Decatur Democrat, Volume 51, Number 9, Decatur, Adams County, 2 May 1907 — Page 1

ALL THE NEWS ALL THE TIME

Volume LI

FORMERLY LIVED IN DECATUR > Went to His Shop in Ossian Yesterday Afternoon and Sent a Bullet Through His Brain. £ Frank Jackson, a blacksmith and horseman, who lived in Decatur for a » number of years, removing from here to Ossian about ten years ago, committed suicide by shooting himself Tuesday afternoon, dying at 4:30. He was forty-five years old, leaves, a wife and four children, and a number of other relatives, several in this city. ' Jackson had eaten a hearty dinner and left his house in apparently the best of spirits.| He had been packing his household goods and arranging to remove to Fort Wayne, where he had rented a house near the fair grounds for the coming season. As he left his home he' exchanged pleasant words and greetings as usual with the mem4heife of his family and went back to a shop situated on an alley about two or three hundred feet away from his house. He then went up stairs, sat down on an old rocker and deliberately placed his revolver to his temple • * and pulled the trigger He was found shortly after 2 o’clock still sitting in the chair unconscious, with his life dripping away from a terrible, gaping wound, the revolver lying beside his •chair. It is probable that but for his little son Glenn he would have died unwatched and unattended. But it hap--1 pened that the hoy desired his fat ther’d permission to sell some junk, as they are cleaning up the yard, preparatory to leaVffig for Fort Wayne and upon his mother’s request started to find his father. The boy came running back to his mother with the report that his father had “hurt himself” and Mrs. Jackson ran immediately to her husband. The alarm was * then given and a physician called, the dying man receiving every possible surgical attention. -He was removed from the shop to his home and Dr. Duemling, of Fort Wayne, was r called, but did not arrive until he was dead. ’ The immediate cause of the suicide is obscure. Jackson has not been well for several years, having been troubled with his nerves, and head and frequently becoming temporarily unbalanced in mind, though never sufficiently so to warrant sending him to an asylum. Two years ago un- *» der the stress of financial worry he left home and it was some time before he was located in the west and induced to return. He was a fine blacksmith, but as the stooping work i seemed to hurt his head he gave it up about a year ago and sold his shop ■>,to Ignatius Freiberger. Jackson then devoted his time to his horses. He downed some very fine stock and it / was his intention to bring it' more' i prominently before the eyes of the f horsemen of the state. For this piirF pose he was preparing to remove to [ Fort Wayne and establish his stables there. He had trained horses and knew all their good points and in spite of the skeptical attitude of many of the local horsemen he was beginning to prove the quality of his stock and had he lived wddld undoubtedly have demonstrated conclusively that * his stables were speed producers. It is thought from a remark Jackson made this morning to his wife that his head must have been hurting him again, for he said: “I feel something like I did two years ago.” As he spoke in an ordinary voice Mrs. Jackson did not think seriously of the ? statement, for her husband appeared to be in the best of health and spirits, looking forward to what he expected to accomplish this summer. - o- —— BLUFFtON IS BOOMING AGAIN. \ —— City Attorney Stine is notifying the Barber Co. that it must immediately repair its streets here or the * city will proceed to do it and confis- ». cate the guarantee fund. This notice applies to the'streets that the city did not get repaired last summer. As before the company will probit fibly pay no attention to the notice and the city wil go ahead making repairs on all other streets, starting the | plant about May 15. —Bluffton News. - ■■■- — 1 " w Supt. J. N. Studios the city schools, is at work on a report of the city schools; which wl| be published in May. It is probmle that a kindergarten will be established next year at the Jefferson schiol. The city now has twelve kindergarten teachers and about 300 kindergarten pupils.—Fort * Wayne Journal-Gazete.

