Decatur Democrat, Volume 48, Number 31, Decatur, Adams County, 6 October 1904 — Page 1

ALL THE NEWS ALL THE TIME.

VOLUME XLVIII.

COMING famous Nebraskan to Speak at Decatur Friday, October 14. William J. Bryan, the greatest orator of the century, will speak in Decatur at 10:30 o’clock Friday morning, October 14th. He will arrive from Fort Wayne and will be here an hour, speaking upon the issues of the campaign. A letter from the state committee announces that several other speakers of renown and democrats of note will be here on that date and the occasion promises to be one of the most interesting ever held here. Mr. Bryan will speak forty-five minutes, probably from a platform in front of the ocurt house. A meeting was held at Democratic headquarters last evening and arrangements began for the occasion, by the appointment of committees. The arrangement commitee will report in a few days | with the program. Arrange to be : in Decatur one week from Friday for it will be an occasion lon g to be remembered. The various committees are as follows: Arrangements—J. W Tyndall, chairman; B. J. Smith, T. Ernst, |ius Sellemeyer, J. H. Heller G. E. McKean, H. A. Fristoe, J. P. Haefling, D. N. Erwin. Finance—J. W. Bosse, Henry Lmkenau. Reception—Judge R. K. Erwin, chairman; Judge D. D. Heller, Clark J. Lutz, David E. Smith, John C. Moran, Henry B. Heller, James T. Merryman, A. P. Beatty, Dore B. Erwin, Mayor D. D. Coffee, J. F. Snow, Emil Franz, Jacob Butcher, S. A. M. Butcher, W. L. Thornhill, J. T. Kelley, Jesse Kelley, J. T. Fruchte. Advertising—Calvin Miller, chairman, U. C. Ernst, Eli Meyer, Dent Spencer, L. A. Holthouse, C. D. Lewton, Thomas Gallogly, Eli Crist, Dr. D. D. Clark. Decoration—L. H. Corbin, chairman; D. W. Myeis, J. H. Yager, Ben Schrank, C. O. France. A new case was filed Tuesday morning before Squire Smith entitled George Appleman vs Mike Smith. The cause set forth is the result of damage resulting from the sale of a horse. The amount of damages asked for is SSO. The regular session of the city council was held Tuesday evening, every member being present. L. G. Ellingham resigned as city commissioner, and Thomas Gallogly was appointed to fill vacancy. The report of the city engineer on sidewalk on north sixth street was accepted and approved. An ordinance providing for a sidewalk grade in front of the Burt House satisfactory to all parties Concerned was r?ad, rules were suspended and the ordinance read three times and adopted. Mr. Teeple filed a resolution providing that the Clover Leaf freght bill for coal be paid out of the sinking fund. Objections were made that if one company|be paid in that manner all should be. The vote resulted in a tie and Mayor Coffee declared against the resolution. Mr. Teeple then tendered his resignation as chairman of the finance committee, which was promptly accepted. No appointment was made to fill his place on the committee. Judge Heller was present and began his auties as city attorney. After al lowing the following bills the council adjourned to meet in continued session Thursday evening: J- B. Holtbouse, supplies, $1.35; Bourbon Copper Works, supplies, $31.75; Central Supply Co., supplies, $16.69; City Trucking Co., drayage, $-0.12; J. R. McFeeley, stamps, 97 cents; O. H. Treadman, coal, $159.90; John Coffee, pay roll, $333.30; Jerry Burkhead, labor, $1; Fred Spoiler, labor, $4.00; Clover Leaf Ry Co., freight, $65.96; Sam Frank, salary, $45; John Peterson, insurnce, $4.33; W. E. Fulk, pay roll, $225.00; James Ross, Sr., labor, $15.50; National Carbon Co.,supplies, $13.50; William Geary, police, $10; J. Reynolds, police, $45; M. J. Mylott, pay roll, $209; John Coffee,fsalary, $45.84.

