Decatur Democrat, Volume 51, Number 34, Decatur, Adams County, 24 October 1907 — Page 2

JUDGE EAWINTO MAKE RAGS. A Staff Correspondent Writes tereating Coiurrn on the Political Situation. . F -* Indianapolis and Muncie Stars Fri-, day publish a twp-coiumn plate of Judge Richard K. Erwin, of thia city, and a column article concerning his candidacy for the: governorship. written by a staff correspondent. In part .the article says: Judge Richard K. Erwin, of Decatur, and Congressman John A M. Adair, of Portland, are trying to reach, an understanding as .to which one of them shall be- the Eigbth-dis-trlcts-jCandidate -for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. One or the oJier of them is expected to have something to say to the public within a few days. If it is Judge Erwin, the chances are thrt be will announce himself a candidate tor the gubernatorial nomination. Congressman Adair is already in the race, so if he says anything it will very likely take the form of a withdrawal. Judge Erwin and Congressman Adair are old-time political friends and have been fighting Republicans from the same breastworks in the Eighth for nearly twenty-five years. Taelr relations are so cordial that they would not be found as opponents in a contest of such importance as a nomination for governor. A story came from Indianapolis today and furnished gossip at Democratic state headquarters to the effect that it will be Judge Erwin who will get into the gubernatorial race, with Adair withdrawing in his favor. The fact that Adair, within the past few days has expressed his confidence in his ability to be re-elected to Congress from the Eighth, tends to subsi intiate the story. Judge Erwin's term on the Adams county bench will not expire until November 23, and there is much court work to dispose of between now and then that he will do very little toward making a canvass until after he has laid aside his judicial robes. When he. does start, however, it is easy to predict that he will make the fur fly. He has a reputation as a hard campaigner. Last year-he was on the Democratic state ticket as a nominee for supreme judge, and he was one of. the four or five nominees who got out and hustled among the voters of the state. He is a firm believer in the personal canvasg. method of securing votes. His activity, brought him the second highest vote received by a Democratic nominee. A RATHER SENSATIONAL CASE. Says His Wife Has Abandoned Him, Run Him in Debt and Threatened Him. A rather sensational divorce case was filed Friday morning in circuit court, which, owing to the prominence of the parties will no doubt crea e considerable interest before its completion. The plaintiff is ex-Coun-ty Clerk Elmer Johnsen, and the def ndaait Mary E. Johnson, his wife. F. G. Hooper and David E. Smith appear as attorneys for the plaintiff. The complaint recites that Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were married twentyfive years ago in Mercer county, Ohio. Elmer aooMoe his wife of refusing to : live or cohabit with him as hist wife since October 1, 1905, when she i left his farm and removed to Decatur, i He says he has done his par. as. a i husband shotid. but that for twelve ; years Ms wife has annoyed him. abusing. vilifying and hectoring him; that since moving to town she has contracted many debts on his credit, at, one time buying >BOO worth .of dry j goods and at another time a piano. ■ One paragraph of the complaint reads as follows: ‘That at various times within the last fen years the defendant has threatened this plaintiff with bodily harm, shook her fist at him. and close to his face, fold him that he should be hung and If the rope bad ever done ft); duty j£aintiff would have been hung long ago/' A plain and si in pie dlvortte is/ asked. AH' citizen* of Huntington will' sincerely' regrefthat the negbliatlons for the” settlement of the strike of the Erie mdhafttlsts' "have* bees * iffisuccejsful, neSls &e the febcif the 5 is irpferted tfTat frfe ljjiestlpn“of tig prtflcffilj/ of pfece ‘ work z wii’’ srtmbflng thocsE I'For^prihifipfe; pel mfe wont ofit. They are opposed to J piece work. Whatever one may think j of the merits of* the he | wW com m eld rim the strike and"fhe ? fighf the mA" ’are, making for what they believe is right —Huntington Herald.

