Decatur Democrat, Volume 47, Number 49, Decatur, Adams County, 11 February 1904 — Page 1

SALL THE NEWS ALL THE TIME.

VOLUME XLVII.

Ladies Aid Society of the HRsbyterian church will meet at home of Mrs. Dr. S. D. Beavers Tfursday afternoon. Mrhc Jeffersonian Club of Fort IRayne announced April 6, as the R»e of their annual banquet. They to have speakers of national IRpiitation present. ■fony LaPrell, a young man, ■ghtly intoxicated and who gave •ijg homo as Jonesboro, Indiana RLs locked up Saturday by Marhsal He was released Sunday gßion and left town on a west Clover Leaf freight. Last Crist Beers told Floyd ■r-'tson that he had called at the Sunday afternoon to see one of |Rie prisoners and while there notio■■:|d Parell crying. From his talk Snd actions Crist was lead to bethat the prisoner knew something of importance concerning the Hfurder of Sarah Schafer. He sup|K>sed the officers knew this and ■hat the man was being held on Suspicion, hence said nothing about R].,. affair until he incidently menthe occurence toMr.Brittson. R UI . officers do not give any faith in RiaPrell’s story and as the detective Rn the case say they will probably Rrrest the guilty man today, it is Rossi ble that the fellows story to ■ - Beers was a fake. I Luther Collins, accused of being Responsible for the death of Malissie Rinitley is in jail in this city. He Kvas arrested at 1:30 this afternoon SSn C. D. Murray’s saloon by Sheriff ■Sutler and Marshal Cordua upon information from a party who Rlaiined that Lute was arranging to ■eave the country. While this is ■scarcely possible, he was taken to Hail in order to make sure, Mr. Hsimtley promising that an affidavit Rhirging C illins with the crime ■would be made by Monday. When ■rrested Collins said he had come R<> Decatur for the purpose of givBing himself up. He claims to be Binnocent,-but relatives and friends Hos dead girl insist that the coil of ■evidence about C dlins is a perfect Hone. Prosecutor Moran has preparH.>,f an affidavit charging Collins I with the awful crime and this ■ will be signed and filed it is believ |< d Monday morning. It is not yet I known whether Collins will be able to give bond or not. John Smitley, father of the girl and the three sons all of whom have been i ill are reported us getting along nicely. It is said some other parties may be implicated in the crime as accessories. Dr. Earl G. Coverdale had a terrible experience Tuesday night during the blizzard. He left the city on Tuesday afternoon at one thirty ! to answer a few calls north east of I the city, about twelve miles driving to William M. Fuellings and William Christianer's. He prescribed for the sick there and about five or six o’clock proceeded to wend his way to the city again. He was making very slow progress, driving right in the teeth of the gale, and his horse was becoming leg weary very fast, and the doctor was also in a very weary condition. Mhile thus driving along the horse stum--1 bled and threw the doctor out of his sleigh dragging him at least fifty feet. He at last regained his feet and after attending to the horse as he could 1 he left it stand and started to look for help and at last, almost exhausted, he staggered up to the door of Charles Bohnke and made his wants known. Charles welcomed him, went out and got his horse and fell and sheltered both until morning, when the doctor again started home arriving here at 9 o’clock Wednesday morning. During this time however. Earl’s father became worried and telephoned to Mr.’’Fuelling who stated that he had started for home, but said he would start a hunt for him, which he did, tracing him to Bohnke’s while Clark Coverdale and Dr. Canada started on the same purpose from here. Earl -ays it was an awful experience and one which he has no desire to pass through again, and he can hardly get over praising Mr. Bohnke for the kindness and srevice he rendered him.

