Decatur Democrat, Volume 45, Number 3, Decatur, Adams County, 28 March 1901 — Page 1

ALL THE NEWS ALL THE TIME.

VOLUME XLV.

judge Richard K. Erwin was in the city Saturday looking fairly well after ten days dissipation with the grippe as the principal factor. He is not yet able to attend to business duties, however, and is not allowing such affairs to tether him. The annual election of the directors for the German Building and Loan Fund Association will be held on the evening of April 9, at the office of Frank M. Sehirmeyer, who for so many years has acted with so much efficiency, in the capacity of secretary. The Rev. Somerville Light, of Bluffton will deliver the fourth and last lecture of the Epworth League lecture course in the Methodist church next Friday evening at 7:30. Admission, ten cents. Mr. Light has a remarkable reputation as an orator and is an entertaining speaker. The following people have paid their subscription to the Democrat this week: Anna Shepherd, NewCastle Bridge company, E. A. Good, Deitrick Reiter, Frank Gast, Barney Flock, J. C. Frank. Henry C. Scheinian, A. Gottschalk, Jacob Musser, Wm. Fruchte, John Hey, Herman Reinking and Henry Erb. Bids for the furnishing of supplies for the county infirmary were opened last Saturday. The lowest bidders were Kuebler & Moltz for dry goods, Smith, Yager <k Falk for drugs, Gus Rosenthal for clothing, Niblick A Company for groceries and tobaccos, J. H. Mougey for shoes, and Schafer, Son & Loch for hardware. On the same day the board accepted the bid of John Hessler for wire fencing, and granted the petition for a branch to the Lombert ditch petition.

Among the laws enacted by the General Assembly of Indiana was one making the town clerk a judicial officer, giving him substantially the same powers as a justice of the peace. Where under existing law the duties of clerk and treasurer are consolidated this will not interfere with any person discharging the duties of both clerk and treasurer. The clerk must give bond in a sum not less than 52.000, to lie fixed bv the town board and the bond to be approved by the clerk of the circuit court.

A thimble party with Mrs. Floyd Brittson as hostess, was one of the events of the past week which is spoken of as most delightful. The guests were asked to show their skill in doing patch-work and in this amusing feature the prize was awarded to Mrs. C. K. Bell, and the consolation to Miss Lizzie Peterson. The dinner served at six o’clock was in four courses and is said to have consisted of delicacies almost without end. Those so fortunate as to have been invited were Misses Margia Hanna. Mary Myers, Elizabeth Peterson. Bessie Schrock. June Merryman. Minnie Orvis, Bessie Congleton, Marv Fonner, Carrie Cogswell and Meedames James Rice, T. M. Reed, Chalmer Schafer, Harry Daniel, C. E. Neptune, C. K. Bell and Roy Archbold. Beautiful red carnanations were given as souvenirs.

Thursday afternoon from two to five o'clock a continuous line of ladies, numbering in all one hundred and fifty, came and went from the handsome Niblick home on Jefferson street, at which time Mrs. John Niblick and Misses Hattie and Josephine Niblick received in honor of Mrs. Clever of Westfield, New York, Miss Hamilton of Pittsburg and Miss Lawrence of ! W heeling. It is said the affair has I never been surpassed in Decatur s i social life in any way. In the reception room Mrs. Niblick and Mrs. Clever received and in the parlor like duties were attended to by Misses Hattie and Josephine and their guests. In the dining room Miss Hattie Studabaker assisted by Misses Agnes Schrock and Mav Niblick served punch and in the breakfast room the , visitors participated in ice cream, wafers and chocolate, being waited j upon by Misses Iva Simcoke. Edith Blossom. Grace Sutton and Francis Robison. The house was nicely decorated and every detail of the affair was charmingly attended to. Minnie Monday, through her attorney James T. Merryman, has filed suit for divorce from her husband, John Monday, and if the allegations are true she certainly deserves all she asks for. The complaint says they were married March 22,1885, but after a few months the husband deserted his home and remained away seven years. He then came home, promised to love and cherish and again everything went well for a short time, when he again disappeared and failed to report for five vears, when the old story was renewed and he was taken in again. This time the happy home was of short duration as before and some time in 1898 he left, since which time he has failed to report. Duringall these years the wife remained faithful and true but as of old there is a time when patience ceases to lie a virtue and she will no longer wait for the return of the prodigal. During their wedded life three children have lieen born, Etta, aged fifteen; Lucy, aged five, and Floyd, aged two. The father has in no way assisted in the support of the family and is now located in LaGrange county. The custody of the children and S3OO in alimony is asked by the plaintiff.