. KIfcTINGS WERjFOF WTt-REST, I*.— • es Hartford City ChoJbn President —That City Also Qeta Next Year's Meeting. _ e> , -.-ths-. Womans. JtelUf . Corps of . the ■ Eighth Indiana District met at Bluff- , ton Thursday for their tenth annual convention. About two—hundred delegates and visitors were present. The ' meeting was a very "successful one in ’ every way. Officers for the easuirg year were chosen as follows: President, Mrs. Estella Huffman. Hartford City; senior vice. Mrs. Emma Sturgis, Bluff'on: treasurer. Mrs. Minnie Porter Montpelier. The secretary is appointive.' The next district meeting will be held at Hartford City.- The district is composed ot ten local corps from as many cities,~ahfl every one is represented by a good-sized delegation. ’ The largest Individual delegation came from the Fort Wayne corps, which, although fourth in membership. led in the number of visitors ax the meeting, with Its party of thir-ty-two. Reports show that the district numbers a total of 540 members, divided between the corps of Bluffton. Marion. Jonesboro, Fairmount, Hartford City, Montpelier, Portland. Geneva, Decatur and Fort Wayne. The largest corps in the district is the Jacob Stahl corps, of Hartford City, with 102 members. Montpelier is second, with nine:y-seven, Fort Wayne third, with seventy-eight, and Bluffton fourth, with seventy-five members. There were a number of 1 notable visitors present, including he department president, Mrs. Meribah Walker, of Clinton: senior vicepresident, Mrs. Amanda Edsel, of Fort Wayne; and past department officers Mrs. Etta Houck, of Carmel, and Mrs. Dr. Alta Boh ran. of Rome City. There were also' present all of the district officers, including President, Mrs. Lydia Seegar. of Marion; secretary. Mrs. Harriett Buchanan, of Marion, and treasurer, Mrs. Estelle Huffman, of Hartford City.

SAYS THE BERNE WITNESS. A Direct Editorial upon ThcaeWho Sent Their Father to the Poor House to Die. The death of Fred Augsburger at the county tnfirmary a few days ago furnished the foundation for a scathing editorial In today’s Berne Witness, which should rather make the rich children of the deceased cat take notice- It reads: The death of the aged Fred Augsburger at the poor house last Monday is an indelible stain of shame on hrs child ten. one so» and one daughter living In this vicinity, and one son in -Ohio, all of these b fug well-to-do people and amply able to take care of their helpless father tn his last days. For children to keep their parent as long as he is able to be of some use to them, and then to cast him off upon the charity of the public, -would be -too heathenish for any offspring laying claim to even the thinnest rxmlsh oT clvitzation, but t%e fact that -at -least two of his sons are weU-todo members of a church that makes it a special point to—take cars ot its own poor, is unspeakable beyond comprehension. There "Is ; nb doubt whatever but that Grandpa Augsburgec.. was- as well, if not better, taken care of in our excellent county infirmary than his chil.dren could have done, and it is certainly nd disgrace for any deserving poor person to be an inmate there, but it is certainly a disgrace upon his well-fixed children to leave their helpless parent to such charity. o GUIDE OF PRESIDENTS PARTY. Bluff’on people may be interested to know that Ben Lillie, who is the chief guide with Roosevelt’s party in Texas, had guided a citizen of this city in many exciting bear hunts tn the ' vamps of Louisiana. The local nimrod is Harve Thornburg, who hunted big game in the Creole state twice. When Mr. Thornburg first met “dd Ben.” as the famous guide is known throughout the wild district of Louisiana and the Lone Star state. he saw ! a little wrinkled 'man. dressed in the garb of a-typical woodsman and l’.eoking-44ke an- incarnation of Daniel IBodner If focaL reputation is to be [beHeved. heTias killed more bear than ■any" Tran aurfjpilAs tai\ led career of sixty Odd ?y'ehrs.—Bluffs'z r ** I s at’lxa; IWe - : ’liio?’ the mah. Vitff. die [godse Wne. thethin'cpro or \he time’..|h<“ wild, . retuyn jrqui tjieir expedition. to jhe Xojfh gole would infgfmju gs I X. t TW t » rov »4eat - thj< cojaiqg weaifigr' , A Ct«rtikr»E» CURB FOB PULES, ttf idmßii;gtn<c Bixcrag. Freer offing gif- Dr««tst« are r» re- ■ —«