OecATtfß

LOSS SIXTY THOUSAND DOLLARS Entire Town Threatened—Twelve Business Houses Burned —Huntington Fire Department Called. The town of Markle, twenty miles west of here, suffered a $60,000 fire Saturday afternoon, which wiped out an entire block in the heart of the businss district. For three hours the town was threatened and the blaze was finally controlled by the Huntington fire department, which was sent over on a special C. & E. train. The fire started in the haymow of James Zumbauld’s livery stable from an overheated and probably defective chimney. An instant after the discovery the entire stable was amass of seething flames fed by the hay in the loft. A few minutes later Harvey’s barber shop adjoining caught and the flames then leaped into Boyd’s restaurant. The town has no fire protection of any kind and no water supply except wells and cisterns and the citizens were compelled to let the fire take its course. Bucket brigades were formed to protect other buildings and stop the progress of the flames, but it was without avail. The operator in the telephone exchange called up Huntington and asked for-help while the flames were consuming the Odd Fellows building next door to the structure in which the exchange was located. Huntington responded and the operator started to call Fort Wayne and Bluffton when suddenly the wall of the burning building fell, a portion of it crashing into the exchange building and breaking all of the wires, thus leaving the town without telephone communication. Meantime the fire had progressed until the hardware store of Harvey & Rouse, Maxwell’s butcher shop, Reddin’s and Slam’s groceries, Julius Yoos’ hardware store, and the Odd Fellows’ block, the largest building in the town, were all enveloped and when the firemen arrived they were , confronted by an appalling scene. The ! Huntington fire company arrived at three o’clock and after a two hours’ . fight, succeeded in controlling the flames. The insurance on the block is ; only about one-third the value it is said. Twelve buildings were burned. — o BEEN ILL FOR MANY YEARS i The Funeral Will Occur Thursday Morning With Interment in Mt. I 1 Taber Cemetery. v , ' Mrs. John C. Cowan, a well known ‘ woman residing near Pleasant Mills, ' died Tuesday morning at an early ' hbur .after'an-illness of several years ’ duration, death resulting frdm chronic troubles.' She was fifty-six years old ’ and was raised in St. Marys township, her maiden name having been Amy Dailey. She was well known in this ‘ city and was beloved and held in high 1 esteem by all who came in touch with her and her many, kind acts and deeds ’ of charity.will be sadly missed. The ’ funeral services'were held Thursday morning at ten o’clock, sun time, at the home, and interment was made in the Mt. Taber cemetery. She leaves 1 a husband, several children and a host ’ of relatives to mourn their loss. ‘ „ r ‘ PRESIDENT TO PARDON CONVICT j Who Escaped From Prison and Be- [ came a Good Citizen. [ Washington, D. C., April 30. —President Roosevelt has decided to exercise executive clemency in the case of William January, a convict who escaped nine years ago from the Leavenworth . penitentiary and who was ! arrested recently in Kansas City, " where he had become a respected clt--1 izen. It was announced today that ‘ the president would either pardon him ' outright or commute the sentence so ■ it will end at once. 0 r— WEDS PROPPED UP IN BED. • --■* • Young Actress Didn’t Want Wedding Day Postponed. Peru, Ind., April 30. —Undaunted by , the fact that she is very ill with typhoid fever, Miss Ruby Kissaman . was propped up in bed this morning • and wedded to Mr. Henry Hayes, by ■ the Catholic priest Both are mem‘bers of the Dora Woodruff stock com- , pany. The young woman is very sick, , but didn’t want her wedding day postponed, believing in the old “hoodoo.”