Misses Sarah Krill and Belle Whitman went to Decatur today to accept positions in the mitten factory of L. C. Waring. They quit their jobs in the Zero factory here as has already been done by a number of the girls before them. The girls are not satisfied with the new schedule put into effect by the company here, and this is their reason for seeking work elsewhere. —Bluffton News. The Berne directory by O. J. Bayes is out and from a mechanical point of view is a beauty. Its correctness is taken to task by the Berne Witness, hut even at that, we expeet it is about as correct as directories unsally are. The real need of such a production in a town the size of Berne is perhaps not very essential, yet it s a stroke of progressivenes to have—errors or no errors. In speaking about critics, did you really know how easy it is to criticise some one else, and usually how far short that person comes to the mark when under the same fire. The Berne Directory is a fair sample of such critical dodging. The book as printed is very creditable and Mr. Bayes is to be congratulated upon its very excellent appearance. Mr. Bayes lias gone out of the directory business. The auditor’s distribution of funds to the townhips trustees shows an allottment to Union township of <2221.40, Root <2554.79, Preble <2962.26, Kirkland <1520.99, Washington<3449.6B, St. Marys <3387.29, Blue Creek <1317.88, Monroe #3729.14, French <2384.80, Hartford <2591.00, Wabash <3317.53, Jeffeison <1475.92, Decatur corporation <10.130.07, school <7604.59, Geneva corporation# 1701.33, school <1931.15, Berne <2338.70, school <1732.47, total <56,350.99. The same report gives Uinon township a total of 410 school children. Root 382, Preble 430, Kirkland 439, Washington 500, St. Marys 369, Blue Creek 373, Monroe 895, French 437, Hartford 444, Wabash 710, Jefferson 448, Decatur 1,212 Geneva 340, Berne 344, a total in the county of 7,733 The total congressional school tax <376 53 common school tax <10,903.53, township tax <6615.54, tuition <8218.60, special school <13010.69, road tax <245.82, township poor <1009.04, bridge tax 121.07, liquor license <l4lß 34, corporation tax <14,170.10, library tax <261.73. Meade S. Hays a Marion attorney Tuesday filed in the Adams circuit court a sensational damage suit entitlled John Ewry vs Michael McGriff.damage for alineating wifes affection, demand <SOOO. The parties to the suit reside at Geneva, the defedant being especially well known over the county and in this city where he formerly lived. The conplaint alleges that John and Anna Ewry were married November Bth, 1897 and lived together happily until June 13, 1903, that two children were born to them, one of whom died in infancy, the other Myrtle, a girl of three is still living with her mother. The family lived happily together until February Ist, 1902, when the defendant induced the plaintiff to remove his family to a house owned by the defendant situated on an eighty acre tract of land in Adams county and employed Ewry to work for him. Soon after this it is alleged that McGriff began paying marked attention to Mrs. Ewry, arranged trips for Mr. Ewry and then called on his wife, both day and night. About June Ist last Ewry discovered existing conditions and forbade that McGriff visit his house but he persisted. Ewry then secured a job at Marion, Indiana, rented a house, there but his wife refused to longer live with him, and has since refused to do so. The complaint further allege that the defendant has knowingly, purposely and maliciously broken up and destroyed the plaintiff’s home, seperated him from his wife and child and deprived him of their love. Wherefore he asks judgment for <SOOO. A second count of the complaint alleges all these facts and charges inliwmv, between the def-Wiant and®Mrs. Ewry and that he had given her money and presents at different times.

