Decatur Democrat, Volume 50, Number 5, Decatur, Adams County, 5 April 1906 — Page 1

ml l the news all THE TIME

VOLUME l.

■ J| ie Dail'' Democrat has a gunran- ■ te ed circulation of over 2.200. At ■ tan average of four persons read ■ aeh o |ie> ina * i “ l - a lota ' nearly BhO'l readers eaeh day. Merchants ■ fDecatur. you have an opportunity B to invite them to trade with you. B [o yesterday’3 issue of the Daily ■ Dsmocrat a mistake was made as Bfo the meeting ;of the City Im ■ Movement society and the Adams I Qanty Medical society. The City fl improvement society will meet ■ the first Friday of each month and fl the Adams County Medical society B fill meet the second Friday of B each month; both at 8 p. m. B Th'’ Business Men s Association B ffirt 1,1 >'c” liar session last evening, ■ the important object being the prep- ■ itation of a dead beat list. This ■ wrkwa- about half completed and a ■ fontiniied ion will he held this t -veBting to eoiuplete same. The list will ■ k a voluminous one and the nu rHehai -' l " refuse credit to those Bflji.se r.ime> appear thereon. If you |Hbave l’i: i-"'i 1,1 l’ a . v V"Ur honest debts Bjw may safely guess that “your ■name is written there.*’ B Webb Hileman. a saw mill man. of Biear Monroe, borrowed a horse and B’|'-- v k’ >! evening from >-.-k '■ --- Brer to udrive. He hitched in Biwt ''f ’f' 1 Winchester church, near BHarh'-r:i i ’i..-. and fifteen minutes latB«r the out tit was gone. Wagner re■portei! ’ ■ to Sheriff Butler, pres- ■ idem iff Adams County Detective who soon had his lietiat work and within a few ■bins the horse and rig were located jHiitar Bert ,v here the horse bad b< eit and left.

I S’turday evening the court ruled (tint in case Boston Weston could ■secure bond in the sum of <5,000 ■he would be entitled to his liberty lentil the motion for a new trial in ■tocase could be acted upon. No Inch bond has been filed and Wee ■ton is'still in jail awaiting the ■opening of the April term of court ■nd the arguments on a motion for ■anew trial. A bill of exceptions ■containing instructions has been ■Jiedby his'attorneys and the mofcnfora new [trial will be filed Btarly in the April farm — blunting Bion Herald. ■ The third number of the enter ■kinment course at Beulah chapel ■rill be given Friday night, April ■by Rev. Alfred Fowler, entitled ■‘Sengof Youth,” illustrated in fc solos. The Farmers'Advocate, ■unilton, O, Deo. 11, 1901: ‘‘Rev ■ilfred Fowler delivered his lecture ■a the |Song'of Youth,’ at the ■teregational church last night, ■Oder the auspices of the Christian ■oistvor sooiety. 1 The audience yia thoroughly appreciative and Ve sentiments expressed by the Maker were all of an ennobling M‘d helpful; character, and his ■notations from the masters cf the were gems of thought and ■*t:ing. His singing was excep■oo.ly fine He has a deep, rich ■®ioe of wide range, and to be ■’leto sing so readily in the midst ■fan address is no samll accom ■bshment.” |Buiainnan Frisinger came home Muncie Wednesday, where he sttenditc? the district Commh.tee at whicli lime new rules wore and assessments were mmie. complied with th? of t , P state commitee and |B*«e an assessment of to the pre-■■tt-which amount is to cover the of t\, ballots, de,. ‘ion supand securing voting places. atevt ‘r other expense is to be by the county committees ami cover the payment of the election rik It is likely that this part of ftpense will be borne by the iilates, each paying for what K* r representatives they may have. 6 Polling places will not close unen o’clock. where in the form»es six o ‘clock was t | )e | 1()U1 . naln . be only rule over which the had any disagreement was division ~f the congressional ■\‘be county primary. This had a reference to Delaware couurU ‘ e a 'l°P*‘‘ , l i* f° r a ’H' K ,r an( ? w bere no division is made. c l' a 'rman is again emto appoint an election eomKiw? - 0 " i!1 !ake cl,al - ( ' (,t ‘ sn ' ll P’ 'l ate as set was Tnesfont next Tuesday, and from tVe ' y lk ' k " will ■ es "ill continue their ongressman <Ir "' Se l le, luled for a speech. an t Mills tomorrow evening.

