Decatur Democrat, Volume 46, Number 39, Decatur, Adams County, 4 December 1902 — Page 1

all the news all the time.

OLUME XLVI.

lobn Clem of Union township, pura fine registered short horn L the Warren stock sale last Sk which he has added to his al--2v large herd of registered stock on his farm. The financial statement of the Old iis County Bank will be found in th i s issue and as usual holds ds own s one of the best institutions of its kind Its deposits are in excess of <721'000 all of which shows the solidand business capacity of this well known banking house. Trustee R. R- Schug, last week sold his French township farm to B. F. Wilpv of Bluffton, the consideration being $7,200. Mr. Schug will temporarily! take up his abode on a twenty acre tract still owned by him, and in the meantime will keep his weather eve out for another invest m ent in Adams county realty. Marriage licenses were issued this to the following estimable residents of Adams county: Walter M. Karr and Stella Maud Barnes, Ben S. Colter and Mary Dailey, Charles F. Rinehart and Manta Elzey, Jesse M. Kelly and Minnie Alice Janes. Roy \ Walton and Carrie Handley, George K. Jacobs and Ida Gephart. Oscar Merryman, the thirteen-year-old son of J. W. Merryman, of Blue Creek township, was slightly injured Mondav, by being struck by a piece of board. He was rendered unconscious but soon recovered, and is again as sound as a dollar. The accident was caused by a heavily-loaded wagon running over a board, which flew up and struck the lad on the head. On their former visit to this city two years ago the San Francisco Minstrels received generous patronage and favorable comment. Last season the company toured the south and west, competing successfully with such organizations as Fields’, West’s and Sun’s. This season Mr. Whitney has a much stronger company than ever before and that he will add to his already favorable reputation here as an up-to-date amusement producer is a foregone conclusion. — Bangor Daily Sews. Opera house Saturday, De eember 6. At 8:30 o’clock sharp Monday morning the five new rural route wagons left the postoffice in this city on tbeir first trips. The wagons were,in charge f the following carriers: Route No. 2. Will Engle; No. 3, Ralph Beaber; N 0.4. H. A. Fuhrman; No. 5, Elmer Archer and No. 6, Mel Butler. The new system has caused no little inconvenience at the postoffiee and if any mistakes are made during the first few days until everything is in good running order, they should be overlooked as it requires some time to entirely complete arrangements to make the system perfect. New railway opened to the Indian country. It is announced that the extension of the Verdigre branch of the North-Western Line to Bonesteel, S. 8., on the edge of the Rosebud Indian Reservation, is now open for traffic. Part of the Rosebud lands are to be opened for settlement next spring and it is expected there will tie a tremendous rush into this country now that the new railway is built. The line passes through some of the richest grazing lands in the world. The Rosebud lands themselves are known for their value in this regard and doubtless the opening of this public ’and will attract large crowds from all over the country. The Berne Oil Company, composed of Theodore Beirsdorfor, John Craig and others, who have recently leased 1036 acres of land between 2| to 1 wiles north of Berne along the west s| de 1 f the G. R. & I. railroad are soliciting stockholdes for the purpose m forming a stock company to work the territory for oil. The company endeavors to raise sßooo for the time *ing to test and develop the territory. " the territory proves to be paying. as is believed it will, the stock of the will be increased.to SI6OOO. there is little doubt that this will be Koo., territory, as it is right in line ,h ether territory now being de•’’loped, The pay sand in that direc''on has proven to increase consider,lJly in depth.—Berne Witness. Decatur Queen, a Duroc sow owned V John D. Nidlinger of this '’•junty on sweepstakes at the Chicago Stock now this week and was declared the Duroc in the world. The nieago show is the biggest “ok exhibition ever given in , n y country and the honor of receivin R highest prize comes to old Adams ounty and is certainly not to be Along with the honor, ’ r '^ l< *linger received a Silver Lov'S Cup, valued at $I(X), given by the • moncan Asssociation, besides the Premium. This however is not all n ? °i ry whieh f, ' n t 0 Mr - Nidlinger r he has won during the week with •* herd of Durocs, nine first pre(,v,!lnHl,two and a third, taking n!' rv *, lrß t he entered for but one. prizes will amount to SSOO and » 0s him a reputation to l>e envied y every stock raiser in the world. wi ji' nt ’ WH °f Mr. Nidlinger’s success o ,,i„ n i° i, surprise many but it n o *’*, B "P his claim that his hogs the best on earth,