DECATUR. INDIANA, TH

Thanks to County Assessor Crist for a copy of the proceedings of the annual conference of the state tax commissioners and county assessors, which was held at Indianapolis, January 5 and 6. At this much of interest to’county assessors occurred and the meeting was very enjoyable. The official call for the prohibition national convention, which is to convene in Tomlinson hall, in Indianapolis at 10 o’clock a. m. on Wednesday, June 29, was issued by Oliver W. Stewart, chairman of the national committee. The time and manner of selecting these delegates and alternates will be determined bv the prohibitionists of the various states and territories subjects only to the provision that every state where the party has an organized state committee, the delegates must be chosen by such concessional or state conventions as the state committee many call for that purpose or by the state committee in such manner as it may determine. Indiana has seventy three delegates, New York has the highest number 114 and the total number of deleagtes is 1241. Virgil Simons the six year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Simons of Oregon died Monday evening at the home of his grandparents, John Drummond in this city, of Scarlet Fever. The death of this little boy is a very sad one owing to the facts and circumstances surrounding rhe case. Mrs. Simons and her son Virgil came here some time during the holidays to visit her father who was and is still quite sick and it was while here and upon this mission that the little one was stricken with that dread disease. Scarlet Fever. He was only sick thirty four hours and his constitution was unable to bear up under this disease. Mrs. Simons, the mother would desire very much to take her sons remains to Oregon, but the railroads refuse to haul the remains of a person who has died of a contagous disease. The funeral was held Monday afternoon some time and was a private affair and interment was made in Maplewood cemetery. Mrs. Simons was formerly Miss Nettie Drummond and is well known here among the young people. An Elkhart dispatch says: The following letter of condolence was received by the Schafer family from Mrs. D. S. Bryan, of Greencastle, whose daughter Pearl was murdered on Janury 31, 1896: “To Mr. and Mrs. Schafer and Family: “Knowing from my own experience that you would be crowded with letters of condolence,lhave refrained from writing you, for all of these letters fall so far short of healing the broken heart, yet they give us strength to beleive that everyone is not a fiend. “I ask you to accept sympathy from one who has sipped sorrow out of the same bowl. It does not matter how much of strangers you are to me, I am well acquainted with you in sorrow. ‘Eight years ago last night my own dear Pearl met her late and I am here living overthe anniversary of each hour. I suppose we are such frail beings we can not throw off the soorrw, but I have found the grace of God is sufficient for me, although since Pearl was taken away, our oldest daughter, who lived in Topeka, Kas., was killed by the collapse of a folding bed, and two years ago the dear father and husband who had helped me brave these sorrows, passed to the beyond, and now I feel that my cup has jbeen full. “It is all right if God permitted it and you and I will some day meet our dear daughters and they will all tell all these secrets that are kept from us now. In your grief, remember, as bad as it is, you could look upon that face and lay it away with the peace. “Now I commend you to the Great Comforter who is always with us. I hope I have not intruded upon your feelings, but since I first heard of the dreadful murder I have been so near you in my heart, rfelt I must express to you ray sympathy. Feeling that we will all meet some day and talk this all over, I will close with best wishes and prayer."

TRSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 19(14.

The friends of Morley Dunlap want the good news sent broadcast, that their idol and candidate f»r congress will spend two days this week is Adams county. He will be here Thursday and Friday, the former being spent in this city and that evening at Pleasant Mills, Friday here and that evening at Geneva. His appearance here again this week will greatly rejuvenate the cause of Dunlap in Adams county, and be the means of stirring to greater activity those who favor him in his present underj taking «o represent this district in congress. As we have said before, he is a pleasant and courteous gentleman, and we presume the two days in Adams county will be pleasantly and profitably devoted to the cause in hand. The steering committee appointed at the Murray Hotel meeting last Friday evening, are getting energetic in the cause and hope to have a thorough organization in working order by the first of March, at which time the primary is billed to take place. Last Friday’s Indianapolis news papers contained a notice of a marriage license with the names of Dick Townsend and Miss lanatba Gregory attached thereto As Miss Gregory has been visiting in the capitol city for several days and as Mr. Townsend left here Tuesday for the purpose of visiting her there, it was not necessary to put a detective on the trail to confirm the report that both bride and groom are prominent Decatur society people. A telegram reached the city today confirming all reports and announcing that Mr. and Mrs. Townsend would arrive home Sunday. They were married last evening and immediately thereafter left for Chicago, I where they will spend sevrael days, i Both are well known and enjoy I a large circle of friends who will wish them a long and happy married life. It is hinted that a royal reception is already being planned ' for their return; while the details I are .yet meager, yet sufficient is i known to insure them that their I friends have not overlooked an im- [ portant event in their lives. Charles Railing has received the sad news by telegram from Lima, ; Ohio that his father, Frank Railing I had dropped dead on the streets at i that place Friday morning, probably | the result of a very severe attack of heart trouble. Frank was a former resident of this city until a few years ago when he went to Lima to engage in the painting business, he soon branched out however and opened a large painting and paper hanging establishment, carrying a very heavy stock and doing a fine business. He had been in excellent health until last fall when he contracted a very heavy j cold which settled on his lungs j from which he suffered for a few j weeks, upon his partia Uy recovery j he came to Decatur and visited here for several weeks with his son Charles, and after recovering oompletly he returned home to look after his business. Only one week ago today he was in this city in the best of spirits and feeling fine, and it was while here that he had a long consultation with John B. Andrews at which time they had entered into an agreement to open up a store here in the fish and poultry line, and Frank even went so far as to see Elmer Moser and enagage and lease from him one of his buildings just south of the gallery fully expecting to actively engage in the aforesaid business. After completing all of these arrangements he returned to Lima with the understanding that he would sell out his stock and return here and make this his future home. This sad intelligence has cast a gloom over his family and over his most intimate friends and relatives of which ,he had many. The family looses a loving father and the community a good and respected citizen. He was fifty three vears of ago and leaves three sons, land a daughter to mourn their loss. M|- Railing was a charter member of the Knights of Pythias lodge of this cit< and his death leaves but two remaining charter members Fred Schafer and Godfrey Christen.

