Decatur Democrat, Volume 47, Number 9, Decatur, Adams County, 7 May 1903 — Page 1

all the news all the time.

lume xlvii.

NOW LOCATED. ostoffice Goes in New Fritzinger Block. jus Free Delivery and the Erection of the New Block at Once. j-he postoffice is to be removed into e Fritzinger t)loek to lx? erected | once on Monroe street. So says p government of the United States ,1 w take it as good enough thority to announce that !S .su<• h H positively be the case. The wfi comes in a dispatch from ishington which says: “The partment has accepted a proposin of Erastus Fritzinger to lease room with basement imi building lieh he is to on the north le of Monroe street, between Fitest d Second streets, in ilia nil." This deal has been on for no two months, but as the govlment also has several Other proBitions under consideration it was rather unft'rtain question. This tion however, is no douht binding [d settles the affair. Mr. Fritz;er w|ll very likely #eet a hand me block and work will begin at % ce The deal also means fret 1 livery is assured for fhis city and U be established soon. ® “ jg Joseph Knapke and wife and rs. William Harding left for iriii Sten. Ohio, this noon where ey will attend the Knapke family union which will lx- held at that lee tomorrow. The reunion w ill held this year on the birth unnirrsitry of Grandmother Hast. Another very pleasant evening is enjoyed by the Whist club at p beautiful home of Mr. and Mrs. C. Schafer on Monrot' street. Iss Rose CMFisten *pil Mr. W. A. jeble.r acted as substitutes. The rds were interesting, the scores arlv even and the refreshments jst delightful. 4 Mercer street is fast becoming one the swell residence streets of this y and with its uniform rows of trees presents a very atiracfe appaerunoe. The people of that *triot are planning to keep jmee th the prospects for their neighorod and will proliablj-; petition the y coimcil that the name of that woughfare lx* changed from freer street to Mercer avenue. At a meeting of the Commercial lb directors held at. the office of M. Schirmeyer, committees were pointinl to fovestigtae the needs the Trout building to make it in things suitable for a fashionable r house. The improvements of imbing and wiring for the lights (1 the heating has been referred John W. Tyndall and C. X Clirisi The furniture and furnishings ledicatedto W. A. Kuebler.D. blick, C. M. MfVers. C* L. Walters rt H. .1. Yager. These committees 11 make their tour of inspection d their calculations will be Rented to the hoard at a meeting lx- held Monday evening, t will be pleasing news to many in s city who arc strong .in their ief of the innocence of Rev. ilser. who was charged with kder at Lorain. Ohio, last today, to know that he has been Pased from custody and exoneratfroni suspicion in said murder. coroner's verdict was made blic Tuesday, which together !h the statements of the police, n have ix?en detailed on the ease tody relieve the accused priest m any connection with the 1 crime Omitted. While this is true the ntit.y of the real 1 murderer is as unknown. It is believed how>r - that the mystery will soon tx» Wed and the guilt will be fastenupon the real murderer of Agatha b Jilin.