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, May 2, 1907

MANY CREDITORS ARE SORRY Well Known Saloon Keeper Absent and His Place is in Charge of Attorneys. Frank Trim, who for the past eight months, has been running a saloon on Monroe street, has mysteriously disappeared and has left in his wake many creditors who would be more than pleased to learn of his whereabouts. Trim left last Wednesday presumably to go to Ft. Wayne, but after several days had elapsed and no Frank showed up for duty at his place of business, his many friends began to mistrust that something was wrong and it began to be whispered around that he had left for good. That he has left for good since an examination was made by Attorneys Peterson and Moran, who have been placed in charge of the business is now an assured fact, as it has come to light that he had purchased several thousand dollars worth of goods during his time in business and has so far failed to make any payment on any of his purchases. Those who were in close touch with his ‘business say he was doing well and had worked up a magnificent trade, and seemed to be making money, which he must have been storing away to take this little vacation. Trim left his home without Informing his wife where he was going and left without making any provision for them whatever. Where he has gone no one is able to state, as he left not the slightest clew, although a number of his creditors would give much to know where to lay hands on him. o ANOTHER WRECK ON G. R. & I. Occurred in the Yards at Fort Wayne —No One Hurt. While running at a moderate rate of speed approaching the Lafayette street crossing in the Pennsylvania yards shortly after eight o’clock Sunday evening, Grand Rapids. & Indiana northbound train No. 3 ran into an open switch leading to a side track that was occupied by a freight train at the time. Before the engineer could apply the brakes the engine crashed into th rear of the caboose attached to the freight train, almost entirely demolishing it. None of the freight trainmen were in the caboose at the time, and the engineer and fireman on the passenger engine escaped injury. The caboose was telescoped and was hoisted in the air, covering the front portion of the engine and tearing off the outside trimmings and fittings. A yard engine was called and pulled the engine from the wreckage. It was so badly damaged that it was necessary to turn it in for repairs and another engine was pressed into service. The switch was left open owing to the negligence of the employes of the freight train, which had just pulled into the side track from the main track in order to permit the passenger train to pass. The force of the impact and the sudden jar and stop precipated many of the passengers aboard the passenger train onto the floor and caused great excitement. Some suffered a few scratches as a result, but none were badly hurt. —Ft. Wayne News. o LEMUEL WORMCASTLE IS DEAD The End Came Yesterday Afternoon at St. Joseph Hospital. Lemuel Wormcastel, aged seventyfour year?, died at 1:30 o’clock Monday afternoon of apoplexy at St. Joseph’s hospital. Three weeks ago he had sustained a slight attack and a more serious attack followed yesterday. He is survived by three sons— David, Joseph and Hugh Wormcastle. He had lived in Allen conuty for a number of years near Monroeville, and only recently moved to Fort Wayne, making his home with his son Hugh. The funeral was held Wednesday morning at 9:30 o’clock from the residence. The interment will be at Monroeville. —Ft. Wayne Journal-Gazette. Mr. Wormcastle lived in this city for several years and was well known. FINANCE. The Baltimore Sun says “We spend $5,500,000 every year for baseball.” Who are “we?” The money is not spent In the broad sense. It stays here. It is merely kept in active circulation. The more baseball we have the less dormancy there is in finance.