) The Seunho Club met Thursday afternoon at the home of Mrs. Loe ■ Vance and a fine time is reported • from all who were present. Pedro was the predominating game, and 1 the afternoon was wiled thus awav. Twelve games were played to determine the winners for the prizes and after all was over Mrs Jam >s Haefling and Mis. Martin Mvlott were awarded the first prizes, while Mrs. Tom Miller and Mrs Herman Confer were awarded the boobies and told to read up on Hoyle. During the course after noon a fine three course lunch was served t> which all did justice and at a late hour all departed for their respective homes. This was the last meeting of this club but it is their intentionn to reorganize as soon as possible and keep up with the rest in having a good time. We will report all further developments. Fire was discovered Sunday night about eleven o’clock in the People’s restaurant by Tom Peterson, clerk. He had taken several orders for oyster stews and had gone to the kitchen to make same when he noticed a fire along the south wall in the bake shop. He ran out and informed those who were present and all rushed to the scene. In the meantime some one had turned in the alarm and in a short time the tire department responded but they were not needed as the fire was under control. The only theory open as to the cause of fire is that the gas came on very strong about that time and that ten sacks of flour had been placed too close the stove, which became over heated and started the blaze. The damage will amount to about fifty dollars, caused by destroying the flour and badly damaging the wainsi coating but the same is fully covered by insurance. At nine forty five Friday evening after only fifteen minutes illness death claimed Mrs. Titus Ernst of this city. For some time past Mrs. Ernst has been afflicted with Asthma which on several occasions had caused her some worry and' inconvenience by choking, and' j although she had been treating I ; this disease for some time was ■ unable to be cured and it was a ! severe attack of this and also an attack of heart failure that caused her quick demise. She was up and about the house all day yesterday | apparently in the best of spirits and did all of hor house work herself. After she had eaten her supper, washed the dishes and taken her youngest child and placed her in bed she returned down stairs and had just seated herself in a rocking chair when sbe was attacked with a sudden choking spell of Asthma. The members of the family at once applied all the remedies that they had used on former similar occasions, and these not doing her any good they at once telephoned to Dr. J. S. Boyers who hastened to her and arrived at the house in a short time but before he could do anything for her, she had given up her spirit to her Maker, she was tenderly laid on the bed and the immediate attention of the doctor was directed toward other members of the family who were prostrated over their terrible loss. Mrs. Ernst was fifty four years of age and an earnest church member having in her early girlhood days committed her soul to her God. She was a member of the Methodist church of this city and was al ways faithful and tireless worker; and the family have not only lost a loveing mother and faithful wife, but the church has lost one of its most faithful members. The whole city is grieved at the family’s loss and all that faithi iul friends can do is being done for ■ the immediate family. She leaves | a husband, five daughters and j three sons to mourn their loss. I The funeral services were held from the Methodist church, Mon- ' day morning at ten o'clock. Rev. J. C. White officiating. The remains may be viewed at the Ernst home from 2 to 4:30 o'clock Sunday afternoon. Interment, at Maplewood cemetery followed the services at the church.

