Decatur Democrat, Volume 51, Number 5, Decatur, Adams County, 4 April 1907 — Page 6

VARIOUS OFFICERS ARE ELECTED Reports of Various Boards HeardFred B. Tague and Charles Steele £•. the New Trustees »' - The annual congregational meeting of the First Presbyterian church was held last night Reports from the various boards were submitted. Two trustees were elected. Following are the officers and members of the various boards as now constituted: Pastor —Rev. Alfred Fowler. Treasurer—Dore B. Erwin. Clerk —Laura Alban. Elders —Cahrles F. True, Clark J. Lutz, W. H. Lee, Ed S. Moses. Deacons —Jacob Atz, Eli Meyer, W. Lower, Dore B. Erwin, J. C. Patterson, A. W. Garard. Trustees —Oscar Hoffman, Fred B. Tague, Charles Steele. President Ladles’ Aid Society—Mrs. Kannie Fristoe. President Missionary Society—Mrs. Edith Dicer. President —C. E. Society—Mrs. Faye Smith. Superintendent Sunday School —C. J. Lutz. President Men’s Society— Oscar Hoffman. o WELL REMEMBERED IN DECATUR Was a Business Man of Thia City in the Sixties —Moved From Here to Fort Wayne. A telegram from Mr. J. A. Nuttman to relatives here announces the death of his father, Mr. John M. Nuttman, at Pittsburg, Kas. Mr. Nuttman was born in Elizabeth, N. J., June 11, 1827, and was the last survivor of a family of five brothers and three sisters, he being the youngest of the brothers. Mr. Nutltman came west in about 1840, when thirteen years of age, to live with his older brother, Mr. J. D. Nuttman, at Decatur, Ind., where he later established a business in which he continued until his removal to Fort Wayne, where for many years he was an honorable citizen. On acocunt of advancing years he gave up business tn yort Wayne and joined his son in. Pittsburg, Kas. His wife, one son and several grandchildren survive him. — Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette. Mr. Nuttman will be well remembered by the older citizens of Decatur. o GREAT LAND IN THIS SECTION Only Four Counties are Observing New Oreder of Advanced Rates. That assessors of many of the counties of northern Indiana are willing to admit that Huntington, Wabash, Adams and Wells counties are better than those adjoining, at least (from the form value appraisement standpoint, was one of the developments of the district meeting of assessors held at Fort Wayne Tuesday and addresed by Parks M. Martin, one of the state tax commissioners. John C. Wingate, the other tax commissioner, is ill and could not be present at the meeting. Friends will be sorry to learn, too, that there is a fear that he may never again be able to take up his duties. Mr. Martin’s main point in his talks to the assessors was that farm values have been too low in the state of Indiana, as compared with city property , appraisement, and they must be raised. He and the state board say this must be between fifteen and twenty per cent, and Parks says unless there is such an increase the state board may find it necessary to take the matter into its own hands later. Huntington, Wabash, Wells and Adams counties are making the increase of about fifteen per cent, and are receiving the approval of the state board, but other counties under the plea that these lead in values and has less waste land, are falling below in their appraisements and may later have to deal with the state board. —Huntington Herald. ——— —--— 0 SCHOOL TEACHER FOUND DEAD Lafayette Man la Struck by Lightning. Lafayette, Ind., March 30.—Marshall Lyon, aged thirty, a young school teacher, was found dead near Buck creek this morning by his brother, O. P. Lyon, who was at the head of a searching party. Lyons had been . missing since last Tuesday. He had been struck by lightning that night, bis skull was crushed and his eyes torn out. M>--RUMOR OF TELEPHONE TRADE South Bend, March 30. —It is reported that the Independent Telephone Association has offered to throw all long distance business to the Bell company, if the latter will withdraw Its local exchanges in Indiana.