Rev. MCarthy informs us that he has secured the service of Miss Carrie Richards, of Cleveland, Ohio, to assist him in a special revival service at Hoagland, commencing Octcber 16. She will also assist him at Poe. The following named old soldiers from this city went to Geneva this morning to attend the Old Soldiers’ reunion that is being held there today: J. Trim, E. Cutting, J. Railing, J. R. Smith, A. J. DeVinney, Theo. Kennedy, Henry Chronister, D. B. Moore, L. Nelson, William Wetter, Eli Crist, George Lowden, Robert Boyd and L Cherryholmes. Tim rsday night at ten o’clock the night police were given a hurryup call from the west end, the trouble being at the residence of Milliard Suttles, on Clover Leaf street, where tramps were trying to effect an entrance into the house. The police at once hurried to the scene in company with several deputies, expecting to land their men, but on their arrvial there found that the thieves had fled. Mrs. Suttles then stated that there -were two of them and they first tried to effect an entrance in the house by prying up several windows, and failed, then went to the back door and tried to kick it in. She then became very much frightened and rang up the police by phone. The night policemen made a careful survey of the premises without finding any trace of the would be burglars. Warrants were issued Tuesday for the arrest of Sydney and Howard Chapman on the charge of stealing a Bible and a banjo from Mrs. Della Chapman, who filed an affidavit with Prosecutor Moran. The action was begun in circuit court and the charge is larceny. The affidavit reads as follows: “Della Chapman, being duly sworn upon oath swears that Sidney Chapman and Howard Chapman on the 3rd day of October, 1904, at and in the county of Adams and state of Indiana, did then and there unlawfully and feloniously steal, take and carry away one Bible of the value of $5 and one banjo of the value of sl. aggregatng the value of $6, such property being then and there the chattels of Della Chapman.” The case is one of the queerest on record, but may result seriously for the defendants.

Dr. J. S. Boyers was called to the home of Samuel Helm, four miles east of town Monday to attend Mrs. Helm who was seriously in jured in a combat with a vicious sow. The accident happened at about six o’clock. Mrs. Helm was out in the barnyard, when she noticed a large sow, weighing about 300 pounds had caught one of her chickens and was about to devour it. Not thinking of the possible results Mrs. Helm hastened to relieve the chicken from its perilous position. The maddened hog immediately turned upon her, knocked her down and fought her in a most terrible manner, biting and striking her like a wild beast. Mrs Helm fought bravely, but her efforts were of but little effect against the thoroughly enraged hog. Her screams of fright and pain and the angry snorts of the frenzied hog were heard by Mr. Helm, who rushed to the scene and after a fierce battle succeeded in driving the beast off. His timely arrival no doubt saved his wife’s life, as her strength was gone and she was almost exhausted. When her husband arrived Mrs. Helm was on her knees, fighting the hog with a small stick she had managed to get hold of. She collapsed as as help arrived and her oondtion was very serious when Dr. Boyers arrived. Her left shoulder was dislocated and the arm broken, making a serious fracture. She was bitten through the thigh of the left leg and her left hand was badly lacerated, showing the print of the sow’s teeth The victim is still suffering from the shoOK and her numerous injuries, but it is believed she will recover with careful nursing. Had her husband's arrival however been a moment latei, the result would certainly have been fatal.

DECATUR, INDIANA, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1904.