PRISONER AT THE COUNTY JAIL. — Tore HisfSJpthing Off—Refused to Eta —Broke Eighteen Window Panes ' Cotaatf to Coll. tri. Gothard Brown, the disreputable charartey who, as has been stated in a previous issue, made a desperate effort to deliver himself and a fellow prisoner, Irojn the Xonnty. jail a few days ago oy extracting rivets from the iron lining in tne county Jail, has become so unruly that It is necessary to confine him in a small cell. For several nights past Brown has been making noises of every description, and succeeded In keeping the occupants of resident apartments from sleep, and -for the reason that he tried to effect an- exit from a place in the wall of the bath room, where several Iron rivets had been removed, he was kept in closer confinement for the past few flays. This did not prove agreeable to tire prisoner, and he Is trying to make life miserable for Sheriff Meyer and family in every way he possibly can. Thursday morning he took every stitch 6f clothing from his person. excepting his shirt, and threw the apparel outside the bars, stating that he did not care to have any of the ladies serve him Ms meals, and maybe now they would stay out. The sheriff ordered him to put on clothing, but he absolutely refused to do so and at noon he was served Ms dinner without any meat. He asked Sheriff Meyer if he did not get any meat, to which Meyer replied that he did not deserve any. and that if he continued to act as he has been, he would get less yet. At this he hurled a plate at the sheriff and went to the closet tone a pipe from the water connection, and with it broke out eighteen window panes. The prisoner was then placed in a small cel'- where he will remain until there is a change in his conduct Last evening Ms meal was taken to him and he again threw the victuals and dishes out of the cell. He kept the knife that was given him. however, and after the sheriff left, he threw it at the lamp that was placed in front of Ms cell, breaking it to pieces The desperado has quieted himself greatly since last night, and It Is thought that no "more trouble win be experienced.

EXCEEDS WHEAT AND COTTON. It is the Most Impc-'tarrt Product Raised by the American Farmer. Com is the only agricultural crop in the United States that annually reaches the enormous value of |l..000,000,000. Its value exceeds the other two principal products of wheat and cotton combined. It assumes the leading importance in the agricultural and financial world on account of its stock-feeding properties. It is the paramount crop in live stock industry arte gienera A liberal crop sends farmers to market for stsekers’Cnd feeders to finish fbr the block. Commercially considered the marketing of the corn crop in live stock and njmtahufactured is more 'evenly distributed than wheat and cotton. t l»d metre pWhrftlallY influences the financial situation of the country. As a crop it is less extensively stored than wheat or oats.- as it will keep on the cob in good condition indefinitely. The com cop comprises in fts raw condition and its flushed pßpducts of live stock a large percentage of the freight traffic of the railroads. It is estimated that 681,000,000 bushels of corn shipped to market out of last season’s crop was handled by the railways, for which they received $ 8,000,000. At forty cents per bushel the 1906 crop netted the farmers $1,152,1 201.600—enough to pay the public ddbfl oFORMER DECATUR GIRL TO WED. Will Become the Bride of Dr. Bell, of Indianapolis. InvitaTons have been received by a i number of Decatur people from I Marion. Ifi’dfasia. announcing the wedL ding of MfsS Arma Merriman to Dr. IBeft.’df'Kxlianapdlfs. the event to take , plfice at’ri.tfe Merriman homestead at I’.Wb tfcWckl the M. E. mfhiiter' qffiiciahflg. Miss ifqrtfmh.n' is well known pin Thfs'cify, having'’for’ a njimber qT Pyears rgate dfflr est? Tier hbrpe- /and" [■he* 3 friends’’he’e ’are’ ’6?. jJJell is one of the' WysVclins sos Indianapohsi'amj/’r is there that I the fUflgTOt&d’Vfii make their fntiure home. Several. Decatur people ►will go from this city and be in atf : St —T-’- O r?--? >: . I the-Great Aasooiatiftfeiwiji fifag at Berne; today to dieeuss-pUa» j for next year’s fair. Other business | will be looked after.

VERDICT OF TWENTY DOLLARS. New Case Filed, Heard and Decided— An Appeal Bend Filed—Various Other ft erne The jury in the case of Kalver i Hurst vs. WlF.iam L. Gunder. a suit to recover >2OO paid for a mule, claimed to be worthless, returned a verdict at 7:30 Friday morning, after having Deen out seventeen hours. The verdict gave the plaintiffs >2O, and seems te have been a compromise, as the first ballot is said to hav& stood six to six. There seems to be some controversy as to who will have to pay the costs. A new trial will probably be asked for. Hooper & Lenhart filed a new case entitled The Kuebler & Moltz Company vs. Elmer Johnson, suit on account D .E. Smith appeared for the defendant, and judgment was rendered by agreement for >507.95. Martin F. Martz vs. May H. Martz, divorce. Appearance by Fruchte & Litterer for the defendant John Watkins vs. Clara Watkins, divorce. Application for an allowance was made by the defendant. John W. Poling vs. Peter Holthouse. Interrogatories were filed by the plaintiff, and the defendant ruled to answer same. George A. Bohrer Co. vs. Harry Cordua et al suit on bond. An appeal bond was filed by the plaintiff to the Appellate Court, Christ Hoffstetter vs. National Supply Co. Lease asked and granted plaintiff to file a supplemental complaint

