Decatur Democrat, Volume 51, Number 7, Decatur, Adams County, 18 April 1907 — Page 1

ALL THE NEWS ALL THE TIME

Volume LI

FORMER ACTION RESCINDED - Contract for Coal Let —Mayor Coffee Made a Speech—School Bonds Purchased by Old Adams County Bank. • The common council met in regular session Monday evening at the library building and at once got down to business. Every councilman was present, and a large crowd of visitors were on hand to listen to the proceedings. The first matter - taken up was the proposition concerning the construction of the cement sidewalks along the north Second street, and the council first listened to the reading of a petition which had been signed by practically every property holder along the street, they asking to be permitted to put down their own side walks, and that the width of the same be four feet. R. S. Peterson spoke at some length in behalf of the petitioners, and he was replied to by attorney A. P. Batfy, who endeavored to show the benefits to be derived from letting the sidewalk by contract. Several other property owners who were present spoke for and against the improvement and the matter was then up to the council to determine. Upon motion the street was established to the width of sixty feet from Marshal street north to the corporation line and the width of the sidewalk was determined at five feet, and the farthest side of the sidewalk to be thirty feet from the center of street on- each side. It was then decided that each property owner be required to build their own sidewalk according to the plans and specifications to be :given by the engineer and the said walks to be constructed and completed by June 15th, 1907. Thus has ended one of the most bitter fights for an improvement ever opened up in the city. A petition asking to have KeKeonga street graded was presented, 1 and upon motion was referred to the street and sewer committee. A petition asking for a cement sidewalk on the east side of High street was read and upon motion was referred to the street and sewer committee. A petition signed by S. E. Shamp, D. N. Erwin and Fred Scheiman asking for the construction of a sewer on the south end of Market street was read, and upon motion was referred to the street and sewer committee. The bids for coal for the ensuing year were then * opened; three firms being represented hy agents and the contract was awarded to the W. J. Hamilton Coal company, of Columbus, Ohio, their bid being five cents lower per ton than the Sunday Creek' Coal Company, who furnished the coal last year. The company contract to furnish a good grade of coal and the council is confc fident that they have made a good L contract. During the discussion of I the bids the mayor in an impassioned f speech accused the Sunday Creek Coal | Company of holding the city up for * five cents on the ton, claiming that the mining rates had gone up and that the city should pay this amount. The mayor informed the representative of the company that unless they could more clearly define their reason concerning the raise that the over charge would be deducted when the final set'i tlement was made. The. agent who was present made a faint... effort to ‘defend the company’s/action, but his remarks were disconnected and he did not carry much weight or conviction with his argument. The contract entered into by the purchasing committee A for .the digging of a ten-inch well at ' the water works plant was read and approved by the council and ordered spread on rcord. . " The bids that were filed on the , refunding school bond sale were then I opened and read, there being but two I bids filed, they being as follows: The * Old Adams County Bank, $6,605.95; Breed & Harrison, of Cincinnati, Ohio, $6,5J1.25. The bid of the Old Adams County Bank being the best they jivere awarded the bonds and the finance committee were instructed to ascertaih what kind of bonds the bank desired and to purchase and issue the same at the earliest convenience. The bank’s bid gives the city a premium of $105.95 on the issue. The waterworks superintendents report was then read and upon motion was referred to the committee as were the reports of the clerk and treasurer for the month of March. The following bills were then read and allowed. Sunday Creek Coal C 0... $337.10 Od Adams County 8ank...... 45.00 W. E. Fulk 25.25 Henry Schultz 1.80 J Henryk Peters 4.25 e. j. Hyland ................. LpJM Adams County Bank 168.75

