Decatur Democrat, Volume 47, Number 30, Decatur, Adams County, 1 October 1903 — Page 1

all the news ALL THE TIME.

VOLUME XLVII.

Mr. and Mrs. J. C. McGrew, Rachel and Grace May, and J. S. Mohermanof Youngstown, Ohio, are visiting the family of_Eli Christ and other relatives. In circuit court Tuesday the following business cases transacted. The Milwaukee Ave. State Bank vs Anson Van Camp submitted. Julius Haugh vs Adam Brown et al Motion to strike out parts of answer overruled, reply tiled and case set for trial October 27. Sarah A. Ayers, demourer by minor heirs of parties. Henry Wafel and Dan Hoffman, officers of the Preble township mutual fire insurance company, drove to the scene of William Gerke’s fire Monday and adjusted the loss which was total on everything covered by the policy including S9OO on the barn, S2OO on grain, SIOO on hay and other items amounting.to $1565.75. The loss must be settled according to the rules of the company within°thirty days. Mr. Wafel stated that the insurance was not half the actual loss of Mr. Gerke. Work has been resumed again on E. Fritzinger’s new building on Monroe street to be occupied by the post office. A delay of several weeks was caused by a car load of lumber being lost enroute from Texas. The lumbertfinally arrived however and the work will be pushed along as rapidly as possible and completed within a few weeks. The postoffice will be moved as soon as passible and something definite done then in establishing free city delivery. Mr. Cromer stated while in the city that the free delivery would very probably begin Mareh 1 next. The first institute of this school year was held at Berne Saturday, and was a record breaker,in attendance, there being but two teachers absent. The intsitute embraced the southern half of the county, and was held more for instruction and outlining the work than anything else. The large attendance shows the interest already being manifested by those in charge of the public schools for this year. Next Saturday in this city will be held another similar institute, only it will embrace the north section of the county. A good attendance is already assured, and the meeting to all will prove important to all those engaged in teaching.

Fred C. LaDelle, the well known artist has a magician outfit including side tables and magic appara[tiire, witn"which any Voting man could entertain his friends in a most pharming manner and make himiself poular. The outfit cost fifty dollars and is'for sale at a bargain and Mr. LaDelle will instruct the" buyer, teaching him to do the tricks as nicely as anyone. The hi iterial is all as good as new and is discarded by Fred simply because 1 '■ .id .1 nc'>d to that st»: _■ wh>’iv ■e needs no apparatus, using opiy ■auc bottom chair. This is an op ■jortuaity for some club which de■ires to give entertainments this ■inter. See Mr. LaDelle if you are ■interested. I The ladies of the Presbyterian ■Lurch are now in the throes of a Bhurch fair, which began Tuesday Bvening. Their handsome new ■hurch home is now about complete Bad this event is for the purpose Bl raising coin of the realm for a ■roper dedication of this most handBone building. The fair will conB*in many useful things and will ■rove of interest to any one who ■ill attend. The women —God ■less them as usual, play an im■ortant part in dedicating this Building to the service of the Lord. B’hile the Commercial Club and ■very one else in Decatur are straina hame string to better the Bnancial and business interests of Bir city, they should not overlook ||b churches. Every prosperous ■ty is measured by the number of ■lurches and the healthy congrega■ons they support. Encouragement BG aid should be given them at all ■nes but this is an especial time ■hen you can help a good cause and ■ the same time benefit yourself ■ so doing.

Dbcatilr

Mr. and Mrs. Bessie, members of the Howard-Dorset company left here Monday eveinng to join tl e troupe at Portland. They were detained here on account of the illness of Mrs. Bessie who has been sick since Friday, with symptoms of typhoid fever. She was some better last evening but by no means well and her physician warned her that only the very best of care will prevent a long and serious sick spell. The deer owned by J. B. Corson which escaped from the fair grounds last week has not been captured and Mr. Corson asks us to state that he will pay liberal reward for the return of same to him in good condition. He also asks us to say that there is only one way to capture the deer and that is to simply let it alone if you see it, don’t try to catch him, but pay no attention and he will take up with a herd of sherp or cattle and can then be driven into the barn or a pen. It is to be hoped that no one will shoot th' deer as it means only trouble, the state laws being very plain on the killing of either wild or tame deer. Ervin Hall, a farmer residing south of Bluffton was terribly injured in a corncutting machine Thursday. He was driving the cutter between two rows of cor« when the team turned and threw him from the seat directly in front of the sharp knives. Before he could stop the horses Hall’s legs were so badly cut that he nearly bled to death before releif came to him. Dr. Saunders, of Petroleum was called and found serious wounds. One limb, the left one, was not very badly lascerate.i,but the right leg was so seriously mangled that it will leave Hall crippled for life. The large tendon in the heel wasjsevered and the foot otherwise crushed. Hall is aged fortj’ two years. The marriage of Miss Cora Gottschalk of Berne to Mr. Ben F. Welty of Lima was solemized Sunday evening at Berne, Rev. Koeing officiating. The bride is one of the most popular ladies of the county, a daughter of ex-treasurer A. Gottschalk. She is a graduate of the State University and has taught for several years in the Anlerson schools. Mr. Welty formerly lived at Berne but for several years has been in the law practice at Lima, Ohio where he is considered one of the rising attorneys of that city and state. They drove to this city Monday and left for their future home at Lima. The Democrat joins the numerous iriciiJs iU \s2ei ur. gratulations.

