latter having more than he has timejto do. Mr. Moran is saidto be filling the position like a veritable old timer, which is a sure indication that John is getting there with both feet. Ed Wertzberger, of Ellwood is the guest of his parents and other friends in the city for a few days. Ed has been employed during the past four years in the' American Tin Plate factory at that place and has worked himself from the bottom of the ladder to one of the best positions in the mills. The factory is shut down now for a short time, that an invoice of stock of goods on hand may be taken. J. B. Miller, who for twenty years past has looked after the tonsorial trade of this city, has concluded to become a citizen of Fort Wayne. He will move his barber shop to that city today and will open a shop on South Calhoun street. His family will remain for a few weeks, after which time they expect to remove to that city. Sammy is an excellent barter and'will no doubt establish a good trade in his new shop. The Ohio supreme court has declaed the law constitutional enacted by the legislature of that state giving SS,(XXJ to the next kin of a person lynched, to be paid out of the county treasury. The damages come in the nature of ’a penalty to be paid to the kin of the person whose life is illegally taken and it should prove an influential remedy for lynch law. The legislature of Indiana will be asked at its coming session to enact a law that will render lynching less frequent. The Erie telegraph service has suffered greatly on account of the severe storms that raged along the line east and west of this city Saturday night and Sunday. All the telegraph wires east and west of this city were down at 8 o’clock on Sunday morning and up until noon Monday they had been unable to communicate with the stations along the line. Over a hundred telegraph poles are down and a force of men have been busy making the repairs. Trains have been delayed and it has been almost impossible to keep up the traffic.—Huntington NewsDemocrat. lhe revival at Alpha M. E. church, Hoagland charge, conducted by the pastor Ralph C. Jones closed Tuesday evening with nine accessions to the church, several conversions and the church wonderfully revived. The meeting was a great success. His famous sermon on “Dry Bones in the Valley” attracted a large crowd, who were thrilled with his eloquence and power. He is a great preacher and has touched the hearts of the people of this com unity as has no other preacher, in years past. May God bless brother Jones and his companion all along the journey of life, is the prayer of the writer and church. The following notice from the Portland Commercial, of last Friday, will be read with pleasure bv the many friends of Messrs. Headington and Whiteman, both of whom are well and favorably known in this city: “A new law firm has been established in this city, the partnership consisting of Judge John W. Heading ton. who recently retired from the bench of the Jay circuit court with the test wishes of all, and Omer S. Whiteman. The first named is a veteran jurist, a sound and well informed attorney, and numbers his friends by hundreds. As already mentioned, Mr. Whiteman is associated with him, he being a young lawyer, who has already made a wide acquaintanceship by his sterling ways. These two gentlemen are most pleasantly located in rooms 14, 15 and 16 in the Bimel block, and they will most certainly receive a large share of practice.” Eli W. Peterson, fiirst lieutenant in the 161st regiment, Indiana volunteers, stationed at Savanah, Georgia, arrived in this city Saturday afternoon to spend a few days with his family and other friends who are now here. Upon his arrival, here, however, he found awaiting him’ a telegram from Colonel Durbin of his regiment, ordering him to report back to camp at once, as the regiment had been ordered to leave port on Wednesday, December 7th, for Mantauzas. Cuba, where they will do garrison duty in company with the regulars this winter. Eli could not resist the temptation, however, to spend a tew hours here with friends and accordugly remained until Monday afternoon. During his short stay here the lieutenant made this office a pleasant eall. He is a handsome soldierly officer, and will distinguish himself whenever the opportunity presents itself. Eli is the eldest son of Mr. mid Mrs. Shaffer Peterson of this city. During the past three years he has teen serving as a guard in the penitentiary at Michigan City. At the second call for men, a comoany was organized from that city and Eli was elected as first lieutenant. Several Years ago Eli served in the regular army and his drill there and his recent work at Michigan City has pre pared him for his present work, and r c*- t 0 one the best officers Os his regiment.

