Decatur Democrat, Volume 51, Number 1, Decatur, Adams County, 7 March 1907 — Page 2

WILL BE A POPULAR MEMBER Only a Week In Washington, Yet They " <*z All Know Him—Committee Assignments. That J. A. M. Adair of Portland, who succeeded Monday to the congressional shoes worn for jeight years by George Washington Cromer, will prove a popular member of the house is already demonstrated. Adair was in Washington only about a week, but he made wonderful progress in getting acquainted and ingratiating himself with the Democratic membership of the house. Democratic solons from all parts of the country are now accosting him w ith Buch familiar expressions as “Hello, Adair,” as if their acquaintanceship has extended over a period of ten years instead of less than ten days. The prediction is gen. "* eral on the Democratic side that Adair ' will prove a “warm member.” He is alert, quick to grasp a situation, and the minority leaders of the house have picked him out as a man who is likely to prove an able performer in devising and executing schemes to put the Republicans in a hole. Adair is not a rantankerous partisan, but he likes to have fun and it is likely that he will be on the firing line in many of the political battles that will be waged in the Sixtieth congress. Mr. Adair’s committee assignments are still undecided. He would like very well to succeed Representative Cromer on the committee on agriculture, but the demand for places ; on that committee is terrific and it is doubtful whether he can land there. If he can not he would be satisfied with a place on the banking and currency committee as his major assignment. He is a banker and a business man and the banking and currency committee would afford him a field for his chosen activities. He has not yet selected his private secretary, but has several names under consideration for that Washington p r O -———. CONGRESS ADJOURNS MONDAY Many Pet Measures Killed—Railroads Won as Usual—Rural Carriers Get Increase. Washington, March 1. —President Roosevelt has assured friends of Representative Cromer that he will try “'to* to whether George W. Cromer shall be appointed postmaster of Munce. Representative Watson called today on the president in behalf of Mr. Cromer. The president said that some protests have been received and that he wanted little time to consider them. Other friends of the congressman at once became active and inquiries were made at the postoffice department and the white house to ascertain where the protests are coming from. The department and the president declined to give any information as to the identity of the protestants. Cromer’s friends said (tonight that there is still some doubt as to wheth. er he wins the fight. His enemies seem to be busy wherever they can get in knocks. It was learned today that the appointment of Alva M. Newcomb as postmaster at Elwood, which was made on Cromer’s recommendation, has been ordered held up in the senate committee on postoffices and post roads. The clerks of that committee decline to give any information as to who requested that this action be taken, claiming that such matters are in the nature of executive secrets. It is believed that somebody is opposing Cromer, who fears that he will become a political power in the Eighth district if appointed postmaster. Cromer went with Watson to the white house today, but remained outside while his colleague interviewed the president. o Sheriff Eli Meyer, Deputy Sheriff Dallas Butler and C. O. France drove to the Decatur cemetery last evening to view the remains of the child that was found yesterday afternoon. Upon leaving the cemetery for the return trip a bolt snapped in the fore part of the buggy, permitting the horse and front wheels to go on alone, and leaving the occupants sitting in the buggy along the road. It was dark and rain, ing and the three were forced to walk to town sadder, but wiser men. Luckily none of the trio w’ere injured. The horse was captured on Second street, and placed in the Fashion Stables, where is was secured. o Card of Thanks. Dear friends and neighbors: I feel so thankful for your asistance and kind help given during the sickness and death of my beloved wife. I thank you all. BENJAMIN F. CRAMER. ■ ’’’ : —

DEMOCRATS WERE AGAINST IT Four Indiana Congressmen Voted With Democrats—Cromer , For It. Washington, March 2. —It has been years since the house was the scene of so royal a battle between the two great parties as it witnessed there yesterday over the ship subsidy bill. The bill was passed between but not k until after it had been once defeated, and this fact in itself shows how close , the alignment was. When the first t vote disclosed a majority against the ; measure the Democrats and their Republican allies made the hpuse ring i with their cheers. There were several roll calls before the final favorable result was secured. The vote on the • Littauer substitute was defeated on ■ the first vote, ayes, 164; nayes, 161. ; The Democrats could not retain their lead, however, for on a vote to • lay on the table a motion to recon. , sidei* the opponents of the ship sub. I sidy were defeated, 156 to 159, and . the vote -to reconsider the first vote was adopted 164 to 154. Both of the Democratic Indiana members voted against the graft, and . the following Republicans. Gilhams, Holliday, C. B. and Fred Landis. The seven other Indiana members, including Mr. Cromer from this district, voted for it. o PUTS UP A CASH BOND But Later Decides to Plead Guilty and Judge Erwin Fined Him Fifty Dollars.