EUcatilß

Word has been received from Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Meinerding of I ort Recovery, Ohio, announcing the anival of a big, bouncing baby girl. Mrs. Meinerding was formerly Miss Gertrude Forbing of this city. It is again u “Unole Tone,” if you please. ’Squire James H. Smith and Frank Smith were busily engaged today in moving their entire stock of goods and books of justice into their new quarters, just south of Dr. J. S. Bayers office. The rooms a 1 e bright and new. and the boys will thus be able to give their customers better results.

Mr. \\. H. Fledderjoahnn, of Decatur. president of the Fort Wayne & Springfield Traction company, was in the city yesterday. He stated that work on the Fort Wayne-Decaur line will be resumed as soon as settled weather arrives. Practically all the stock necessary to the building of the road has been disposed of, Mr. Fledderjoahnn stated. “Our superintendent. Mr. T. W. Shelton, thinks he ean finish the road in sixty days, as the grading is all completed.” said Mr. Fledderjoahnn. ‘ ‘ but I wouldn’t be surprised if it would take sixty days longer.”—Ft Wavne Jonmal-Cazette.

A deal was made yesterday morning whereby Dick Christen became the owner of the retail cigar and tobacco business, formerly owned by T. C.. Corbett. Mr. Christen will assume control of this new business tomorrow and we predict a bright future for him. as he has had considerable experience in this line and is a general all around good fellow. Mr. Corbett will still continue in the manufacture of his famous Lone Stan cigar, and will occupy the same stand, he, however, having no control over the front part of the store. This cigar and tobacco store has always stood as a charmed spot and through the efforts of Mr. Corbett, a big trade has been established. The new manager solicits a share of your patronage, and onvites you to call and see him. Mrs. Lucinda Cline, aged sixty five years, one of the old pioneers of this county, died yesterday at the home of her husband. George Cline, three miles east of the city at three o’clock A. M. Her illness was of very short duration, death resulting from heart trouble. Mrs. Cline yesterday did her usual day's work, including her household duties and last evening after her supper work, sat down and chatted with her husband until bed time, apparently at this time being in the best of health. About midnight she took siek and in an hour lay cold in death . She leaves a husband and two sons, James Harkless, of Paulding. O„ and Charles Harkless, of Berne. Ind. The funeral will be held Friday, leaving the house at one o'clock. Services will be held at the Alpha church. John Nix. who died Saturda yafternoon at 2:30 o'clock, was thirty years and eleven months old. He had lived in this city nearly all his life, and was known as a clean, honest, worthy citizen, a kind husband and indulgent father. He was born at Roanoke. Indiana, moving here when very young. He was a printer by trade, having worked at the business for fifteen years, the greater part of which time he was employed at this office. He was a good workmen and his faithfulness made him a man. whose services were always appreciated. For a year or two he had been in failing health from stomach and lung trouble and about four months ago he was compelled to cease work. He was hopeful of recovery, until a few wpeks ago. Three weeks before his death he improved slightly. and was able to sit up. but a relapse of two weeks ago proved fatal. He was conscious until the very last moment, and even after his voice had failed, his eyes said good-bye to the loved ones about his bedside. He detailed arrangements for his iuneral and requested that his remains be carried to the last resting place by his comrades, with whom he had worked for years, selecting the following pall bearers: Ed Phillips. Frank ( rill. John J. Mayer. John 11. Heller. Ned Bobo and C. O. I rance. Mr. Nix was married August 28. 1898 to Elizabeth Miller, daughter <*f Mr. and .Mr-. Jacob C. Miller, of tins citv. The wife and one son. two years old .survive. The other near relatives are two sisters. Bertha ami Theresa, who live at Anderson. His mother and father preceded ffim in death several years ago. John was a faithful member of the St. Man Catholic church, and the funeral senices will be conducted there at 8:o0 o’clock Tuesday morning. Interment at St. Joseph's cemetery.