D WAB TO DIE AFTER MIDNIGHT - The Gevernor Signs the Commutation Papera While Blok la Bed—Coneider Ing Fate of Lapitat j Indianapolis, March 28. —On a bed 3 of sickness today. Governor Hanly . signed his name to the necessary pa- . pers, commuting the sentence so Con- > stantine Stratepoulouse, the Lake ; county murderer, who was to have been hanged some time after midnight tonight in the Indiana prison. The man was a Greek and his government interposed vigorously. By a . stroke of his pen Hanly while suffering from a severe attack of gastritis, , saved the murderer’s neck. Soon after . doing this the governor began the consideration of the commutation of the sentence of John Lopitat, a Roumanian who was also to be hanged after midnight, according to sentence imposed. It is assumed his sentence will also be commuted as the governor has declared that he Intends to make hanging a dead letter in Indiana. The governor’s condition remains about the same today. LAST SESSION WAB A GOOD ONE Teacher* and School Officer* of St Marye Townehip Mot. . The teachers and school officers of St Marys township held their last institute of the present school year at Bobo March 23. To those interested in this line of work, the series of meetings just concluded were of great benefit The teachers seemed to appreciate this fact, for at each session each one tried to contribute his or her share of work necessary to. the successful carrying out of the program. The trustee, Mr. Teeple, also deserves much credit for the interest he has take in the institutes and school work in general. He has been present at each and every institute of the township and county since he became trustee. This certainly is a good record and one which every trustee does not possess. The patrons over the township have taken a good interest in the institutes. They have given their presence as well as the contents of their larder and by this greatly encouraged the teachers. The trustee's wife has also proven that she is a friend to the teachers. She was present at all of the meetings and contributed much toward their success. She especially showed her respect for the teachers by preparing a splendid dinner for them at Bobo on March 23, for which she was given a vote of hanks by the members i of the institute. The teachers seemed , loath to part, since all have greatly enjoyed the work together this win- , ter and have learned to love the companionship of each other. We feel that each one has been made better ' by their mingling together and are better prepared to serve the public in the school rooms, are better prepared to overcome life’s difficulties, and better prepared to enjoy life’s victories and blessings. o HUNGRY FOR A GOOD CHEW Indiana Oil Men Send Home for Tobacco. “Send us some chewin’ that’s fit to chew,” is the substance of the message A. J. Foust employed by the Standard Oil company in Roumanla, sent last December to a firm at Warren, where the oil worker and his several associates now in the Roumanian oil fields got their “chewin’.” The order was accompanied by the statement that in all Roumanla there was no good chewing tobacco. The oil workers did not care for the expense and ordered the tobacco sent by express. The Warren firm placed the order with a wholesale house in Marlon, which shipped ninety-six pounds of plug tobacco of the brand that the chewers in Roumanla were known to favor. The consignment was sent by express and the charges were sl2, not quite half the wholesale cost of the tobacco. The tobacco arrived evidently in good condition, for the wholesale house has just been asked to duplicate the order. Several of the men who formerly worked in the Indian oil field are now prospecting and developing in the Roumanian field. They have a lonesome assignment. ‘ -o : THE INTERURBAN DEPOT PLANE f Track* Will b* Extended to JefferJ eon Stroet. • By April 15, according to President J W. H. Fledderjohann of the Fort Wayne & Springfield Railway com- . pany, the traction line will be completed as far south as Jefferson street or nearly so. By that time the company expects to have a modern station and a office equipped In the corner room of 1 the Morrison block. They will put 1 in an up-to-date counting room, and v ticket and freight office, and will be well arranged to take care of business.

r MOTION FOR A NEW TRIAi i Filed by Gramm* A Co^—J*dgm*n In Cm* Against Smith and Sprague* 1 Judgment on the report of the view r era on the Mary Terveer, B. J. Ter • veer and Wilhelmina Holthouse ap ' peals from assessments on the Me- ! Laughlin sewer, was rendered this • morning by Judge Erwin. 1 A motion for a new trial was file I • this morning on written reasons r I 1 the plaintiff in the case of Sixbyfe ■ Gramme company vs. Hirschey Br i, ■ in which a verdict was returned a few days ago, favoring the defendai s. i _____ Old Adams County Bank vs. W. I. Smith et al., suit on note, find 5 for plaintiffs against defendants Smti and Harvey Sprague in sum of $98.1. Judgment without relief. Ira France et al., vs. Calvin Milk et al., suit on account and bond, <- mand 1700, amended paragraphs fill to answer. Rule to reply. In the matter of the will of Jon Synder, Amosa W. Snyder, executr, the widow has elected to take ar share under the will. George B. M. Maurer et al., vs. la ioma Adams et al., quiet title nd partition of real estate, proof of iolice of sa’?, report of sals and died "r.2rmed. ( D. M. Osborne and company Ivs. Mattle Toung, on guaranty, dennnd S2OO, answer to interrogatories fled. Catharine Rodgers vs. Chlearf) ft Erie Railway Co., complaint on all of lading, demand $175, motion to dimiss for want of prosecution sustained. Judgment against plaintiff