Decatur Democrat, Volume 48, Number 20, Decatur, Adams County, 21 July 1904 — Page 1

L THE NEWS ALL THE TIME.

I4JME XLVIII.

-oii one of the ■’’llles Knlvli.’u. and one of the K ! ; .. .. ,f Wells and Adams jL visiting here with W G.-.-rge Simison. He ■f last Friday from Linn ■ may remain here with ■ jxt onmtly, the latter >■> Ker tod” so. Mr. Sinus on is years of age and a,A 'dmd h> mind! T y are as strong and . ■ -Bluffton News. nH K n.a.tins one of the best I H, v:1 ■••■..mess men of Fort Wavin’, Bj.jtt].. s'. Joseph hospital after j Btos'i.’c. ■■■'’.l attempt to C irnhat ' ■ th the dread of Brights disease. ■ ■ e fnaoral will o'*cur Tuesuay at, KroWk and will be under the ttpices of the Fort Wayne Com- ■: o a Knight Templars. The was a member of all the B'i rent Mas ni , bodies and was i Bidentified with the work for] Bny vmrs. Many Decatur people B whi '''‘ lu> bcing for many years Betary of the Scottish rite. K.... edition of cxeommissioner Bj h mb Yager is not much improved Kdhe is still a very sick man ■though his physician Dr. J. M. Kier is doing everything in his arer. He fails to improve as fast dsdesired. On last evening Dr. Has W. Porter of Ft. Wayne was mmoned and held a oonsultati >n ith Dr. Miller and it was first; ought that an operation would ing the only relief but after oser examination Dr. Porter conoded that in all probability ho uld pull him through without le and therefore did not die n it iceasary at this time, although i operation may be necessary in le near future. Another divorce case was filed at le clerks office the title of lesame being Almyra Philbee vs ames Philbee. Aooordng to the omplaint the plaintff and defended were married May 6 1903 and red together as husband and wife ntil July 11, 1904. A period of me of two months more than one ear The defendant is charged ■ith cruel and inhuman treatment, bused her with vile epithets and ndecent language. The paintiff mntends that at all times she was i dutiful wife and been true to the acred marriage vows. The plaintiff prays that the bonds of matrinony be dissolved and that she be pven alimony in the sum of <SOO ogether with other proper relief, the parties to the court suit are residents of Union townishps. Er■win & Erwin filed the suit and aplieur as attorney for the- plaintiff. D D. Studabaker accompanied f his lawyer, W. H. Eichhorn sere here from Bluffton last Monday and during the time spent in °wn, completed arrangements |«ith Court Reporter DeVoss, for |the transcript of evidence in the famous Studa baker--Favlor case. This means that the end is not yet in that celebrated case. It will be hr far the biggest game ever tackled by Reporter DeVoss, although the work in the Osborne murder a ppeal was not bad. It will take several weeks to type write all this evidence and the reporter will have a busy time between sweats this summer. It took three solid weeks to try the case and during that time some hard work was done and some hard swearing—without being profane—was indulged in. It’s appeal means that the best end of a year or longer will pass before a decision from the supreme court is reached and in the meantime the defendant is enjoying the fruits and of a Lrm that has three times been in jeopardy The case has been tried s ° often that every man woman and ehild in Wells and Adams counties knows all about it and could render 11 verdict in the case with their e .ves shut. The appeal will be filed at the opening of court after the hard working and ill paid supreme judges have spent a long and tiresome summer at some health resort. When they lay hands on the volume of evidence that they are supposed to read, they will feel •ke taking another vacation only more prolonged.

Obcatilß D^M oc MT.

