Decatur Democrat, Volume 51, Number 32, Decatur, Adams County, 6 August 1908 — Page 2

C. O. France received a telegram from J. W. Gardner, owner of the Dalias and Waco. Texas ball clubs this morning stating that transportation had been sen' for EJ Coffee and it will be here soon. Ed is preparing to leave at any time. Mr. D. O. Wise left this morning for Oakwood Park, which is near Syracuse, Ind., where he will attend a meeting of the Y. P. A. of the Evangelical church. The meeting takes place from the sixth to the ninth of this month and Mr. Wise left early so a s to be among the first at the meeting, E. Woods is about the livliest duck in town today. It is his seventy-fifth birthday and he is celebrating the event as only a young man could. Mr. Woods is one among our oldest citizens and has ever and always been active in the pursuits of business. The farmers are well pleased with the present hot spell as it i® great weather for the corn. Most of the threshing is through and in many instances record breaking crops are the result A good steady rain would also come in r .ery favorably at the present time. The most prominent event in the history of woodcraft in Decatur is promised for next Saturday, when a elass of at least thirty-five w-ill be initiated into the mysteries of the popular fraternal organization. Tfi e local camp, assisted by their auxiliary, the Royal Neighbors, are planning to entertain four hundred visiters on this eventful day, two hundred of whom will come from Fort Wayne, twentyfive from Poe, Ind., thirty from Geneva, twenty-five Prom Berne and twelve from Monroe, beside th e sixtyseven Decatur members. The Fort Wayne degree team will give a fancy drill on the main street in the evening which gives promise of being very attractive. After the initiatory work which will be conferred by the Fort Wayne camp. Ex-Congressman James Robison of the summit city will deliver an address on woodcraft. A banquet wil Ibe served by th e Royal Neighbors during the course of the session in the I. O. O. F. hall at' which place the initiatory work will also cccur. The officers of the local camp expect to be one hundred strong after the class is taken in. Reports from the bead camp recently compiled shows a total membership of 100,360 in this well known insurance order.

Two smooth fakirs operated in Bluffton Saturday and that evening and left town for Portland yesterday morning, enriched at least two hundred dollars in Bluffton coin. All during the day the men canvassed the business district of the city, one selling handkerchiefs at all the way from six to eighteen for a dollar and the other fountain pens at from two to four dollars apiece, ranged according to victim. In the evening on the Wells county bank corner one of the two held forth from a wagon and worked the timeworn, moh-eaten gag that always meets with success among people looking for something for nothing. He first sold handkerchiefs at six for a quarter and jn each instance returned the money. Next he disposed of an article fcr fifty cents and again handed back the coins. He was then seen to count out twen-ty-five dollar bills which he piled on the stand before him and when he began offering the fouptain pens at $1 each his hearers, thinking their money would be refunded, fell all over each other handing the grafter the cash notes. When all the pens had been closed out the speiler made a lengthy talk, pointing out that he did business with level headed men and nc women, children and fools. Above al., ae said he hated a “squealer" and exhibited a big revolver, pills from which, he said are used in treating “squealers’’ out west. In closing be stated that he had not promised any one any automobiles or stocks in the Pennsylvania railroad company and the crowd knew it had been “stung."—Bluffton Banner Fort Wayne, August 4. —(Special to Daily Democrat) —At a meeting of republican leaders and committeemen from Adams and Allen county hold her e last night, it was decided to hold the republican joint senatorial convention at Decatur on Saturday, August 29th at 2:30 p. m. While the date and place will have to be ratified by the committees of the two counties, this is only a formality and it is practically assured that this arrange ment will stand. This city will send a delegation of from 200 to 300 to Decatur on the date mentioned. Judge Vesey will very probably be nominated by acclamation, there being no other candidates in the field. The selection of Decatur for holding the convention, of course is very satisfactory to the {peppde of this city and nothing will be left undone to welcome the visitors in proper style. We are informed that the county ticket will not be named at this time, but will occur at a later