O B CAT if R

National Bank ....'. 56.25 ;' J. D. Stults 46.03 Pittsburg Grade & Supply Co. 31.25 L. G. Ellingham 40.00 , Lagonda Mfg. Co -. 1.60 Wm. Burford 41.25 Ingersoll Rand Co 4.25 Lenhart & Myers 5.30 Adams Express Co 10.40 J. S.* Bowers 600.78 Ed Green 50 D. F. Feepie 54.64 W. J. Archbold 47.11 Union Oil Works 44.31 Clover Leaf Coal Mining Co.. 54.88 Geo Kuser & Co 1.65 Bass Foundry 1.44 Fairbanks Morse Co 96 G. R. & I. 144.62 No further business coming before the council the adjourned to meet Friday evening, when they will hear objections on the Third street improvement. o INFAMOUS MURDER CASE Important Ruling Will Be Made Only After a Personal Investigation by the Judge. [Special.] Bluffton, Ind., April 17. —Judge R. K. Erwin, special judge in the John W. Terrell murder case, yesterday afternoon informed the attorneys for Terrell and for the state that he would entertain no motions or make no rulings in the case until he was satisfied in his own mind as Jto. the present mental status of the attendant. He Informed the attorneys that as the court was at this time advised, Terrell was of unsound mind. In order to get at the truth or falsity of this statement, Judge Erwin stated that he proposed in the near future to visit the asylum at Richmond and there ascertain for himself John Terrell’s mental condition. At the last term of court it wUI be ■ remembered that Terrell’s attorneys ■ filed a motion for a plea in abatement against the indictment that was I returned on the ground that it was 11i legally returned, the court not having complied with the statute in return- ■ ing it. The court’s ruling was that i the state should make answer and today was the time set for such answer. The answer of the state was a mo- ’ tion that the attorneys, Jay Hindman and R. W. Stine, who were appearing for the defendant, show their autlprl- ■ ty for so doing and alleging that there had been no arrest in the cause, ! that he defendant had not waived service and that the matter was not withi in the jurisdiction of the court. > Judge Erwin said that he had knowledge that Terrell was insane and asked if this was not true. Attorney Stine declared it was, but that the ' question could not be raised until the proper time in a case. Judge Erwin then declared that it ■ was a fixed principle in all the states that an insane man could not be tried ; for a crime. He cited a noted case t on this subject which showed that ' even after a commission had been apl pointed and had pronounced the de- ■ fendant sane, the court visited the i prisoner and decided that he was in- ■ refused to proceed stith the trial > and that the highest courts in the > land upheld him. It was at this junci ture that the judge announced his de--1 cision of going to Richmond to make . a personal investigation of this par- ■ ticular case. i The court refused to make any en- ’■ tries or entertain any motions at this time, however, and the Terrell case was again given a sudden and decided check. The result of the investigai tion of Judge Erwin will be watched with a great deal of interest, as the 1 sanity ot the prisoner has always been a mooted question. — — o-— C. W. RAY DIED IN MICHIGAN I The remains of Cyrus W. Ray, who died Monday at Polson, Michigan, arrived this afternoon over the Grand Rapids and were taken to the home of John Ray, a son, on south Tenth street, where they will lie in state until tomorrow at twelve-thirty o’clock, when they will be taken to Monroe, where the funeral services will be coqductd at two-thirty o’clock at the M. E. church, and interment will be made in Chapel cemetery. Mr. Ray was sixty-seven years of age, and formerly had resided at Monroe, he having only a few years ago moved to Michigan, where he had since made < his home. He was ill but a short time, death resulting from a complication of diseases. Mr. Ray will be well remembered by the older genera- : tion.

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, April 18. 1907.