The cost of political campaigns has increased tremendously since Lincoln run for president. The reublican campaign of 1864 cost about <IOO,OOO. The cost of the campaign of 1900 was about <5,000,0000. Mainataining headquanrs costs at least <3O 00 a day. Gnat ] aradcs erst fr< m <150,00 to <2O,CCO in New York and Chicago. Great public! meetings cost from <3,000 to <4,000 a piece. According to conservative ' estimates the legitimate campaign expenses of the rival parties this year will reach <5,000,000. Work was suspended M >nd ly on ; the Judge E/win oil well owing to a disabled cable or rather one ! that was several yards too short to drill a well to the depth proposed to drill this one. The driller is no w at Muncie getting a new cable and by Thursday it is expected that the drill will again be going China ward. They stopped drilling at a depth of 1035 feet. If no unnecessary time is consumed in this delay the well may be completed yet this week and its success or failure as a gusher of the valued crude known. W. H. Shepherd went home and will return later in the week to see the finishing touches administered. From all appearances the members i of company “B” of this city who have charge of the 106th 1. V. I. reunion that will be held here on August 11th are going to do the thing up good and brown and make it the banner meeting of this famous company. The Democrat had the honor of turnng out their invitations which are very neat and attractive being in a bokolet form, the front page being adorned with the American eagle and two American flags and the invitation reading as follows: “You are most cordially invited to attend the Fifth Annual Reunion of the 160th I. V. I. to lie held at Decatur Indiana Thursday, August 11, 1904.” The committee managements have engaged their music, having entered into a contract yesterday with Prof. J- L. Swihart of Huntington, Ind., who by the way was the leader and director of the famous 160th regiment band during the Spanish American war. This however will not be the only band in attendance as arrangements are being made to have music galore. The citizens generally are taking up the matter and will give the boys generous assistance, in their efforts to make this event the success it should be Judge R. K. Erwin has appointed as provided by statute, a library committee, the same being composed of as appointed Mesdames A. B. Morrison C. M. Kenyon and L. G. Eilingham. As we understand it, this is part of the official headgear of the Carnegia library commission. The committee as a whole is composed of seven members, three appointed by the judge of the circuit Court, two by the city council and two by the board of school trustees. As soon as these seven receive their highly colored commisions, they will organize by electing officers and then they will be ready to officially receipt the Hon. Andrew Carnegia for any sum that comes to the post office address of the Adams county Carnegia library committee. The arrangements for future operation by this committee are known to Rev. Alien of the Presbyterian church. But the mode and method of operation Mr. Allen has in mind is not we presume it is of the kind that will cause Mr. Carnegia to cough up the amount desired for the building here. In this connection we feel constrained to praise the untiring efforts of the genial Decatur pastor. He has labored with a zeal but few possess and whenever an obstacle presented ;t«elf he proceeded to snatch bald headed the aforementioned obstacle. He has had considerable correspondence with the gentleman of library fame, knows full well the kinks and curves that need straightening and if Decatur succeeds in her ambition to own a real Carnegia library building, the credit will all belong to the push, energy and business ability displayed by Mr. Allen'

DECATUR, INDIANA, THURSDAY, JULY 21, 1904.