Manin H. Rice, "9 years old. one of the most widely known men in Masonic circles in Indiana, died yesterday afternoon on an interurban car near Tipton. Ind., following an attack of heart failure which seized him while he was riding on an interurban car near that place. The body was taken in charge by members of the Masonic erder at Tipton. and at 9 | o'clock it was placed aboard a special car and brought to the late residence. 1606 east Tenth street, this city. Mr. and Mrs. Rice, with their daughter. Mrs. S. A. Vaughn of Logansport, were (enroute from Indianapolis to Lake Maxinkuckee for a pleasure trip. Just as th e car left Noblesville Mr. Rice was stricken, and he was given medical attention at Cicero, but expired in a few minutes Upon reaching Tipton the body was removed from the car to the undertaking parlors of S. G. Young, where it was prepared for burial. In the funeral party.which cam e to Indianapolis, were the widow and daughter and several other members of the Masonic order. Last winter Mr. Rice suffered an attack of the grip, which left him in a weak physical condition. His heart was particularly affected by the attack, and at times his vitality was very low. Sunday night Mr. Rice called upon Dr O. S. Coffin, his family physician, and his circulation and general physical condition was comparatively good. He seemed to be well when he and Mrs. Rice and their daughter left the traction terminal station at 1 o'clock yesterday afternoon, but the fatal attack came upon him suddenly and h e succumbed. Martin H. Rice perhaps had all the honors that the Masonic order could confer upon him. For twenty-two years he was treasurer of the grand lodge of Masons. He was said to be the oldest thirtythird degree Mason in Indiana. He was the senior past grand commander In the state. Elders J. A. Wheeler and Bruce Hamilton will speak on the streets at three and five o'clock on Saturday and Sunday afternoon and evening. They hail from the Morman brand of re’l gion and want to convert you to the same faith.

The reorganization of the Decatur school board occurred jsf 'Vhe office of Kirsch-Sellemeyer & Sons Monday evening as a special meeting during which A. H. Sellemeyer, the re-ap-pointed member assumed the duties characteristic to the office of treasurer, Mr. Sellemeyer having served as president during the| past »wo years. D. B. Erwin, who was treasurer was chosen as president while F. V. Mills will retain the office of secretary. These gentlemen are school men of prominence. They have won the admiration of their constituents by the cleverness with which they have handled the school affairs. The bonds of the board were approved today in the following sums: A. H. Sellemeyer, $30,000; D. B. Erwin, SIO,OOO and F. V. Mills SIO,OOO. During the meeting of last night the board made known the faot that everything within their power will be done to advance the interest of our educational institution and their patrons. Their efficient work has already signaled a marked improvement in the schools and Decatur people have no doubt as to the furtherance of same. Auditor A. G. Kelley, of the Fort Wayne & Springfield interurban company is at Fort Wayne attending a meeting of representatives of various traction lines, for the purpose of establishing a system of rules for governing the handling of baggage and the charg e for excess, etc. At present each company has its ow'n rules and consequently there is a certain amount of friction. Today's session will be held at the office of F. E. Bordermark, auditor of the Wabash Valley company, and it is the belief of the traction officials that the new system will be adopted unanimously. The companys to be represented at the meeting include the Muncie & Portland; Bluffton, Marion & Eastern; Toledo & Chicago; Fort Wayne & Wabash; Fort Wayne & Springfield; Ohio Electric; Indiana Union traction: Terre Haute & Indianapolis and perhaps one or two others. The baggage question has become a very important one for the interurbans. A Paris dispatch to the Chicago Record-Herald shows that among the Americans who registered at the Herald’s office in that famous city on Monday, were Fred Schafer, Harry Ward and Fred Jaebker of Decatur. Indiana. No doubt these gentlemen are enjoying the trip of their lives. The list also Included a number of visitors from Chicago and other cities of the states, Dubuque, lowa, August 4—(Special to Daily Democrat)— William Boyd Allison, United States Senator for thlrty-fiv e years, dropped dead here at two o'clock this afternoon. He was bom at Perry, Ohio, March 2, 1829, and was in his eightieth year. He came to Dubuque in 1857 and has been prominent in national politics since 1862, his ame having been frequently 1862, his name having been frequently