The sad rites over the remains of Jeremiah Andrews were held Tuesday at the Washington church at one o’clock. The Rev. James A. Sprague of Monroe, conducting the services. A large assembly was in attendance to pay their last tribute of respect to their deceased neighbor and friend. Interment was ! made in the Ray cemetery. The city of Auburn is defendant in a suit in the Federal court, on a f claim of $55,000 brought by the First National Bank, of Chicago, j The Interstate Construction company did some asphalt paving in Auburn. It proved worthless, but the work was re-surfaced and was then accepted by the city engineer. The re surfacing proved worthless also and the city council has refused to honor the orders amounting to 80 per cent of the contract price which it authorized issued. The paving is in a “rotton’’condition and the council has again let the contract for doing the work all over to the Barber Asphalt Co., and may have to pay twice to get one good job. In a few days more the Aetna Life Insurance company of Hartford, Connecticut, will open up its office in this city at the corner of Monroe and Eleventh streets, which office will be run and operated by Mrs. L. McDolin, of Fort Wayne. It is the intention of this company to thoroughly work this field, as in past years they have never tried to sell a policy here. The company is an old line one and is rated among the best, treating one and all alike, and paying their losses promptly. In Mrs. McDolin the company has secured the service of the best lady insurance writer in the United States, she having been with nearly all the old line companies, and knowing the insurance business from A to Z. The office rooms are now being arranged and in a few days more will be ready for business. Sunday night about I o’clock burglars called upon the Burt House and tried to effect an entrance into the dining room, but were frightened away before they could carry out their intentions. Night Clerk N. C. McMaguire stated that he and the night porter were attending to their regular duties when he heard a noise like some one tearing the screening off the window and sent the porter up stairs to see if any thing was wrong. The porter could find nothing and came down stairs again, just as he landed on the floor the crash of a window and broken glass was heard in the dining room. The night clerk then grabbed his revolver, hastened out of the building and down the alley, as he had heard them run when the glass broke. Just as he got to the rear of the hotel he saw three men hurrying away, but he says he was too frightened to shoot. In the meantime the night porter had sent in the police alarm and the night police hurried to the scene, gave chase to the robbers for several squares, when they lost track of them. The night clerk gave a very clear description of the three men, two being short and heavy set and the other a till slender fellow. From what the night police could see of them they are of the opinion that they know the guilty parties and are keeping a close watch on the men. Nothing of value was taken and the damage done was ' small. A closer examination Monday morning showed that they also 1 tried to effect an entrance into the pantry but were foiled there also. ' The extremely warm weatner of ' the past few days will be a hindrance to the growth of the wheat ' now sown. In the infancy of ' wheat it requires some warm, damp weather while the grain is in the ground to cause it to germin ite. But as the tiny sprout rises above the ground its best growth occurs ' when the air is moderately cool and the ground somewhat damp. It ' does not grow fastest at such a time. Best growth in the fall does not ' consist in fastest growth for when the plant grows fast in the fall it becomes tender and it is not hardy enough to withstand the quick chances of the weather in the early part of the winter.

George H. Martz is a democrat and proud of the fact. He wants j>eople to know it and has erected in front of his home in Monroe township a hickory pole, the emblem that stands for Jacksonian principles. The event occurred Tuesday and this is the first hickory in Monroe township this year. An accident occurred Sunday at s the home of William Richards. While no one was hurt, the family were badly frightened. James Jacob had driven up to the Richards house and hitched his horse to the fence. A passing freight train frightened the horse, which after kicking the buggy into kindling wood started straight for the house. Mrs. Richards and two brothers stood in the door way towards which the horse was rushing blindly. Mr. Richards had sufficient presence of mind to push them into the house and closed the door just as the vicious horse struck the house, and this fact no doubt saved them from being hurt. Uncle Dan Weldy who resides on First street was most agreeably surprised Monday at noon, when thirty of hischildren, grandchldren and other relatives burst in unon him to remind him that it was his eighty second birthday. The surprise had been Well planned and the victim was never aware of what was going to happen until the crowd burst in upon him. Then he began to realize that he had reached another milestone. A sumptuous dinner was served and all present had a most enjoyable time. Uncle Dan serming to be the happiest in the crowd. Noah Weldy of Vanales, Califoraii, was present.

