Decatur Democrat, Volume 48, Number 51, Decatur, Adams County, 23 February 1905 — Page 3

|n«i Ophthalmic Specialist. I Practice limited to the oorrec- ■ tlonof defects of the eye. Glasses K fitted >o relieve strain, with its ■ numerous functional symptoms: BJ to improve vision anil for loss of M acc mmodation due to age. ■ REFERENCES the best. At Dr. Coverdale’s office, at ■ Decatur, Ind., J 1 TUESDAY. MARCH 7. 1905 I

Unclaimed letters are at the postoffice for Master Earl Hugland, Miss Nellie Thomas, Mrs. Nan E. Davis, Miss Lonna Meyers, Jacob R. Miller, Ben.]. C. Schroeleker. Tne case of the State of Indiana vs Clem Knoff, on a charge of assault and battery with intent to kill, one Dee Jackson, was contin ued Thursday by ’Squire James H. Smith, until one week from today, the date being February 23. Brakoman Harris, of the Clover Leaf, was instantly killed at Greentown last night. His train, a freight, was making a running switch, when Harris slipped and fell under the train. His head was cut squarely from the shoulders. He was one of the oldest brakemen on the Toledo, St. Louis A- Western railroad, having been in their employ tor years. He was quite well known in Decatur. A sleighing party drove to the home of Thomas E. Fisher’s Sunday morning to remind him and his daughter Alice, of their birthday anniversary. Those present wire Jacob Euy and family. Jeorge Chronester and family. Mart Stalter and family, Jim Hagland and family. Mr. an t Mrs. Cook, Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Maner. Mrs. Joe Berry, and Miss Etta Malloney. Out of town guests were Mr. and Mrs. Dortes of Muncei, and Miss Alice Fisher of Fort Wayne. An elega t dinner was served and an enjoyable time was had by all present. J. D. Nidlinger and D Kunkle president and secretary of the Great [Northern Fair association, returned from Indianapolis Friday morning, where they met forty representatives from various other assooiatons and drafted a bill which provides that counties may appropriate a sum not to exceed one cent on each $ 100 of assessable property for the support of such association. The bill was presented on the senate this morning. It is figured by the county fair officers that the average of the appropriations which would be received unrtjr the proposed act would be about S7OO to the county. A per-, manent organization of county fair officials was perfected in the election of J. D. Nidlinger of Decatur, as president, and H. L. Nollin, of L a wrenoeburg, as secretary. Messis. Nidlinger and Kunkle are the originators of the idea, and it is believed it will become a law. John C. Wingate, of Indianapolis, state tax commissioner for Indiana. ms hire Tnursday to tall to town ship assessors of Adams county. County Assessor Elias Crist was in charge of the meeting, which was held in the court room, at ten o'clock this morning, nine of the twelve assessors were present, as follows: P. L. Scheiferstine. Root: Hunnel Jaberg. Preble; William Zimmerman, Kyk’and; William Blackburn, Washington Roop, BlueCveek; Divid Lehman. Monroe; Harry Grove.; Fre.ioh; L’*vi Schanpp, Hartford; J. F. Felty, Wabash. Taree were absent, J. (). Ehrmm, Union ; Carey Erwin, Jefferson; Dan Roop, St. Mary’s. Mr. Wingate spike for two hours on th duties of the assessors. He c< , alimented them on the fact that > heir neighb >rs chose them to appraise their property, and insist that the one great duty was equalize Ap praise each man' ■ ' -oporty in accordance with hi~ neighbors. The assessors will b . . work March first and contir. ”.til May lstThey will meet i ■ 'eoatur March Ist, when Chi'. • Assessor Crist will give them f: instructions. Mr. Wingatejs nest worker, and a pleasan* in fact everyone pres' _ lay’s meeting enjoyed ® ■- illustrations were a >he purpose of the taxuiiuK, tor what use ihe money is needed and insisted ’hat we should pay tax as a privi'ege, not as a burden.

