Decatur Democrat, Volume 45, Number 34, Decatur, Adams County, 31 October 1901 — Page 1

all the news ALL THE TIME.

VOLUME XLV.

The Decatur foot hall team were defeated at Van Wert Saturday by a I score of 10 to 0. The game was hard fought and one of the best ever seen in the Ohio city. Mrs. Mary Sprague, an old resident of Union township, died Thurs day morning of peritonitis, after an illness of several days. She was sixty vears old and one of the best known ladies of her community. The funeral services were held Saturday morning at the Alpha church. Clark J. Lutz left Tuesday morning for a ten days health recruiting visit to the famous Carlisbad of America. West Baden, A close application to his extensive law practice has produced a elogged condition that ten days at this watering resort will entirely eradicate, and he will return feeling the good results of this absence. New cases filed iu the circuit court this week are entitled Florence Mentzer vs. Marion Mentzer, divorce; Benton Stetler, vs. Effie Stetler, petition for writ of habeas corpus; Mary Baumgartner vs. Emil Baumgartner, complaint for wrongful conversion of money, demand $500; Samuel Workinger vs. L. P. Workinger, et al., partition. F. Marion Stultz arrived home Sun day night after an eight months stay in Colorado and is looking fine as a fiddle. He is well pleased with the climate, people and things in general in the west and may return in the spring. Upon his return trip he went on through to Buffalo and took a look at the big exposition, with which he was delighted. During his absence he has been in eleven states. Rev. and Mrs. George Grether of the Reformed church were the victims of a genuine and most enjoyable sur prise Monday evening. The affair was gotten up by the members of Rev. Grether’s congregation and they were certainly well prepared for the event for each carried an armload of eatables of most every discription, enough not only to feed the hungry invaders but plenty for the good pastor and his wife for several days to come. An interesting part of the evenings entertainment was a serenade by the City Band. According to Cincinnati papers the Ft. Wayne, Dayton and Cincinnati traction company for the third time has come to life, and are now making surveys out of Cincinnati and are headed this way. The route as mapped out comes through Dayton, Celina, Willshire, Decatur, Ft. Wayne, then south through Portland, Winchester, Union City to Dayton. For a year the company has been laboring upon this route and at one time early last spring made an observation trip over the line and seemed well pleased with it, and at that time they expected to push it to completion, ft’s resurrection now is rather suspicious but will receive the proper reception, providing the company is on the square. Miss Julia Parrott, of Linn Grove, who has already given five of the best years of her life to missionary work in India, is building up her health for another trial in that disease infected portion of the world. She came home a year ago a physical wreck and after a several months visit at home went to the Clifton Springs sanatarium, New York, and has taken a two months treatment there, returning home almost as well as ever. In about two weeks she will go to Illinois and for a while will engage in home missionary work, going from church to church explaining the conditions of the India mission field. From there sho goes to California and next September will again set sail for Burmah for a six years stay as a foreign missionary. She will probably not be at home again before that period is up. Mrs. Jessie Crabs Townsend of this city and Mr. Harry Deam of Bluffton were married at Indianapolis, Sunday afternoon. The affair was discribed in the Sentinel as follows: “The marriage of Mrs. Jessie Townsend of Decatur, Ind., and Harry Deam of Bluffton, Ind., took place Sunday afternoon at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Rufus K. Syferson Capital ave., uorth The ceremony was performed at 5 o'clock by the Rev Allan B. Philputt of the Central Christian churl'll. Miss Nannie Love of Muncie played the Mendelssohn wedding march for the entrance of the bridal couple. The rooms were tastefully arranged with vases filled with chrysanthemums, which ornamented the mantels and piano. The bride wore a pretty gray gown trimmed in pink chiffon and a black velvet Gainsborough hat. Her flowers were white roses. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Studabaker and Mr. and Mrs. Locke of Bluffton came for the wedding. Mr. and Mrs. Dean will reside in Bluffton,” They arrived at Bluffton Monday evening and are now at home to their host of friends. The bride is the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert B. Allison and has been prominent in social, church and musical society here where she has always resided. Her friends are only numbered by our population and all wish her happiness. Mr. Dean is a well known Bluffton business man and is also well known here. The Democrat offers sincerest congratulations.