Fred Huffman went to Winchester today where he is looking after the building of several stone roads, L. E. Opliger, county superintendent of schools, has completed arrangements for the teachers’ annual insti ute. This important event win convene at me Methodist church in this city on Monday merning. Augttst 17 th and continue until Friday, Augus' 21st. Tbe fetructors are men of national reputation and this year's meeting promises to be the most interesting ever held here. Among those who will take part are Dr. A. B Van Ormer, of Pennsylvania, at the head of the departments of psychology, ethics and education at Ursinus college; Dr. Robert A. Armstrong, of the West Virginia university, one of the best colleges of the east and Prof. William E. Rauch, supervisor of music in the Kokomo high school. There will also be music by local talent and addresses by local schocl officials and special lectures on Tuesday and Thursday evening. Prof. Opliger has certainly done his best for this year's institute, which he hopes to make the banner one in point of interest in the history of the local schools. The programs will be printed within a few days, giving the detailed arrangement. In refutation of the theory of murder advanced to explain the death of Emile Jabas and his wife, whose bodies were found at the Jabas home on Tuesday nffcht of last week, it might be said that but twenty-seven cases of fractures of the hyoid bones, which it is claimed were broken in the two cases mentioned, exist in the records of medical history. Os these twentyseven three were caused by violen muscular contraction, as from a fall, and not by pressure from the exterior. But three cases are known to the medical fraternity, according to noted surgeons, wherein the body of the hyoid bone was broken. It would therefore seem strange, to say the least, according to tbe local medical fraternity, that Fort Wayne should furnish two cases within a single day. Death by breaking the hyoid bone would not. according to an eminent Fort Wayne surgeon. result in less than four minutes and in the meantime the victim would struggle violently. Bodily discharges would be give n off and o'her evidences of muscular contraction would be present. In the cases under consideration there were no signs of a violent struggle on the part cf either Jabas or his wife, judging from the condition of the furniture in the rooms. The kjtchen, where the couple were found showed no signs of a violent struggle, and the police are inclined to scout the theory that the murderer, if there was one, would haul the bodies into the only room of the house in which there was a light. Also there were no signs of a body having been dragged over the floor into the kitchen. These facts, together with the failure of Dr. Rhamy to discover any poison in the stomachs, has only caused the case to take on a more mysterious appearance and to put the police more at sea in tbe mat'er. That there was no murder done seems to b e the confident opinion of Chief .Ankenbruck and Sheriff Grice, although both officers are exhausting their every resource in an effort to solve the baffling mystery—Fort Wayne Journal-Ga-zette.

M. E. Hutton as treasurer of the Geneva school board, made his report to the commissioners, the same being approved. The board completed their appropriation for next year, many figures being ■ involved and which cover the business of the county in all it g various departments. After action by the county council who are called for the first of September, the board will compute the rate that will be in force for the payment of taxes next year Extension No. 5 of the Deca ur & Monroe road was approved by the board and ordered sold September 7. The Carter road in St. Marys township was also ordered sold. The attorney fee in the West Pleasant Mills road was determined upon. Dore B. Erwin as treasurer of the Decatur city school board, made his annual report, the same being found correct, was approved. Albert Lehrman wa sgranted a license for the w-’est end saloon. Dr. J. N. Hurty, secretary of the state board cf health, is gathering figures on the average age of persons who die in Indiana each year. He has just completed the compilation of figures for 1907. He has also figures for 1906. His plan is to gather reports for a period of ten years. He believes that no really valuable conclusions can be drawn except the figures for at least a decade are at. hand The average age at which death came in Indiana in 1907 was 42.83 years. The average age in 1906 was 39.1 years. “Comparison of these figures would seem to indicate.” that life is getting longer in Indiana. This may be true, but I believe that no definite conclusions can be based on figures for only two years.”