The hen that leaves her nest after a few days’ setting because she does not hear the chirp of chickens, is something like the merchant who quits advertising after the first few “throws” because his first calls haven’t filled his store with clamoring customers. P. L. Andrews left here Tues day morning for Indian Territory, where he expects to resideduring the future. He will go to Tulsa first and probably from there to Muskogee, having not fully determined what town or city he will call home. He will probably open a law and real estate office and with his knowledge of business obt lined in twenty years of experience here he should succeed. He has many friends in this county who wish him all manner of success for the future. The city water and electric plant was shut down Friday night and an extra force of men began at twleve o’clock to set and attach the new engine. The work was completed by eight o’clock this morning. The dynmo was set yesterday and the plant is now one of the most complete to be ton id anywhere. Machinists say a week's time is necessary to get the new pieces running smoothly and at the next council meeting the day current problem will likely be discussed in earnest. Those to whom we have talked say that thev wish to be sure of their ability to operate such a venture before our people go to the expanse of attaching machinery. buying motors and wiring fheit business houses. An article in the Muncie Star from Biffton. says: “The first white chill born in the city of Bluffton is still living. He is a son if Mr. and Mrs. Michael Miller, and .vas born on June 4, 1839. He was honored by being named after the town. His name is William Bluffton Miller He is at present living fin Marion. Ind . where he is at present engaged in business. Th® first Wells county groom is still livirg. He is Mr Robert Simison, who is at the present time living in this city with his son, George Simian. although f>r many years he •esided in Adams county, until the leath of his wife, less than a year igo. He was married in Februarv 1837, to Miss Rebecca Davis, at the -esidence of James Harvey. The ceremony was performed by 'Squire Hood, of Fort Wayne, who was imported for the occasion. At that time there was no minister or justice of the peace in Weils county, ir any other person who had the authority to tie the nuptial knot.” The case of the state of Indiana vs Hiram P. Sells and Howard Davis was called Monday morning and is now in progress before Judge Bran yan of Huntington. The court room .vas nearly filled with spectators and witnesses, the crcwd being the largest audience at a trial here since the Osborne murder case . The state has subpo®ned forty witneesses and the defense nearly •vs many and the case will continue several days. The defendants Hiram P. Sells and Howard Davis are charged with buying and concealing a sit of harness stolen from Joseph Murphy by Otto Wells. The letter plead guilty to the charge of larceny and is now serving a jail sentence. He will inpear as a witness for the state. Pie defendants deny any kniwlffige of the harness having been stolen. The goods were found by Sheriff Butler in Sells barn. The first witness called this morning was Joseph Murphy the prosecuting witness. Sells one of the defendants is quite well known, having lived here many years and borne a good reputation. The charge against him therefore caused some surprise. Davis is fairly well known having teamed and worked at common labor for a num ber of years. It is expected that Wells' testimony may be a little sensational a« it is said he will tell a complete story of his stealing which includes other articles than the harness. The enpanolling of a jury required about an hour. Two of the regular panel, Joseph Egley and John Cross were absent, four were challenged and their places filled. The jury hearing the case is as follows: Russell Long. John Barone, W. H. Bolinger, Joseph Linton. Aaron Lctzenhizer, Mill am Alfather, Henry Scheifers Hie. L. N. Grandstaff, Henry flolbroke, ■ James W. Watkins, John R. Cline ' and L. Sheline. The state is reprei sentod by Prosecutor John C. M«- ■ ran and the defendants by L. C. : De Voss.

An exchange r says that alcohol ■ will remove Stains from ' summer clothes. The exchange is right. Too frequent application will remove the summer clothes, the i spring, autumn and winter clothes; the household furniture, the eatables, the smiles and the happiness. As a remover of things alcohol has no equal. Bad half dollars are in circulation in Decatur and if you receive any silver money of that denomination you may save yourself some thing by examining it before put ting it into your pocket or money drawer. The counterfeit balfs are of the 1900 date, and there is a small “o” on them which would signify in a good coin that it was from the New Orleans mint. The coins look almost new. Three sled loads of people, about fifty in all, from north of town, drove to the county jail Saturday evening, [where they called upon their old neighbor Sheriff Butler. Their visit was the occasion for a delightful time and Mr. and Mrs. Butler proved their ability to receive guests in a hospitable manner. Refreshments were served and the services of Will Smith secured, who produced music so enlivening that old and young alike enjoyed the old-fashioned dance that followed. The prisoners seemed to enjoy the affair immensely, f Charles Vesey, a popular citizen of Fort Wayne, brother of Judge W. J. Vesey, and well known here, died a' his home in that city at five o’clock Saturday. The news was a shock to many of his acquaintances here, only a few of whom knew of his illness. A week ago he stepped on a nail which pen etrated his foot, causing bloixl poison. For three days before his death he suffered with lockjaw, suffering terrible agony until death relived him. The deceased was about forty years old, and was engaged in the [real estate business. He was to hive been married in a tew weeks to Miss Minehirt. of St. Louis, a lady who visited here a few weeks ago. She was informed of Mr. Vesev’s serious condition and arrived with her brother shortly before the death of her fiance. Mr. Vesey was well known in Decatur, having visited the Studabaker family quite frequently. He was a clever gentleman and popular, and his sad death is regretted by all who knew him. The funeral services will be held some time Monday! and a number of Decatur people will attend. Representatives of the Fort Wayne * Springfield Traction com piny were in the city Wednesday and Thursday conferring with President E. E. McGriff of the Commercial club. The purpose of their visit here was to ascertain what encouragement citizens of Portland are willing to give to have the line extended to this city from Decatur instead of to Celina, 0., as was originally intended. The representatives who were here are officers of the company, not promoters, and speak with authority. The bridges are already completed between Fort Wayne and Decatur and the grading is done, while a big power house with power sufficient to operate forty-five miles of track has been completed into Decatur. The company explains to President McGriff of the Comm«rcial'club that Portland is a point desired and one which can be reached very well with rhe present motive power. Berne, Geneva and Bryant will be asked to vote some aid—perhaps not more than one per cent to the road, while what ever aid is given by Portland will have to come in another way. The officers of the company understand that Portland is not so situated as to vote on any subsidy prop isition even were it possible. The sum of tew thousand dollars was raised without much effert to get the C. B. &C. to enter the city at th south side, and with this in mind, it shotted not seem difficult to enlist the ptop-r support of a project which promises so much more to the city than did the C., B. <t C. An electric road from the north means more trade for Portland and an extenoifn on the north of the i city's trade territory. As it is now there is little doubt that Portland has the best of the trade from South Adons county, and with an I interurban railroad running ears into the city every hour from the north it is obvious that much is 1 meant thereby [to Rhe future of Portland. —Portland Commer jial- , Review.