CtBCATiIR

How dear to my heart is the old yellow pumpkin, when orchards are barren for stuffing for pies; when peaches and apples have both teen a failure, and terries abundant have greeted the eyes; how fondly we turn to the corn field, and fruit our children dispise the old yellow pumpkin, the mud-covered pumpkin, the big pumpkin that made such good pies’. Street commissioner J. K. Mann deserves a large sized chromo for his excellent work in cleaning the sidewalks over the city after the heavy snow storm of Sunday. Kirk is certainly a hustler and understands his work exactly. He and his men worked nearly all of Sunday night but when the citizens started down street Monday morning, they each and every one had a good word to say of our street commissioner.

The state board of health calls attension to the prevalence of pneumonia in this state and gives warning of the importance of taking precautions against it. The causes of pneumonia are not certainly established, but one of the probable is the breathing of warm and impure air, followed by sudden changes to cold, pure air and vice versa. As a rule people keep their houses too warm and do notgive enough attention to ventilation. It is hard on the throat and lungs to go from the rigors of out door winter air into an overheated and ill ventilated room or the reverse. The following is the list of those who have paid subscriptions to the Democrat during the past week: William Hoile, Mont Rose, D. W. Stauffer, T. P. Hollinsworth, Albert Shell, Elijah Nidlinger, H. Worthman, George S. Gase, Albert E. Gase, J. M. Willey, John S. Webber, John Lengerick, S. T. Welker, William Baughman, Jacob Wegmiller, Fred Knodle.L. T. Swain, Godfrey Lohman, W. H. Broadbeck, James Middleton, J. D. Nidlinger, Anna Dullaghan, John Hoffman, Ed Wertzberger, Henry Wafel. J. N. Velly, W. C. Cross and Mose Badders. John Frysinger returned last Thursday from the “wilds” of Arkansas, where he had been in company with a number of other gentlemen from this and surrounding counties on a hunt ing expedition. John reports one of the test times of his life. Game was plentiful and the crowd just the kind who make camp life enjoyable. Quite a number of deer, a wild cat and an innumerable amount of small game is the story of their success. One wild, “wooly” bear was seen in the hunt but the sportsmen were enable to land him. Only a few of the boys returned with John and there are still a number of the crowd in camp. The state board of health reports that there are at the present time an average of two schools in every county in the state closed on account of diphtheria or scarlet fever. The aggregate is in the neighborhood of 200. The board is of the opinion that under proper conditions the closing of the schools is unnecessary and is try ing to secure the adoption by the trustees of a method of stamping out the diseases and at the same time allow the schools to continue. The plan consists of an examination of all the school children and the weeding autos all who are affected or whose cases are suspicious. These pupils are to be sent home, where another more rigid examination will be made and steps taken to cure them. The board calls attention to the fact that while the schools are kept closed the expense of operating them continues just the same, and it is proposed to save this amount to the state by giving the teachers regular work to do, and at the same time protect the pupils who attend. A wreck occurred on the G. R. & I. railway about a mile north of this place last Sunday afternoon about two o’clock, which will cost the Pennsylvania company about $1,500. Southbound freight No. 12|was running along at full speed, when suddenly a cross bar on one of the cars gave way breaking the train in about the center. The sudden stopage and the force of the ears behind, forced four of the heavily laden box cars off the track and down the enbankment, which at that place is about twenty feet deep. The cars were piled up in every conmvable shape and were badly damaged. The four cars were loaded with furniture, beans, merchandise and coke and the ] oss to the stock was considerable. The car containing the beans was probablv the most damaged, being almost ' entirely destroyed. Agent Bryson estimates the damage to the cam tote about $1,200 and the com Wts ateut S3OO. A peculiar incident of the wreck was that the car of furniture containing a large number of dressers, mirrows, stands, etc., went entirely down the steep enbankment and scarcely any thing was injured. Xot a glass'was broken and the oss Sv no delay to trains. The r ™1 st£k was 'removed on Mon- < tte wrwkage cleared away. I and Ibal the damage is so sl - ilS ‘

DECATUR, INDIANA, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8. 1898.