A man dropped his wig on the street and a boy who was following close behind him picked it up and handed it to him. “Thunks, my Plgy-” said the owner of the wig, “you are the 1 first genuine hair restorer I have ever seen.'" The Luke Sim*, railroad company will soon begin a of novel improvements through which the officials expect to obviate the troublesome blockades of freight movements. The heavy trains are to be iuo#<l uftiund tile cities aShtl not through them and the great and difficult job of working through crowded freight yards will thus he rftnoved and a greaffbavinit in time effected. The company defends this plan by arguing that the recent blockading of train movements was not due to a lack of yard facilities. $ Those who have in charg# the circulation of a petition for the Union township macadam roads are progressing swimmingly® and will have the matter ready for ift-e---senpition to the commissioners when they meet May 16. They are greatly encouraged by the action of Harrison township, Van Wert county, who recently vote thirtysix miles of macadam*'road which with Union township complete will give a straight stretch of macadam road from this city to Monroeville and Van Wert. The outlook seems exceedingly bright for Union township and it is probable that tin? matterttwill be successfully carried to a triumphant victory, when the election conies off. © 0 Inasmuch as it has pleased Almighty God to remove from us our fellow eiitzen. Charles C. Shackley, son of our comrade. D. K. Shackley, he it Resolved, That the Sam Henry Post No. 6:i. G. A. R., Department of Indiana, bow m meek submission to the will of Him who doeth all things well. Resolved That in the death of Charles C. Shackley the community lias lost an honorable aSfcd illustrious citizen, and the family a kind and loving #m and brother. Ihpolved, That we extend to our comrade and his family our deepest heartfelt sympathy. Resolved. That these resolutions lx 1 spread on our recatil, a copy staff to the family and also to each of the efty pu]x:rs for publication. G. W. Woodward, J. R. Parrish, C. A. Lamar, committee. The presentation of Hick’ry Farm by the order of Daughters of Rebekah is being looked forward to with considerable interest by many people in this city. It is a cut comedy drama, depilating rural life in New England, and is a play with strong heart interest and full of thrilling situations and strongly sfhi-lls of new mown hay on the farm. The different characters are being drilled hv Henry Thomas, whose reputation is not United to til' local stage. He is a familiar figure in comedy work and iwn put to shame many sueli characters that have® long winded reputations -in theatrical circles. He is real good, and ufder his eliaperonage, it may bo ex]K‘eted that “Hick’ry Farm" will lx* among tiff® »est attractions that has upiieaml at the Bosse opera house during the last show season. The date is Monday, May 11. Curtis Johnson and Sheriff Butler left Monday for Jeffersonville, where the former will serve his term of imprisonment according to the verdict rendered against him last Thursday by a® jury. His sentence is toga term of from two to fourteen years. Last evening Curt sent us the following note asking that it be published for flic benefit of his friends: "I bid farewell to old Decatur and wonder if they will let me make any balloon ascensions where lam going to put up at. I think not, so farewell to what friends 1 have left in Decatur, but I suppose they are few. lien I serve my term out, I don’t think you will hear of this again; this is enough for this chicken. Mell ta-ta-ta to all: will sec you in two years to come. Yours truly, Curt ‘Johnson." According to the tones ! of this letter Curt ingoing to make 'the best of liis mistake and will no ' doubt come home a better man.

DECATUR, INDIANA, THURSDAY, MAY 7, 1003.