A junk dealer license has been issued to Alfred Parks, giving him permission to buy from house to house in Adams county. His place of business is at Willshire. o THE MEIBERS-SNELEN PARTY Wat an Enjoyable Affair—Home-Com-ing Day at Presbyterian Church Next Sunday. With her home beautifully decorated with autumn leaves and cryszathemums and here and there a twinkling light peeping through the foliage that wa* elaborately distributed through the various rooms, Mrs. J. B. Meibers and Mrs. O. N. Snellen charmingly enafternoor. party Thursday. The day afreroooa party yesterday. The day. was ideal, and almost every person that was fortunate enough to receive an invi-.ation to this brilliant event responded by their presence. After the arrival of the guest*, they were seated at the different tables to indulge in that interesting pastime progressive pedro. The contest was most interesting, and when the last game was over the first prizes were awarded to Mrs. Ben Knapke and Mrs. Martin Mylott, The second prizes were capfcred by dem Voglewede and Mrs. Joe Tonnelier. An elegant two-course luncheon was served to the merry party, and all experienced a good time. During the time the guests were doing justice to the luncheon, Mrs, J. Q, Neptune furnished excellent music, much to the delight of all. The out-of-town guests were: Mrs. Stine and Mrs. Moorehead, of Wilshire, Ohio, and Mrs. Charles Myers, of Angola.

Ari W. G. Spencer was the victim of a pleasant surprise party last night.; when a number of his friends called, at his store and told him that they want-1 ed him to go home. He was at a loss to know what to do. but as there were too many there to overpower, he consented to go. An elegant time was a wailing him and the guests, and it was greatly appreciated by alh Progressive peanuts and social chat furnished the amusement of the evening and Mr. Spencer will no doubt remember his ffity-first birthday anniversary for many years. Those present were S’. Niblick. J). D. CTsrk, f. Meibers. Harry J. D. Refer, J. K. NTblibk and J. C. Mine?. 1 \ r -o : Dyemfs Sebmldfs new tome on MeJeer avenue-'-te Hearing eompietionr -R r ■will be tffe larges* nrrd offe-o? jootatfeledsenfesdn th*efty.■’being nkif-" : erfi fn every respect' ; '■ -

. ... . s . ?T(r ~ __ - -U-.J . ~ Cure® Biliousness, Sick A Q V % J Cleanses the system Headache, Sour Btom- - II FT I IU:T1 thoroughly and clears nch, Torpid and ■ • ■ ■ > W sallow complex ions a i Chronic Cai'3dpat ; ca f pimples and blotches. x’le&saTi* to IV 1 i Ult It !• «uarMxt®«d THP HOLTHOUSE DRUG COMPANY,

MRS. LIDY STRUCK BY TRAIN. Died Almost Instantly —An infant Grandson Whom She Carried Was Also Fatally Hurt. Bluffton, Ind.. October 18. —Mrs. Alexander Lidy, 62, was instantly killed and her Infant grandson was fatally injured this evening about 5 o'clock, while crossing the tracks of the Chicago & Erie railroad near Kingsland. They were struck by a passenger train and were thrown twenty-five feet. Mrs. Lidy was going to the home of her son, Ted Lidy, when the accident happened. The railroad separates the two homes and it is thought that Mrs. Lidy did not hear the approaching train when she was on the track. At the time of the accident she was accompanied by her daugh-ter-in-law, who had preceded her a few steps across the rails and who turned around in time to see Mrs. Lidy struck. She says that Mrs. Lidy. with the baby in bar arms, was walking down the track apparently not knowing that the passenger ’.rain was bearing down on her rapidly. As it came very close rs. Lidy seemed to realize its presence, for she started to run, but was caught and thrown in the air before she could leave the track. The daugh-ter-in-law rushed to her side, but Mrs. Lidy expired in five minutes. The baby was badly hurt by the fall and may not recover. Coroner Mcßride investigated the accident but he placed the blame on no one. aM the circumstances showing that it could not have been helped by the train crew, as Mrs. Lidy was too near the engine when seen for its driver to stop. WHO IS MR. COTTON? Manager Patterson of the Western Union Has an important Telegram For Him. J. C. Patterson, Western Union operator, received a message late this afternoon from Keifer, Indian Territory, addressed to a Mr. Cotton, purporting to be in this city, but up to the time we go to press, he was unable to learn anything of a man of this description, neither were the postal authorities able to enlighten him. The message was as follows: '*Mr. Cotton, Decatur. Ind.: Your son killed at Safulpa. Please advise what to do. Answer quick. J. C. GRIFFIN.” That it is important is without argument. Mr. Patterson is desirous of finding the person to whom it is addressed. so that he may deliver the same. Any information as to whom Mr. Cotton is would be greatly appreciated.

