Decatur Democrat, Volume 48, Number 48, Decatur, Adams County, 2 February 1905 — Page 1

ALL THENEWS ALL THE TIME

VOLUME XLVIII.

The legislative bill has been introduced changing the time for holding court in the BlackfordWells circuit. The new deal gives Blackford five weeks to a court term and Wells six. Mrs. Henry Voglewede Sunday entertained a number of her neighbors and friends in honor of her birthday at a dinner party, and from reports a most enjoyable time was spent. Mrs. Vogtewede was the recipient of many beautifu 1 presents. Mrs. Henry Schulte Sunday evening entertrined the entire Bon Ton club in honor of Misses Harriet Grimme and Emma Soheiman, of Foit Wayne. The evening was spent in playing numerous games and music and a fine time in general was had. Refreshments were served and at a late hour the guests •departed, voting Mrs. Schulte a fine entertainer. Judge Erwin is a busy jurist these days, his services being in considerable demand. During all of last week he conducted court at Fort Wayne, hearing three important oases. He went to Huntington Monday, where he sits as special judge in circuit the court of that county. He will open court here next Monday and on Thursday of next week wil] go to Fort Wayne where he acts as special judge in a famous murder trial, the Indian Godfrey who killed his father in a road house spree a year ago, being ♦he defendant Charles Artman, at the Fulton Hardware store, received wor t this week from J. L. Fulton, telling of the fire which several of the Portland crowd fiured in at Los Angeles California, several days ago. T. S. Johnson and wife, J. L. Fulton, wife and children occupied rooms on the third floor of the Nedean Hotel. One hundred and fifty guests were in the building at the time and shortly after bedtime fire was discovery in the hotel, having originated in a vacant room near the stairway. When seen the flames were well under headway, and were about fifteen fee t from the stairway and elevator. The flames were soon extinguished, but not before the building was filled with smoke, which made escape difficult. The Portland crowd suffered no injuries, only colds received by exposure in the cool damp night. —Portland Commercial-Review. A. R. Bell and family are a‘ present busily engaged in arranging their household property and effects to moving April Ist to their new home just east of the city on BellView farm, where carpenters and laborers are remodeling the house. The Bell-View farm is one of the prettiest farms in the state of Indiana lying far enough from the city to make it a pleasant drive in the summer and a bracing one in the winter. The house is being remodeled in the finest shape, being en larged and the inside finished for comfort. The entire house will be encircled with a large veranda built after the latest pattern. Mr. Bell is sparing no time or money in fixing up his new home, and in the near future expects the farm to have a great reputation. The house will be wired for electricity and in fact have all the modern conveniencesofa city home. Mr. Bell is stocking his farm and soon will have one of the finest stock farms in the s tate. The farm is beautifully located, and the land is of the best, and wil] make a home fit for a king. Mr. Bell yesterday made a deal whereby his son, Fred, l>eoame half owner in all this property. He will devote all his time and energy in building up the reputation of Bell View and cultivate this land to the fullest extent. The Madison street property has been ' leased to Mrs. Simooke, who will convert, it into a boarding house, giving her a very desirable location and a fine appearing place, and she will take possession as soon as Mr. Bell and family vacate. After April first Mr. and Mrs. Beil will be at home to their many friends in the.r new home at Bell-View, where they will be in a position "WAntertain their friends to the