A masquerade surprise on Mrs. C, Rademacher was well earned out Monday evening. Some forty ladies dressed in all styles and costumes were present and if they didn’t have a good time the noises which reached to Second street were very misleading. Tomorrow will be a holy day of obligation among Catholics as the church on that day observes the feast of All Saints. The following Saturday is observed as All Soul’s day. It is not a holy day of obligation but a day set aside especially for the remembrance of the dead in prayer. Editor Lovelace, of the Huntington Democrat, and Miss Lizzie Slack of that city, were married Tuesday evening and immediately left on an extended wedding tour through the east, including Washington. D. C. Both are quite prominent in Hunting ton society circles and have friends without number, who wish them a prosperous and happy future. N. K. Todd and Luster Roush, of i Bluffton, were in the city Tuesday ! evening. The latter was once a resiI dent of Decatur and is known by ; many of our people. He is also known to the writer, the two being kids together. and he delights in relating a little ancient history, when he visitedj Geneva and became a regular subscriber to the Geneva Herald, and > which honor later cost him the usual ; four dollars and fifty cents. On Wednesday evening, Octobor i the twenty-third, occurred a very ' pleasant surprise at the home of Mr. ; and Mrs. M. L. Kizer, near this city, ' in honor of their daughter, Miss Mary. Her teacher, Ed. Kintz, accompanied her from school and at seven o’clock that evening about twenty of her friends gathered at her home. In the meantime her sister. Miss Myrtle, arrived home from Huntington and ; Mary was surprised completely. They spent the evening in playing games after which light refreshments were served. Miss Kizer leaves this week for her home iu Linn Grove and the best wishes of her many friends go with her. Jude Steinman and Otto Mumma were tried in the circuit court SaturI day for robbing the Albert Manlier store at Hines. Mumma pleaded guilty and was sent to the reform school at Plainfield, until he is twen-ty-one years of age, which means about five years. Steinman plead not guilty and entered a plea of insanity. His case was heard by a jury who found him guilty and sent him to jail for thirty days. He was also given a sixty days sentence, ten dollars fine and disfranchised for five years for robbing his employer Henry Bithner, of seventeen dollars in cash. A young ' man named Johnson, who was also said to lie implicated in the Hines robbery was acquitted. The hearing of the case of the State of Indiana ex rel Auditor Mangold of Adams county vs. Daniel Bolds, extreasurer of Adams county, has been set for trial November 11, iu the Jay circuit court, but may lie continued, for the reason that Clark J. Lutz, one of the leading counsel, is ill and has gone to West Baden. There are two actions against Bolds and his bonds men, each being for two’ thousand dollars for money alleged by the com plaint to be due the county. The case has been pending in the local court for some time. When Bolds was tried on a criminal charge in Wells county some months ago in connection with his office as treasurer of Adams county he was acquitted. The hearing at that time was a long drawn out one, a very large number of witnesses being called upon to testify. Portland Commercial Review. Oliver Auten died suddenly last Friday morning about eleven o’clock of heart trouble at the home of Wm. Gilbert in the southwest part of town, where he had boarded for some time. He was down street during the morning and seemed iu his usual health. About seven o’clock he swept out for H. A. Fristoe and to him complained of a peculiar pain over the heart saying, “I never felt just that way before,” and seemed considerably worried. He was also into Coffee & Bakers restaurant, Blackburn A Christens drug store and other business houses but showed no signs of illueetj. About ten o’clock he returned to his boarding house and an hour later was found dead in the back yard. The deceased was born in Carroll county, Ohio, in 1844 and was fifty seven years of age at the time of death. He came to this county with his parents when he was about five years old and located on a farm near Monmouth. There he resided until 1861, when at the call of his country for troops, he joined the 11th Indiana cavalry. Reserved during the war and was a brave and patriotic soldier. After receiving his discharge he returned to this country and has since lived here going away during the summer often but returning after a few months. He was well known here and in the north part of the county. The funeral services were held Sunday morning from the home of Samuel Pillars, north of town, Rev. Miller, of Hoagland, officiating. The G. A. 11. attended in a body and con ducted their army services for such I an occasion. I

DECATUR, INDIANA, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1901.