Jeff Bryson agent at the Grand Rapids met with an accident this morning the result of which he is carring his left arm in a sling and sustaining a badly sprained wrist. Jeff together with several other men were loading a car with junk and while putting up a bale of old :rags he slipped and fell backward lout of the car door tbe entire weight nf his falling upon his his left wrist spraining the same quite badly. The injury however did not force him to quit work and he is still making the ‘ rounds and imitii-mg his official I duties. Clem Knoff on Monday tried to consume all the booze that was in the city and the consequence was that on last evening he was arrested bj’ Marshal Gordua and lodged in jail on a charge of public intoxication and djsordily conduct. He I was permitted free use of the jail i last night in which to sober off in | and this morning was brouhgt up | before Mayor Coffee where he plead guilty and was fined a dollar and costs amounting in all to nine dollars and thirty cents. Clem refused to pay the amount and stated that he desired to board it out I with Sheriff Butler. He was returned to jail and his time started. “1 am now preparing statistics on the cost, and time and conditions of the planting of various i products of the state,” says B. F. Johnson, state statistician. “1 believe it is the first time such statistics have been prepared with thoroughness and I believe they will remit in a great deal of good for the farmer. “It is my theory that very little money is made by wheat raising in Indiana. I hive been observing this for at least ten years and donbt if there is much profit it. When the figures on this point are accurately gathered believe that they will bear me out in this opinion. The figures will show on what kind of land wheat crop is profitable, time to plant and cost of the other interesting facts on this point. “The figures will also show what crops are the most profitable. There are many farmers raising wheat year after year in counties where wheat is not profitably raised and neglect ing to plant other crops which would be better adapted to the soil and bring profits.” George Doctor went to Ft. Wayne Monday in answer to a summons stating the serious injury of his mother in a runaway there Saturday evening. At the time he left he did not know that she had succumbed to the injuries received and had died at Hope hospital last evening, after twenty four hours of suffering. The deceased made an attempt to jump from the buggy alighting on her head. Her skull was fractured and at |first her recovery was doubted, owing to her advanced age. Asa short notice of her life, she was a native of Germany. She was born in that country April 1, 1831, but she had teen a resident of Allen county for fifty years. Her husband died over three years ago. The decedent is survived by the following children: Louis, Fred, George, Charles, Mathias and William Doctor, Mrs.

Maggie Fackler, Mrs. Mary Schmidt Mrs. Louis Schmidt and Martin Doctor. Mrs. Doctor was a woman of noble Christian character and lovable ways and during her residence for half a century in the county she won a large circle of friends who are shocked and grieved at her tragic death. The body was removed to the Kinehn & | Meching undertaking establishment and prepared for burial. The ■ funeral will be held Wednesday as- . ternoon at 1:30 o’clock at the family home in Manon township, and at 2 o’clock at Emanuel Lutheran church in that townsihp. The Rev. ’ Zschoche officiating. George Doc- > tor, a favorite son of the aged mother was shocked beyond measi ure when he learned of tire sad ■ death. He will no doubt return beI fore the funeral and arrange to take I his family to the Marion township home for the funeral services which will be held Wednesday.

Oscar Shaw a resident of this city comes to the front with the biggest chicken story we have heard .yet and is too good for us to keep so we will tip you off. Some time ago Mr. Shaw states that he set a hen on six eggs and that this morning she came off with a brood of fifteen chickens, and seems to be a very prowd mother. This is the best yet and if any of our friends have anything that will beat it we would be pleased to hea“ from them. Shaw is at present busily engaged in figuring out the relationship which we will publish in a few days. The auditor has completed his semi annual distribution of funds making such distribution to the liquor license fund, common school fund congressional school fund township fund, tuition fund, road fund, dog fund, township poor fund, township bridge fund, corporation fund and library fund. According to the figures Union township will get <3230.39. Root <4,110.68, Preble <4445.66, Kirkland <243.58, Wash ington <7034.92, St. Mary,s <5415.47, Blue Creek <2323-74, Monroe <6233.83, French <1765.09, Hartford <5090.68. Wabash 4697.26, Jefferson <2317.99. Decatur school <8748.90, corporation <11,126.79. Geneva school <2375.78, corporation <2199.15 Berne school <2890.45 corporation <2759.61, total <79,231.97. Tbe completion of the distribution will make things lively at the county treasurers office where this total of nearly <BO,OOO will be p lid out. Tue various township trustees and officers of cities and towns and the school boards will receive the amounts designated as belonging to each individual. The school board held an important session Monday 1 and placed