U<5CATlIft

George Gates a prosperous Monroe township farmer, raised a patch of cotton this year and was kind enough to send us a stock of same. While we don t claim any reputation as a judge of such plants, the sample certainly looks as good as the regular Missis sipi brand. Another game of Bluffton vs Decatur took place Sunday evening when a young gent from the former place attempted to take a local youths lady away from him. As usual the con test was short and decisive the home couple winning with one blow which so scattered the visiting forces that they lied in wild dismay. A surprise of considerable propor tion was perpetrated on Mrs. R. R, Schug of French township, Wednesday night of last week, which terminated a round of pleasure that was hard to beat. Mrs. Schug was taken completely by surprise, making the event a grand success. At a late hour refreshments were served. Four new cases were filed this week in the Adams circuit court. The title and causes are as follows: Joseph E. Ellsworth vs Toledo, St. Louis & Western R’y Co., damages, demand .8150. The German Building, Loan Fund & Saving Association vs Frank Ereshman, foreclosure of mortgage, 8350. Mary E. Hower vs James A. Hower, divorce.

A preacher up at Cleveland, Ohio, threatens to go to law because the city authorities refused to permit his children to attend the public schools until they have been vaccinated, and ho says that if God favored vaccination, the children would have been born with scars on their arms, The Cleveland Press thereupon remarks: Carried out, his logic would mean, that if God wanted children to wear clothes, children would be born with clothes upon them. Grandmother Elzey, aged eightyseven years, died at the home of her son on north Tenth street about one o’clock Sunday morning. Her death was due to infirmities which had not seemed to effect her to any extent until lately. She has resided in Adams county for nearly three quarters of a century and was among the oldest pioneers. She was well known, especially to the older inhabitants. The funeral services were held at the Methodist church in this city Tuesday morning at ten o’clock. Interment at the Ray cemetery near Monroe. Herman L. Confer yesterday received a telegram urging him to accept a position as assistant cashier of a new bank to be opened December 25, at New Castle, Wyoming, the salary to be $l5O per mouth. The message further explained that the cashier would be inactive and that he would be expected to take full charge. A letter is due today, which will give full particulars aud Mr. Confer will not give his answer until he learns the details. The offer shows the high esteem on which Mr Conter is held in the west and proves that he earned a reputation in his line of work while living in South Dakota which has apparently spread to surrounding states. Norval W. Wright, a Pennsylvania brakeman, was instantly killed Sunday morning near Robinson, Ohio, a station west of Crestline. He was riding ahead, in the engine, and as the crew had orders to set off a car at Robinson, he walked back over the tank and attempted to climb onto the first car. But he missed his footing aud fell to the track between the ear and the tender, and the wheels of the ears following passed over his body. He was badly mutilated, aud death undoubtedly was instantaneous. He was a nephew of William and Roliert Blackburn of this city and quite well known here. He leaves a wife and two children. There is a mournful coincidence in the fact that just twenty-one years ago the father of the deceased, William Wright, an engineer on the Pennsylvania, met death in an accident.

State Superintendent Jones and his assistants recently issued a tabulated sheet headed, ‘•Qualifications of Teachers, 1902 1903 Indiana Deputy Lower who was here several days last week kindly gave us a copy of same and we find therein much valuable information for those interested m educational matters. The state Las lb, 03-1 teachers, divided into three classes as follows, 10,3'M township teachers, 1,660 town and 3.98 city instructors. Os this number 261 township teachers, 269 town and 655 city teachers making a total of 1,185 are graduates of colleges and universities; 1 274 are graduates of state normal schools. 1,165 of private normals, G,053 have attended colleges but not graduated; 3.550 are high schoo graduates, while 2,718 have only had a ebmmon school education. In A I ams county there are 138 Os this number but seven are college graduates, four have diplomas from state normal schools, seven from pn veto normals, sixteen have at tentl<k college for a year; twentv-one art high school graduates. '^ ( du-‘ three have but a common school edu “E TI„. UNing legislature to establish another state normal came up.

DECATUR, INDIANA, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1902.