The insurance report from the office of the auditor of state, forthcoming in a few days, will show that there are 113 authorized fire insurance compan ies operating in Indiana. Os these, six are Indiana concerns, seventy -three ! are from other states and thirty-four I from foreign countries. Another batch of green goods letters were received through the mails here recently. Instructions are to telegraph to J. W. Ellis, Bates street, Greenville, Now Jersey, and the mes-' sage to read “Send word to No. 108.” i One’s initials only are to be signed to the telegram which will bring a sam-1 pie of the green goods and name of a place of meeting. It is the same old | game. We note the following honored subscribers who have slipped us the price this week of the Democrat: Wm. Beberick, Godfrey Christen, Thos. Macey, P. J. Bryan, Harry V. Lewton, W. A. Myers, James McCune, E. W. Steele, Albert Kelsey, Frank Hisey, Jacob Houser, C. D. Stanley, Douglas Dudgeon, Emery Walters, William Zimmerman, E. H. Stopenhagen, J. H. Beatty, George Hartman and Jas. Gage. Joseph Parry for many years past a conductor on the G. R. & I. railroad died at his home iu Fort Wayne Monday morning of kidney trouble. He was sixty years old and enjoyed good health until some months ago when he began failing. He continued his run from Fort Wayne to Richmond however until three weeks ago when he broke down completely. He leaves a wife two sons andtwodaughters one of whom is Mrs. M. P. Stoops of Richmond. Mr. Parrys father, William Parry built the “Richmond road” a part of the G. R. & I. The remains were taken through here yesterday to Richmond where they were interred. The directors who have in charge the affairs of the Decatur Oil and Gas company wore out Tuesday and located another well, upon which drilling will soon begin. This is the fifth hole that will be the property of this company. It is located about 1 600 feet from the somewhat famous I Teeple well which gave evidence of being a gasser with a rock pressure vet unequaled iu the gas field. Since being shot it has been capped but some members of the company maintain that the well is a good one, and i that both an oil and a gas field will be developed before the Decatur Oil and Gas company give up the ghost. The new well is in St. Marys township and iu a very short time the drill will begin to decend. David and George Flanders and their attorney R. S. Peterson of this city have been at Celina, Ohio, for a week past attending the trial of the State of Ohio vs. L. Grav, charged with embezzlement and converting property to his own use. The case is the one arising from Gray disappearing from Celina three months ago, taking with him two valuable stallions the property of Flanders & Son. After a long chase Gray was captured in the post office at Detroit and taken back to Celina. The horses were found in an out of the way place some where in Ohio and brought back. Gray was given a hearing and bound over to court. His trial began last Wednesday and continued five days, going to the jury Tuesday noon. Up to last evening no verdict had been obtained and the chances are that a disagreement will result. It is said that the jury all believe Gray guilty, but that six only wish to punish him for a misdemeanor while the other six wish to find against him for embezzlement. Lou Yager of this city, who for several years has been traveling for the Ft, Wayne Drug Co., has been a patient at the St. Joseph hospital for a week past. On Wednesday of last week while eating breakfast at a hotel at Paulding. Ohio, he fell forward on the table. A physician was called and administered restoratives after which Lou at once expressed a deter initiation to go to the hospital at Ft. Wayne. He was taken there and Dr. Rosenthall called, who at once pronounced the trouble to lie peritonitis, caused from appendicitis. Au operation seemed to be the only chance for life, but owing to the fact that Lou has suffered from asthma for several years and was so weak it was feared he could not possibly live through such an ordeal. He was treated by the freezing method until Friday, but continued to grow worse and it was then decided to operate although the chances for recovery were not one in a thousand and accordingly at four o’clock the stricken man was placed under the influence of an opiate ami the work began. Several times during the night which followed the relatives were notified that the patient was believed to be nearing the end, but ns many times circulation was restored and the next morning Lou surprised everyone, even the physicians by awakening. However no one believed for several days that he could possibly survive the terrible shock in his condition, but geod reports still continue to come and it is m-ely admitted that he is holding his own ami the chances are now better than ever for his ultimate recovery.