Qbcatilr

Dr. L. H. Zeigler, of Monmouth, left Tuesday evening for Rensallear and other Western Indiana towns where he will attend to duties in his line, the doctor being one of the best veterinary surgeons in the state. He will be absent about a week.

A number of the young friends of Miss Mary Myers were entertained at her home Monday afternoon. Out of town guests present were Miss Beatrice Lanson, of Wheeling, W. Va., Miss Pearl Hamilton, of Pittsburg, and Mrs. Robert Harding of Fort Wayne.

Rev. F. J. Gathers, who has served as pastor of the Baptist church for some time past, will deliver his farewell sermon Sunday and on the fol lowing day will leave with Mrs. Gathers for Indianapolis, where they will make their future home with their son. They have many loyal friends here whose hearts will be with them during the years to come.

Sheriff Dan Erwin was at Hammond last Saturday, returning the following morning accompanied by a prisioner, Evelyn Eckert, who is now in jail. She will be taken before the Adams circuit court Monday to answer to a charge of perjury which has been filed against her. About three months ago she filed paternal charges against E. Fritzinger and in so doing it is alleged perjured herself.

Mrs. Wm. Knapkedied at her home in Root township Saturday morning at five o’clock, of catarrh and pneumonia. She had teen sick but four days and her death has caused untold grief in the home and neighborhood, where she was so well known and generally loved. She was sixty-five years, seven months and eleven days of age and had resided in Adams county many years. Rev. Heutz con ducted the funeral services Monday afternoon at one o’clock at the Fuelling church.

Congressman Cromer is busy these days laboring with his faithful constituents, many of whom w'ant postoffice appointments. If they do not want such an appointment themselves thev have friends, see? Since returning form Washington he has recommended J. T. Burrows to succeed himself at ' Modoc, Randolph county, George Bascomb at Linn, in the same counsy, and Sherman Shroyer at Selma, Delaware connty. The scramble at Anderson is the warmest baby of them all. The candidates there are the present postmaster Small, James Wellington, who has Governor Durbin at his back. Luther Cromer, a brother of the congressman, and Editor W. B. Campbell of the Herald. They are making it so everlastingly hot that it is said that upon more than one occasion our congressman has actually sweat blood. At Ellwood a similar condition of affairs exist, and Union City and Portland are also warming up to the occasion and in all promise to furnish considerable enter tainment for Congressman Cromer during the congressional recess. Postmaster Stevens of Bluffton is to be retained. By this time next year, war will be declared on the office now held by Postmaster Andrews.

More Adams county students will this year avail themselves of the opportunity of a college education than was ever known before. Among those who will soon leave are J. W. Horniday, of Hartford township, who will go to Angola; W. F. Beery, Melvin Mallouee, Rose Egan, Minnie Coffee, of Wash ington township. Frank Annan, of Preble, and Roy Numbers of Monroo, who are scheduled for Marion; John Bright, of Kirkland, at Valparaiso; William Brown, of Kirkland, to Angola; G. 11. Laughrey, of Peterson, to Valparaiso, and W. E. Jmith, of St. Mary's, whose destination we have not learned. Our county superintendent is entitled to credit for this showing.