W hen an editor makes a mistake in his paper all the world sees it and calls liitH a liar. When a private citizen makes a mistake nobody knows it bat a few friends and they come around and ask the editor to keep it out of the paper. When tin* citizen dies the editor is asked to write up his good qualities and leave out the bad. When the editor dies the private citizen says : “Now that old liar will got his deserts." A rumor is afloat among the railway employes of the Erie that a change of time will prolxtbly he made on that road by the first of next month. It is also slated on good authoritjisfchat two additional passenger trains will be added to the list of runs now on the schedule. These trains as has been learned are to be run limited and will not carry mail or express. They aye expected to make extraordin:#y fusfttjjncand will lx* made up of the latest equipments. Nor does seem at yjl improbable for the Erie could certainly use a Chicago to New York through train of this disruption to an advantage and it iff 5 almost an absolute necessity if they expect to hold their share of traffic. , At 9:30 o'clock Monday Curt Johnson, the forger, was led before Judge Erwin's baa of justice to receive his sentence. When aslfed if he had anything to say why sentence should not be passed he answered “nothing.” He was then sentenced under the statute of Indiana to from two to fourteen years in the reformatory at Jeffersonville and fined ten dollars. As he was led away by Sheriff Butler he smiled anil chatted as though nut in the least disturbed. While it is far from pleasant io serve a term in such an institution it often makes a man of one who would otherwise continue in a downward course. In the reformatory the prisoners are taught trades aad good habits and if Ciirt Johnson or anyteieetse whose misfortune it is to go to such a place will make the best of his opportunities he may learn many things which will he of advantage to him in after year*. Mr. and Mrs. B.’M. Terveer and daughters entertained at six o’clock dinner Sunday evening at their home on Madison street. The occasion wu* given in horn*,' of Bernard, the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Terveer, vrno took his first holy comunion at tlir Catholic church yesterday. The affair Was very, elaborate and attended with a number of toasts and after dinner discourses which usually attend a formal affair like that of last evening. Those present were R. J. Holthouse and family, Mr. and Mrs. B. J. Wemhoff, Mr. and Mrs. John Gerard. Mr% Volmer and Daniel Dqgnovan, Marguerite Smith awl Celestia Wemhoff, the latter also having been in tlio class who took communion. Other guests present were A. B. Ward of Burnett of TOlumbus, Ohio. At the dinner R. J. distinguished himself by performing the duties of toastmaster in a p< dished manner. # Carl O. France came home Monday from Decatur, Illinois, where lie hug been playing ball for a month Ixist in the Three I league. He was released because a good fielder offered to play his position for less money. He will go to Fort Wayne Thursday and expects to secure a |K)sition on that teanf in the Central league. This morning’s Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette said: Frank Piper of Pittsburg, and Carl France of Decatur, Ind., catcher and outfielder respectively, who were signal to play with the Decaur. Illinois, team in the Three I league, were in the city last night enroute to their homes, having lx?en released. The boys stated that their salaries were too high for Manager Monti®McFarland. Piper was with Jamestown. N. Y., last year, and caught Neil Mason throughout the season. He said last night that Mason was there with the goods as soon as warm weather came around. France will <r () home this morning hut will return Thursday and ask Babe Myers for a try-out. Piper left last night to join Jamestown.

Monday the hoard of commissioners granted liquor licenses to William Hartings and Chris Boknecht. No remonstrances were filed. Douglass Cowaff was appointed constable for Hartford township. Upon the petition for highway in French township, Peter Bryan, Williiftn Breiner and T. H. Bpltzellwere named as viewers. The petition from Hartford township, asking tha t Sylvester Pontius be appointed as superintendent of the Brushwood macadam road, was dismissed. John C. Frank, David Steele and Adam Hovver wgre appointed on a petition for ditch. Bids were opened for two bridges and several abutrnents, the successful bidders being Julius Haugk, J. S. Bowers and the Attica Bridge company. The office of 'Squire J. H. Smith was crowded Tuesday with a delegation of Amish who came in response to the warrants issued tor four of them and served*yesterday by ..Marshal Cordua.. The font avreated us wereeCris C. Stauffer, Lizzie Eicher, Lavina Eicher and Jacob C. Swartz. When they appeared this morning they claimed nftf to have been treated fairly aifd said they were perfectly willing to affirm the enumeration They were questioned by Prosecutor Moran an<lJ seeenld more anxious than heretofore to obey the strict law on this matter. Upon promise that such an occurence would not happen again they were dismissed after paying a few dollars costs incurred hv Marshal Cordua in driving out to arrest them. They appeared pleased at getting pff so easily and will no doubt remember the lesson if such it is. # * Some seventy freeholders and Voters of St. Marys township preanted to the board of commissioners a petition for two macadam or crushed .stone roads to lx* built in that township, according to plans and specifications of the macadam road law, now in existent# in this stat<*. As outlined in tse petition the two proposed roads embrace about eight miles of highway and are known as the North St. Marys road and South St. Marys road. They desire an election to settle the matter at the tSf' earliest possible time, which perhaps will lx* in the early parffof June. In the list of petitioners are many of tin* most act&ve and largest ' taxpayers in the township, and if they go to work will carry the improvement to a successful conclusion. The commissioners appointed C. A. Nenensch wander and Philip Baker as viewers and George E. McKean as engineer, and the auditor lias already notified them to meet next Monday to make such view and estimate and rejxn-t. $ The first monthly meeting of the Commercial club held at the C. B. L. rooms in the Studabaker block, revealed the fact that much may be