Samuel Sprunger, the man who had nerve enough to conduct a saloon in Berne, without a license and in direct opposition to the law and the wishes of Fred Rohrer and four hundred other citizens of Monroe township has again paid the penalty of his folly. He appeared before Judge Erwin, plead guilty and was fined fifty dollars and costs which he immediately paid. When first arraigned he said he would fight the case and put up a SSOO cash bond, the case being set for trial for Thursday, March lt4h, but a few minutes later he changed his mind and entered a plea of guilty. His stock of whiskey and other spirits ferment!, are being held at Berne under an attachment issued from Squire Biddy’s court and will probably be destroyed within a few days upon order from that court. A day or so after the raid upon Sprunger he left Berne, goingßj ;3K3es the police nabbed him. However, he returned ot his own accord and was arrested yesterday afternoon. Whether he will open another "hop cream” joint or not, he has not announced. y— ■; —O— — " HOW MARCH. WAS NAMED

And Some of the Superstitions of the Month. The name of the month, March, comes from the Romans, among whom at an early period, it was the first month of the year, as it continued to be in several countries to a comparatively recent time, the legal year beginning even in England on the 26th of March till the change of the style in 1752. For beginning the year with the month of March there seems to be sufficient reason in the fact of its being the first season after the dead of the year in which a revival of growth takes place. For the Romans to dedicate their first month to Mars, the god of war, and call it Martins seems quite natural considering the importance they attached to war. Among the Saxons the month bore the name of “Lenet-monat,” that is, “length-month,” in reference to the lengthening of the day at this season, the original also of the term Lent. March is usually windy and dry, , There are three proverbs often quoted for this month: P ‘A peck of March dust is worth a ’ king’s ransom.” “A dry March never begs its bread.” t ‘‘March comes in like a lion and . goes out like a lamb.” L ' Shall We Tan Yeur Hide? " The average stock raiser hardly realizes the value of cow, steer and - horse hides when converted into fur t coats, robes and rugs. Get the new . illustrated catalogue of the Crosby } Frisian Fur Co., Rochester, N. Y. It will be a revelation to you. And • ‘‘Crosby pays the freight.” . o — Senator Elmer S. Moore’s bill to provide that a township must abolish schools where the average daily at. tendance is less than twelve; to per. 1 mit the trustees to abolish them if the 1 average daily attendance is less than 3 fifteen, and to provide for the consolii dation with larger schools of the township, was passed after some discussion in the house..

CONVENES AT TRINITY CHURCH :■! - ' : Various Committees Appointed—Rev. White on Committee for Admission Into Conference. Methodist Episcopal churches of the Fort Wayne district of the North Indiana conference will hold the annual district conference at Trinity M. E. church in Fort Wayne March 19, 20 and 21, and the program for the conference has just been issued. Rev. C. U. Wade, presiding elder, will be in charge. s For three days the pastors, local preachers, district stewards, class leaders, Sunday school superintendents and the presidents of the various church societies will go over the work of the church for the past year in preparation for the coming conference at Logansport in April. The program includes services in charge of the various ministers of the district, Rev. White being on the program Wednesday morning, the 20th. The committees for the district conference are as follows: To examine candidates for license to preach—J. K. Walts, P. E. Powell. C. E. Line. To examine local preachers in the course of study—First year, M. A. Harlan, W. P. Herron, J. M. Canse; second year, David Wells, E. L. Jones, M. C. Pittinger; third year, J. B. Cook, P. H. Walter, N. P. Barton; fourth year, C. H. Brown, E. A. Bunner, H. Boase. Registrar—J. K. Cecil. For admission into Annual Conference—J. C. White, C. A. Rowland, G. W. Martin, J. L. Hutchens, Beneville Sawyer, Preston Polhemus. Local deacon and elders’ orders —J.