Attorney-General Taylor has rendered the following decision upon the law made by the late legislature concerning city officials: “’1 ho act dot's not lengthen or shorten the term of any person now in office. It provides that hereafter all town officers shall be elected for terms of two years and that town elections shall lie held biennially in the odd years. That means that at the town elections held in May next all town officers shall hold for terms of two years, and that there will be no town elections except beinnially thereafter. Under the present laws governing towns town trustees have been elected for terms of two years, one-half of them as nearly as possible being elected in the even year" and one-half in the odd vears. Approximately one half of the town trustees in Indiana were elected in 1900 to serve until May, 1902. As there will lie no town elections in 1902 their successors must lie elected in May, 1901, but these successors will not take office until the expiration of their predecessors’ terms in May, 1902. Hereafter trustixis will be elected biennialyand the full lx»anl will lx* elected at each election, onehalf to go into office immediately and the other half to take office a year after the election.”

DECATUR, INDIANA, THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 1901.

An iron grey team belonging to Hazel Andrews broke awav from a hitching post near the G. R. & I. stock yards yesterday and for a few moments whirled around the corners at a lively rate, finally being captured at Peoples’ barn. The spring wagon to whi?h they were hitched w-as left in front of B. J. Terveer’s home, badly wrecked.

Barton W. Quinn arrived home the latter part of last week from a three weeks trip through the west and southwest. He made his headquarters during his absence at Coffeyville, Kansas, going from there to Peru and other county seats. He also visited several towns and cities in the Indian Territory and speaks very highly of the country and people in general.

Harry Straub was arrested Tuesday evening and “Red” Burkhead yesterday morning and are now in jail charged with thieving. Officers inform us that they have almost conclusive proof that the boys have been doing quite a stealing business, not only here but in surrounding towns as well. The particular crime for which they have been arrested is that of stealing several horse blankets from parties at Spencerville, Ohio, and selling them to William Bohnke and other farmers hereabouts. With faces tanned and bronzed from four weeks camping in tropical Florida, Messrs. J. S. Bowers, E. X. Ehinger, Dvonis Schmidt, John Smith and A. G. Briggs arrived home Saturday night. For the first week they encamped at a place near Fogarty ville but during the rest of their trip they 1 traveled, not staying at any one place more than a day or two. The boys did a great amount of fishing and were reasonably successful, considering the weather, which at times was bad. Everyone gained in weight, all got an enviable color and some even came home with a genuine beard.

THE NIBLICK MANSION.

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The above is a fair representation of the handsomest and most costly Decatur resilience, it being owned and in perhaps two months occupied bv Banker William 11. Niblick. The inside finishings simply marvels in beauty and elegance, and will cost the snug sum of ?14.(XK).

Dressed in comic costumes of about every old kind imagineable, thirty young friends of Mr. and Mrs. Claude Cole called upon them at the DeVilbiss home Saturday night and proceeded to welcome their safe return from their honeymoon : n away never to be forgotten. The young men organized a full brass brand and proceeded to peal forth many a popular tune and there were none present but who were willing byway of settlement to swear that the music they furnished for the occasion far surpassed any rendition ever given by Sousa or any one else. Dancing and a sort of free-for-all fun making whiled the time away until ten o’clock, when upon invitation the entire crowd, headed by the already famous band, marched to Helm & Sawyer’s restaurant and indulged in a nicely prepared ban ouet.

A bench warrant has been issued by Judge Vaughn, of Bluffton, for the arrest of Charles C. Sale, the Chicago & Erie operator at Kingsland, and well known here. The young man is charged with periury in a breach of premise case tiled in the Wells circuit court by Miss Lillie Couch of Hunt ington. Last summer Sale married Miss Nettie, the daughter of Trustee Matt Ashbaucher, and the couple started on what premised to lx' a cozy married lite at Kingsland. In Sep teinber Miss Couch entered suit for SIO.CMX) alleging that Sale had promised to marry her. The young man owns, or is an heir to, several farms. The case was to have lieen heard at the term of court just closed, but Sale made an affidavit alleging that she was not a resident of ludianx and requiring her to file a cost txmd. Miss Couch claims that sheiias lived nearly all her life in Huntington, where her father is an Wesleyan minister, and she filed an affidavit of information for perjury, the penalty for which is from two to fourteen years in prison.