LOCATES IN MEIBERS ADDITION The Building to be Rushed to Completion—Operations to Begin Inside of Ninety Days. Tuesday at Marion the Decatur Foubdry Company was born. It is a company incorporated under the laws of the state of Indiana with a capital of $30,000, whose factory and business address will be Decatur, Indiana, after July 1, 1907. They will occupy five acres of ground in the Meibers factory addition in the north part of the city, their exact location being between Meibers street and the half section line road, their buildings facing the main line of the Grand Rapids railway. Four buildings will be erected. The foundry will be 60 by 220 fbet, and in this building the iron will be melted and moulded into castings. It will also have attached a cupalo house 20 by 20, which will be used for melting iron. The department building will be 36 by 140 feet, and this will be used as a core, pattern, carpenter, cleaning, finishing, and shipping room and brass foundry. The pattern vault and office will be 20 by 25 feet and the sand and coke sheds will be 15 by 100 feet. These buildings will be built with concrete foundations, brick walls, steel truss roofs, covered either with corrugated iron, asbestos or tile roofing. Blue prints and specifications are now being prepared by the Indiana Bridge company, who will also furnish the steel for the structural work. These specifications will be ready to submit to bidders within ten days, and local contractors must be ready to get into the game, as the buildings will be rushed and expected to be completed within sixty days. In fact, the contract with the factory committee is but ninety days until active operations begins, but the management wants to begin business by July 10. This new plant will manufacture grey iron castings, their specialty being light 1 and medium weight They will also make brass and aluminum castings of every kind and description. Their capacity will be two thousand tons a year, employing from fifty to sixty-five people, running the entire year, and with a ready market for every casting .they make . The plant will be under the charge and management of C. R. Kenyon and C. E. Conley, two experienced foundry men. Mr. Kenyon will have charge of the business end of the institution, and to take up this work is leaving the management of the Marion Malleable Iron works, of Marion, Indiana. This factory is one of the largest of its kind, and at Marion they employ between five and six hundred people. It is by far the best factory there, and has grown to its present capacity from a small concern similar to the one to be located here. Mr. Kenyon has had nine years experienced with the National Malleable Castings Co., of Chicago, two years with the Standard Malleable Iron Works, of Muskegon, Michigan, and several years at Marion. He is a most thorough business man and knows the iron trade from away back. He is also a genial gentleman and carries credentials of fitness and character from his business associates, and in all will be a welcome addition to the business element of our city. Mr. Conley is a practical foundry man with eighteen years experience. He is in charge of the foundry and has between two and three hundred people under his control. He is well versed in his busi-ness,-"and will occupy the same place here that he does in the Marion plant. The factory committee believe they have been extremely fortunate in locating this Industry. They have used the utmost care in protecting the interests of those they represent, and they believe that several months hence Decatur citizens and business men will rejoice that both Mr. Kenyon and Mr. Conley and the Decatur Foundry company are part and parcel of the business and manufacturing interests of this city. -■ -o LIVED HAPPY EVER AFTER. Bluffton Man and Geneva Lady Wedded Here Today. Harry Hubbard, an oil worker of Bluffton, and Miss Grace E. Ward, of Geneva, wended their way to this city Wednesday for the purpose of uniting in the holy bonds of matrimony. After ; securing the necessary papers, they went to the office of J. H. Stone, where : the Squire tied the knot that made > them one, and they went on their way ' rejoicing. 1

LATE DECISION HAS NO EFFECT The Last Legislature Provided for the Abandonment of Schools and » Transportation of Pupils. Some days ago a supreme court decision which declared illegal the hauling of pupils from abandoned school districts to districts in which schools were maintained was published and it has caused some consternation among trustees at this time. As a matter of fact, they have nothing over which to worry. The supreme court made its decision in a case that was raised under the old law and they were no doubt right in their holding. Their decision can only affect cases brought under the old law, although it is the opinion expressed that all the allowances heretofore made under these circumstances are illegal. When the legisltaors met the last time they passed a law providing for the abandonment ot school houses under certain circumstances, and at the same time provided away for transporting pupils legally. At the present time, the trustees shall transport all pupils between the ages of six and twelve living a mile away from the school district and all pupils who live over two miles from the district. The payment of this expense is legalized and trustees who have purchased new wagons need have no fear of the legality of their act being questioned. o— TO OCCUR IN THIS CITY Miss Grace Dykeman Will Become the Bride of Mr. Frank Kern— Both are Well Known. At the home of Wesley Hoffman on west Monroe Street, some time today, Will occur the wedding of Mr. Frank Kern and Miss Grace Dykeman. Rev. Kessinger will perform the ceremony in the presence of only the immediate relatives, as they have decided to have a quiet affair. Both parties are quite well and favorably known in this community, Mr. Kern being a life-long resident of the county, and Miss Kykeman is the beautiful daughter of P. B. Dykeman, living a few miles east of the city. The bride and groom both move in the best of society, and are held in the highest esteem of all who know them. The Democrat joins their many friends in wishing for them a future life attended by abundant success. Mr. and Mrs. Kern will reside on a farm north of the city. o UNIVERSITY’S GREAT GROWTH NI he, ty-Two Counties are Represented at Purdue. :>r-M The wonderful growth of the university is shown by the new Purdue catalogue of students and courses. There are 1,820 students enrolled in Lafayette and 226 'in the medical school in Indianapolis. As a result of the decision of the state legislature this spring, the medics can no longer be counted among the enrolled students in Purdue. Os the number in Lafayette, fifty-one are graduate students, 531 are in the freshmen class, 437 in the sophomore class, 319 in the junior class and 241 are in the present graduating class. There are also thirty-six special students efirolled, 108 in the) pharmacy school and 107 in the winter course in agriculture. Ninety-two counties are represented among the number, as are fifty-six states and foreign countries. Fourteen foreign countries have students in Purdue and those from the United States come from forty-two states. o — GATES & CO. TO QUIT BUSINESS - .1111 ■ ■» , * ■ I Chicago, April 30. —Official announcement was made today that the 1 firm of Charles Gates & Co., including i John W. Gates, will end its business permanently this week. The reason ( given is that Mr. Gates believes he ; can get more out of life, by resting ] than by working. i c 1 Bones Voglewede went to Rome City this morning where he wil spend < a few days tormenting the finny tribe. The directors of the Montpelier Fair and Driving association held a meet- 1 ing at which It was decided to again t give a Fourth of July race meeting £ this year, similar to the very success- I ful and largely attended meeting held 1 last Fourth. h