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The Schafer Hardware company are excavating their basement and have invented away of their own to save time and money. The dirt is loaded into wagons by means of a shaft, he belt carries the dirt being propelled by aid of a gas engine. A number of young ladies including the Bachelor Maids, perpetrated a surprise on Miss Ada Deininger last evening in honor of her birthday, and from all reports a most enjoyable time was had. The evening was spent in playing whist and other popular games and music. Refreshments were served during the evening and guests departed, wishing Miss Ada many more such happy events. An enjoyable event took place Thursday at the county infirmary, when a sled load cf our people took ad vantage of the fine sleighing to spend the evening with Mr. and Mrs. Graber. It is needless to say that everyone had a good time. Various games, and an all round evening of pleasure was indulge in. Music was furnished by the Variety Mandolin club of this city, and was highly appreciated. An etegant supper was served, a feature not out of the ordinary at that place. As host and hostess Mr. and Mrs. Graber stand on the topnotch. Those present were. J. R. Parrish and wife, Samuel Doak and wife, John Bollinger and wife, Al Graber and wife. D. M. Hower and wife, Harry Wilkenson and wife, John Mayer ana wife, and the Mandolin club. Decatur ladies have discovered another reason for sadness while their husbands are correspondingly glad as they think of the delay in paying millinery bills. This year Easter Sunday falls on April 23. The date is unusually late. But few times in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries has Eister been so belated. In 1810 it fell on April 22 and on the same date in 1812 and again in 1832. In 1848 it. came on April 23 and in 1859 on April 24. The latest Eister recorded in the two centuries was 1886, when it fell on April 25. There will be but two more Easters on April 23 in the twentieth century, in 1816 and 2000 In 1943 it falls on April 25. Last year Easter came on April 3. The earliest Easter recorded in the two centuries thus far was in 1818, when it fell on March 22.

The February term of court will begin next Monday morning and continue until April Bth. Quite an amount of business is on the docket including a variety of civil, damage and criminal cases. Os the later class in which the public are most interested are the Collins’ case, the Sells and Davis larceny case and the Johnson and Touhey assault case. Besides these are a dozen or uore cases which result from grand jury indictments returned at the November term. These have not been docketed yet, but all or nearly so are for misdemeanors, most of them for violations of the liquor laws. Several important damage suits, brought here on change of venue from Fort Wayne will be heard during the term. Jury Commissioners David Manlier and Harry R Moltz met at the clerk's office this morning and assisted by Deputy Clerk Paul B tumgartner proceeded to select the petit jury, who will serve during the term. This is the first jury drawn from the new venire and as some times happens only six of the twelve townships furnished all the names. The twelve men, tried and true, who will form the regular panel include the following: Russel Long, Wabash township; Joseph Egley, Hartford; Robert P. Davis, Blue Creek; W. D. Huffman. Kirkland;Ervin Carter, St. Mary’s; John Cross, Blue Creek; Samuel Helm, St. Mary's; John Birone, St. Mary's; W. H. Bolinger, Monroe; William Alfather. St. Mary’s; Joseph Linton, Wabash; Aaron Lotzinhizer. Blue Creek ; The men chosen are all worthy and will do their duty faithfully. Washington. Preble, Root, Union, French and Jefferson townsnips are not represented on the list chosen. The men selected will report as usual for duty on the third Monday, which falls on February 19th.

DECATUR, INDIANA, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1005.