John Orr, of Redkey, driving Al Crissler’s pretty pacer, Rosebud gigged up on the race track Monday forenoon with William Pilcher of Marion riding Snowden, the noted running hores. Pichrei is suffering from a severe injury, his wrist being badly sprained and wrenced. Orr was not hurt but Bosebud the ........ -3-ge | on the inside on the right leg and it Hs feared is also. hurt Wtornally. The shaft on Orr's sulky broke and snagged Pilcher's horse, Snowden deep in the neck. The large arteries of the neck were entirely severed and but for the timely ar- ' rival of Harry Meister,a Montpelier I horseman, the wounded horse i would no doubt have bled to death. Portland Commercial-Review. At the meeting of the Berne citizens on the William Sheets electric lighting proposition, it was unanimously agreed to submit to the town, and the proper petitions are now in circulation. The vote at this election will be as to whether they shall accept or reject this proposition. If it is rejected it seems to be the concensus of opin ion that the town will take up the matter and likely put the plant in themselves. JMany there are favorable to it and will work to bring such a result about. Since the published reports of the condition, cost and maintainanee of the electric light plant in this city/ many there are stimuated into tackling the proposition. Berne is not the only town that is looking to this citv for pointers on the municipal ownership and how to run mi institution of this kind and make it pay.

DECATUR, INDIANA, THURSDAY, OCTOBER I, 1903.

A • oz n teams and fifty men are making things fly on Monroe street this week getting the grade ready for the brick pavement. The macadamized street was plowed up by the assistance of the big steam roller engine and this will find the street ready for the brick. This material is expected to arrive any day as bills for a number of cars are already at hand. While a little bad luck has been experienced and good employes have been hard to find, still the contractor is making every possible effort to finish the streets within the time limit which expires November 15. A dispatch says that Edward F. Hutches, of Urbana, W. F. Heck of Cleveland, 0., and W. F. Ely of Indianapolis, conducted an examination at Winchester of thirty applicants for positons as rural mail carriers. Eleven new routes are to be established in Randolph county immediately, four of the eleven to go out ■ from Winchester, one from Ridge- | ville, one from Carlos City, one from Lynn, one from Farmland, one from. Parker City and two additionals from Union City. This will make a total of eleven routes going out from Winchester, give the farmers within a radius of eight or ten miles almost perfect service and will, with the routes to be added and already in operation at other towns in the county, give them almost complete throughout the county. Man! man! Thou art a strange conglomeration of inconsistencies! When it is winter thou longest for summer, and when it is summer thy head burns for winter. When thou art single thou wishest a wife, and when thou art married thou seekest a divorce court. When riches art thine thou would possess brawn and good appetite. When the gout cometh thou swearest thou prefer the rheumatism, but when the cricks and twitches play tag in thee, then thou yearnest for arnica and the better things of life. If it is a boy thou art sorry it was not a girl, and the vice versa. If thou keepest a horse thou wishest it was a automobile and if thou hast an automobile, thou cursest the thigamajig in its vitals. Verily, thy days are full of contradictions and longings. “Locust Prince,’’ an Ohio improved Chester White hog, ten months old and owned by P. B. Dykeman of Locust Lawn, east of this city took first premium at the Great Northern fair. He weighed 510 pound and is said by stock men to be the finest : ’TP<n< ivp (if breed, ever shown at any fair or stock show. This hog is only one of the Locust Lawn herd, of which Mr. Dykeman is justly proud. When a hog takes first premium in a show like the one at Steele's park this week, it certainly means that there are few to equal it and none better in the world. It is worth a trip to Locust Lawn to see this herd of stock and especially so if you are makes a study of his stock and is especially interested in the Chester White breed of hogs. We announce with pleasure that first premium went to a home man against competition shown here.

Sbliafer Peterson as attorney for plaintiff Friday filed a suit entitled Emma Scholder vs John Scholder, complaint for divorce, and the same borders on the sensational. The papers state that they were married in Union township July 20, 1897 that they lived at Rochester. Shortly after their marriage John frequently came home drunk, abused and beat her. One day in a fit of madness he took a loaded revolver from the cupboard held it to her face, threatened to kill her if she moved or made an outcry. The complaint further states that the husband frequently knocked her down and kicked her, even driving her out of the house at night. Mrs. Scholder was sent home by her husband June 26, 1899 he giving her twenty dollars and sending her part of her household goods. She has since lived in Union township and says she is’Still afraid of Jonn. She simply wishes for a divorce demanding no alimony.