the teachers where they will hold forth at the coming term of our public schools. As scheduled at the central building the high school will be tn charge of C. E. Hocker as principal and mathematics, J. B. Dutcher science, Rose L. Danathan Litin, Enmi Byerly English, R. C- Hill commercial, Mary Miller seventh k r grade, Mrs. E. J. Bailey seventh grade, Lizzie Peterson third and second grade, and Bess E. Congleton first grade. At the north ward J. C. Tritch is p incipal aud teacher in room four, Lola Jackson room three, Blanche Reynolds, room two, Dora Steele room one, West ward A. D. Suttles principal and room four, Golda Staler room three, Nellie Winnes room two Fanny Rice room one, — South ward John R. Parrsh principal and room four, Grace Coffee room three Della Sellemeyer room two, and Eva Acker room one. Rose Egan is librarian. No other business was discussed but it is presumed that following the appointment of a library committee by Judge Erwin the board will soon have a meeting and add thereto their allottmont of two members and then when the city council appoints two members, the committee as a whole will be ready for action authoratatively. H. A. Hartman as superintendent of the public schools is already giving considerable thought to the work of the coming school year, and with the

fine array of talent in the list of teachers great prorgess is expected. Almost half of the vacation is already gone glimmering and it will not be long until the call to arms will be made and the education of young Amercan will be continued through the medium of our public schools. Decatur enjoys the proud distinction of having good public schools and it is]well said that there is no better criterion to the worth of any town than her public schools. In these we all may be proud as each and every citizen, no matter how humble, have a universal interest in the welfare and progress of the public schools. It is not expected that any change will bemade in the personnel of the teachers as now selected and assigned. They each and every one have the qualifications and are expectedf 'to uphold the good record already attained by the Decatur public schools.

Sunday wis the fifty sixth birthday of Mrs. Isaac Simth a resident two and a half miles east of Bobo, and in honor of that event a big dinner was given which was enjoyed by J. L. Gay and family, J. M. Frysinger, A. M. Bowen, Philip Koos and wife Gilbert Chrionister and family, Elza Jackson ard family Jacob Drake and wife, Delbert tyalters'and family, Mrs. Eli Stoops and son, Mrs. J. L. Moser, Mrfc. Lydia Cowan, Mrs. Middleton, Mrs. Jennie Winans, Barley Sheets, Charles Moser, Clara Frysinger, W. J. Crawford and family Mrs. Rebecca Cowan and Miss Joe Mylott. A pleasant day was enjoyed by all present. A very serious fire was narrowly averted Monday at the home of Louis Wise who is on North Second street just one door north of James T. Merryman’s. The timely presence of Dore B. Erwin and Ira Baker who happened to be near by they soon had the fire under control. Mrs. Wise was preparing to get the evening meal and had undoubtedly turned the gas too high in the stove and the stove pipe soon became red hot. This pipe runs through a thin board partition and then into a tin chimney and it was at this partition that the fire occurred. Mrs. Wise noticed the flames before they had gained much headway and hurridly rushed to the front door screaming fire. She finally drew the attention of Dore B. Erwin and Ira Baker who hastened to the scene and soon had the fire extinguished without any material damage being done. Mrs. Wise was very badly frightened and was profuse in her thanks to the men who assisted her.

Tom Cal van a miglty smooth guy from Chicago took up his residence in Geneva tho latter part of last April. He opened up an elaborate office and soon had two or three clerks and stenographers busy at work. His graft was to promote oil deals, sell margins in oil stocks and in all was quite an oily boy. He would get his fingers on a property that perhaps had a valid valuation of <SOO and with this he would organize a company and capitalize it at <50,000 or <IOO,OOO, with all the high fluting officers, get lithographed certificates of stock genuine gold seal in the corner with a real value about fifteen cents a thousand. Then he would bring his mailing list into use and with a circular letter enclosed that would make you feel like a millioniare before you read three lines. These circulars were mailed to all four quarters of the earth, and the returns were ample to pay postage and leave a margin that would make the average banker look like thirty cents.