Atorney Shaffer Peterson filed two new cases at the county clerk’s office Saturday entitled respectively Benjamin XV. Sholty vs John J. Meyers, suit on note demand 1175 and Benjamin XV. Sholty vs Henry Meyer, suit on note and to foreclose chattel mortgage, demand $75. Both notes were sold to Mr. Sholty by Charles F. True. The following is the program for the Euterpean Fraternity meeting to be held at the home of Miss Blanche Carroll, Thursday evening. February 2: Five minute essay on E. C. Stedman bv Mrs. D. D. Heller. Readings “The Door Step,” Miss Fay Smith. “The Discoverer,” Miss Lilah Huffman; "How John Brown took Harper’s Ferry,” Mrs. Al Fristoe. Five minute paper on Mozkowski by Mrs. XV. H. Nachtrieb. Duet—“ Spanish Dance No. I, Misses Carrie Thomas and Blanch Carroll. Piano Solos —“Ber cense,” Miss Marie Patterson; “Spanish Dance,No. 2,” Miss Josephine Niblick; “ Valse IMignonne,” Miss Blanch Carroll; “Gondoleria,” Miss Carrie Thomas. Pronouncing Calender led by Miss Donathan. Studies and Reviews led by Miss Dora Steel. Five minutes paper on J. M. W. Turner, by Mrs. Dr. Beardsley. His Art Characteristics by Mrs. XV. F. Brittson. Description of his paintings by Mrs. John Niblick. The very sudden and strange death of Maria, the little two- yearold daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Bovine, of Monroe township has just been reported. r , he child died Monday, January 16th, in a peculiar manner. The mother had wash ed and dressed the little daughter, rocked her to sleep and placed her on the bed. Five minutes later sne glanced at the babe and noticed a peculiar expression on her face. A closer examination proved the baby was dead, but the horror stricken mother, unwilling to believe it, sent for Dr. M. F. Par rish, of Monroe. He could do nothing but summon Coroner J. S. Falk, of this city. The matter was not made public until today, when the Coroner's verdict was filed. The child was in usual helath w ith the exception of a cold, however, she had never been real strong. The parents are heart-broken over the sad death of their baby girl, to whom they were most devoted. Wednesday evening at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Baumgartner, cn Mercer street, occurred the marriage of Miss Emma Jackson to Mr. Robert Meyers, of Columbus, Ohio. At six o'clock Mrs. Harry Deam of Bluffton, “ O. Promise Me,” and just as the song was finished, the wedding party took their places to the sweet strains of Mendelssohn's wedding march. Dr. Hutchinson, of Augusta, 111., assisted by Rev. E. A. Allen, of the Presbyterian church united them by the beautiful and impressive ring service, closing with the Lord’s prayer. During the ceremony Miss Elizabeth Peterson played very softly “Hearts and Flowers.” The matron of honor was Mrs. Dr. Hutchinson, a siser of the bride. The bride was gowned in a handsome gray crepe made over a foundation of silk and trimmed in point lact. bhe carried a shower bouquet of pink roses, which were afterward distributed among the guests. At the bride's table besides the wedding party were her sisters and brothers and the guests, about fifty in number were seated at small tables placed in the various rooms. The supper which was both elegant and dainty was served by eight young friends of the bride. Each guest was given a beautiful carnation andthe favors were boin bon in pretty little heart-shaped boxes. Mr. and Mrs. Meyers left on the 8:30 train for the East, and will be at home the latter part of next month in a cozy cottage already furnished for them in Columbus, Ohio. The out of town guests were Dr. and Mrs. Hutchinson, of Augusta. Ill.; Mr. and Mrs. Phil Macklin, of Gen°va, Ind.; Mr. and Mrs. Harry i Deam and Mr. and Mrs.N. K. Todd, of Bluffton; Mr. and Mrs. Ed Rosebaugh, -of Huntington. The presents were numerous, beautiful and costly.

The many friends of Lemuel W. Johnson will be sorry to learn of his serious illness and that too with pneumonia. He has been sick for a week and was better, and yesterday was out of doors a short time. During last night he suffered much from a relapse and now it will take a long pull to bring him back to a normal and well condition. One of the prettiest soc al events #ver held in this city was given last evening by Mr. and Mrs. Dyonis Schmidt-, when they entertained a number of their friends at a good old-fashioned p dro party. The house had been beautifully decorated for tho occasion and presented a most pleasing sight to the guests. At the tap cf the bell announcing that the contest was under way, eighteen tables were occupied and the playing was spirited and exciting it taking eleven games to decide the win ners, which proved to be Mrs. P.J. Hyland and B. J. lerveer, while Mrs. XV. H. Niblick and Roman J. Holthouse captured the short end. After the prizes were awarded an elegant supper was served, after which the guests departed voting Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt as fine entertainers.

Elmer Johnson arrived hom,e from PittsburgTuesday morning and was arrested at noon on a charge of assault and battery with intent to kill. He immediately gave bond and was released. His arrest is the result of the affidavit and information filed in circuit court by Prosecutor Moran, and is the outcome of the fight at the Riverside livery barn two weeks ago, in which Johnson and El Touhey and Ed Machand and Nick Waggoner were the participants. At the time it was feared Machand was badly injured, but it is said he recovered without any serious results. At the time Touhey and Johnson were arrested on a plain charge of assault and battery, had a hearing before Mayor Coffee and their case wa continued until February 2nd. In the mean time the more serious charge was filed. It is supposed the case in mayor’s court will now be dismissed.