The case of J. T. W. Luckey vs George McKean, wherein $5,000 damages were demanded, came to a close last Saturday afternoon in the Wells circuit court at Bluffton, when the jury after twenty-four hours deliberation returned a verdict for the defendant. Seventy-four ballots were taken, the vote for some time standing six to six. The case had been hanging fire for over a vear.

Dan Beery, the horseman of this city, last Thursday sold to Mr. Rurode, owner and manager of the New York Store at Fort Wayne, a team of coach horses that will be the pride of the Summit Citv for several years to come. The team is the handsome coachers which Mr. Beery has been driving about here for several weeks and the consideration was an even SI,OOO. Mack and Teddy, as they arc known, are brothers, sired by Malestrom. with a record of 2:241, he by Strath more; first dam Billy Davis by Blue Bull 75. They are not surpassed for style in Northern Indiana, and Mr. Rurode is indeed proud of them. The deal was consumated by J. W. Meibers of this city.

A special session of the city council was held Monday evening for the purpose of determining as to whether or not the G. R. & I. railway company be compelled to put in flagmen. Through their agent here, Mr. Bryson, the company offered to place over every crossing an electric bell, which would ring whenever a train or car was within 400 feet of the crossing. The company maintained that this bell was being used at Fort Wayne and other places and is very satisfactory. However, the councilmen concluded that under some circumstances the bell could not be heard and an accident happen. They therefore decided that the company must place the flagmen at the crossing and this will be done soon.

Through the kindnessof Prof. Harry W. Reynolds we have been favored with an invitation to attend the first annual commencement of the common schools of Hartford township. The affair will Ixi held at the Evangelical church, Linn Grove, tomorrow evening, beginning at eight o’clock and promises to be very entertaining. The class of 1901 consists of ten young ladies and gentlemen as follows: R. C. Eckrote, W. C. Heller, A. E. Stowell. Sherman Watson, May Beard, Ernest Stowell, Telsa Neaderhouser, Grover Hoffman, HomerNeaderhoiiser and Clifton Houghton. The evening address will be delivered by Hon. R. K. Erwin and the diplomas presented by County Superintendent Brandyberry.

A continued session of the citv council was held Friday evening with Mayor Beatty presiding and Messrs. Haetling, Suttles, Leßrun, Myers and Mann present. The first thing taken up was the remonstrance which* had lieen filed against the building of the Elm street sewer and Mr. Leßrun moved that said remonstrance be rejected because of sufficient cause not lieing given to sustain same. A vote by roll was ordered and resulted in the motion being carried, Leßrun. Haefling and Myers voting aye and Suttles and Mann nay. Suttles moved that two words, “the Bronson” be struck out of the specifications, and same was carried. Upon motion by Myers the plans and specifications for the sewer were adopted. Krick & Tyndall were granted permission as asked at previous meeting to tap water mains and run line to their mills for fire protection. Street commissioner Mann was then ordered Io give notice to property owners where sidewalks need repairing and if same are not attended to within thirty davs the city will do so and the same be taxed against property. The meeting then adjourned.

At a meeting of the board of com missioners last Saturday, the contract for moving the old asylum buildings was given to D. X. Baumgartner, the bid being $164. Work on the same will begin next Monday and be pushed to completion. The contractor expects to complete the work in a week, and as he is a hustler from up the creek, he will no doubt make good his intentions.