S. Caln, S. F. Harter, G. H. Bright. 1 General qualifications—G. H. Hill, 1 M. E. Nethercut, R. L. Semans, F. P. ; Johnson, F. A. Reichelderfer, C. W. i Church. [ Resolutions —H. S. Nickerson, C. B. i Sweeny, M. T. Brandyberry, J. S. Newcomb, B. F. Hornaday. New work in the district —C. B. Dougherty, H. H. Hocker, C. G. Nel- ■ son, R. E. Gornall. [ ■■ ♦ ■ ■ k TWO HUNDREQ PIPE LINERS 1 Were Brought to Preble Over the Clover Leaf. I A special train of six cars passed over the Clover Leaf, east bound to Preble. There were two hundred pipe liners and two car loads of tools which 9 b T the Ohio Oil company to start a twelve? inch line between Preble and Poneto. There is a gang already working at Poneto. Sunday a gang of men was also brought to Elwood and they will lay another eight-inch line ten miles out

of Elwood making connections with the twelve inch line between that place and this. This makes three eight inch lines running out of EL wood. The company hopes by looping the lines this way that they will be able to get the oil through without another station. If this fails to pan out, a new station will be erected at Montpelier to help the oil along. If it is found necessary to build the new station here it will mean one as large or larger than that of the Indiana Pipe Line company, with a number of large receiving tanks.—-Montpelier • Herald. ; o— RELENTLESS WAR ON DISEASE ■ The State Board of Health Sending out Circulars. k > The state board of health is wag- ( ing a relentless war upon various forms of disease that prevail through- , out the state by bringing to the atI tention of the public the methods of prevention and treatment. The board t has caused to be printed 10,000 outfits, consisting of a number of circu- • lars, each discussing one disease, and [ all of which are placed in a large envelope, ready for mailing. Five thous. and of these envelopes have already been mailed to parties living in all . parts of the state. The disease dis--1 cussed by the board are typhoid fep ver, cholera infantum, cholera mor. ' *bus, diphtheria, scarlet fever, mea. t sles and smallpox. 1 o- — Send Your Cattle and Horse Hides to the Crosby Frisian Fur company, Rochester, N. Y., and have them con--1 verted into coats, robes, rugs, gloves _ and mittens; better and cheaper goods than you can buy. Never, mind the dis- > tance, “Crosby pays the freight.” See J our new illustrated catalogue, page 18. 1 If interested send for it. o — - Try a Democrat “Want Ad." Democrat “Want Ads” pay. Democrat “Want Ads” pay.

D. M. HENBLEY AS PRESIDENT I Reports of the Secretary and Treasurer Give Glowing Acounts of the Year’s Work. Notwithstanding the inclement weather quite a number of members attended the meeting of the City Improvement Society last evening. Perhaps the most important business transacted was that of the election of officers. Mr. D. M. Hensley was the unanimous choice for president. the remainder of the selection being the old officers. They are Mrs. L. G. Ellingham, vice president; Earl B. Adams, secretary, and C. J. Vogle. wede, treasurer. Mr. Hensley, the new president, has been one of the few faithful, loyal and hard working members and his selection as president of the society is not only a recognition of merit, but it means more accomplishment during the second year of the life of this civic society. Dr. Boyers, the retiring president, can boast of giving the town one good cleaning, and that is honor enough to last the average man a life time. He has made a good and efficient executive officer and retires with credit. Reports from the secretary and treasurer for the year were made, showing that much has been done toward beautifying our city. Flow’er planting and efforts to otherwise make Decatur fresh and sweet, will be taken up and carried out. o THE BIGGEST IN HISTORY Os the Decatur Horse Sale Company —Two Hundred Head Offered

and Sold. “Horses is horses,” said “Kornie” Conter, as he stood in the Boch & Rice stable and watched buyers from every section of the country bidding fiercely against each other — and that’s the truth. Today’s sale was the biggest ever held in the county, over two hundred head of as fine horse flesh as even went to Pittsburg, Boston, Indianapolis or any other market, being sold. Brood mares went as high as S3OO and match teams sold at from SSOO to SBOO. The bidding was spirited and every animal found a new home almost as soon as placed on the block. Three match teams of blacks were sold, as pretty as pictures and each brought a fancy price. These sales are certainly a great thing for Decatur, as they bring to our city each sale day, several hunof al class of people in the- country. *rt's a great industry and we’re glad 'that at each of their sales, “horses are horses.” TOUGH ON ALL BASHFUL PEOPLE