DECATUR, INDIANA, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 1906.

The Clover Leaf railroad company has placed in position a large meter which hangs just beneath their water tank. The Erie, who furnishes the water supply, and the. Clover Leaf have had several controversies in regard to the amount of water being used, and by the use of the meter, the supply received by the Clover Leaf people cannot be disputed. Today was a day of gladness for George W .Cotton, two saloons voluntarily laying down the fight and announcing that they would no longer make an effort to continue in business in this city. Reason Flowers, whose license expires this term of the commissioners' court, did not make an application for another and his place is closed for good so far as he is concerned. Harry Cutting closed Saturday night and announced that he would not open again.—Bluffton Banner.

Clark Butcher, aged about thirty, and a well known citizen of Kirkland township, is in a serious condition as the result of a beating received last night at the hands of Jim Johnson, a young man about twenty-two years old. For some time there has been more or less talk in the neighborhood concerning Johnson’s wife, and Jim has defended her reputation on several previous occasions. About 6:30 o'clock Tuesday evening, he went to Butcher’s home, eight miles east of this city . Butcher was standing in the yard and Johnson proceeded to give him an unmerciful beating. The details are not known, but the wounds indicate the use of a pair of steel “knuckles.” Butcher was knocked down and beaten into unconsciousness. He was taken soon afterwards to Dr. Parrish, at Monroe, where his wounds were dressed . The top of his head was badly lacerated, his scalp being piereed in ten different places. Dr. Parrish says he does not believe the skull is fractured, and that the patient will recover unless some unforseen complications should rise, which is always possible in such eases. Butcher is a brother of S .A. M .Butcher ,tlie well known Geneva lawyer, and is a quiet and respectable citizen. Johnson is a son of Levi Johnson, and lias had quite an experience in the ’squire's court for one of his years. He wi! 1 likely be arrested on a charge of assault and battery with intent to kill. The genera! opinionzof the neighbors in that locality seems to be that the attack was uncalled for and sympathy is with Butcher.

Rev. J. C. White left at noon Tuesday for Alexandria to attend the Methodist conference. The session will be presided over by Bishop Henry W .Warren, of University park, Denver, Colo. It will be the sixtythird session of the north Indiana conference, whose first session was held at Fort Wayne, October 16-21. 1844. In all the changes that have been made and which time has wrought since that date, but one will perhaps be in evidence at Alexandria who was in attendance at that session. the Rev. M. Mahin. of New Castle, whose ministry began in 1841. The jurisdiction of this conference is the northeast one-fourth of Indiana. embracing practically the territory north of the National road, from Indianapolis east and from the Michigan road north from Indianapolis to the state line. are embraced within this territory, as follows: Fort Wayne, with the Rev. C. U. Wade, of Fort Wayne, presiding elder, and has within its limits thirtyseven charges, Goshen district, with the Rev. H. W. Bennett. Warsaw, charges: Logansport district, the Rev. II .N.' Herrick. Kokomo, presiding elder, thrty-seven charges; Richmond district, the Rev. George Hill, presiding elder, thirty-four charges; Wabash district, the Rev. E. L. Seamans, Wabash, presiding elder, thirty-four charges: Muncie district, the Rev. L. J. Naftzger. Muncie, presiding elder, thirty-four charges. Within the jurisdiction of the conference there are now fifty-five conference widows. In active service there are 207 local preachers. Fort Wayne district has 9,330 cofiimunieants and pays her ministers $33,308 in salaries, Muncie district has 10.287 communicants and pays in salaries $34,170. Goshen district has 8.454 communicants and pays $32,984, Richmond district has 9,103 communicants and pays in salaries $31,810. Wabash district has 8.499 communicants and pays in salaries $31,110. Logansport district has 10.5011 members and pays $32,984 to its ministers. The examination began Monday afternoon, but the real work of the conference does not open until tomorrow morning. T lie appointments will be- made the first of next week.