William Davis, a pioneer of Blue Creek township, died Sunday night at the home of his daughter, Mrs. John R. Porter. He had been suffering with brain trouble for several weeks, his old age making recovery impossible. He was seventyeight years and ten months old and had resided in Adams county many years being one of best known men of his township. The remaining children are Mrs. John R. Porter, Mrs. William Redding, and Robert Davis of Blue Creek township and Marion and E. W. Davis of Christian county, Missouri. Rev. J. A. Sprague conducted the services which were be held at 10:30 o’clock Tuesday morning from the Salem Methodist church at Steele.

Sunday evening about seven as Harry Dibble was driving home on his dray and was passing through the alley just north of the home of Prosecuting Attorney John Moran he saw a man who was masked and holding a dark lantern in his hand wandering through the house. Harry at once drove home secured his revolver and returned to the scene. He watched the fellow through the window for some time and then became alarmed that he could not capture the man himself and in attemping to leave to summon aid he made a noise, and the robber turned light off from his dark lantern. Harry then hastened to the United Brethren church and summoned his father Frank Dibble, but when they arrived the fellow had flown. Harry describes the man as being tall and heavy set. In an interview with Mr. Moran Monday he says it must have been some one who saw him hide the key and knew the lay of the house as the key was in the door and same was partly open. He reports nothing was missing. ’Squre Smith’s court was kept quite busy Tuesday morning in trying three damage suits aganist the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railway company, the first case being called at nine o’clock and was entitled, Henry Koeneman vs G.R . & I. Co. in which the complaint avered that a delay in shipment of stock from Decatur to Pittsburg, Penn., was made thereby resulting in the death of part of the stock after all the evidence was introduced the court found in form of the plaintiff the sum of $96.60. The second case was entitled John Scheiman against the G. R. & I. Company and complaint averred the same state of facts and the court found in fa vor of the sjnn, . $lll,00, ( The third case called was the case of Henry C. Scheiman vs the G. R. & I. Co. and complaint averred the facts as set-out above and after hearing all the evidence the court found in favor of the plaintiff in the sum of $96.00 Shafer Peterson appeared for the plaintiffs and A. P. Beatty for the defendant. The first signs of the subsidy Wayne electric railway are now going itito full effect. They have leased rooms thirteen, fourteen and fifteen in the Studabaker block and will soon occupy them with their offices. The furniture and fixtures are being placed in them now’, and in a short time the profiles and

papers of -the company, with a stenographer and other office employees will be established in this new office. From this place the future of the company will be planned and all buisness for them negotiated. C. Voight the company’s enigneer is moving here, and will occupy the Gregory house on First street, recently occupied by Charles Carpenter. Several of the company officials are here and are looking after the work on the grade, which is rapidly progressing. Six different gangs of men and teams are now working and as a matter of fact are making great progress. When complete the grade is perfect and straight as the eye of a civil engineer can make it. Work upon the power station buildings will also soon begin and it will not be long until there wilt be lively things doing with the Springfield & Fort Wayne Company the center attraction .

G. W. Burns of Akron, Ohio is visiting with his brother M. Burns. Mr. Burns states that there were 653 tickets sold from Akron to Huntington on the Old Settler’s excursin. Tuesday was an eventful one for many of the families in Adams Wells and Huntington counties as it is the date for the arrival of their friends and relatives from Ohio. For twenty years these people have alternated, one year the Eastern Ohio people coming here and the next Indiana folks going to the Buckeye state. These excursions owe their origin to the fact that this part of Indiana is largly settled by people who emigrated from Ohio in the early days. This means that there is a close relationship between Ohio and Indiana people and they take every opportunity of visiting each other. The train from the east is billed to arrive in three sections the first being due at three o'clock and the other two as soon thereafter as they can arrive probably a half hour apart. However as is usual Svith excursions the train was some late and failed to arrive precisely on schedule. While a number of the excursionists wil’ land here the majority will go on to Kingsland where they are met by their various friends and conveyed to their homes for a ten days visit, some even remaining during the life of their tickets ’which is good for thirty days. On Thursday, as is the usual custom,a monster reunion will be held. This reunion will be given in the John I. Metts grove at Ossian. The last reunion held in this state was given in the Studabaker grove of Bluffton. Three thousand people are expected at this gathering. Speeches songs and talks by the older settlers are on the program and a most enjoyable day has been planned for. Nothing will be omitted to mar the pleasure of the day and considerable expense has been gone to to make everything go off smoothly. W. W. Weisell has been largely in charge of affairs, but he has been assisted by a number of others who have done good work in planning for the event. These inter state excursions and picnics were institued by Uncle John Rupright and he is still one of the leading spirits of the events. Two large barns on the farm of William Gerke seven miles northeast of town were totaly destroyed by fire Sunday evening about seven o’clock entailing a loss of from $3,500 to $4,000. Mr. Gerke and family were in the house and Mrs. Gerke heard a peculiar noise, she 'spoke to her iiusbn’nu concerning it but no particular attention was paid until a moment later when some one glanced out the window and noticed that one of the big barns was in flames. The alarm was given but it was too late to save anything in the building as the fierce flames seemed to burst out al] over the barn at the same time. A few moments later the fire spread to another barn located about forty feet north, making a fierce Jilaze. Several surrounding sheds, pens and outbuildings were soon grasped by the fiend and the neighbors who gathered to help Mr. Gerke had a hard time saving the house. The new brick house, still uncompleted was not damaged but would soon