Mrs. A. R. Bell, Mrs. M. Dorwin, Mrs. B. Dorwin, Mrs. A. G. Holloway Mrs. J. S. Peterson and Mrs. J. H. Heller of this city, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Porter of Geneva and C. D. Kunkle of Monmouth were at Fort Wayne Tuesday’ to attend the funeral services of Dick Winch. Cuprite one of the blooded horses we mentioned last week as being purchased by Dr. J. W, Vizard of Pleasant Mills, has been transferred in ownership to Dr. Morgan of Dixon, Ohio. The Drs. were together at Lexington and between them purchased three fine horses with blood that is true blue and a pedigree as long as your arm. Twenty Bluffton ladies drove to this city yesterday and enjoyed the day with friends and relatives most of them being guests at the Gilliom home; their daughter, Mrs. Marsh being one of the crowd. Among the ladies also were Mrs. Harry Deam who visited her parents Mr. and Mrs. R. B. Allison and Mrs. N. K. Todd who enjoyed the day with her father and sisters. They left at four o’clock on the return trip. • Business men who are of the opinion that people do not read advertisements can test the matter very readily. Occasionally a typographical error is made in setting the type for an ad. The price paid for butter, egg or some other article is put too high, and customers come flocking to the store expecting to get the price named in the advertisement, and much annoyance is there by caused to the merchant who must explain that it was a mistake of the printer. The same results follow when the selling price of an article happens, by mistake, to be made too low. People do read advertisements and the merchants is very much mistaken who thinks they do not. A fourteen year old son of Peter Colchin was quite badly hurt Saturday noon and the spectators to the accident are wondering how he escaped as luckily as he did. He was riding his bicycle north on Second street without paying very close attention as to where he was going and at the corner of Second and Court streets ran into John Gluting’s dray team as they were turning west. The boy vas riding at a rapidgait’and was hurled to the brick pavement with terrific force, one of the horses stepping on him. Before John could stop his team the wagon had also passed over the little fellow. He was badly bruised but not a bone was fractured and he was taken to his home on First street. His bicycle was badly wrecked. The officers of the Adams County Fair Association were roasted to a standstill by Bluffton papers and a damage suit even threatened because it was claimed they posted their fair bills on signs of Bluffton parties. That the officers are gentlemen is shown by the following from Saturday’s Bluffton News: The item in the News a few days ago relating the manner which the advertising on a number of G. D. Snyder’s mile posts had been effaced by bills of the Adams county fair association has brought an apology from President George Tricker. He is a gentleman and one of Decatur’s best citizens and although the bills bore his name he did not know how they had been indiscriminately posted. As soon as he learned of the fact he took actions to make the matter r’ght and was here .last night to see Mr. Snyder and explain the circumstances. He also drove to Ossian to see Abner Elzey, whose signs were likewise used as bill boards. He has had the offending bills washed off wherever found. He deserves credit for his prompt and honorable action. The one great night for the boys; yes, and even the girls, is nearly here and tonight from dark to morning the merry laugh of the joyous young may be heard on every street in Decatur as well as every other village. town and city of America. Tonight is Hollow E’en, the one evening of the year when jokes and good times in general are permitted; when gob line and ghosts appear iu plenty and when masquerade parties are the style. For weeks past the boys have laid awake nights conjuring in their minds how they would overturn loose buildings, scare the old folks with the ancient tick tack and have fun by indulging in all sorts of deviltry. So if you have a chicken coop that you don’t want put on top of some neigh bor’s shade trees, nail it down. The small boy will sally forth like an evil spirit, and if you hope to escape you must get everything movable out of his way. If you want to picture out what he will do to you, just turn back to your own boyhood days, when you went forth in the evenings likea thing of ioy and beauty and came home so full of birdshot and hard cider that you hardly knew whether you belonged to this world or the next. However, this is not the only form of amusement for the young as there are dances, parties and other entertainments forfurther orders and the young man or woman who don’t enjoy this evening is certainly out of luck. Special officers have been appointed by Mayor Beatty, whose duties are to see that property is not destroyed, although the young are to be allowed as much innocent fun as they desire,