Has it occurred to you that three, weeks from today is Christmas, that great holiday which should be enjoyed by rich and poor, young and old alike? At any rate its a sure enough I fact and you who are looking for, presents for the loved ones should read the advertisements in the Democrat from now on. Col. R. B. Allison will probably leave about the middle of January for his winter quarters in Florida w’here he will stay during the extreme cold weather, which usually makes it decidly interesting here during January and February. Col. Allison’s health | during the past few weeks has not been of that robust character so much cherished by every one. Dave Hughes started a fight in front of the Nickle Plate saloon Saturday night and got about a hundred per cent the worst of things. He struck at a young man named Roop who in an instant planted his fist against Dave’s nose, causing the blood to flow freely. Hughes started to mix things up but was nabbed by Policeman Fisher. He was released on promise of being a better boy. A few days ago the railroads announced an increase of 10 per cent to all employes who are receiving less than S2OO a month. Now comes the announcement that the railroads will advance freight rates. The report is that the advance in freight rates will be from 15 to 20 per cent. The increase granted the employes is about half this. Thus it is pointed out, that, while the railroads have increased the pay of their men, the shippers and consumers will reallv have to pay it. William Gilpeu, another old settler of this city and county died at his home here Friday night about twelve o’clock. Death was caused by paralysis with which he has suffered for some time. He was throe score years and ten and his life had been one of great usefulness. His aged wise remains and with the live children mourn the loss of a devoted husband and father. The children are Wash. Frank, Reuben aud Peter Gilpen and Mrs. Maggie Harrison who lives in Missouri. The funeral services were held Mondav afternoon. The 1903 session of the Indiana I Conference of Charities and Correction will be held in Fort Wayne, the invitation of the city having been accepted. Officers having been elected as follows: President, Alexander Johnson, of Fort Wayne; secretary, Frank Marvin, of Lafayette. The association will make a uumber of demands upon the coming Indiana legislature. It will ask for the establishment of a village for the treat ment of epileptics, and in this request it is likely to have the opposition of Governor Durbin. It will recommend the colonization of the insane and will ask a complete separation of the girls’ industrial school from the state woman’s prison.

It should be well understood that it is a very serious offense to molest in any way the mail boxes on the rural routes. The postoffice department at Washington has sent out the following copy of the law on the ques tion: "Whoever shall hereafter willfully or maliciously injure, tear down or destroy any letter box or other recepticle established by order of the postoffice general, or approved or designated bv him for the receipt or delivery of mail matter on any rural free delivery route, or shall break open the same’ or willfully or maliciously injure, deface or destroy any mail matter deposited therein, or shall willfully take or steal such mail matter from out of such box or other recept aclo, or shall willfully aid or assist in any of the aforementioned offenses, shall be for every such offense punished by a fine’ of not more than sl,<>oo or by imprisonment of not more than three years. The first number of the Y. P. C. E. lecture course was given 1 hursday evening and was the greatest entertainment of the kind ever given m Deiatur. The attraction was Slayton s Woman Orchestra, composed of twenty five ladies, each of whom was an art’ist in her line. The opera house was crowded and every one, even those who know no part of music was more than pleased. For nearly two hours she orchestra was engaged in furnishing music that was simply unsurpassable and responding to the frequent and generous applaue which called for numerous encores. The orchestra is in charge of Joseph Hecker, an old gentleman with a jolly countenance, whom the audience came to appreciate as much almost as they did the p< i form<»rß. H** <i jjruut gori pride in those who play under his care aud their work show the marks of careful training at the hands of a master. Os the members of the orchestra nothing can lie said that would give them greater credit than they deserved. Miss BeHha Hecker who give several solos on the violincello acquitted herself splendidly and Carl Hecker, the violinist, endeared himself to the hearts of all. He p|in«l with a rem liable ease and grace and his selections were of the most difficult kind. The company wont from hereto Bluffton and then to Fort Wayne.