Thanks to Superintendent Brandyberry for a bound copy of the twentieth biennial report of the state superintendent of public instruction. The report contains much valuable information and shows that Adams county has a school enumeration of 7,658, with an attendance of 5,634, also nine-ty-four school houses, with 136 teachers who draw an average daily salary of SI.BB. The total amount of money paid teachers in this county in 1900 was $39,336.08. School property in the county is valued at $192,555.

Members of the Methodist church of this city are alreadv manifesting considerable interest in the approaching annual conference which convenes at Ellwood Wednesday. April 10, and no doubt quite a number will attend. There are about two hundred active ministers in the North Indiana Conference and each is more or less on the anxious seat as to what disposal will be made of him. It is quite probable that Rev. C. G. Hudson, who has so well looked after his charge here for a year past, will be returned. One of the interesting questions to come before the conference will be the increasing or decreasing the number of districts. There are now six districtsand the committee appointed at last year’s meeting will recommend that there be no change made in the number, but that the Warsaw district be known hereafter as the Wabash district and ' that the presiding elder make head quarters in that city.

The merits of night policemen has twice been vindicated, the first time in nailing the fellow from Markle who had in his possession a horse and buggy that belonged to parties at Preble, and again Monday night when one of a trio of thieves who were helping themselves to the things they liked best at Lenhart’s west end restaurant. At this rate the price paid for night policemen will be considered well spent by those who pay the bill in taxes. It is certainly a good enough business proposition to take due precaution in the protection of the home, the family and the person al belongings ofevery individual. In this, the night police system seems to touch the right spot, are well worth the price paid them, and the city administration of affairs may feel congratulated upon their wise course in securing this measure of safety and protection. The policemen themselves seem to be made out of the right stuff, and have their eyes wide open duringall hours, and not afraid of their shadow on a moonlight night. Whenever they see something that looks mysterious they investigate then and there, generally bagging their game first. They are all right as has twice been demonstrated.

Gustave Rosenthal, the popular young clothier, will leave this city about July Ist for an extended trip. He will take in the Pan American Exposition at Buffalo, visit New York, Philadelphia and other eastern cities ami then sail for Europe. He will visit his parents and other relatives at Wittenlierg. Germany, and also take another look at well known haunts in other portions of the Old Country. He will be absent about two months, during which time his store here will be in charge of Al Rothchilds, who is now enjoying an European trip.

Mrs. Peter Steury, mother of little Sarah Steury, north of town, was inexpressibly horrified to find the body of her two years old child suspended by its head from a board fence in the house vard last Sunday evening. She carried the child into the house and j did all within her means to revive it, but instead of getting the blood to circulate the little body grew cold. Mr. Steury was away from home at the time and when he returned the heartrending news was broken to him. Mr. Steury sent word to Dr. Franz shortly afterwards and he in turn notified Coroner Clark, of Decatur. The coroner camo here Monday morning and bold au inquest. In the evening the child was given into the charge of! some of the larger children, who in playing amongst themselves forgot the little girl. The little one, mean while, started toclimb up some boards or rails by a board fence and putting her head through between two boards in the fence, lost her hold and was found a few minutes later by her brother dangling by her head, with her neck broken. The boy called his mother, but all efforts to restore her were futile. She was buried Tuesday in the Hilty cemetery, north of town. The little girl was two years, three months and thirteen days old. Her father and mother belong to the Amish church here. Berne Times.

CIRCULATION 2800 WEEKLY

John W. Hendricks vs Margeret E. Gross et al, foreclosure of mortgage, $125; Patrick K. Kinney vs John A. Depew, complaint on note, on change of venue from Jay county; Minnie Monday vs John Monday, divorce; State vs Evelyn Eckert,perjury; State vs Frank Ruby and Joseph Eicher, are new cases filed with the clerk of the Adame circuit court this week and will in due time be regularly attended to.