Jacob Gtesley, fifty-five years old, and a well known Allen county citizen was mysteriously murdered at Monroeville at one o’clock Sun day morning. Fred Hause, a distant relative of Gresley, is in jail at Fort Wayne, charged with the crime. He denies his guilt, but admits he was drunk and was hunting trouble. The tragedy occurred shortly after midnight Saturday night near the town square. The old man was standing in front of the Lamont saloon, on Railroad street. Near him was Albert Brown, of Monroeville, and the stranser whose identity is much wanted and who was addres-ed by several persons in the crowd as “Doc.” The man is said to live in Fort Wayne. Just before the tragedy occurred, Liveryman, William Hay, of Monroeville, drove up in a surrey to take back to Fort Wayne three gentlemen who had been attending the rally during the evening and who had missed the train. These three men were Mr. O. B. Wilev, Mr. John Roach and Deputy Auditor Ed Parker. According to the story as elicited by Coroner Stults and Sheriff Stout, these men were just getting into the surrey when they heard a fall, and looking around they saw Gresley fall and saw House walking away from h’m. Albert Brown, who was a friend of the old man said to House, "What did you hit poor old Jake for?” It is alleged that thereupon House answered: "Maybe you want a hand in it.” Atthistime the mysterious “Doc” walked to the prostrate form of Gresley and examining him, pronounced him dead. It is said House hurried away as soofl as this announcement was made. A crowd soon gathered. They found an abrasion on the lips of the old man, evidently produced by a blow from a fist. The fatal wounds were on the back of the head, caused when Gresley fell backward and struck the curb-tone. The skull was fractured at the base of the brain. The bieak extended through the occipital bone for its entire length on the right side of the head, and brains and blood oozed through the opening. It is believed death was instantaneous. The covering of the brain was badly torn, causing bad itemorrhages. The theory of the case is that Gresh y was struck by some person in the mouth and he fell backward, his head striking against the curb stone.

Prosecutor John Moran filed a criminal prosecution in circuit court Tuesday entitled, The State vs Belle and Malin Harmon. The affidavit is upon information sworn to by Charles Dutcher, and charges that on September 29th, 1904, the said Harmons did maliciously, unlawfuly and mischieviously destroy and tear down a fence on said Dutcher s property, the damage thus being done valued at a ten dollar bill. My son 1 Follow not in the foot steps of the loafer and make no example of him who is born tired; for verily I say unto you their business is overstocked the seats on the corner are all taken, and whittling places are all occupied. It is better to saw wood for two bits a cord than whittle in a loafing match and cuss the government. My son, while thou hast the sense of a jay bird break away from the cigarette habit, for lo! thy breath stinketh like a glue factory, but thy whole appearance is less intelligent than a store dummy ; yet thou art a cipher —with the rim knocked oft'.

A cowardly attempt was made Sunday night by some unknown person to burn down the First Methodist church at Monroe, and from the amount of combustible materia] that was found Monday morning, it is a mystery to the citizens of that hamlet why the whole building was not consumed, and a total loss registered. The first intimation that anyone had of the dastardly attempt or that an attempt to burn the church had been made, was from the discovery of John L. Grim, a contractor, who a few days ago entered into a contract with the trustees of the church to do some remodeling and general repairing. Early Monday morning he went to the church to commence work on his conraot, and in. .walking about the church to inspect the job, he discovered at the east end of this house of worship on the ground and well under the building a bunch of dry and combustible material and a pile of ashes, showing that a fire bad recently been started there. A closer examination disclosed the fact that this combustible material had been thoroughly saturated with coal oil and that about eight feet up from the ground a hole three feet square was discovered, and a similar hole found in the floor. The only theory that can be advanced for these discoveries are that whoever committed the deed desired the fire to have a good draft so that a t >ta | destruction would be the result. Mr. Grim immeditely notified Other of the congregation and in a short time a large crowd of curiosity seekers were present, and every one wanted to see and know what had been attempted. The timber under the church was charred and blackened and the asbrs disclosed the fact that the fire had been started the night before, as the smell of coal oil was very noticeable. Contractor Grim and the other church members are at a loss to know what object an one would have in destroying this house of worshiip, unless someone had a grievance against the pastor or was opposed to the proposed improvement, and in this manner desired to leave the worshipers at that place without a home. A thorough investigation is being made by a member of the church and if the guilty party should be found he will be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law. The chance for discovery however, are against the people working on the case, as they have not the slightest clew to follow, as no one was seen about the building that would arouse their suspicion, and no one as yet has heard anything that might lead to the capture or arrest of the party. The theory that is now advanced by many as to the cause of the fire not doing the work that had been planned for it to do is that Sunday night was very dump and that the fire after once being started smouldered until it went out and the party or parties did not dare to to return fearing discovery. All Monroe is excited and up in arms, and a determined effort to land the | guilty ones will he made.