D. B. Erwin, who for the tpast nheee years has served as treasurer of the school board and who relinquished ■ control of the office Monday in favor of A. H. Sellemeyer, filed his report i oday before the county commissionI era, which reveals interesting facts las to the financial condition of the I public schools. Summarized the re- ■ port which covered eighteen typer I written pages, is as follows: Total tuition received $20,583.03 Distribution for all purposes 14,560.86 Balance on hand $ 6.022.22 Total receipts, special fund. 510,151.04 Distribution for all purposes 10,040.45 Balance on hand .......$ 110.59 Special building fund ....$ 2.947.25 Distribution for all purposes 1.966.10 Balance on hand $ 981.15 The total of cash on hand which amounts to $7,326.41 will be turned over to A. H. Sellemeyer, the new treasurer tomorrow morning. The report of Mr. Erwin is neat and accurate detailing each and bill paid out, and all money paid in. It shows that 420 orders have been paid during his term of office and gives the name of the persons to whom they were paid. The commissioners have approved the report, which is correct in every respect. Abe Boch has sold to Oliver C. Walters forty acres in Union township for $2,800. Dallas G. M. Trout has deeded cue and a half acres in Washington township to the Fort Wayne & Springfield Ry. Co. The consideration according to the deed is for SI.OO and other gcod and valuable consideration. Mrs. Mary Fravel, the Geneva woman charged with perjury and adultery, and who was in jail for some time following her arrest, has furnished bond in the sum of S7OO. Charles LeMay, the Bluffton young man, who was convicted for rape, may secure his liberty next Friday by paying $343. which amount includes a fine of S2OO and the costs of the case. He was given a five months jail sentence and fined S2OO. The jail sentence is up Friday and relatives have been here during the past week ascertaining the amount of cash necessary to secure his release. Whether they will pay it or not is not known, but they probably will do so; if not he will have to remain seven months, making a year in all, that being the limit for any jail term.

Geneva, August 4. —The funeral services of the late John Anderson were held Monday afternoon in the spacious grove surrounding the house on west Main street. The attendance was so great and people from afar as well as about town and country made a congregation so large that no church could have accommodated the crowd. Beside the usual crowd of citizens in ordinary garb, there were masses of Modern Woodmen, Odd Fellows and Free Masons, who in their uniforms gave unusual attraction to the services. The services were in charge of the pastor, Rev. C. King, who spoke for a short time on the 5-7 verses of the 14th chapter of John’s gospel, and followed this with the obituary. The singing wa s beautiful, with Mrs. Homer Green at the piano, and Mrs. O. E. Kemp and Miss Meeks of Muncie, and Dr. C. R. Price and Prof. Robt. Poer as quartette. The ceremonies of the different orders were Impressive, and well rendered. It is the universal sentiment that in the death and burial of Mr. Anderson, Geneva suffers the loss of a citizen whose place will be hard to fill. At the same hour the funeral services of Mrs. John Kraner were being conducted in the Macklin church, southeast of town and though so far from town, yet many of the people from town as well as in country attended the services, in charge of the Rev. Mr. Barker, pastor of the United Brethren churches forming a circuit in the country east of Geneva. Mr. and Mrs. Kraner are held in the highest esteem by all acquaintances, and her loss to the community will be keenly felt by every one. Mrs. Kraner was a noble Christian woman who has been faithful in her devotion to her Savior in the midst of the most exacting sufferings for many years past. A large concourse of people followed her to her final resting place. Mrs. Zehr, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Beitler, in French township, was born in said township December 14, 1887, bringing her age at death to 20 years, 7 months and 17 days. She joined the Reformed church, of Vera Cruz where she continued a faithful member. March 9. 1907, she was married to her sorrowing husband. A little son was born to them about 5 months ago. The deceased leaves besides her husband and son, four brothers, four sisters, parents and other relatives. One sister, Ida, preceded her in deatji over a year. The funeral services were held at the German Reformed church in Berne Sunday forenoon at 10 o’clock.—Berne Witness.