Charles Brown, a well-known young man from Berne has been appointed deputy sheriff by Sheriffelect Albert Butler, who assumes his official duties January 1. Mr. Brown is a clever and popular gentleman and will no doubt perform his duties faithfully and in a manner satisfactory to everyone concerned. He is at Fort Wayne at present fitting himself for his new work. Renewals and new subscribers this week include the following: Warren Jones, A. Triplett, Charles Werling, W. J. Beiberick, Benjamin Breiner, Henry Grote, Tice Ulman, George Tricker, Fred Hilbert, A. J. Poiter, Samuel Siegrist, Wm Rodenbeck, L. L. Baumgartner, C. E. Hocker, J. A. Zerkle, Harry A. Grave. H. H. Hocker, T. P. Hollingsworth, William Shoaf, Joseph Mosure, John Hey and C. A. Augespurger. Rochester Sentinel: The school board held a special meeting recently to consider some plan of stopping so much cheap novel reading and cigarette smoking by school boys. It was decided to appeal to the parents to put a stop to the novel reading and as to cigarette smoking, a secret officer will be detailed to watch tobacco salesman and there will be some vigorous prosecutions. It is a violation of the law to sell or give cigarette material to boys and it will be stopin Rochester by some heavy fines. A certain fellow’ living in the south part of the city is liable to get into trouble. The neighbors of the part of the city can’t keep a dog, cat or any other pet about the house, without having it poisoned by this jealous man. One of our best known citizens living in that part of town, has within the last two years lost three valuable bird dogs, and none of these dogs never were alllowed to be out of the barn, except when they were with their mastor. The other neighbors have all had various pets poisioned by their neighbor who don’t live so far away but w hat any of these people could hit his house with a stone without leaving their premises. The commissioners met in regular monthly session Monday and began winding up the year’s business of 1902. A petition filed by the town of Berne praying for the privilege of annexing more territory was granted. The reports of viewers on Samuel Segrist, S. J. Bowers and George Older ditch petitions were approved. Applications were granted VV. A. Hunt, C. D. Murray and John Hey to retail liquors. Remonstrances were filed against the applications of Jacob Hunzicker and Jacob Brinneman, said remonstrances being signed by a majority of the voters of Monroe township, which fact was sustained by evidence heard. In both these cases the remonstrances were sustained and the licenses refused. If you can’t afford to purchase an electric light meter at cost of about fifteen dollars you must pay fifty cents a month for each light you use or just twice the price heretofore charged, so said the city council at their meeting Tuesday night. To make this sure an ordinance providing for proper management of the plant, also for a license for persons before they will be permitted to wire or make attachments, also for metering all consumers and providing a penalty for violation of these orders was adopted. The object is said to be to cause everyone using the lights to put in a meter and for this reason the fiat rate was doubled. The electric light plant is owned by the city and has lieen operated at a profit, even though the service has by no means been perfect and why the price should lie increased is just a little difficult to understand, especially bv those who havn’t the money to plank down for a meter.

A wild animal in the woods near Craigville has frightened many people of that neighborhood and aroused the citizens to prompt action. A big hunt is being organized and a small army of men will surround the forest and make a gallent effort to kill or capture thw beast. For more than a month the animal has lieen heard and has been seen several times, but the reports were thought to be jokes, however it is said that even the most skeptical people in the neighborhood are now firm believers that an animal wild and ferocious is living in the w’oods and each will do his part to bring the fiend to his death. Last Thursday evening a young man arrived in Craigville on a night train and started to walk down the Clover Leaf track to the home of Bruce Niblick whom he depired to > mit. As be was passing a strip of oils he heard the cries of some and the beast shortly afterwordsrun from the timber and leaped out onto the track twenty or twenty five feet behind the young fellow. He was pretty badly frighten ed lint gathered up a handful of rocks and kept it at bay. When he startisl on it followed and he kept it back by throwing rocks. He finally hit it two or three times and with a cry it left the track ami dissappeared in the woods. When the young man arrived at Mr. Niblick’s he was badly seared. Ho descrilieil the animal as alrout the size of n dog, with a sharp nose and of a gray color.