He thrived and did a business that would make your head ache. He was what is properly termed among oil operators and speculators as the hot air man and he tilled the bill to a nicety. His office at the corner of Line and High streets was a gem of beauty and there it was that millionaires were made every minute—on paper. But the money came easy and Tom hit the flowing bowl, and to make a long story short, like a good many other people he could not stand prosperity. Suckers in his line were not very plentiful around Geneva, but he get into their confidence in other ways. He borrowed money and he bought freely of the merchants and then before any one hardly knew it Tom Calvan was gone, his office force were gone and in fact the hot air industry was transferred to pastures anew. He left Monday of last week and his present address to many anxious inquirers is unknown. But he is still voted as a mighty smooth article and one that knows how to make more ready ca“h out of a little bit of water, than any one who has invested in the Geneva oil field. Some think his return probable while others think he is gone for good and that those having due bills coming can hold them for a gtK’d long future dilivery. But nevertheless, Geneva will long ap- , predate the few months association ' with Tom Calvan. He was a sure enough oily boy and had a graft ' that Rockefeller would pay well for. u,

CIRCULATION 2800 WEEKLY

NUMBER 20

The viewers '•eport on the French township macadam road has been filed and it shows the proposed road to be four and a fraction miles in length and the estimated cost at <16,295.53. The auditor has set the 15th day of August as a time when objections will be heard the same to take place at the aulitws office. The road will be of inestimable value to nearly every resident of French township it pissing through a thickly settled country and in consequence theireof, great benefits will accrue therefrom. The road will be known as the French township Central Macadam Road. Tho viewers were F. W. Christ inner and Sylvester Pontius, with surveyor McKean as engineer. The rankest fake of the seism appeared at tho Wren, Ohio U. B, church Thursday night and several Decatur gentlemen went over to see him perform. The imitiation took the authority to assume that he was Father Egb. Stephen and his mission was to expose the priesthood. While there was nothing in the ill worded remarks which he tried to work off on the assemblage under the pretense of oratory, yet he made reflections That in his opinion the ballot box was being corrupted within the sanctuary of the Catholic church. Other reflections were also indulged in—any fool can, you know—but there was nothing in his address that took on the mould of an exposo of the teachings and work of the priesthood, and many have serious doubt whether the fakir was even ever a member of this Christian band. His remarks did not indicate a familiarity in handling the various phases in which he wanted to startle his audience with. It is true at best, that he is an old fraud and a black guard. There is no man that is a man, who will tie himself to a church or other organ • ization and after years of participation therein, tour the country on the righteous plea of exposing the evils of this same cause. He is simply one of those ill made cusses who thinks the world owes him a living and he has to make it by seducing the just and the righeous. The world is full of such people only instead of getting out handbills and hiring a hall, they whisper their great learning about the streets and pour the oil of deceit and rancor into the willing ears of those who ought to be otherwise employed. In the audience was Father Valentine an assistant of the St. Mary's parrish this city, who with the consent of the pastor of the Wren church completely an-

swered the cowardly assaults. Ho took him up in pieces and so csm ■ pletely answered every accusation that it ended in a Valentine reception, more than anything else. He skinned him to a fare you well not leaving enough to make a lean ham sandwich. While the fakir was small in calliber before the fireworks began after it was over he could easily have crawled into a two inch hole and left plenty of room for a decent smear of ancient limburger cheese. It was a complete vindication of the fact that the fellow is a dishonest rogue andjhas no moral right to appear on this side of earth championing any cause that on its face appears just. The many Decatur people present enjoyed the one sided drama and say that Father Valentine fully, fairly and completely put the fellow out of business. Many of the ladies present rushed to the front and shook the hand of the young assistant priest and congratulated him upon the dignified and just tribute he paid to the Christian cause he represented as well as to the manner in which he flayed the pretender who got up the meeting. The pastor of the U. B. Church was also quite indignant and expressed himself in no uncertain tones about the injustice that had been imposed upon and caused them to open the doors of their church to such an imposter. The meeting closed with the benediction by T Father Valentine who by long odds carried away all the honors and was the hero of the hour. -