THOSE of our delinquent subscribers who failed to pay up in | j ■ August, and those who promised to pay before the holidays, [ jl will take notice that our subscription books must be closed and t 1 settled up by the first of next month. These accounts must be ’ 2 paid, so give this notice your prompt attention. $ v—u—v—ir-nr-u—u—w-rw—v-v-ir - w «/—w~w ar- v—ir—ir—v—v— v-v

Joseph Mason and Joseph Berling left Monday afternoon for Ft. Wayne where they will enter the International Business college. Both are bright, hustling, energetic young men and we bespeak for them high honor and credit in their school work and in their business life which will follow. The following is from the Monroeville Breeze of last week: A number of young people entertained themselves on Friday evening last at the home of ye editor, in a pleasant manner. The guest of honor was Miss Eva Peters of Decatur. The evening was spent in games, and at the midnight hour all partook of refreshments. From all appearances Lieutenant Peterson had a purpose in view in coming north beside that of visiting his family here. Several metropolitan papers of yesterday, contained the following dispatch sent out from LaPorte, Indiana: A dispatch from LaPorte, Ind., says Ernst Wills, a member of the 161st Indiana regiment, who recently disappeared from Camp Savannah, was arrested at Michigan City Tuesday by Lieut. Peterson on a charge of desertion. He will be taken south and court martialed. The motive for desertion furnished by Wills is that he wanted to evade accompanying the command toHavanah. In speaking of progress, the train service should not be neglected. Today a traveler can get on one of the limited trains and while enroute to his destination get a shave or a hair cut, take a bath, have a comfortable ted to sleep in, have access to a library of choice books, have use of typewriter or pen, ink or paper if he prefers them, and if he gets up in the morning with a dark brown taste in his mouth he can get the American remedy, a cocktail, before eating his morning meal, which he can order from the card and while being whirled along at something like a mile a minute, Robert B. F. Peirce, who until a few days ago was receiver of the Clover Leaf railway, died very suddenly at his home in Indianapolis, Monday morning, of heart trouble. He had resigned the receivership on account of failing health and expected to spend the winter in California. He was at one time a member of congress, having been elected by the republicans of the eighth district. The Clover Leaf was placed in the hands of Mr. Peirce in the early part of 1895, Judge VY. A. Woods of the United States court appointing him to the position. He was selected by Judge Woods in place of D. D. Davis, who had lieen auditor of the company and who had teen named as the successor of S. R. Calloway. Mr. Calloway had given up the receivership to go to the Nickel-Plate road as general manager. Mr. Davis whom Mr. Peirce succeeded, died last week after a long illness, it being a strange coincidence that the two men who were in charge of the Clover Leaf property should die so closely to each other. Mr. Davis had been continued by Mr. Peirce in the office of auditor up to the time of his death. The board of commissioners met in their regular December session Monday and tegan business by selecting Joseph E. Mann as president of the board for the coming year. The petition of A. W. Holmes for the vocation and location of highway was accepted. The reviewers cost and damage upon the Robert Niblick ditch petition was assessed. Everett Woodruff viewers report upon highway, as filed, also remonstrances, viewers appointed are William Hendricks, John Hessler and L. W. Johnson, viewers appointed on the Charles Naffler highway petition are Jerry Archbold, Albert Butler and Henry Zurick. Bridge petitions by C. E. Stuckey, W. F. Sehug. L. W. Lewton, Lewis Fruchte and \Y illiam Hall were continued, as was also the petitions to accept gravel roads, the petitions being made by C. E. Stuckey, Lewis Fruchte and John Steele applications to retail liquor were granted to John Hey of Williams, George W. Nichols of Linn Grove, Jacob Hunzieker and Jacob Brinneman of Berne, J. E. Shell of Geneva, Ferdinand Kessler of Monroe, and C. D. Murray of this city. The ditch petition of J. W. Vizard was recognized by the appointment of Henry Eiting. J. M. Archbold and Henry Meyers as viewers. The viewers report on the H. S. Passon ditch was approved as was also the reports on the Barney Hackman, J as. A. Hendricks and Malinda Fronefield ditches. Barney Hackman and William H. Niblick petition to have taxes remitted was approved, C. A. Neueuschwander, A. J. Sipe and John W. Eley were appointed viewers on the Samuel Fetters ditch petition. Harry N. Shroll was appointed a student of Purdue University. The viewers report upon the ditch petitons of Chris Branby, Jacob Amstutz and C. E. Stuckey were approved.