Sheriff Butler and Coroner John Falk, who served a replevin suit on Mr. Butler, were in town yesterday to try to loosen a few of the can ning factory implications. The sheriff came to sell the machinery on which an Indianapolis company holds a mortgage. A Mr. Brown was here from Indianapolis to represent the company at the sale. C’jroner Falk, it is said, had some notion of buying the pumpkins, press them, and m ike cough syrup for his drug store.—Berne Witness. Another effort is being made to compromise the Berne saloon trouble, and George Nichols has published notice that he will apply for license at the March session of the county commissioners. He has offered to sign an agreement with the remonstrators that if they will not appear against him and thus allow him to secure a license that he will give a'ffiond of SSOO or SI,OOO that he will conduct his saloon according to law. Mr. Rohrer, who has always appeared for the remon straters informed us this morning that the remonstrators laugh at the proposition and that they will not even consider any compromise that means any kind of a saloon for Berne, that thev will be on hands to fight Nichols and anyone else who desires a license. The “blind tigers” are now closed in Berne and it is in reality a dry town and the anti saloonists are happy. The St. Louis Daily Globe Democrat of the 15fh inst. contained a list of the appointments, and promotions of the teachers in the va rious high schools of St. Louis, and included in the list was this paragraph: “C. M. Simcoke, second assistant. McKinley high school, promoted from third assistant, same school.” Mr. Simooke is a former Decatur hoy. and we as are all his friends, are glad to learn of his success. In a note to us he says: “I his promotion came r as a surprise and carried with it a hand some raise in salary. lam director of the commercial department oi rhe William McKinley high school, and s ; nee its opening last February the department has grown to be one of the most popular in the school. There are 1069 pupils in the school and nearly 300 are taking the commercial work. Hoping

that you are progressing, I am Charles Simooke.” The McKinley school is one of the largest in St. Lonis. and an addition will be built to it this spring to acommodate the students. A. J. Mountain, an intelligent Boston newspaper writer, arrived in Decatur at ten o’clock Sunday morning, having walked from Wren. He re raained at the Burt House until this rmrninsr. then he left for Huntington He is walking from Boston, Mass, to Portland. Oregon, and pushing bis Reno, a little combination cart and sled The distance is 3,200 miles, and he is writing a story of his trip to be published when bis journey is over, and entitled “Mountain and bis Reno,” He is traversing i the same rente that Clark and Lewis made 100 years ago. The Portland Worlds Fair Managers have offered him 51,000 if he reaches Portland by Julv Ist. and if he gets through at all he gets 5500. He left Boston January 2nd. and has had many adI ventures on the road, but has never j missed a day. To succeed within I his time limit he must average twentv I miles a day. and during the past week he has had a difficult job, but i never-the-less has made 125 miles for I the week. He is just a hundred I miles ahead of his schedule. His ; biggest days work was in New Tork. where he made sixty-one miles in I twentv-fonr hours, while his smallest ■ days journey was twelve miles in one {day. He has had h : s face, hands { and feet frozen, and his face is tanned and show he has been facing the i wind. He wears no overcoat, hut is i dressed warmly and his body is wrapped it iewspapers., A few days ago he found a man on the road nearly frozen to death, and- placing him on his cart, hauled him into town. Mountain 'ays he feels very good and has gained eleven pounds since ,h« began his journey. He eats five ior six times a day and is hungry all • the time. He will sell his hook at the Worlds Fair after his arrival. He called at this office vesterday and j we found him an interesting gentle-’ man. En-ronte he sells a souvinir card containing his picture, and a short account of his exploit, an t a century calender. He ins already traversed Massachnsits. New York, i Pennsylvania and Ohio and will pass through Indiana, lllincis, lowa. Ne- ' brasca, Wyoming, Idaho and Oregon