The San Francisco Minstrels at opera house Tuesday evening were favored with a good sized audience and gave an entertainment that was highly satisfactory to those in attendance. The best feature of the program was the club swinging by Mr. McVey which was ably seconded by the contortion acts of Mr. LaMore. The musical part of the program was very good and the jokes up-to-date, a rare thing in a minstrel entertainment. —Oldtown Chronicle. Opera house Saturday, December 6. It is said that Mrs. Nettie Gore, the American woman who was killed while in the apartments of a Russian singer in Paris, was a former resident of Deca tur. Her father, the Rev. Jehu Stogdill, was once a minister in the latter place. An uncle, Christy Stogdill, lives near Bluffton, and a cousin, Matt Stogdill, is a resident of Ossian. The young woman left Decatur years ago and married Gore, a Canadian, and since then her Indiana relatives heard ; little about her until the news of her tragic death came from Paris. Samuel Moore, a former conductor on the G. R. & I. railway, died last Thursday at Jonliu, Missouri. He was well known here, as was his fam ily, they having visited in the city many times. Mr. Moore was considered a successful business man and accumulated a snug fortune by dealing in oil property in this county. About four years ago he went io Joplin and engaged in the mining business; he met reverses aud his wealth gradually faded faway, and with the losses came broken health from the incessant worry and finally the end. It is indeed a sad story and the family have the sympathy of their many acquaintances here. Thirteen years ago there was a fall similar to this one. The prettiest kind of weather followed a rather bad summer. On the last day of November there was a heavy rain, which lasted for two days and then turned to snow. Cold weather followed and during the rest of the winter there were but few’ warm days fit for out side work. Some of the older resi dents of the city say that there have been three or four similar falls and the results were the same. These people are anticipating cold weather from nowon. If cold weather continues it will inconvience the contractors of the new Presbyterian church to a great extent as the walls are but about half completed. If real bad weather holds off two or three weeks the buildwill be under roof. Business transacted at the circuit court this week has been recorded as follows: State eases of Joseph Miller andJJacob Brenneman, set for fouith Monday. Cases of Herold Rollings worth, Frank Derickson, Ohio Oil Co., Wm. Loutzenhizer, Vent Everett, Thomas Covault, and Wm. Covault also set for hearing fourth Monday, December Sth. State vs Charles Geimer, appearanc by A. P. Beatty for defendant, notice to quash affidavit filed. Peter Holthouse, ex parte, evidence still lieing heard. Nancy E. Eckrote vs John Eckroto, divorce granted and plaintiffs former name, Nancy E. DeWitt restored. Samantha E. Young vs Gabriel Steinberger et al., proof of publication filed, appearance bv L. C. DeVoss for defendants. A. Fry aud Susan A. Young. Lemuel B. Stevens vs Archie P. Hardison, amended complaint filed. Andrew J. Leedy vs L. G. Bodkins, adm’r; appearance by S. A. M. Butcher for defendant Tantha Gregory vs A. C. Gregory, rule to answer.

The careless handling of fire arms resulted in the death Saturday afternoon, of a bright, interesting little boy, aged ten years, whose parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Capper, have their home on South Walnut street. Mr. Capper is well known as the engineer of the mills of the I nion Flouring Co., in this town. Young Capper and a playmate one year his junior, named Charles Seib, son of George Seib, were playing soldier. The Capper boy was armed with a rille and the Seib lx>y carried a tlobert gun. In the play they snapped the guns at each other. Young Seib's gun was loaded, without his knowledge, with a 22 short cartridge, which was discharged, at short range, the ball passing entirely through the body of young C"! 1 ; < i at an au. ■' above the right hip. The buys were so badly scared that neither could tell whether the shooting was done from front or rear. The wound ranges from the front, through the abdomen, to the right of the back-bone and above the hip. The shooting occurred at 2:30 in the afternoon and the wounded boy died at 9:30 the same evening. The boy who did the shooting. and his family, are overwhelmed with grief, yet no blame is attached to them. The dying boy pleading the cause of his companion, said, “Charley is not to blame.” Dr. J. Ward Wilson was culled but medical skill was of no avail. The vital parts were touche t by the ball, which carried death with it. A short service at 8:30 on Wednesday morning, followed by -services r»t the First Evangelical church at 9:30. Van W'ert Bulletin. Mrs, Cap per, Bother of the boy thus killeil. is a sister of Prof. Prof. H. A. Hartman [ of this city.