hi the primary goixl of this city by such an organization. The thirty, or forty present entered intoffa lively discussion of a few questions of public importance. Chief among these was the inducement that could lx* offered for the location of manufucturi#g interests, such ashfree water, free light and a committee will soon lx- ap]x>intcd Jo investigate those- probabilities. Cheaper freight rates was another question that was long been a bone of contention among our business men. For instance in the gas belt j freight rates on coal is sixty cents anil here it is sl.lO. A committee ! will represent the club in trying to wrestle with the railroad coifoxinics ; for an equality of rates. Taxation of realty was another subject, anil ! one too that is near and dear to the hearts of every one who owns a slice of realty. The state tax hoard is determined upon u ten per cent, increase in realty values and if this is done and the tax rate is not de- ! creased in proportion to the increase in valuation, taxes may cut some ' figure with those set-king industrial locations. All these matters anil many more will lx- the work of an established club. Their Meetings occur the first Monday evening in every month, and it is safe to say that soon much interest will 1 given them.

The first boni fide proposition that has come into the hands of the Commercial club, is one that lias a very melodious tone of voice and might turn out to be of such a genuine character that it would he worth the effort necessary to land them in the best city on the map. They make three propositions that would he acceptable to them. They either want six acres of land and a cash bonus, six acres of ground and a • - (i---stock subscription, or six acres of ground and a loan of $20,000. They promise to erect a factory of gigantic proportions upon the site given them, and when fully equipped will employ 235 men, whose weekly wage scale would approximate $‘3,300. As a matter of fact, every business proposition looks tiff- lost on paper, and so it may be with this *?ny. but it is worthy of proper* and thorough investigation, such as the Commercial club, will give it. After this kind of dissection if* it still smells good, the proposition will he given a turning over with a view oflocatiug if.

Charles L. Shackley was horn in Adams eoJßjity, July 7, 1875 and died April 30, 1903, aged twenty-seven years ten months* and twenty-three days. About five years ago he went to Fort Wayne and worked at Robison's park during the siunmer and in the fall of the same voar he went to Coir.mbuff, Phio, anil worked for Forester, the confectioner, 235 South High street, remaining there about scree years. He then went to Chicago, working at his trade Wntil his last illness which confined him t?> his room and heil, @since Novenffier, 1902. in life Ije wits bright anil cheerful, bringing sunshine to all tlwit knew him. In his last suffer- 8 ings he bore his burden silently and patiently. The" high esteem in which he w%s held by his former employer at Columbus is told in the following letter to his father. D. K. Shackley: “Dear sir—Your telegram of Charley's death reeievwl this date. Please accept the sympathy of myself and tariffy. You have lost a son anil we have lost a friend and one^t hat we cherished very much, fin fact Charley was to us as one of our family and we pften spoke of his coming hack home. Regret very much my inability to attend the funeral. PlertSe advise when convenient the cause of death and all particulars to tip? last and did he realize that he was going to die. Again I ask you to accept our’sympathy. I remain respectively, Fred Forester. At two o'clock Tuesday morning a bold attempt was made to loot the farmer’s Bank of Ohio City. But for the favorable condftjon of eirsiimstapces the burglarization would have undoubtedly been successful, for the job was Commenced by wreckers, and as was evidenced, by men who were bold enough® to accomplish their purpose. As an employe of the Enterprise livery barn was passing up the main street of that place this morning he was seized from behind by a powerful man who bore him to the ground and gagged him. The hostler was then dragged to the hank room and after being securely hound by masked men he was taken to the railroad and thrown in an empty box car, where he laid all night. Thus boldly overcoming their Jirst obstaclo&the robbers again set to work and in a short time exploded a charge of gl®?erine. The explosion failed to blow the door of the large vault, however, and two more explosions were made, but still the heavy door failed to move. By this time the noise of the explosions had awakened several people and the watch of the robber flirty gave the signal to his i>als and the three left the place. It is thought that the outlaws went cast from Ohio City on an Erie freight train hut it is not definitely known. The damagu@to the safe door was not as great as was expected as the crackers di- 1 rected the explosions in places where ! a slight break in the mechanism j should lpive opened the vault. S. J. Sheller of this city is president of that banking institution and when informed of the happening left immediatelv for the Ohio town.