The snow storm last Sunday played havoc with the telegraph and telephone lines in and about town. Twelve ’phones were disabled in the city, while nearly every every toll line of the Citizens telephonecompany was broken down somewhere. The board of commissioners organized Monday by the re-election of Joseph E. Mann as president of the board. Frederick Reppert was sworn in, his new term beginning that day. No change in the personel of the board occurred, the retiring member succeeding himself. It is said that if Albert Musser, who is in jail at Hartford city, awaiting trial on the charge of murdering Mrs. Stoltz is lucky enough to be acquitted he will not even then be out of trouble. Anderson papers last week said that the Madison county grand jury had returned an indictment against Musser, charging him with assault with attempt to kill. The assault is said to have been made upon a Chinaman at Alexandria. It is said that beside almost killing the poor “washee man” Musser robbed him of every thing he had. If many more charges of this kind should be brought up against Musser, he will certainly soon get the “blues”. The editor sat in his office cold, whence all but him had fled: but he wishedthat every last dead-beat was in his grave —stone dead. His mind then wandered far away to the time when he should die, and his loyal editorial soul go scooting to the sky; when he’d roam the fields of Paradise and sail o’er Jasper seas, and all things glorious combined, his every sense to please. He thought how then he’d look across the great gulf, dark and drear, that yawned between his happy soul and those who dwindled here. And when for water they would call, and in agony the’d caper, he’d shout to them: “Just moisten your tongue with the ‘due’ that’s on your paper.

The criminal case of State vs. Kelley, for assault and battery with intent to kill, has been holding the attention of the Adams circuit court since Monday morining. Outside of a large number of witnesses the case failed to excite much interest. The particulars surrounding the case was published in the Democrat at the time it occurred and will be recalled by our readers. The shooting occurred on the evening of July 30, J. C. F. Manley being the victim, who thought for a short period of time that his career upon earth had ended. The defendant and Manley had several wordy encounters and threats were exchanged which were carried into effect at the time the shooting occurred. Kelley was arrested and was afterwards released after giving a SSOO bond for his appearance in court. Monday, Tuesday and part of yesterday was consumed in examining witnesses, many of whom “swore” as hard as the law would allow them. Arguments were made yesterday afternoon and the jury charged by the court this morning after which they immediately began the weary task of making a verdict. The Adams circuit court has made the following record since last week: State vs Ben Middleton, attorneys D. B. Erwin and James R. Bobo appointed counsel for the defendant, Hiram Davidson vs Matilda Yaney, defendant ad judged of unsound mind. Grand jury returns indictments numbered four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten and eleven. Samuel R. Meyer et al vs G. W. Bolds et al, judgment vs defendant for $328.96. John V. Farnnell vs George W. Bolds et al judgment vs defendant for $61.91. Katie E. Coverdale vs James Coverdale, judgment vs defendant for costs. The city of Decatur vs J. D. Edwards et al., the absolute rule is set aside owing to the reason that papers in case are lost. State vs Jasper Pace, arrested upon a warrant issued for rape, bond fixed at S6OO, which the defendant failed to give. State vs Ben Middleton, set for trial December 12; tend of S3OO given and defendant released from jail. Joseph H. Cole vs Edmund R. Weeks et al., set for trial December 14. Allison Morrow & Co. vs George E. Fink, judgment vs defendants for $10.03. Arthur Black vs Dahiel P. Harshman, cause dismissed at the costs of the plaintiff. Government Building Loan Association vs Altert Dailey, dismissed State vs Isaac Robinson, dismissed. David M. Richardson vs Bluffton Artificial Ice Co., judgment vs defendants for $195.67. International Building & Loan Association vs James L. Wheeler et al.dismissed. J. J. Leichty and Shelby Ray were excused from the petit jury. Caroline Freang vs W. H. Nibli -k admr, set for trial December 8. Moses Mayer vs William M. David, judgment vs defendant for $96.60. State vs Harry Straub set for trial December 9. State vs Charles E. Everett, continued. The criminal ease of state vs Frank Kelley, has teen occupying the attention of a court and jury all week.