The Carnegie Library committee met at the First National Bank Tue. evening and after making a few slight changes in Architect Oscar Hoffman’s plans, for the handsome new building, adopted same. It has not yet been fully decided whe ther the structure will be built of stone, brick or cement block. The cement block people will have a hearing before the committee next Tuesday evening. The library will be built on colonial style of architecture, both inside and out. It will face on Third street and will be sixty feet wide, sis ty feet in depth and two stories high. Four large columns will lend an attractive appearance to the front. The main entrance will be from Third street, with two small entrance doors on the north side, one leading into the council room and the other into the packing room. Entering from tha east side the visitor will|be ushered into the auditorium, a room thirtyfive feet by forty-two. Off this room to the north will be the coun oil room 14x26 feet and to be used by the city ofti nils. A stock roo m 8’,., xl7. To the west of the auditorium is the boiler room. 12x15; fuel room. 12x16 and small store room 7x12. The second floor or library proper is to be devided as follows: Two reading rooms, one for adults and one for children, each 26x30 feet; a rotunda 17x17 feet; a i librarians office 12x12 feet; a referlence or study r om 16x18 feet and the shelf or stock room, where all books are kept when not in use!Bx23. A toilet room lavatory for gentlemen will be located on the the first floor land a ladies’ room on second floor. The building will be a very attractive and convenient one, and the committee have shown care and interest in their plans. The . con tract for the new building will no doubt be let soon. The exact esti j mate of the cost has not. yet been I made, but the committee will make an effort to bring it within the $lO,000 donation of Mr Carnegie, unless they are successful in securing an increase.

Dore B. Erwin, attorney for the; plaintiff, Thursday filed suit in; circuit court, entitled the Bink of | Berne, a corporation, vs Lewis C. Miller, Nancy A. Miller, Edward Miller, State of Indiana exrel Car-; ry D. Lewton, auditor of Adams county, David Falb, complaint on notes and bond and to foreclose mortgage on farm, demand $1605. The return date was fixed for Tuesday February 7tn. XV. C. Haffner of Bryant, more commonly known as “Curt,” was seriously if not fat ally hurt by falling from a derrick in the oil fields Monday evening. Haffner fell possibly twenty feet striking his stomach across a piece of timber. In the fall his shoulder was fractured and internal injuries, were sustained During the severe storm in December, Haffner was tearing down a derrick for the Binghamton Trenton Rock Oil company on the Hardy lease at Mills Corner and then had a very narrow escape. He reached the ground barely in time to get out of the way of the crashing timbers. Two well known Decatur ladies called at the county jail Sunday and in their own way conducted religious services, especially for the wayward woman tramp who is serving sentence there. The efforts of these women may prove to have been useless, but they will at least have the knowledge that they have done a Christian duty. For three months past there nas from nine to seventeen prisoners at the jail. These are men, many of whom have received a sentence for some mistake. A praver, a few moments’ talk, a sacred hymn may remind them of lessons taught by mother. As a community we owe it to them. In the jails of surrounding counties the ministers conduct services each Sunday and they nave been producive of more than one conversion. Sheriff But ler gladly allow such services here.

Mrs. Susan Helm met a terrible death Sunday evening as the result of burns received while attempting to start a fire : n her sitting room stove on that morning. She lived on South Tenth street in the west part of Decatur with her son, Samuel. She arose Sunday morning about six o’clock and at once started to kindle a fire in a soft coal stove. She placed some kindling in the stove, then poured on some kerosene oil. For some reason or other the oil failed to ignite at once. Mrs. Helm was bending over the stove putting in some small pieces of coal. This seemed to stir up the blaze"sufficilent to ignite the gas, which had already formed from the coal oil. An explosion followed, the flames encircling Mrs. Helm. Her clothing caught fire and she was fearfully burned from the hips to the top of her head. Her son heard the screams and immediately rushed to her assistance. He tore off her clothing and dashed water on her body, but before the flames were extinguished they had completed their awful work and the poor woman was suffering the tortures of death. Dr. P. B Thomas was summoned, but his efforts proved futile, death relieving the patient at 9:30 o’clock last night. Hei face and right side were literally cooked and the flesh fell from the bones. While her back and other porticns of her body were also terribly burned. During the hours between the time of the accident and her death the victim suffered the fiercest agony and it was known from the first that recovery was impossible. Samuel Helm had his hands badly burned, while tearing his mother's clothes off. His wounds while painful are not serious. Mrs. Helm was the wife of George Helm who died several years ago. She was a daughter of Noah Glass, deceased, and was fifty-six years : four months and sixteen days old. She has lived in this county the greater part of her life, but resided at Parsons, Kansas a few years. Two children Samuel Helm and Mrs. Etta Langrey survive her. THf funeral services were held Tuesday morning at ten o’clock at tJjjd'nited Brethren oh’-ch