CIRCULATION 2800 WEEKLY

A surprise upon Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Busier was perpetrated Monday evening in honor of their tenth wedding anniversary and a most delightful time was the result. The party marched in some tflSrty strong anil succeeded in capturing the house without any great resistance and while Jacob is* said to have been robed in evening dress, it is not believed he was aware of the apimaoliing storm. The guests included the members of the Missionary society of the Chf&tian church and a few other friends as follows: Messrs, and Mesdames Samuel Doak, G. H. Lauglirey, Jacob Eailv, ChalesSirns, Chet Rnliley 1, .In, W—Tymlaffi; Sheller. Cnrtis Cambpell, Mesdames Anna Bnhler, Harvey Segur, Marie L. Holloway. Charles Lamar, Noah Mangold, Arthur Fisher. Androjv Artman, Bowsman. Harry Daniel and Mrs. Sims of Marion and Miss uibson. Refreshments were served and the anniversary was one easily remembered in the years to 1 come. Quite a crowd of people gathered at the court house Monduv evening to hear what wilbprobably be the elos % ing chapter in the .1 )liver D. Reynolds kinilapping ease. Judge John M. Smith had set last evening as the time for hearing the argument for a nffW trial and attorneys J. C. 9 Moran, U N. Erwin anft D. B. Erwin for the state and D. D. Heller and Schafer Peterson were present with law books galore to p@int out the reasons why his ruling should favor their views. The discussions began at 7:30 and lasted until pine olclook. D. D. Heller filed the motion for a new trial during the afternoon arid the motion # wgs first discussed by D. R Erwin . for the state who argued that there could be no question hut that Reynolds" had committed fraud and that being true he‘was guilty of kidnapping and the jury’s verdiftshonld stand. Judge Heller answersd him fly saying that there conlil be no frafid or kidnapping whore the injured party as in this case fujly understood what she was doing and why she was going away. Attorneys D. N. Irwin apd J. C. Moran each spoke on the merits of their sjtle of the *»qqestion and defended their rights ably. Then Judge Smith squirted himself for the decision and before he had O talked many minutes it was clear to those present that he intended to grant a new trial. The motion had been made on two reasons, either of which Judge Smith said would he « grounds for a reversal of the case in the, supreme Court. The first one. was that an error hail been made in Judge Smith’s instructions#to the jury, he having omitted a very important one, which should ha visit id that thedefendant must lx? presumed innocent throughout the trial. The second and most important reason for the®granting Os a new ffiial is tlie fact that the evidence offered was not sufficient to establish fraud. Upon this point Judges Smith talked half ten hour, analyzing,, tin* case in a systematic manner. H%said: “It is a question which has caused this court no little concern and I regret that it is my duty to march up to the law, hut such is the case and I cannot see wherein fraud is shown. The defendant has violated all rules of good morals, his marraige vows, has proven himself an Unfaithful husband and father, a bad neighbor anil a man wliosa actions no court would uphold. I hate to fly in the face of a jury hut the statute makes it the court’s severe duty to uphold the strict letter of the law anil my conscience will not allow me to send this man to the penitentiary notwithstanding. his immorality. I shall have to sustain the motion for a new trial." Reynolds was then required- to give hail in the sum of S7OO which lu- did immediately, his father-in-law securing him, and a few minutes lx-fore ten o'cloelf Oliver left the court house with his wife anil babies for their home in Monroe township. If the ease is tric'd again it must lx* before Judge Smith and lie stated that in order to convict him more substantial fraud won® have to lx* shown and this may close the ease, unless • something new developes.

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