A new terror is in store for travelers in tropical Afiica says the London correspondent of the Birmingham Post, if Dr Oscar Raumann is correct in his assertion that the domestic flea, which at first was known only the west coast of Africa, has spread across the continent, and has just made its appearance at Zanzibar. An accident occured at the G. R. & I. depot Monday morning which came near causing that company to prematurely decide that Decatur needed a new station building. A freight train was doing some switching on the east track, when a box car was derailed on account of the icy track, and thrown rather forcibly against the east side of the building. The window and door casings were shattered and the building otherwise considerbly damaged. The loss however was not very large and carpenters are already at work readjusting things. It looks very much just at present as though the predictions of the weather prophets that this was to be one of those old fashioned, cold, blizzardy winters is going to be true, at any rate the snow tegan falling at a very early hour last Sunday morning and continued all day and untill late at night, never stopping untill the entire city had the appearance of being wrapped in an immense sheet. At least eight inches of snow fell and sleighing just at present is just about as fine as though it had been made to order. The roads over the county are said to be in excellent condition and farmers and business men alike are hoping that they will remain so during the next two months. Rev. Ira Hicks in his weather report for December gives the following: Blizzards to the north and west will not surprise any careful enterperter of weather forecasts from about the 4th to the 7th. A general high barometer and cold wave will rush southward and eastward at the end of this period, sending a real breath of winter very far into the south. Be watchful for its development and progress. Minor storm tendencies will be manifest in most sections on and touching the 9th and 10th. During the next regular storm period the 13th to 18th, look for return of very marked storm conditions. About the 13th warmer days will advance eastward ending in active storms of rain, with probably wind and thunder southward during the 14th to the 17th. Another severe far-reaching cold wave may be expected with the on coming high barometer that will succeed the storms of this part of December. The last regular storm period for the month will fall from 25th to 29th. This will bring a return of warmer weather, falling barometer, and more storms of rain and snow, progressively from west to east during three or four days, say about 26th, 27th, 28th and 29th.

Council met in regular session last Tuesday evening and disposed of quite an amount of business, important and otherwise. Mayor Beatty called the meeting to order and asked for the roll call which was answered by Miller, Suttles, Haefling, Mann and Niblick, Chronister of the Second Ward, being the only one absent. Minutes of the meetings of November 15th and November 28th were read and approved. The finance committee then reported bills on hand which were allowed as follows: Help for city engineer $7.50, David Werling $32, Wm. Geary $5. special police $6, Harvey Hart $0.45, Harry B. Knoff, citv engineer, $37.50, D. B. Erwin $2.40, J. D. Edwards $1.58, Bass Foundry and Machine Works SIB.BO, John Glutting, drayage, $3.25, street commissioner’s pay roll $95.19, fire department for the Vail fire $16.25, hook and ladder company $15.50, Charles Smith $2, James Hurst sl, hose company No. 2 $57.50, E. Foust sl, M. A. Jackson $lO, George Kinzel, city lineman, $45, M. J. Mylott, city electrician. SSO, M. A. Jackson, engineer, $-40, C. U. Dorwin, engineer, S4O, Fort Wayne Electric Corporation $115.46, Page Blackburn $6.30, Advance Packing Co. $15.11, Powers & Foorman $28.96, C. U. Dorwin $3, report of City Electrician Mylott, receipts $13.75. Councilman Niblick then moved that the proposition of A. Van Camp for recovering water pipes at water works plant be left to the mayor. The chairman of the committee on streets and alleys made a report upon the Gay alley sewer and recommended the assessment of the costs and benefits to each property holder. Marv L. Peterson filed a protest against the assessment upon her property. The roll was then called upon the adoption of the report which resulted, ayes, Miller, Suttles, Haefling, Mann and Niblick, nays, none. The matter with regards to assessment of dogs was referred to the judiciary committee, and endowing that committee with power to act in the same. The suggestion of Fire Chief Helm to have the power house repaired was reported to the fire committee. The elec-trie light committee made their report upon the investigation of the condition of the electric plant. They also gave the report of F. L. Hunting, an expert electrician, which said that: he had found the plant to be in fair condition. This concluded the work and the meeting adjourned.