for costs. William Bieberlck, guardian for Merlin C. Bieberlck et al., ordered to sell timber as prayed in petition filed three weeks ago. —o A NEW" LAW FOR HOTELS Limit* Liability for Guest*’ Valuable* Not Deposited in Bare. - ) f; A new law limits the liability of hotels for the valuables of guests where they are not in the office safe. It provides “that whenever the proprietor, manager or lessee of a hotel shall provide a safe in the office for the safe keeping of any money, jewels or other valuables belonging to the guests, and shall post a notice to that effect in the office and guest rooms, he shall not be liable for any loss of such money, jewels or other valuables sustained by such guest by theft” if guests neglec to deposit their valuables. But a hotel keeper is not required to receive a deposit of money or property exceeding SSOO. The liability of a hotel keeper for clothes and merchandise is limited to S2OO where a loss shall occur without his fault or negligence, “nor shall he be liable in any sum for the loss of ■any article belonging to such guest and not within the room assigned to him, unless the same shall be specially intrusted to the care and custody of such hotel keeper or his servants. Articles left at a hotel and not claimed for three months may be sold after giving notice by mail to the owner if his name and address is known, and publishing a notice for two weeks in a local newspaper, describing the article and stating when and where it is to be sold. After paying the expense of publication and sale, any balance of the price for which the article is sold is to be paid into the school fund. There is no emergency clause. o ANOTHER POSTAL DECISION Rural Mall Boxes Must Be Convenient For Carrier*. In a decision rendered Fourth Assistant Postmaster General DeGraw insists i'pen an adherence to tho regulations requiring boxes on rural mail routes shall be erected by the roadside so that ca’r'ers can ei< ' v obtaic access to them without deviating from their routes or dismounting from their vehicles. Failure to comply with the regulations in this respect, the decision states, is likely to result In the discontinuance of the delivery of mall by rural carriers. — — .. TO TAKE A SPECIAL COURSE Dr. Miller Will Go to Chicago Next Saturday. Dr. J. M. Miller of this city, will leave Saturday for Chicago, where he will enter one of the several recognized medical colleges and take a post graduate course on ear, eye and throat diseases and surgery. He will be absent four weeks and expects to learn some valuable points on these special line*. During his absence his office ' in this city will be dosed.

i- /—II t r n~ m was /hirtv-four years old MM it rX* Boston Club Hav* Cancelled All Their Spring Datra and Will Not Play In Fort Wayne. r '. There is but little to say about the r ' letails of “Chick” Stahl’s sad death, h pr nothing is known as to the cause. : 'ke was one of the most successful Wall players in the country and had ioany good years ahead in the prosesI Mon, as he had always taken excellent I fare of himself and seemed to be in |rlme condition this year. He was tarried last November and is said to have loved his wife devotedly. So far as known he left no word and gave no idea that he contemplated such a move. He was born in Avilla thirty-four years ago, his parents moving to Fort Wayne soon afterward. Stahl was reared there and began playing ball on amateur«teams. In 1894 he played with Mike Connor’s team here and in 1895 was on -the pitching staff of the famous Place’s Creams. With this team he gained his reputation and the same year he was signed by Roanoke, Va. The next year he was bought by Buffalo, and played In the Easters league until the fall of 1906, when he was drafted by the Boston National league team. He played with the Boston Nationals'until the American league was formed, when he joined the new organization and played in the field. A few months ago Mr. Taylor, the manager of the club, made him Its manager against his wishes, and last Tuesday he resigned the place and announced that in future he would stay in his old place. It is the general belief here that the worry over his duties as manager and his efforts to divide honors with his old friend “Jimmy” Collins, caused his mind to give away and his terrible act followed. All the spring dates of the Bostons, including the ones for Fort Wayne, next week, have been cancelled. VERA CRUZ MAN IS SICK Hiram DeWitt Very 111 With Heart Trouble. Hiram oeWlttt, aged seventy-five years, is lying very low at his home near Vera Cruz, he suffering from an attack of heart failure. He was taken sick yesterday at noon while engaged in feeding the stock at his barn and fell unconscious to the floor. His misfortune was noted and he was taken to his home where during the afternoon he suffered a second fainting spell and was seized with spasms. Last night and until an early hour this morning it was feared that he was dying and that he would not live from one hour to the next. However, he was somewhat improved this forenoon and this afternoon the chances for his recovery were just a little brighter. Mr. DeWitt lives alone with his aged companion on a small strip of ground just at the edge of the town of Vera Cruz. He is a brother of Mrs. Abe Studabaker of this city, and is quite well known throughout the country. Up until two years ago he was a resident of Keystone, but at that time he moved to the place at Vera Cruz which he now occupies.