CIRCULATION 2800 WEEKLY

NUMBER 4*>

Wells completed in Adams coun ty are as follows: Central Western Oil company. No. 9, on Michael Zelir farm 30, barrels; George C. SwalIwo, Nc. 1, on J. Leichty farmj[22(> barrels; George C. Swallow, No 1. on Samuel Habegger farm, 15 barrels; Prospcet Oil company, No. l,on J Kneuss farm 30 barrels; Indiana Oil company, No. 13, on John O'Donnell farm, 32 barrels; Pittsburg & Indiana Oil company No.l on John T. Kelly farm 20 barrels; Tippecanoe Oil company, No. 2on vfaggie M Fogle farm, 40 barrels; Crocker Oil company, No. 1; on Mary Foster farm, 22 barrels; Wakean Oil company, No 3. on Jacob Ryan farm 6 barrels; O. H. Bolds No, 1. on Carey E. Irwin farm 30 barrels. Adams county makes a phenomenal showin Fg of new works as follows: Thirty three wells drilling and eight rigs up. At eleven o’clock on Christmas eve, forty seven days ago, the jury in the case of the State vs Joseph Oslwrne. returned a verdict of guitlp, of murder in the second degree. Since that hour, Joe Osborne has not appeared in court until Tuesday morning when he was brought before Judge Erwin to listen to the arguments of his attorneys for a new trial. His appearance is unchanged and his nervous condition is still apparent. He paid but little attention apparently to the proceedings. He was accompanied by his father, John Osborne, his brother Frank and his old staunch friend,Uncle Nathan Lais ure. At 9:30 that morning attorney Amsden began his argument by by reading the motion and affidavits charging Daniel Kitson with having expressed an opinion prior to being accepted as a juror. To this was hied by Attorneys Moran and and Lutz for the State a counter showing which was also read at this time. This answer covers seven typewritten pages and includes a lengthy sworn statement signed by Mr. Kitson in which ho denies having ever formed or expressed an opinion touching the i merits of said cause, or as to the iguilt or innooense of Osborne; i that he never made any statement of any kind to Isaac Chronister against said Osborne or about his sanity; that he never expressed an opinion concerning the case in the presence of M. F. Burkhead; nor in i the prese ice of Andy Crabill; nor in the presence of W. A. Bauman; that he did not express an opinion in presence of Fred H. Bohnke, at that one time while he and Bohnke were serving as jurors in a liquor case, an argument had occurred concerning the Terrell murder case, one of the jurymen having read an account of same from a nwespaper. butthat nothing was said concerning the Osborne case. To these statments of Mr. Kitson is attached an affidavit signed by Irvin Acker, John W. Cook. J. C. Frank, J. M. Foreman and Orlando Springer saying that they were on the jury with Kitson and Bohnke and remember the Terrell diesussion, but say that there was no discussion concerning the Osborne case. The statements were sworn to before Earl B. Adams, notary public. Mr Amsden mado a splendid argument, quoting numerous authorities and citing various cases to support his statements, he devoted the greater part of his time to that part of the motion which claims that one of the jurors had expresesd an opinion. However he gave considerable attention to the statement mado by Attorney Moran for the State that the murder was committed with a knife as a weapon. Mr. Amsden spoke until noun, occupying two and a half hours of time, also taking up the question of the court striking out the evidence showing Busenbark's character, and also other parts of the motion for new trial. D. E. Smith followed in cne of the most brilliant arguments ever heard in the Adams circuit court. His appeal was eloquent, logical and reasonable. Judge Heller followed and was presenting his argument at the time we went to press. It is believed the arguments will close today.