CIRCULATION 2400 WEEKLY

NUMBER 39

A Bluffton young woman who was troubled with corns, read in an almanac that carbolic acid would cure such things. No directions for its use was given but that didn’t stop her. She applied it to the affected spots very liberally and stood the painful burning caused by it for a day or so. Then her nerve failed her and she went to the doctor who had to amputate two toes to save the foot. She still claims that the almanac was i right and as the proof refers that she no longer has any corns. Ellis Mallonee, the twenty year old j son of Thomas Mallonee, died at his : home on north Sixth street, Tuesday I afternoon of consumption, About I two years ago the young man’s health began failing. After several months spent in trying to regain health here he went to Nebraska, upon the advice of his physician, thinking that the change of climate would perhaps benefit him. For several weeks arter he arrived he improved steadily, about that time he was caught in a severe storm, he caught cold and from that time on he grew gradually worse. He remained in Nebraska nearly a year, returning home about the middle of last summer. Since then he has grown gradually weaker until death relieved him Tuesday !afternoon. Funeral services were i held this morning at ten o’clock from the Methodist church, Rev. Daniels j officiating. Interment in the Maplewood cemetery. John Hower was born in York county, Pennsylvania, Feb. 21, 1822, and died in Adams county, Indiana, Nov. 22,1898, at the age of 76 years, 9 months and 1 day. He was married to Barbara A. Calvin in Champaign county, Ohio, December 4, 1845, and in 1846 they moved to Adams, county, Ind., where they purchased a tract of land in Kirkland township, and through all the hardships and inconveniences of a new country, they proceeded to improve their farm. They raised a family of eleven children, one of whom Martin, preceded him to the great beyond. The others are Mrs. Billman, Mrs. YVm. and Mrs. Reuben Briener, John T., Joseph, James, and Dayton, of Adams county, and Mrs. J. T. Oaks, Mrs. Bixley and Mrs. Suttles of Huntington, Ind. He was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church for over fifty years. His greatest enjoyment Was to be at home with his family, and through his death the church looses a faithful member, the wife a a loving husband, the children a devoted father and the community an honest citizen. His funeral Occurred at the M. E. church at Decatur, Nov. 24, conducted by the pastor and assisted by Rev. Abbott of Craigville, and Rev. Yantis of Decatur, after which the remains were laid to rest in Maplewood cemetery at Decatur. One of the most notably brilliant and pleasant occasions which has been given in this city during the past decade was the celebration on last Monday evening of the forty-fifth anniversary of the birth of our well known and popular townsman, Hon. John T. France. In honor of that event a surprise was planed and perfected upon the aforesaid gentleman by a large number of his admiring friends. The surprise was planed by Mrs. France, who was assisted in carrying it out successfully by a number of Mr. France’s legal friends and his old friend and side-partner, Dr. A. L. DeVilbiss. Every barrister in the city was invited and as it became generally known among them that a bounteous supper was to be served you can imagine that not many were absent. When at the appointed hour (five o’clock) they marched in upon John. Os course the famous attorney was “skeered” some and had strange feelings, something akin to “stage fright” or “buck fever”, but when his old friend, Richard K. Erwin, stepped forward and informed him that they were there on account of good fellowship and because of their sincere feelings of friendship towards him, he broke down completely. Mr. Erwin on behalf of the bar presented him, as a token of their friendship, a handsome corduroy couch. John T. although, for many years noted as a power before a jury and who has tecome famous by his brilliant oratoriat outbursts, was speechless, and the guests were forced to take refuge at the supper table, which had not been over looked by Mrs. France. The repast was an ideal one, and if any of the poor, lean, lank attorneys went there to appease their hunger they were certainly satisfied. The event will long be remembered by each and every one present as a bright spot upon the calendar of time. Those present were Charles M. France, Judge James R. Bobo, R. S. Peterson, R. K. Erwin, L. C. DeVoss, James T. Merryman, Shaffer Peterson, P. G. Hooper, J. F. Mann, C. J. Lutz, John F. Snow, J. W. Teeple, B. W. Quinn. Harvev Harruff, D. E. Smith, B. W. Sholtv, Dora B. Erwin. N. Blackburn, Henry B. Heller, Allen B. Porter, John S. Peterson. Jesse Sutton. Clark Ooverdale, Earl Adams and C. O. France. Besides the above named members of the Adams county bar. Rev. and Mrs. Duckett and Dr. and Mrs. A. DeVil«.. biss and daughter, Fannie, were present to enjoy the happy occasion.