CIRCULATION 2800 WEEKLY

NUMBER 31

The patent medicine man who held forth on the court house square all of last week, made his last stand here Saturday night and he and his wife went to Indianapolis this morning on business. His son, who is at the Washington House, said that they would be in Decatur this week where they will spend a few da vs before starting out for the winter season in opera houses. The medicine man did a big business here from his unique manner of drawing people on to buy by giving money away. He sold immense quantities of his medicine by giving two packages of tablets for one dollar and handing out at the same time a ticket which he said would be good for a premium to be worth not less than $1.50. Saturday night after selling about SIOO Worth of medicine in this manner he redeemed 'the tickets by giving out to all who presented them medicine receipt books. Each person can judge for themselves of its value.—Bluffton News. If this man comes to Decatur and does any business on this plan he is a dandy, for every sucker we know of has already been caught several times on the same scheme. It has been some time since the Erie railroad has had a wreck with in our oity limits, but the one that occurred Thursday at eleven o’clock will make up for all the lost time, and may be the cause of two cf the regular train crew losing their jobs. As usual the local freight from the east pulled into Hie city at her scheduled time and after doing her usual transferring it the transfer house, pulled east on the main track, running the entire length of the yard until they came to the Mercer street crossing near Dr. D. G. M. Trout’s, when the signa] was given to Fireman Dan Binkley, to stop and back into the siding so as to do their usual switching and work at the freight bouse. Both the engineer and fireman received their signals all right and started to put same into execution, starting back onto the sidetrack at an unusual rate of peed. On the sidetrack set a heavy string of oars on which the brakes had been set tight, so that they could not possibly start down grade. On oame the local without iny perceptible slackening in speed ind bumped into the cars with an awful jolt causing a light oar to break in two on the local train and allowing three other cars to run jver and up against the same until five cars were piled up in an awful mess, being twisted and broken and thrown across the main track so that all kinds of railroad traffic was stepped for hours. In one of the box cars there were several tramps who narrowly escaped with their lives two of the boys being sound asleep when the jai oame and just managed to get out before ’heir car turned over into a ditch along the right-of-way, breaking it into a thousand pieces. A through freight engine was pressed into service to help clean up the debris, so tnat the main line could be repaired in order that the wreck train could get access to the wreckage. All the train crew are of the opinion that the fault or blame can all be laid on the engineer, Harry Markin and Fireman Dan Binkley, as they failed to take the signals to back up and then violated the rules of the company by running faster than the rate of spied laid down. And in all probability when the officials of the road learn of this evidence there will be two employes of their road looking for jobs. The three young men who were beating their way on this train were badly frightened and each stated that it was the first experience of this kind that they had ever had and desired it to be the last, and that they would continue their journey east on the cushions from here and take no further chances. None of the five oars damaged can ever be repaired and are a dead loss to the company, one being heavily loaded with merchandise, which was complete ly demolished. The stock yard fence was also broken down and the damage to the main line traok.will require several days looking after to mend. The loss as stated by > one of the employees will reach up into the thousands of dollars.