CIRCULATION 2800 WEEKLY

NUMBER 39

Those awaiting the returns on the ■ guesses in the Cincinnati Enquirer will be lucky if they get enough to purchase a sirloin steak, and enough to buy a Xmas turkey will be considered a fat prize. There are said to be thirteen correct guesses in Cincinnati, aud a like number in Columbus, Ohio. A club put up 815,000 in Cin. cinnati and got 30,000 guesses and has one correct and several hundred both above and below it. The correct guessers will probably compromise gladly for thirty cents. The problem seems to have been an easy one for many of them. The Bluffton News said in Monday’s issue: A story, originating at Kokomo, is to the effect that Chicago capitalists will spend a million dollars on the construction of an electric line between Kokomo and Bluffton. Bundy & Clark, of Marion, are said to be interested in the line also, but they have no capital. A road paralelling the Clover Leaf between Marion and Kokomo would be a paying investment, as it is through this territory’ that the Clover Leaf has its heaviest passenger traffic. For nearly a year the Clover Leaf has had under consideration a plan for running electric cars between Delphos aud Marion, but the plan seems to have died in infancy. The Mondav Bluffton Banner said: In regard to the sale of the mitten factory there is nothing thatcan be said as vet. Mr. Sixbey aud wife returned last night from New York where they have been for the past week. It was thought that this trip had something to do with the reported sale of the factory but when Mr. Sixby was asked regarding the matter this morning he. would say nothing. However, he will go to Chicago the middle of the week and states that on his return there may be a great deal more to say about it. The truth is he has received some very flattering offers for the plain and may accept one of them. As near as can be learned a sale of the plant does not mean its loss to Bluffton. It seems that the parties wishing to purchase want to also buy his residence property and make Bluffton the permanent headquarters of the plant James Madison McDaniel, an old resident here, was found dead in lied yesterday morning at his home near the Chicago & Erie railway. He had been in good health and worked at cutting wood all day Tuesday. He returned home in the evening, ate a hearty supper and retired about nine o’clock, apparently as well as ever. He got up about midnight and said the storm kept him awake. Soon afterwards he went back to bed and soon fell asleep. His son, who slept with him awoke at seven o'clock yesterday morning and called his father, and receiving no answer went to his side to arouse him and found him cold in death. Dr. D. D. Clark, acting coroner, was called and found that he had been dead several hours, the cause being heart trouble. Mr. McDaniel was sixty-eight years, oue month anil twenty days old, having been born in Ohio in November. 1834. He was a veteran of the civil war and for some time has received a pension of twenty-four dollars per month. The funeral services will be held tomorrow at the Beery church.

The first regular meeting of the city council for the mouth of December was held Tuesday evening, with Mayor Coffee presiding and every member present. The contract of the Decatur Egg Case company for water rental was approved. A committee composed of Messrs. Stettler, Weaver and Fordyce was appointed aud authorized to settle with Mrs. Isaac Peterson for injury to her son. An ordinance was adopted grantinc a franchise for piping the city with gas. to the Riverside Gas company. Mr. Stettler movisl the adoption of the committees’ report on vacation of Market street, the vote resulted, aye, Stettler, Weaver, Peterson, and nay, Corbett, Fordyce and Teeple. The vote being a tie the mayor dts'ided against same and motion was lost. The report of the fire committee, accepting the new apparatus, was ap proved. The report of George E. Steele, waterworks superintendent, was lilt'd and approved. The finance committee was onlered to take up the orders of W. E. Fulk and H. S. Steele, issued for labor on Elm street sewer. The following bills were allowed: D. F. Teeple, freight, $2,91, Standard Oil company, oil.' -6.51. F. M. Gessiiiger, printing, 82 25, Ed. Luttman. sat'd, sl4, A. Vt.nCamp, labor. $5.70, I .i one Christi n, labor, $25, J. G. Smith, salary,s2s.6s, H. B. Knoff. salary. s4t), (’late Dorwin, sal ary, SSO, H. D. Rice, salary, SSO, Thos. Baker, salary, SSO, George E. Steele, salary, S4O, D. I l '. Teeple, freight, $2.71, Sunday Creek com pany, coal, $107.99. Jacob Mangold, salary. $lO, Amos Fisher, salary, S4O, J. G. Smith, labor, 815.90, .h:hn Coffee, salary. $45.83, Jacob Eady, salary, $lO, Thos. Haelling, salary, $lO, M J. Mylott, salary, $65. Harry Dan iel, printing, $4.75. An ordinance es tablishing a system for the electric light plant was adopted by a full vote. The petition to compel the gas coninnny to give better supply of i,-as or ■up their franchise, was re- : ferred to the judiciary committee.