Miss Louise Adler entertained a four horse sled load ofjfyoung people from near Peterson last Wednesday evening. Those present were Misses Maggie Brown, Lucy Soherry, Jennie Bright, Minnie Brown, Pearl Heller, Goldie ’ Brein er. Lizzie Hubner, Sadie Hubner, Mealie Adler. Messrs. Lou Scherry, John Brown, Roy Heller, Gus Yake, Thomas Bright, John Word, C. W. Clupenstinc, J. R. Hubner. Fred Adler, Carl Adler, C. R. Hub ner, Oscar and Charley Shidler, The evening was spent in playing various games. After refreshments were served, all returned to their homes, declaring Miss Louise a fine entertainer. Farmers of Northern Adams county and Southern Allen county held a meeting at Williams last night for the purpose of organizing a rural telephone company to furnish service for that community. Notwithstanding the fact that it was like a trip over the Alps to reach Williams, quite a number faced the storm and were present at 7:30 when the chairman, Mr. Dirkson called the meeting to order. Representatives of the Decatur, Poe, and Hoagland companies were prasent and talked the merits of the establisment of direct lines to their respective central station. The community seems divided, some desiring to build to Decatur, others to Poe. Hoagland or Monroeville, and as a consequence nothing definite was done last night. The Decatur company will build a rural line to Williams this spring, and give service to those who desire it. The Poe or Hoagland company may also extend into the community and the Citizens may then take their choice. Those who represented the Decatur oompiny were F M. Schirmeyer. E. X. Ehinger, Jeff Bryson and John Baker. The roads were almost impassable and the party had a tough trip. When within a half mile of Williams their sleigh overturned and the men went out into the snow drifts up to their ankles head first. They dug themselves out and went on. Returning home they had a similar experience at almost the same place. They faced a blizztrd all the way home, and while it's funny today, it was nther a trying ordeal while it lusted.

harness Wash, Oil you- Hp-“css Now. During February and March is the best time to have your Harness submerged in warm oil. as the method I use is better than oiling your Harness twice a year by hand. I CAN WORK CHEAPER IN TH DULL SEASON THAN LATERC All common sewing done free upon Harness wa oiled by me, during these months. I carry th< Harness Oil for sale. Call and see me and I plain my method to you. HARNESS! HWS' lU' We will give to you the best of bargains, and order on the shortest notice anything in the han A ticket will be given with each sale of single ble set of harness bought in February, or blankets and robes valued from si.oo to sß.oo. Our second hand line for bargains, goods bom sold. Carriage trimming and upholstering c shortest notice. A single set of harness, foldi cookoo clock, gold watch, and one silver watch giveaway. Don’t fail to call and get particula. Special mention is called to otJr line " household beds, chairs, cupboards, dressers. cc-< ’ stoves, h ccuulerS; a large coffee mill and luj; l.ei atlic General repairing done and guar _e ,in gar line, and all other repair work in t ne, by Smith. H. S. PCT.. E

Smith.

Berne had another d sastrous fire Thurs ditj. at alsiut the. same hour as the Simison & Soldner fire, ooiurred yesteday morning. The Berne Huy & Grain company are the losers this time, and the destruction of their property is total. During the fire yesterdav morning Simison & Soldner asxed’ permission of the Berne Hay & Grain company to store in their building the goods that had been saved from the fire, this being the only available place in the town. The Hay com pany had at the time only a car load of cement and a car of hay and flour stored in their bail ling, and readily consented. At five o’clock this morning Nightwatch Sohneck noticed smoke issuing from the building, which is located on Main street, and at once turned in an alarm. The fire company responded in a short time, but before they arrived the building was in a mass of flames, and all the efforts that were extended by the fire company was to keep the fire from spreading, as their supply of water had run out, owing to the amount used at the fire yesterday. The company were all exhausted from their for mer efforts and had not fully recovered from their trying ordeal of the day before, but nevertheless worked with a will, and k-pt thefire confined to the one building. The theory of the origin of the fire is that while moving the goods in eluding carpets etc., from the Sim is in-Soldner fire, some of the goods were smoldering, and after being carried into the building were soon in flames. After the fire of yesterday morning the BerneH ty Grain comp my, not carryingany insurance, immediately app’ied for a policy of SISOO, which was written and delivered to them yes. terday afternoon at five o’clock, thus protecting them at just the right time. The insurance called for one SI,OOO on the building and SSOO on the stock, which will not cover the loss, which amounted to $2,500. Five hundred dollars was the loss sustained by Simison Sold ner on the goods they h id stored in the building. It is said that only the fact that the surrounding buildings were covered with snow pre vented the flames spreading and the destruction of thousands of dollars’ worth of property.