George Crays, an operator at the Erie Depot in this city, was called to his home at Burton. Kansas, two weeks ago, on account of the illness of his mother, who died shortly after his arrival. Word comes now that his father is fatally ill ,and can survive but a few' days. Mr. Crays, though a new citizen here, has formed many acquaintances who sympathize with him in his hours of trouble. Sam Shamp is working for Mr. Crays during his absence.

A deal was eonsumaied this morning. whereby Fred Eichenberger sold his one-half Interest; in the. People’s Restaurant to Girt Reynolds, the latter taking possession immediately. The deal had been hanging fire for several days, Mr. Eichenberger being unable to decide whether he wanted to sell or not. The new firm will go under the title of Bailey & Reynolds, and will continue to dish out everything in the restaurant line to please their customers. Mr. Eichenberger, the retiring manager, nas proved to the public that he is a thorough business man, and it was through his efforts largely that the business was built up to its present standard. Mr. Reynolds, the incoming manager, is a practical business man, and we predict success to the new firm. They solicit a share of your patronage. A very pleasant wedding took place at the beautiful home of Mr. and Mrs. John Sipe, about six miles southwest of Willshire, on April Ist. at high noon, in the presence of about fifty relatives and invited guests. The contracting parties were Mr. Homer Buchanan, a well known young man, a son of Me ttnd Mrs. S. 8, Bqchanan, the popular furniture people of Willshire. and Miss Christena Sipe, a very highly respected young lady of Black Creek township, Mercer county. Ohio. After the ceremony was performed by the Rev. 11. Kohn, a most sumptuous and well arranged dinner was served, which all relished. There was quite a number of valuable presents left as a token of the best wishes of many. May their life be very profitable and happy is the wishes of their many friends.

('ourt room was crowded Monday evening to both see and hear the Hon. Horace C .Stilwell. It was such an audience that is calculated to inspire a speaker and completely double cross a candidate. The political address by the innocent Mr. Stilwell was pleasing to the ear, and he told his tale in a simple and unassuming way. The first chapter wps devoted to a very bad apology for the very bad way his district committee sought to completely throttle the precinct organization throughout the eighth district, burden the candidates with an assessment that would make an ordinary citizen shake in his boots to think about, and to appoint a commission in lunacy over every' county central committeeman. It was a humble apology and was apparently accepted for what it was worth. The second chapter was a personal character sketch, giving an accounting of his wealth and enumerating the drops of honest sweat that were wasted in piling up the sum that is now known as the Stilwell fortune. This paragraph was concluded with the announcement that he now was engaged in buildin gaud operating electric railways. having been engaged in this business from the profits derived from a life of manual labor and toil. The third chapter dealt with his ambition to go to Congress, to live in Washington. and to extend his field of activity. He promised a good many things in this line —as most candidates do. He promised to be good, to always vote,, work and champion those things which his constituents wanted and ought to have. His pledges of fidelity to the common people were of the star spangled banner kind, and you could see his blood boiling at the assumption that some soldier was drawing a pension from the government, and was giving the credit thereof to some measly toed congressman- All this will be changed when Horace C. Stilwell goes to Congress. Alas! 'tis but a flitting memory. The fourth and dosing climax was a peroration and gilded word painting about the beauty and greatness of Theodore Roosevelt as president of the United States. The tribute was a pretty contribution to the present congressional contest and brought the only applause of the evening. This would serve as an indicator that the audience was more interested in the president than they are in Mr. Stilwell going to Congress. The speech was good, yet it lacked that life and energy which are essential to political success, and it is our opinion that Candidate Stilwell will have to ginger up, or he will be left at the three-quarter pole.