Health officers over the State are receiving instructions from the State Board of Health in regard to the new vital statistics law. This law, which was enacted by the last Legislature, requires doctors and midwives to report all births. In reporting births, the original information shall be sent rio the State Board of Health, while copies of the reports are kept by the county authorities. In this way the State Board of Health gets correct information. WIRING AUTOMOBILE FACTORY. Halfling i Ernst Began Work on the Jeb Today.

Halfling & Ernst, who recently se- . cured the contract to do the electric wiring at the automobile factory startred In on the work Saturday, and will push the same te completion as rapidly as possible. The contract is no small thing, as the entire part of the train building must be wired according to spciflcatlons. and sixty lights are to be stnmg at various places throughont the same. Two elecfric motors will be placed in this ptant, one being a five-horse power and the other a fifteen, which will be used as power for receiving the machinery. The firm. Harfling A Brnst, are Tasty competent to handle this job, and win ne doubt put j H thier work according to thn specifications and in a manner that wiM reject much credit upon themselven. -Übert Numbers. o> Gssian, arrived In the egy this morning to make a short flgit with friends -s’ ■ . ?

BID HAD STRING ATTACHED. Chicago Broker Bld | n th . County Gravel Road*. ’ 8. A. Koan, of CMc*g 0 , w M only bidder for the bonds on twenty-five gravel roads und w three-mile law. this morning, ted his proposal being considered a very good one, it was accepted by Conn ty Treasurer Ed Saurer. The h. value of the total number of th* bonds is >117,280, and Kean's bld w ' 1117,388.64, or >100.05 on the* The fact that the bonds sold at premium came as a surprise as thev are to draw but four and per cent, interest, while road bonds under former laws have drawn 6 cent, invariably. Tacked onto the end of this bid was a provision clause to the effect that the proposition would be void should the bonds be classed as taxable property. There is a statute covering tMs point, which says that any bonds issued by muni, cipalities or corporations shall be non-taxable, but the law has never been construed by any court as garding township matters.—Bluffton Banner. ———— — _ ANSWER IN BIG DAMAGES CASE Same Probate Business—Several Final Reports Filed by Administrators— Other Items. In the case of Horace Kohn vs. Joeeph W. Hakes, suit on note and account, demand >250, a demurrer was filed by the defendant to each paragraph of the complaint. In the petition for a drain filed by Henry Teeple and nine others, D. E. Smith entered his appearance for Mary E. Harma. D. B. Erwin, commissioner in the matter of Fanny Kocher vs. Josephine Moser et al., a partition suit, filed hi? final report and was discharged. Bessie Cronin vs. Ft. Wayne Morning Journal Gazette Company, damages >50,000. An answer tu three paragraphs was filed by A. J. Moynihan. one of the defendant. John F. Felty, administrator of the William C. Felty estate filed his final report, whicn was allowed, and he was discharged. Final reports were also filed by George B. Maurer, administrator of the Maurer estate; by Mary A. Wemhoff, administratrix of the Bernard F. Henehoff estate; by Joseph D. Krick, administrator of the Jacob Krick estate. Simon Spranger. trustee of the Abraham J. Sprunger estate, filed a current report, which was allowed. Peter M. Fulk has been appointed guardian for Merle, John. Jacob and Arthur Fulk, and filed bond for S3.IHW. FOUR CANDIDATES INITIATED.

An Oyster Supper Followed —The Boys Will Issue a Monthly Paper. The knights and enquires of the Holy Grail held a eon«lave meetM Friday night in the lecture room of the | M. E. Church for the purpose of codferring initiatory work upon four candidates who were initiated into the Eequire degree. Those who were ' n ‘ itiated were Glen Tague. Sim Burke. George Sheeler and Willie Conrad. The work was quite impressive, and the new candidates started in 'his new organization under most pleasant auspices. After the initiatory work an elegant oyster sapper was served to the boys, much to their delight- e ' gotiations are going on to organize a Holy Grail paper, to be pub.lsi monthly, and last night the fife! was taken to secure subscriptionsOutsiders as well as members are re quested to subscribe for this p«P e ' •nd help the boys along. The price o this paper will be fifty cents a J B4 '- - — - -e — Governor Hanly has granted pardons, one to a man who i» ricK ° the reformatory and the other w inmate of the girls’ prison. He fused to grant fourteen other apP TWO 0* cations for executive clemencs x the applicants are in the sta' 0 ,! 1,1 and the ethers are in. the Jefferson reformatory,