On last Thursday the supreme court of Indiana granted an alternative writ mandating Judge Edwin Vaughn, of Wells county circuit court, to appear before the court in Indianapolis and show cause why he refused to make an order allowing Dick Starr, of Weils county, to appeal as a poor man from the decision of the lower court finding him guilty of a charge of assault and battery with intent to kill. The action of the court is an unusual one, as the only other petition of the kind ever before asked of it was refused. It will no doubt interest the many friends of Pearl Cutting a former Decatur boy now living in Chicago to know that he was united in marriage Tuesday evening of last week to Miss Susie Burns of that city. Pearl has prospered since going to the big city of the west and had a nicely furnished home in which to usher his bride and they are now at home there. He is employed at the mammouth store of Lyon Bros, who own one of the largest general stores in Chicago and is manager of me second floor with thirty-five clerks under him. A full house shouted their approval of the funny jokes and laughable turns in the “Old Dan Tucker” com pany which showed at Bosse’s opera house Thursday night. Dan Sherman who stars in the character of Dan Tucker is an old Indiana boy having been reared in Randolph county where he was know as Dan Snyder. He is a comedian beyond any question and can cure a case of “blues” quicker than anyone we know unless it is Fred Raymond. When a mere boy Snyder left home and went to San Francisco where he prospered. He has never been back home or anywhere near there until now and while here met several old acquaintances. He will visit at Farmland, his former home, while touring Indiana. Drayton M. Ayers, one of the county’s oldest citizens and a resident since 1853 died at his home south of town Saturday evening of a complication of diseases, chief among which were the infirmaries of old age, he being nearly eighty-six years old. He was born in Madison county New York. December 28, 1815, the son of John W. and Catherine Ayers. His father was a surgeon in the war of 1812 and one of the best known men in New York state. When quite young the deceased removed with his parents to Warren county, Penn., afterwards to Belmont county, Ohio, and then to Madina, county. Ohio, In 1833 he was married to Elizabeth Crabbs in Richland county, Ohio, and to them have been born ten Children, six of whom still survive. Mrs. |Ayers died January 2, 1878. Drayton Ayers was one of the best citizens of this county and during his half century in this county he proved himself a man in every sense of the word. By his industry he accumulated some of this worlds good and owned a splendid farm of 200 acres. He was a member of the Baptist church and the funeral services were held from that place of worship Monday afternoon. Interment in Maplewood cemetery. Business at the court house this week has included the disposal of civil and criminal cases as follows: State vs. Jude Stineman, found guilty of petit larceny, fined ten dollars, sent to jail two months and disfranchised for five years. State vs. Otto Mumma and Jude Stineman, petit larceny, Mumma found guilty and sent to Plainfield reformatory; Stineman fined a dollar and costs and sent to jail for thirty days. State vs. Harl ev Johnson, petit larceny, acquitted. State for B. A. Batson as drainage commissioner vs. Peter Holthouse, damages SIOO. rule to answer. State ex rel Evelyn Eckert vs. E. Fritzinger, jurv disagreed and case continued. John Shank vs. Mary M. Shank, et al., partition, motion by plaintiff to require defendant Simeon Smith to make his cross complaint more specific. Adam Kaylor vs. Frederick Schafer, et al., motion for new trial overruled, appeal granted to appellate court. National Cycle Co. vs. Schafer, Son A Loch, answer filed in two paragraphs, rule to reply to second paragraph. H. S. Miller vs. Laura McConnell, et al., finding that plaintiff owns one-third of property in question and defendants the other two-thirds, Dore B. Erwin appointed commissioner and his bond of $3,000 filed and approved,appraisement filed. Sarah E. Warner vs. James Warner, damages SSOO, now on trial. Hamilton National bank vs. Nellie Black burn, admr., note $71.00, judgment for full amount with interest from June 21, 1901. Finding that Gideon Longeuberger is surety on the note. Alliert Lehrman and Phillip Erb vs. Gicena Elvehardt and her husband, rule to answer. Betty Myers and Henry Myers vs. Nellie and Clara Deyo, partition, finding that plain tiffs own one third of real estate in question, J. T. Merryman appointed commissioner and filed bond of SISOO. John Schiman, et al. vs. Ezra Zimmerman, et al., note SI4OO. rule to answer. Edward Haetling vs. Joseph Ruinsehlaugh. road supervisor, rule to answer. Benton Stetler vs. Effie Stetler. habeas corpus proceedings, case settled by plaintiff ami defendant and custody of child given to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Stetler.