.John Gluting was in Ridgeville Saturday night, en route home from Union City, and while there witnessed a shooting scrape, in which William Thompson received fatal injuries. his antagonist being Clyde Meranda, a town drunkard. Meranda had been under the influence of liquor all day, and, following a politica Imeeting here, sought trouble with some farmer boys of this vicinity. He finally took a revolver from the office of Collins Brothers' livery barn, it is said, and then crossed the street to the McFarland saloon, where he started an altercation with Thompson. The latter attempted to wrest the revolver from him. but Meranda jerked loose and shot Thompson. Meranda was arrested by the night watchman of the town and hurried away to jail at Winchester. Thompson was carried to the livery barn and was later taken to the Warren hotel, where be still lies unconscious. The Berne Witness said: Geo. Nichols paid $12.95 for the privilege of getting floored in the Witness office and becoming a log for three little printers to sit on for half an hour. Marshal Tucker 'arrested him Tuesday morning for assaulting Fred Rohrer, to which he plead guilty before Squire Frank Foreman and said he tried to, but didn’t get satisfaction. Prosecuting attorney, Emil Franz, plead for a punishment to the limit of the law. but Frankey took another view of the case, as only two weeks ago he had been at Portland when the Berne liquor cases were being tried, and there took the stand in behalf of Mr. Nichols and swore that Mr. Nichols is a man of good moral character. So, of course, he said to Mr .Nichols, “I am sorry that this happened, if you had taken Rohrer out on the street and given him h—there it wouldn’t have been so bad as to lick him in his own place of business, but I’ll be lenient with you and make the fine as low as I dare — which was $2.50 and costs, amounting to $12.95.

The Park Hotel, one o? the old landmarks of this city, was partially destroyed by fire Sunday morning. The fire started at one thirty o'clock, and was caused by a defective electric light wire near the front door of the hotel. When discovered by Leo Meyers and Milo Elzey, two bus drivers, the entire inside of the building was a seething mass of flames. The boys quickly turned in the alarm, and immediately started to arouse the occupants of the hotel, there being six strangers sleeping in the hotel at the time and from all reports, some of the parties had very narrow escapes from death by suffocation. Robert Cline, a tailor, who works for Peter Holthouse and Company, just managed to get out of the building with his clothes, when the roof over his room fell in. R. S. Peterson, a hay man from St. Louis, lost part of his personal effects, but escaped from the building without injury. Thomas Leonard, who is employed by Loch, Dirkson & •Company, made his escape from a side window by’ sliding down a board. He saved all his personal effects by hurling his trunk from the window. J. Williams, night operator at the Clover Leaf, in all probability, had the closest call of all, and how he escaped without being badly burned or injured, is a mystery to himself and others who watched his flight. Mr. Williams had just reported from St. Louis for duty, and was to accept his position Sunday evening. He was tired out Saturday night when he retired, and immediately tell into a deep slumber. When aroused his room was a mass of flames, and he jumped out of bed and groped his way down the stairway, not even being able to save his clothing, and was forced to borrow a suit of clothes from Thomas Miller to protect himself from the cold. The other two traveling men, together with Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, the proprietors, and the hired help, escaped without any trouble. Assistance soon arrived and much of the furniture downstairs was taken out of the house, and saved, but nothing was saved upstairs. Mr. Meyers, owner of the building, informed us that it was his intention to immediately rebuild, and expected to have the house in running order in a few weeks. The building has stood on the present site for over fifty years, and was in good condition at the time of the fire. The damage to the building is coverd by a two thousand dollar insurance policy and Mr. Taylor carried eight hundred dollars on the personal effects which, in all probability, will cover the entire loss. The fire company after it arrived did good work, for which Mr. Meyers and Mr. Tavlor are verv thankfr.:'#