VICTIM STEPPED ON TRACK Just in Front of Approaching Car — Mrs. Van Horn Witnessed the Terrible Accident. Wilson O. Van Horn, a farmer living half way between here and Fort Wayne was instantly killed Sunday morning at 9:30 by being struck by an interurban car on the Fort Wayne and Springfield interurban, the car leaving here at nine o’clock. This is the first accident on the new line and President Fledderjohann and other members of the company expressed the deepest regrets, although they were in no wise responsible for the sad accident. Motorman Fred Smith was in charge of the car. He is one of the most careful men in the service an experienced man who came here from the Wabash Valely lines and no blame Whatever is attached to him. He was terribly broken up over the affair and refused to be consoled because of the fact that he was blameless. The fatal accident occurred just in front of Mr. Van Horn’s home, a short distance north of Middletown, a small town on the Decatur road located just north of the Allen-Adams county line, and a pathetic feature of is that Van Horn and his wife were preparing at the time to take a car for the purpose of going to New Haven to attend the funeral of a nephew. , The Van Horn residence is located only about twenty feet from the interurban tracks and at a point about 150 feet north is a small station where it is customary for persons in the nighborhood to flag the cars when they wish to get aboard. Mr. and Mrs. Van Horn had made preparations in a hurry to take the car in question and while Mr. Van Horn hastily packed a few remaining articles in their traveling bag he bade his wife go ahead to the station to flag the car. Mrs. Van Horn had walked to the station and had. just began to wave her hand as a signal to the motorman, when, to her horror, she saw her husband step upon the track, just in front of the house, and right in the path of the approaching car. Mr. Van Horn was slightly deaf and he did not hear the car nor the terrified cries of warning from his wife. In anstant the coach was upon him and when members of his family and the car crew rushed to his side he was dead. Death is believed to have been instanteous. The body was not badly mangled and the fatal wound was a fracture of the skull, just above the right eye, Coroner J. E. Stults, who was summoned to investigate the case, stated last night that the only other injuries yere a gash six inches long below the left knee, some abrasions on the left side of the face and some bruises on the back. The body was carried into the house by the members of the crew of the car, which was north-bound coach No. 2, due here at 10:30 a. m. Coroner Stults arrived and made an investigation of the tragedy. It is probable that a verdict of accidental death —will —be returned, as the evidence procured seemed to indicate that no one was responsible for the distressing affair. Mr. Van Hom was well known in Decatur, as he frequently came here to trade. He leaves besides his wife, seven children: Misses Blanche and Clyde, who work at Fort Wayne and Bertha, Hildred, Clarence, Edwin and Glen who reside at home. >o ■ MRS. CHRISTIAN DIRKSON DEAD Well Known Pioneer Lady of Root Township. Mrs. Christina Dirkson, one of the oldest and best known women in Root township, died Saturday evening, after an Illness of several weeks duration. Death resulting from old age and other complications. She was bom in Germany in the year 1829, making her age seventy-seven years and during -a greater part of that time she had resided in this county. She came here when the surrounding country was but a wilderness and assisted in her way in up building and improving the same. During the past ten years she had made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Henry Reiter, and it was at her home that she departed this life. The funeral services will be held Tuesday afternoon at two o’clock at the St Johns Lutheran churah and interment .zrill f be made in the St. Johns Lutheran cemetery.