—Bluffton Banner. — o ENFORCING NEW LIQUOR LAW Revenue Collectors are After the Violators. There is trouble on hand as a result of the new law regulating the handling and sale of liquors. Deputy Revenue Collector L. P. Sharp and United States Guager James Ligget have been visiting several cities in the northern part of the state, in the course o t f which they turned up a number of violations of the revenue laws and confiscated a quantity of liquor which was found below grade. This was true at Elkhart and Goshen. The goods seized consisted of whisky of low proof, which had been placed in bottles bearing th* government stamp certifying the contents to be 10Q proof, whereas some of the ’ stuff on test ran as low as 85. What ’ Is known as “bonded goods” in bottles Is originally bottled under government supervision and bears across the top of the bottle a government stamp at--1 testing this fact. It was discovered that a number of saloonkeepers, after polling the original contest of the I bottles, had refilled them with whisky of an inferior grade. . This constitutes offense under law, punishment -for which is a fine of SIOO [ for each bottle. The officials will not * disclose th* number of violations • found, nor whether or not the inspeo- ■ tion has been completed. They admit, i however, that the law has been vio- - lated, that several bottles of the llq--1 uor was seized, and that in a number I of instances the saloonkeepers have i made overtures tor the payment of the fine. ’

MggggßH,. , THE REV. HAIBT OFFICIATED Mira l*n* Hart and Oti* Shlfferiy United tn the Holy Bond* of Wodleek. A beautiful home wedding took place on Thursday, when Miss lona Hart and Mr. Otis Shifferly were united in marriage. The spacious home of the bride was well filled with relatives and friends ,who came to witness the ceremony and to extend their congratulations. Promptly at 12 o’clock the bridal party led by Vernon Shifferly and Olive Standiford appeared before the officiating clergyman, Rev. A. B. Halst and duly answered the questions needful and were pronounced man and wife. The bride looked charming in her suit of white silk, carrying a rich bouquet of cut roses. The groom appeared in the convential black. Congratulations and well wishes having been extended the guests were ushered Into the dining room where a sumptuous dinner was served. The bride Is the daughter of Wm. Hart of Union township. For a number of years she has made her home with her grandmother on the state line, where the wedding took place. She is a most estimable young lady, an active church worker and enjoys a large circle of friends and acquaintances. Mr. Shifferly is the son of J. W. Shifferly of Union township, where he is known as an industrious and trustworthy young man. These young people sail on the voyage of life under most favorable circumstances. They will be at home to their friends at the Charles Schnitz farm, one mile north of Bobo, after April first. —o , — Members of the Morning Musical of this ctiy will go to Decatur on the afternoon of Monday, April Ist, to give a recital before the Euterpean Club. Those who will give the recital are Miss Gill, Miss Sadamae Allen and Mrs. H. H. Rogers, vocalists; Mrs. Hatfield of Ossian, Miss McClure and Miss aßiley, pianists; Mrs. Culbertson and Mrs. Rhamy, acompanists.— Fort Wayne News. The recital will be given in the Assembly hall at the Library next Monday evening, April Ist, admission 25 cents. The public is most cordially invited as It is In no way a private affair. This promises to be a very pleasant event. Another gala day was enjoyed yesby the Antique Quilting Club at the home of Mrs. E. W. Jackson of rural route 9, and a fine time was had by all. Quilting was the order of the day and it Is surprising what fifteen willing workers can do in one day. A fine dinner was served at the noon hour and the ladies did ample justice to the same, as the hostess is a fine cook. The club will meet with Mrs. J. Wolfe on Tuesday, April 2. Those present yesterday were Mesdames J. Johnson, C. Snyder, J Wolfe, W. W. Stewart, S. Lichtenberger, P. Worklnger, S. Traster, C. Standiford, L. Gaunt and Misses Eva Stewart, Minnie Johnson, Olive Standiford, and Ada Stewart. The invited ( guests were Mrs. Shell of Pleasant Mills, Mrs. Chapman and Mrs. G. W. Standiford of Wren, 0., nd Mrs. H. M. Daniels of rural route 9. o- ■ RAILROADS RECALL THE BLUFF Will Continue to Run Their Sunday Excursions. Indiana people who were led to believe that the two-cent passenger rate would deprive them of the privilege of cheap Sunday excursions will be pleased to learn that the railroad companies have recalled their bluff. There will be Sunday excursions in spite of the two-cent rate and it is said the excursion rates will be even '■ cheaper than they were last year, not only in Indiana, but in Ohio also. ' The high officials in the passenger . departments of all the roads operating ■ in Indiana and Ohio held a meeting at : Indianapolis Tuesday* to discuss the Sunday excursion proposition. Al- ’ though some of the officers were in . favor of abandoning Sunday excurs- • sions, the majority held out for the 1 old methods and their views prevailed. » The reason urged for reducing the ; excursion rates from what they were 1 last year was that Sunday business 1 would thereby be attracted which oth- ► erwlse could not be secured. The dis- ■ Terence between the former excursion I rates and the present two-cent rate is • not large, and a reduction was decided > upon in order that the difference ’ would be more apparent and therefore more alluring. , o 1 WILL GIVE A VIOLIN RECITAL t ) Mr. Tony Holthouse and his pupils , will give a violin recital at Bosse’s - opera house, April 16, This will be - the first recital of this kind ever glvr en in Decatur. The program will con-, s sist of classical and popular selecf tions and will certainly be a treat to music lovers of the city.