Will be the New Marriage ApplL cation. The state board of health is contemplating the adoption of a new form of marriage license application blank for use throughout the state and if a decision should be reached those matrimonially inclined, especial, ly those of a bashful disposition, will again find it hard indeed to appear before the county clerk and be “crossexamined,” as will be required. The board proposes to make the application more stringent. The marriage law of 1905 makes it the duty of the board of health to provide the form of application. It is the board’s purpose to work toward the ultimate end of prohibiting the marriage of persons who are physical, ly unfit. While many such persons secure marriage licenses at the present time the restrictions made by the board throw a stumbling block in the way and work considerable good. When the new In-v went into effect exceptions were taken throughout the state by the bashful matrimonially inclined to appearing before the county clerk and answering his questions. The obnoxious part of the new system, however, his been removed. The board has interpreted, the law to the effect that the parties a»e not required to appear. The board holds that the man c n send for application blanks, have them properly filled out and the affi davit made before a notary and can then send a messenger after the license. u SIO,OOO From 14 Acres. “I expect to pick 10,000 to 12,000, boxes apples from 14 acres,” says B.! B. Holcomb, Wenachtee, Washington.' “My apples average SI.OO per box?’ t This is only one of hundreds of re-, ports that tempt the hard working farmer to take up more agreeable tasks. Great Northern Bulletin 83, on■ Washington, tells all about it. Sent | free on request. Address C. W. Pitts, I i 220 S. Clark street, Chicago.

■p-7 'M’GRIFF AND ELLIS ARE FINED Each Gets Thirty Dollars and Costs— Action In Other Cases—Some Affairs in Probate Court. Attorneys Merryman & Sutton, represeting the plaintiff, Louisa Zaugg, have filed suit against Peter Zaugg, asking for a divorce. Fifteen years ago it is alleged Peter left his wife, ■without any cause whatever, and with five children to support. He went to Ohio, w’here he has since lived and his wife has never seen his face since, nor received any support from him. The children are now all of age. George M. Beard vs. Eli Meyer, Ed Green and James Doherty, false imprisonment, demand $2,000, appearance by C. J. I.ui3 for Doherty, by Peterson & Moran for Green, and by D. B. Erwin for Meyers. Ruled to answer. George A. Bohrer Brewing company vs. Harry Cordua et al., suit on bond, demand $650, appearance by L. C. DeVoss for Sheline and Andrews, demurrer filed by all defendants and overruled, separate answers filed by Cordua and Sheline. Rule to reply. John Meyer vs. Christian R. Niblick, adminstratrix, claim, $70.50, allowed in sum of S7O. Charles W. Carpenter vs. Laura E. Carpenter, divorce, set for trial next Saturday, continued indefinitely. Andrew Miller vs. Grand Rapids & Indiana railway company, change of venue granted to superior court of Allen county, on motion by defendant.

Judgment was rendered against Charles D. Murray, in the case against him for allowing persons in his saloon on Sunday. He was fined $lO and costs. < vs. Michael McGriff, selling liquors to minors, finding by the court that defendant is guilty, fined S3O and costs. State vs. Lafayette Ellis, selling liquor to minors, finding that defendant is guilty, fined S3O and costs. Paul G. Hooper, administrator of the Anna Mallonee estate, filed his inventory showing a total of $1,785.19 ail in mortgages and cash. Christina R. Niblick, administratrix of the W. H. Niblick estate, filed inventory number three, which was approved. Katharine Shafter "fliddf-a alepatitd answer to the petition to. sell real estate of her husband, Matbias Shat, fer. — •’ MENTION OF SENATOR TYNDALL

The Indianapolis and Muncie Stars Photograph Him. The Indianapolis and Muncie Stars printed a very good picture of Senator John W. Tyndall, together with the following favorable mention: Senator John W. Tyndall is the ditch specialist of the senate. Whenever it comes to a bill relating to the digging of ditches Senator Tyndall can be counted on to speak his mind. He always has his mind, too, when it comes to voting money out of the state treasury. For several years Senator Tyndall was county surveyor in his home county, and during his experience in this office he gained his information on the drainage question. Senator Tyndall knows what it is to take a surveyor’s outfit and tramp through the swamps all day. Senator Tyndall has been in the senate two terms. He lives at Decatur and represents Adams and Allen counties. When he is at home he looks after the welfare of a tile manufacturing concern. —- -o PROF. LUCKEY IS IN THE CITY Former Adams County Citizen Now a University Instructor. Prof. George W. Luckey at one time county superintendent of Adams county, and superintendent of schools of this city, is spending a few days with relatives here. He is now professor of teaching in the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, and is on his way to Europe, where he will spend six , months in examining the schools of ! that country. He goes by the direction of his university, with a view of 1 getting the best for the University of Nebraska. The many Adams county friends of Mr. Luckey are glad to ; note his ascendency in the world, and | wish him a pleasant and profitable | trip abroau.