CIRCULATION 2800 WEEKLY

Recorder's Office Bug 10 Os

ADVERTISE A SHERIFF’S SALE The Gfeller Land to be Sold on Order of Court—to Appeal Stahley Road Case. John Zant vs. Albert Gage, notes, demand $270; appearance by D. B. Erwin for defendant; rule to answer. Noah A. Loch et al vs. Anna Myers, suit on account; demand $150; appearance by Peterson and Moran for defendant; rule to answer. Louisa ?augg vs. Peter Zaugg; divorce; set for trial Friday, May 10th. Sheriff Eli Meyer is advertising a sale of real estate on order of the court in the case of Fred J. Gerber vs. Albrecht Reber, Fred Gfeller and Mary Gfeller. Five cases are set for trial for next week. They are Ira F. France et al vs. Calvin Miller et al; suit on account and bond; demand $700; Monday; Eli Meyer vs. Julius Haugk, account, set for Wednesday; George A. Bohrer Co. vs. Harry Cordua et al, suit on bond, demand $650, Thursday; David Werllng et al ditch petition and the Zaugg divorce case, Friday. In the Hall vs. Reiff case, tried recently for the fifth time at Portland, the motion for a new trial was overruled and an appeal granted to the appellate court, boffd fixed at S3OO. 1 Joseph Glen denning, of Berne, was in the city this morning consulting attorneys and making preparations to appeal the famous Stahley-Glenden-ning road case, which was tried here on a change of venue from Adams county. .The case is one of the largest that has been tried for some time and the report will make an immense transcript to prepare.—-Bluffton Banner. - o HOLD COUNTY COMMENCEMENT Exercises Will Be Held in June—First Event of Kind in History of the County. The county board of education met at the office of county superintendent Oplinger yesterday. This board is composed of the township trustees and the presidents of the various corporation boards. There are fifteen in all and every one was present today to discuss the various questions of f importance and the new school laws. These meetings are held twice a year, in May and September, and are always of interest to those educationally, inclined. Perhaps the most important event of todays sessions was the decision to hold a county commencement, the first one in the history, of Adams county. It will be held in the city some time during the month of June, the exact date, the program and other details to be announced soon. ’ On this occasion all common school graduates will assemble and receive diplomas. There will probably be a hundred or more, the first examination to be held this month some time. The inauguration of this commencement is to arouse an inspiration among the students to complete the common school branches, the most important part of one's education, and to start them through high school, thus advancing the educational interests. It is believed the event will prove a popular and interesting one. o The report is current at Rome City that the G. R. & r. Ry. Co. have been approached by two different entertainment organizations with propositions of leasing the island for the summer* one of the companies being said to have offered $2,000, and the other $5,000 for the privilege. John Crawford has resigned his position with the interurban company, and will eave for Peoria, 111., tomorrow morning, where he will accept the position of day clerk at the National hotel, owned by Dick Townsend. - — SPECTACULAR AND FATAL FIRE Chicago, May I.—A five-story building at 255 Wabash avenue was burned today. Second floor was occupied by a ladies lunch room. Several Were killed,- two fatally injured and fifteen badly hurt. The blaze was a most spectacular >•.

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