—HE— ——! —S—D CONTINUE IN SAME OFFICETh* Beparatlo* Wa* Caused by th* Election *f Mr. Merryman Judge of Adam* Circuit Court. The law firm of Merryman & Sutton ha* dissolved, after a pleasant, partnership existing since the dissolution of the France & Merryman law firm several years ago. The reason for the separation at this time is caused by the fact that in November Mr. Merryman succeeds to the bench of the Adams Circuit court, and in order to have as few tangling alliances as possible it is necessary for him to begin this early to clean up his business relations with this court. For ■ the next few months, however, they will occupy the same office, although their business will be separate. Both members of this firm are well grounded in the rudiments of their proses-. sion, Judge-elect Merryman being a. lawyer of high standing and merit, while the junior member has ever and. always been faithful and hardworking, both as a student and active practitioner. That he will continue to succeed, there is no doubt. Judge-elect Merryman was elected Judge of the Adams Circuit court at the November election in 1906, and the handsome majority he then received is but a slight token of the esteem in which he is held by electorate of Adams county. He assumes jurisdiction some time in November and .then for six years it will be Judge Merryman in fact as well as in name. pAISoNEM REkiJsE to Wdftß. Interesting Contest on at Marlon — Hobo Question. Prisoners in the county jail“struck” Monday when it was suggested that they work for their board. Today there is a “lock-out," or perhaps it should be called a "lock-in." The prisoners are not being permitted to work pending an adjustment of a difficulty which has developed between the city and county authorities. Joseph Smith, who lost his job when the board of works abolished the office of street commissioner a year’ ago, was employed by Sheriff McGuffin to guard the prisoners while they worked on the levee and streets. He was sworn in as deputy sheriff. Smith worked Monday, taking the prisoners to and from the jail and watching over them while they labored. Smith called at the jail Tuesday morning to again get the prisoners. Annual Duke was also present. Duke announced that he had been employed by the board of works. Smith said that he had been employed by the sheriff and had not been notified to 1 quit So both Duke and Smith ac- ' companied the prisoners and guarded them during the forenoon. When Duke called at the jail at 1 o’clock Tuesday afternoon, he was ’ told by the sheriff that the prisoners ' would not leave the jail. The “strike” ’ had resolved itself into a “lock-out.” ’ The sheriff said that the prisoners 1 would not be taken from the jail un--1 til an agreement was reached. The ’ prisoners, while delighted, are no doubt wondering why they were not called upon to finish the day’s work. —Marion Chronicle. o WILL HAVE TO DIG AGAIN ’ Owner* of Automobile* Will Have to Pay Another Dollar. All of the owners of automobiles in . the state will have to put up another dollar toward the support of the state, > under the new automobile law passed >by the last general assembly. This . law will become effective with the publication of the acts, about the midi die of April. 3 At first it waa not understood that t the new law would require every aut tomobile owner to register his machinery again. It was supposed to be • amendatory to the present law, and , registration would not be necessary • under the law. An examination of the > new law shows the contrary to be the . real situation, and the office of the L secretary of state is getting ready to . deal <out new numbers to auomobile 3 owners. Th* law provides for a different 3 series of numbers. Each machine 3 will have to b* renumbered, therefore, , and registered with the secretary of . stat*. The registration fee i* sl. as . before. L Th* new numbers must be white, 3 against a black background, four inchI es high. The numbers are to be plao--3 ed both on the front and the back of 3 th* machln*. Under the present law the numbers ran straight from 1 up to th* last number issued. Under the new law the numbers ar* to run in a totter series of 100 for each letter from A-l 1 to Z-100, and begin again at AO-1, and j after the second series of 2.600 numii ,bers have been issued shall begin a - third series of Al-1 to Zl-199, etc. It - is this change in numbering that will - make necessary registration, to the > end that the state will be about $4,000 better off. |