CIRCULATION 2800 WEEKLY

NUMBER 4S

Arthur Craig, the missing merchant of New Mount P'easant, Jay county, who disappeared last week, ; has left no trace of his whereabouts. Besides, numerous chattel mortgages, and the few securities that may be genuine, there is at least $1,200 of forged paper, distributed as follows: Ridgeville Bank, Ridgeville, $250; Bank of Redkey, $150; Portland Real Estate and Loan company, $100; John Bell, $100.; Citizens Bank, Portland, $150; George Lare, $150; J. XV. Polley, S2OO, and possibly a small amount at the First National Bank, this city. The XV. H. Hood odmpmy, of this city, has instituted replevin proceedings to attach Craig’s stock of groceries at New Mt. Phasant. Jacob Closs, jr., formerly engaged in the jewelry business in this city, was arrested Thursnay by Marshal Green on a charge of embezzling a gold watch valued at S4O. The affidavit was sworn to by John Meyer, the timber man. The case was filed before S'quire James H. Smith and the affidavit sets forth that on Maich 2, 1904, John Meyer, took a gold watch valued at S4O to Mr. Closs for repairs ana that in the coarse of a tew days he called and asked if the same was finished, to which Close replied that it was not. Mr. Meyer says that at different times he call ed upon Mr. Closs, who always put him off, stating that the watch was not yet repaired, but would be in a short tme. That a year now has almost passed since he took the watch to Mr. Closs. and he has never recovred the same. The case was set for a hearing at one o’clok|today, b ut upon a motion by Mr. Closs it was continued untl one week from next Monday. Mr. Closs states that immediately after Mr. Meyer brought the watch to him he sent the same to Chicago to have it repaired and that the firm he sent it to has never returned it, although he has demanded the same on several different occasions.

Everett Ball, who resides in this city, was called up by the Commercial Mail today, to ascertain the truth of the statements published in the Democrat, and he said the story was true, but that he had been keeping it quiet and doing a little private detective work on his own hook. Ever since he returned from Decatur, he has been confined to his home on account of sickness . and has been unable to prosecute his investigation. He feels certain that the robbery in Docatur was done by home talent. He did not inform Marshal Green of the robbery, as that official was at suppar, but ha did tell the night p flioam m I about it. He also remained in Decatur two days after the crime was committed in order to investiagte the affair. He has some well founded suspicions as to who the guilty parties are and will push the investigation as soon as he is able to go to Decatur. In a later inter virAV, Everett stated that the man whom he told about the robbery was a big, heavy set man, with a dark mustache, who carried a mace I and wore a policeman's cap. This man claimed to be night chief unde’ - Marshal Green. While they were talking, they heard a bell ring and a whistle blow and the policeman said that it was the police call, that he must go, but would see him la short time later. Liter in the I evening. Everett again saw the i official and was told that the signa 1 icame from the G. R & I. railroad where a uian and woman had been held up, but that the footpads ran I away. The police protection in that little village is certainly something fierce and the sooner they get i rid of a couple of tit husky “sleep walkers’’ who act in the capacity of night policeman, the better off the town will be.—Columbia City Mail. The above terrible "roast'’ refers to an article published a few days ago in which the story of Ball s supposed “hold up" was told. It | sound s like one of Charley Peterson'o nightmares The young man, I Ball, will never be here to investigate the affair for he knows he was not robbed of a cent in Decatur. His suit case is still at White's case, and (Tarlov might ask him to exf t •< vll •' '<* f ' ” 1 actions while hero