CIRCULATION 2800 WEEKLY

NUMBER 34

A damage suit from Allen county I entitled Sarah Warner vs. James Warner in which SSOO is asked is being heard in the Adams circuit court this week. The case is one for the wrongful conversion of property which is said to have been given to James Warner by his father when on his death bed and when it is claimed his mind was not clear. Robertson A O'Rourke, of Ft. Wayne and Dore B. Erwin of this city appear for the plaintiff and Attorney Harris, of Ft. Wayne and J. T. Merry man of this city for the defendant. The case has been on trial since Monday and will take up the most of the week. By request of Milligan Jackson, a special meeting of the city council was called Saturday night to allow that official to resign as fireman of the electric light plant. Members Sutles, Haefling, Mann, Niblick, Leßrtm and Myers were present when the roll was called by Clerk Hower and Mayor A. P. Beatty presided. Mr. Jackson handed in his resignation and same was accepted, taking effect at once. The matter of selecting another fire man was then taken up and David Myers was chosen on first ballot. Milligan has been a resident of this city all his life, has held several responsible positions and has been employed by the city for several years. He has lieen industrious and careful about all his duties and resigns with a Mean record and one of which he may feel proud. He has accepted a more profitable position in a large machine shop at Carrey, Ohio, and leaves for that place today to begin his duties. No further business came before the council Saturday night. Dick Winch, of Ft. Wayne, well known here and a relative to many people of this county, died Sunday at Poplar Bluff, Mo., of typhoid fever. The sad story was told iu Monday’s Journal - Gazette, as follows: “Mr. Homer Dick Winch died on Sunday at Poplar Bluff, Mo., of typhoid fever. Mr. Winch was engaged in inspecting and buying lumber for the firm of Winch & Haller, of this city, of which firm he was a partner. He went to Poplar Bluff last May and while there he contracted the swamp fever, with which he suffered for two months. He was finally compelled to give up and was taken to the hospital, where typhoid fever developed, causing death after about four weeks confinement. Mrs. Winch was not apprised of the serious condition of her husband until last week. She immediately left for Poplar Bluff, reaching her husband's bedside last Thursday. The deceased was the oldest son of Mr. C. J. Winch and leaves a wife and three children. Mildred 12 years old, Lois 10 and Roliert 8. Besides the members of the immediate family, there are his father Mr. C. J. Winch, three sisters, Miss Mildred, Miss Fanny and Mrs. Gart Shober. His brothers are W. E. Winch. Mack Winch and Howard Winch." The funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon and were attended by a number of people from here. For several days this week it looked as though a real kidnapping case in which a mother would lie tried for stealing her own child in the Adams circuit court, but the affair has been settled outside the hall of justice. On the C. & E. 12:38 west liound passenger train Sunday a well dressed lady arrived and going to the Burt house registered as Mrs. Benton Stetler. New York City. Soon after she ordered a livery rig and was driven to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Stetler east of town. Within two hours she returned with a two year old girl baby in her arms. She sent for attor neys Peterson A France and C. J. Lutz and told them her story. She said she was tho wife of Benton Stetler from whom she had been separated for some time and who had taken their daughter with him. Her visit here was to obtain the child and now that she had done so wanted to have the case settled in court so that she could retain possession of her untnolested. By this time her husband arrived upon the scene and hunting up ’Squire Reynolds ordered the arrest of ins wife upon the charge of kid napping. The facts in the case became circulated about town and there was considerable talk and one could hear most any kind of a story desirable. Mr. Stetler employed attorneys L. C. DeVoss and I). E. Smith and alxiut 7:30 Sunday evening he saw hie wife and baby taken to jail. The following morning halieas corpus proceedings were begun to obtain release of the child and the case was set down for hearing Wednesday morning. In the mean time Mr. and Mrs. Stetler held a consultation and decided that both were wrong and a compromise was affected whereby Mr. and Mrs. Henry Stetler are to keep the child for the present at least, the mother to lie allowed to have her visit her three weeks each year. The husband who now lives at Ft. Wayne says his wife abandoned the child in New- York and that he went after her and brought her home. There is a proba bility that the couple will kiss and 1 make up and for the good of everyone ' concerned it is to be hoped they will. They were married in Chicago eleven vears ago and the baby Maxine, was liorn at the Palace hotel, Cincinnati, [iu December, 1899.