CHARLES YAGER IS FOREMAN Regular instructions Given by Judge Erwin—Partition sCase Heard— Petition for Ditch Filed. Court convened at 9:20 Monday morning and among the first duties of Judge Erwin was to charge the grand jury. His instructions were regular, no special charges being given and the men were sent to work udder Charles Yager, who was named as foreman. Henry Stetler was appointed bailiff. Prosecutor H. B. Heller will assist the jury and it is probable that the usual number of indictments will be returned. The jury is composed of Charles Yager, Melvin Davis, Lemuel Bears, Tilden Delhi, Frank Brokaw and William Barkley. A petition for a ditch, two and one half miles in length, in Hartford township, has been filed by William Glendening, John W. Heller, Eugene Lindsey and others. The bond was filed and approved. D* E. Smith is attorney for the petitoners. , In the case of Henrietta Waters vs. Wilson L. Waters, divorce, a summons was ordered returnable May 15. Rachael Felty vs. Charles F. Felty, partition; default of defendants; D. D. Heller appointed guardian ad litem for minor heirs; finding that plaintiff is the owner in fee, as tenant in common* of the undivided onethird of real estate named in petition. I. N. Veeley, A. J. Miller and Levi Baumgartner were appointed commissioners to make partition. George B. M. Maurer vs. George B. M. Maurer, Admr., claim of $350 dismissed. George B. Maurer et al vs. Saloma Adams et al, quiet title and partition; final report filed and commissioner discharged. —o MORE THAN PAY SIX PER CENT Committee Made Thorough Invest!gatigp. and Advise Investors to Buy the Stock. I The committee recently appointed to investigate the Krick, Tyndall & Co. proposition to increase their capital stock for the purpose of enlarging this well known manufacturing plant have filed a most favorable report. The firm will have their proposition ready for the public within a few days and we predict that the “wise ones” will buy their stock as soon as given the ..opportunity. Work of enlarging the already mammoth plant will begin soon and this factory promises to more than continue a leading one in this section of the state. The report of the committee follows: Decatur, Indiana. We, the undersigned committee appointed by the Commercial Club, to Investigate the Krick, Tyndall & Company plant, hereby take pleasure in reporting the following: Upon a careful comparison of the value of the plant by the above concern with the plant itself, we find the same to be, if anything low, and that the profits of the concern are more than sufficient to pay a net 6 per cent dividend on the proposed capitalization and a good surplus besides. We, therefore, commend the stock of this concern to the investing public as safe and profitable, and one that will pay good divilends from the beginning. W. H. FLEDDERJOHANN, , • J. B. HOLTHOUSE, 1 JNO. W. VAIL, o ( C. A. DUGAN, E. X. EHINGER. o CAPT. MYERB IS DYING. i Anderson, Ind. April 17. —Captain ] W. R. Myers, former secretary of state i and congressman, was stricken with ] paralysis today on rising from bed. ; His whole left side was affected and . he cannot recover. His family is at j his bedside. i —o j Mrs. N. K. Todd entertained at her * home on south Main street last evening in honor of the Monday club. The evening was a most enjoyable one, not 1 the least of the enjoyment being fur- t nished by the refreshments served by < Mrs* Todd. v Mra,„W. A. Kunkel won the prize offered in euchre a pretty i filagree hat pin.—Bluffton Banner. I

SICK BUT A FEW DAYS Was Better Monday Afternoon, Took a Dose of Medicine and Drink of Coffee and Died Within an Hour. Anna Catherine, the five year old daughter of Frank Rumschlag died Monday afternoon at the home on north Third street at two o’clock after an illness of a few days, death resulting from a peculiar malady. The little child had been ill for several days, but not serious, and she was given the best of care and attention. Monday morning the child appeared brighter and played about the house with the other children. After dinner Mrs. Rumschlag gave the child its medicine, but before taking it the child askd for a cup of coffee to take the taste of the medicine from its mouth. This request Mrs. Rumschlag complied with and the child drank the medicine and coffee and immediately a turn for the worse, and at two o’clock death resulted. She was a pretty little child, and was the flower of the household and its sudden demise is a shock to 'its grief stricken parents. The funeral services will be held Thursday morning at 7:30 o’clock standard time at the St. Marys Catholic church, Father Wilken officiating and interment will be made in the St. Joseph cemetery. ———o OF INTEREST TO TEACHERS Reading Circle Examination on Next Saturday. A reading circle examination will be held next Saturday at the central school building. Any teacher who passes successfully the examination on the current reading circle books, will be exempt from taking the examination on these two books when passing the regular county or state teachers’ examination. When a teacher has passed the examination successfully on four, consecutive years’ work he is entitled to a diploma which exempts such teacher thereafter from taking the examination in the subjects of science of education and literature when taking the regular teachers” examination. The above is a good opportunity to become exempt in thesd" subjects. Any person wishing to take advantage of this opportunity shall notify the county superintendent before the date of examination. o TO TEST TWO-CENT FARE Railroads to File Suits in Several of the States. Dispatches from Chicago state that suits are being prepared by the attorneys of leading railroads to test recently enacted 2-cent fare laws. It is said that these suits will be filed simultaneously in Nebraska, lowa, Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and in other states having 2-cent statutes. Test cases will be carried, it is said, to the Supreme Court of the United States. The\2-cent fare laws