have probably been ruined had the fire reached the old house. Luckily no stock was lost as all had been turned into the field. Besides the buildings the loss is considerable including 500 bushels of oats, 150 bushels of wheat, twenty five ton of hay, binder and other farming impliments. One of the barns was built in 1897 and the other in 1900. A representative of the Democrat was at the scene this morning and Mr. Greke said that while he had not figured his loss but it would amount to several thousand dollars, with S9OO insurance on one barn and a few hundred on the other, in the Preble township Mutual, thus making the net loss a heavy one. The origin is unknown. While the fire was tn progress two young fellows from Monreville drwve along the road. Their horse became frightened and ran away, demolishing the buggy and slightly injuring both occupants.

CIRCULATION 2800 WEEKLY

NUMBER 3()

John Fonner returned Tuesday evening from Pittsburg., Pa., John has been making for the Carnegie Iron Works and states that they have closed down for an indefinite period to repair machinery. John will visit with Adam Smith and family in the meantime. Marion Beall, formerly a resident of Geneva and well known here is at present chief of one of the divisions in th j bureau of insular affairs at Washington, and a few’ days ago did an act that is being told all over the country. He carried the enormous sum of $3,000,000 from Washington to New York City in a suit case. The money belonged to the government and was ff-r use in the Phillipines and tie duty shipping it devolved on Mr. Beall- Express Companies wanted SBOO to carry it and the price seemed so high that Col. Edwards, ordered Mr. Beall to convey the goods himself. The arrangement was made. When the treasury department opened in the morning Beall was on hand with his suit case and an order for the money. He receipted for it, and with the suit case in one hand and umbrella in the other left for New York on the 10 o’clock train. The train did not reach New York until after banking house hours, but a telegram was sent from the bureau of insular affairs asking the bank to keep open and be on the lookout for the messenger. A little after five o’clock Beal passed the treasury suit case over the counter of the bank. The three thousand SI,OOO bills were counted and a receipt for $3,000,000 passed out to Beall. The following morning he was back at his desk in the insular department.

The assassin of saloonkeeper Shafer, of Decatur, who attempted the murder in that city Monday night, succeded in safely arriving in this city that same night, staying here until morning and then escaping without detection. That he was well acquainted with the city is plainly evident from his actions after arriving here. He first put in his appearance at the Huntington hospital about midnight when he asked for the service of a physician. The man had been wounded in the head and blood was still streaming from the cut. Miss Johnson, chief nurse at the hospital informed him that all the physicians of the institution were out on calls. He then asked if she could dress his wounds. She told him she would look after his wants and he submit reil Ti) tileio ire Oi tlie ' nurse.' *Yhe‘ lady found a bad scalp wound in the forehead and a badly crippled finger. He said he had fell from a train and received the injuries. As soon as the wounds were dressed he asked for a cab as he wanted to leave town immediately. A cab was sent for and he was taken to the Exchange hotel. Here he registered as A. F. Myer, of Peru and engaged a room for the night. He told th« night clerk at the hotel that he had been on adi uni ind had n ittU‘ m accident. In his room he quietly remained untl early in the morning when he took the Wabash west bound train and left the city. The authorities here are confident that he is the man tv ho did the shooting for he fills .the description exactly as furnished by the Deca w officials. It is supposed that he came from Decatur on the Erie fast freight train N 0.77, and when reaching eastern iimts of the city jumped off from the train and received the wounds. The local officers at once began a search for the fugitive when notified, but it is probable that the word came too late because while they were searching the city the man was at the same time havin his wounds dressed at the hospital. The man is somewhat known to the officers here, having attended the fair last week and was among some of the apparent crooks watched by the local authorities. When at the hospital he displayed a large amount of money and gave evidence of a professional crook. The Decatur officials have been notified of his whereabouts as nearly as can be determined. —Huntington Journal.