Ernst Neihoff, who has represented the Metnpolitan Life Insurance Company as assistant superintendent here for a year past, left last Saturday tor Loraine, Ohio, where he has accepted a position as district manager for the same company at a largely increased salary. His new position is similar to the one held by Mr. Ten Broke of Ft. Wayne, and is an acknowledgement of Mr. Neihoff’s efforts during his years of labor with the company. The office here is in charge of Mr. Drummond for the present but a new assistant will probably arrive within a few days.

An entirely new brick factory is to be built at once by Krick & Tyndall near their large tile factory in the south part of the city. The plant used by them at present needs repairs and the machinery is about worn out. In view of that fact the managers have decided to build new sheds and put in new machinery. They will put in what is known as the Mock] sun drying system and the improvement will cost them in the neighborhood of $7,500. The buildings will be sheds, which can be opened at the sides and roof when the weather is fair so that the elements can have full sweep at the brick and thus dry them in a much shorter time. The machinery will all lie of the very test and the new mills will have a capacity of 30,000 brick per day. Work will begin at at once and the machinery will probably be in place within six weeks. When completed Krick & Tyndall will be able to compete in price and quality with any concern in the country.

Civil and criminal proceedure is thus docketed in the circuit court ledger this week; State vs C. D. Murray, mileage and attendance of witness Smith not taxed to Murray. State vs Evelyn Eckert, perjury, bond fixed at $300; set for ninth Monday. State vs Frank Ruby and Joseph Eicher, bench warrants issued, bond fixed at $500; set for eighth Tuesday. Phoebe Amstutz vs John Amstutz, divorce, submitted. Lizzie Hendricks et al vs Hubert Topp et al, motion for new trial overruled, appeal granted to appelate court, bond fixed at SISOO. Fred Shaffer et al vs Mattie Schlegel et al, set for eighth Friday. Samantha Dorwin vs Norval Blackburn, note 5175, rule to answer absolute in five days, amended answer filed. Nichols. Shopherd & Co., vs Peter Heath el al, reply tiled and case heard by court yesterday. John Reynolds vs George Roop, judgement for defendant on verdict. Home Insurance Co. vsG. R. & I. Railway Co.;bill of exceptions signed, filed and made part of record. Isabelle Botkins vs Hiram Aspy,‘ssooo, second, third and fourth paragraphs of answer filed; rule to reply. James Ault vs Mattie Schlegel, suit ordered consolidated with case 6108, Fred Shaffer et al vs Mattie Schlegel et al. John S. Bowers vs Calvin Miller and John Williams, rule to answer absolute in five days. International Building & Loan Association vs John and I Caroline Buck, foreclosure, dismissed 1 and costs paid.

Bud Morgan of Bluffton, aged about thirty years, is in jail here charged with the very serious offense of burglary, and he may have considerable trouble in proving his innocence. Night policeman Elzey took a walk out on Monroe street Tuesday morning alrout 4:30 and as be approached the railway noticed someone standing just outside of John Lenhart’s restaurant. He slipped up cautiously and observed that the fellow seemed quite nervous and kept moving about as though afraid someone would see him. Elzey was but a few seconds in reaching a conclusion that something was not just rignt and started across to where the man stood. As he did so the fellow started to run and Elzey saw two men trying to get out of the back door at once. He concluded he couldn't take all three and pursued the one first spotted, who had on a light overcoat and thus made pursuit easier. The copper fired three shots in the air and the fleeing burglar became frightened and stopped. He was taken near the Eagle foundry and was soon in iatl. He was soon identified as Bud Morgan, who was at one time second eook at the Burt House When asked I about the matter he became a little j confused, said he was waiting upon a i train and seeing some men in the store was waiting for them to come ! out. However, it looks as though he j was acting as guard, but the officer ' was just a little too smooth and was ion him before he could get away. ; The fellow has never Ixirne a goal I reputation and is generally believed Ito be guilty. He says the fellows in j the store were two friends of his from Marion, Ohio. Tobacco, cigars and ! candy and about two dollars in money i were stolen.

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