will be attacked, itV t said, on <the ground that they estaSish rates unreasonably low; that In some cases they are confiscatory and that they are unconstitutional because they cause unjust reductions in rates for interstate traffic, over which the individual states can exercise ho authority. It is expected that the suits will be filed late this month. oONLY A POLITICAL RUMOR Dr. Good, of Warren, Again Spoken of for Congress. It is understood that Dr. C. H. Good, of Huntington county, will again enter the congressional arena and make a contest for the Republican nomination. It is claimed that in the contest last fall he maintained a neutral attitude. He had an opportunity to become an exile, but refused the offer. It is understood that Thad Butler, the veteran Republican editor of the Wabash, who returned from a short residence at Boulder, Colo., formerly and for many years editor of the News-Express at Andrews and the Huntington Herald, is ready for the question and will manage his journalistic campaign. Thad is now a quiet looker-on in Huntington. —Peru Cronicle. o Med Miller, the sign artist, was. busily engaged today in adorning the' show window of the Elzey & Vance clothing store with a nobby sign. These popular managers are certainly making rapid strides in’ the way Of' progressiveness. o

CIRCULATION 2800 WEEKLY

■— HUSBAND TRIED TO KILL CHILD And Did Various Other Cruel Acts— Arguments for New Trial in the Herschy Case. Grace Lister vs. Thomas Lister, divorce and SSOO alimony, was the title of a case filed by attorney L. C. Deboss. The complaint says the couple were married December 29, 1903, and have two children, aged three years and fifteen months respectively. Tilden is accused of having abandoned his family five different times, to have cursed and beaten his wife, pulled her hair, failed to provide for her, and even threatened to kill her. The complaint also says that the defendant is possessed of a despondent, melancholy, hysterical disposition and when he is seized with spells which he has frequently, she is afraid he will kill her or the children. He is accused of trying to kill his oldest child and of other terrible charges; in fact, the complaint is one of the strongest ever filed here. Mrs. Lister asks for the custody of the children, SSOO alimony, and ten dollars per month tQ support the family. sr Lizzie Hendricks vs. Hubert Topp, replevin; dismissed and costs paid. Arguments for a new trial in the case of Sixby and Grumme Company et al vs. Hirschy Bros, were heard this morning, but no decision given. The grand jury will visit the county farm tomorrow and will probably complete their work by Saturday. National Supply Company vs. L. C. Ira W. Holt et al; attachment; demand, $641.08; appearance by Jay C. Hamil; answer filed by clerk and sheriff; agreement of settlement by plaintiff and Jay Hamil. $116.77 ordered paid to Shaffer Peterson as trustee as per agreement filed, and continued by the said trustee. <- - David Werling and Charles >H. Myers, petition for drain; set for trial Thursday, April 25, 1907. , , Peter M. Moser has been appointed guardian for Henry, Edward, Jesse and Ezra Snyder and filed bond for SSOO, which was approved. Jacob P. Hobegger, guardian for Carl Hobegger and four others, filed his final report and was discharged, the money on hands being paid to the wards. In the W. H. Niblick estate a reappraisement of the Wren Bank stock was filed as petitioned for. o IS IN SERIOUS CONDITION With but Slight Hopes of RecoveryOne of Best Known Men of the Community.

“Uncle Billy” Burdg, a pioneer resi ident of Decatur, than whom but few r people in the county are better known, r was stricken with paralysis, about five ■ o’clock Tuesday afternoon and is • in a dying condition. He was set- ■ ting in a rocking chair at his home i on Mercer avenue when the attack came, and he fell helpless to the floor. Help was summoned and physicians called who administrated, but with little relief. "At eleven o’clock Tuesday ' night he suffered another slight attack and became much, worse. All the children including Mrs. Lafayette Ellis and Albert' Burdge of this city, Mrs. Marion Ellis, of Muncie and Mrs. William Bell of Elwood, have been summoned. Uncle Billy is seventyone years old. He came here many „ years ago, and during the greater part of his life here was engaged in the milling business. His many friends are hoping he may recover though practically no hope is extended. . Acting upon a premonition that something was wrong, Joseph Hull, employed as a janitor at the court house at Huntington, quit work at 10:30 o’clock Monday morning and hurried home only to find his wife lying upon the kitchen floor. The body was still warm, but a physician who . reached the home a few minutes later 'declared that life was extinct Mrs. Hull had prepared to do the family washing when she fell to the floor where her husband found her. She , woe 58 years of age, and had been in ’ good health.

Number 7