CIRCULATION 2800 WEEKLY

NUMBER 5

In an interview with Mr. W. 11. Fledderjoahnn, manager of the Fort Wayne, Springfield interurban line, Tuesday, he stated that the bond sale was progressing x try rapidly. Over $6,000 worth of bonds were sold yesterday to local capitalists and only $5,500 worth remain Io be sold yet. Mr. Fledderjoahnn went to Fort Wayne this morning and expects to dispose of the remaining $5,500 worth during today and tomorrow. Each and everyone of the management and stockholders seem to be making a great effort to get the road in operation. The annual meeting of the stockholders is to be held at Logan, tomorrow, and a number of our citizens who have stock will be in attendance at that meeting. Matters pertaining to finances and operating the line will be discussed and final decisions will be made. After this meeting is held, more definite measures will be taken toward the completion of the line, although the line is assured the city some time during this summer. Mr. Fledderjoahnn states that bonds have been selling more rapidly here of late, and that the people who have shares in the line are certainly in earnest and are doing their utmost to get their lines in operation. *;

The Fashion Livery Stables, Peoples & Holthouse, owners, suffered a disastrous fire, which broke out at 11:15 a. m. Tuesday. The blaze started in the hay mow ,near the front of the building, and directly over the office. There had been no fire it ana of the stoves for two days, and it is believed the fire originated from a defective electric wire. When first noticed, smoke was coming from the front windows, and within ten minutes the entire second floor of the big structure was a fierce furnace. Within that ten minutes, Peoples & Holthouse, assisted by volunteers, worked bravely and succeeded in saving the greater part of their $15,000 stock of rigs, harness and horses, Two horses were cremated, they being off the second floor, and were down in their stalls, before help got to them. All the rest of the twenty fine drivers were saved. The cariages, traps, buggies, and other rigs, excepting the sleighs, were saved, the sleighs being a total loss. A large amount of harness was destroyed, as was also fifty tons of hay. a large amount of grain and various appliances and pieces of furniture. Peoples & Holthouse estimate their loss at $4,0110. fully covered by insurance, in various agencies. The building was owned by John B .Holthouse, anil was built in 1897. It was constructed of brick and the frame was built of* heavy timbers, which also accounts for the fact thatthe loss was not total. The value of the building is estimated at $15,000. The loss will probably amount to $5,000, to cover which Mr. Holthouse carries $5,500 insurance. The fire raged fiercely for an hour, when the firemen succeeded in controlling it, and to them is due great praise for their splendid work. The roof of the building was destroyed, a part of the second floor, the windows and the big building otherwise damaged. For an hour, no one who witnessed the blaze, had any idea but that the loss would be a total one, but the plucky fire laddies kept on fighting and finally won. Early during the fire, Fred Bolmke, who was working at the top of a ladder at the front of the barn, became suffocated from the dense smoke and fell to the sidewalk in an unconscious condition. A falling window cut an ugly gash in his right shoulder, but he soon recovered under the skillful attention of Dr. D. D. (’lark. J. B. Holthouse was interviewed immediately after the fire .and said that he would remodel the building at once and would soon have it in as goo or better condition than ever. Peoples & Holthouse, the hustling proprietors of the livery stable, were busy this afternoon gathering their scattered stock together, and arranging for temporary stables. They will be ready for business at the old stand within a day or so. and will continue to look after their trade without any loss of time. Many of the rigs were damaged more or less and several of the horses were injured, but they will replenish their stock as soon as possible. The Holthouse barn and the Fashion Stables are known throughout north-eastern Indiana as the best, and hundreds of people will be glad to know that notwithstanding the fire the business will continue. The total loss is estimated at $9,000, fully covered by insurance. Charles Kitson, who occupied a room in the building, with, a barber shop, suffered a loss <f .-‘I, < . ;\d bv insurance.