— CORONER HAS HELD INQUEST f , — Remit l« Still Unknown—Official* Working on an Important Clue. Lying at the home of Horace Botthoff, at the Decatur cemetery Saturday was the body of a sweet faced, dark haired, litte girl baby, who, perhaps before a day old and before her little eyes naa scarcely opened to the beauties of this world, was murdered by some degraded, being, so low’ in morality that we can find no name i suitable. Her little body had been placed in a paper sack and very probably hurled from a bridge and left to die from the shock and exposure. The human mind can scarcely fathom this terrible crime which has been com. mitted in our midst and as the story became public last evening feeling ran high. It is needless to say that no stone will be left unturned to land the person or persons, connected with the awful affair. Charles Cloud and Joe Deiner, tw’o young men who reside in the west part of the city, while hunting for muskrats along a small creek that runs through the Decatur cemetery, made a ghastly fLid of the remains of a newly born babe about five 1 o’clock yesterday afternoon. The find | was made near the bridge that spans the creek on the Preble and Decatur ( Iroad, and the boys were frightened nearly to death when they found the child. The boys had been hunting all afternoon along the creek and were returning home when they passed under the bridge, and one of them discovered a sack lying on the ice.

Out of curiosity mor than, any thing else one of the lads said: “I wonder what is in that sack ” and unthoughtedly thrust his stick into the sack, tearing it open. A paste board box was found to be in the sack and the young men lifted the lid, and you can imagine their surprise when they discovered that it contained the remains of a baby »which lay cold and stark in death. The boys hastened to the Botthoff home and Informed Mr. Bott- j hoff, who went to the scent immedi- J ately and took charge of the remains, conveying them to his home. It was | then that an examination was made of the remains which disclosed hte fact that it was a fully developed babe, possibly twenty-four hours old. The skin was white and clear and putrifaction had not set iu on any part Os the body. It was a girl babe with black, hair and of heavy limb and body and would possibly weigh ten pounds. The only bruises upon the body was about the head, both eyes come in violent contact" with soffie.--object and both ears were filled with blood. Whether the bruises were caused by throwing the remains from the bridge into the creek, or whether the child had been wilfully murdered

will probably never be known. Sher- ! iff Meyer, Deputy Sheriff Butler and a representative of this paper drove to the cemetery last evening and procured all of the particulars that could be gleaned concerning the discovery and viewed the remains which show, ed the marks as described aboye. The guilty party or parties were very careful to leave no marks of identification as the child was found in a plain paste board box in a flour sack and the child had not a stitch of clothing ,on it. That it had not lain where discovered more than twenty-four hours is certain owing to the fact that putrifaction had not set in. The officials will make a rigid examination and will endeavor to locate the guilty parties and bring them to justice. The finding of the body discloses the L fact that one of the most horrible 1 crimes in the county’s history has I been committed and if the murderer is located, but little sympathy will be I shown. How a mother or .anyone else I could sanction such an act, even to cover their own shame and disgrace ■ is more than the ordinary mind can ■ fathom. - Coroner J. C. Grandstaff, assisted j by Drs. D. D. Clark and J. M. Miller, ■ and under instructions from Prosecu- * I tor H. B. Heller, conducted an in. a quest on the body Saturday 1 morning. Prosecutor Heller swore each party present to secrecy, and as a result the verdict cannot be obtained yet. It is known, however, that finger marks were found upon the baby’s throat, proving conclu ively that the child had been choked to death. There was other evidence of this fact also. A valuable clew was also obtained at , the inquest and it is quite possible that the mystery may soon be cleared. — —

CASTOR IA For Infants and Children. The Kind You Have Always Bought Signature of ' ■