A BIC HORSE SHOW State Fair Attractions Day and Night In the Imposing Live Stock Pavilion. THE PRIZES AMOUNT TO $7,157 I Many New Classes Added —Six-Horse Show _Teams Will Be a FeatureDriving and Riding Contests for Women—Prize* for Mounted Policemen of Indianapolis. With superior advantages in its live stock pavilion, with an Immense tanbark arena, the State Board of Agriculture wil! go into the horae show business on a very extensive scale at the Indiana State Fair next September, offering a much larger amount in prize money and providing more classes for fancy horses than at the Fair heretofore. The horse show is to be held day and evening during the entire week of the Fair and a total of $7,157 will be distributed. David Wallace, the Indianapolis member of the State board, will have charge of the horae show and will spend most of his time in the next three months in developing this growing attraction of the State exposition. Frank P. Kenney, of Indianapolis, will be his assistant, and the judge will be Thomas W. Bell, of Chicago. The premium list shows that the exhibition of fancy horses will be of uncommon interest to men and women who own this kind of stock, as well as to the general lover of show animals. The entries for the horse show, as in all departments of the Fair, will cloee on August 27. There are twelve sections for standard bred horses, the total awards being SSOB. There are four for Morgan horses, the prize* amounting to $206. American carriage horses will be one of the stronger features of the horse show, the awards amounting to $450. The prizes offered on nonstandard horses amount to $2Ol. In the roadster classes the prizes reach $4lO and the runabout list amount to $270. The prizes for turnouts amount to $l5O. and for women drivers in the class for them premiums amount to S2OO. Sixty dollars will be distributed among the three best family turnouts. “Business Horses” a New Feature. A new feature at the State Fair horse show will be a class known as "business horses.” This is open tc teams driven to delivery wagons, and is expected to bring out the showiest outfits in Indianapolis. The prizes amount to $225. In addition. S3O will be awarded to the drivers of the winning teams. The high stepper class, the horses to be driven by the owners, and the prize awards will amount to $360. A similar amount will be distributed among the winning park horses. Is a special class for gig horses S3OO will be distributed. The tandem prizes amount to S2OO, and S9O is offered for unicorns, and a similar amount will go to the winners in the four-in-hand classes. Thirteen prizes are offered for the best flve-gaited saddle horses at the coming Fair, the total amount being $430, and the champion of this class will receive SIOO. In the three-gait classes for saddle horses the prem turns amount to $450, with SIOO going to the champion. On high school horses $225 is offered and S9O on combination horses. In the women’s equestrian classes SIOO will be distributed among ths first, second, third and fourth winners in the stride contest. A similar amount will go to the four best horse women using sidesaddles. The champion horsewoman will receive a SSO silver cup. There is a contest for the best boy riders, and still another foi younger girls. The total prizes in ths equestrian classes amount to $250. Truck Teams and Mounted Police. Another new feature of the show and oae in which the prizes amount to $1,050, is for the best appointed truck teams, two, four and six horse. The best six-horse teams will receive SSOO, and the lowest prize te $225. This class is expected to attract to the show arena the best looking truck teams of the middle West, including the notable ones of Chicago. Still another new class is open onlj to the mounted policemen of Indian apolls Three prizes are offered, amounting to SSO. The contesting horses must be regularly engaged in the police work of Indianapolis, and policemen in uniform. Hunters, Jumpers and Ponies. Another contest that is fresh on ths State Fair list is for hunters and jumpers, the awards amounting te $l5O. The Shetland pony classes offer $265 in premiums and in the othet pony contest the amount is SBS. This will be the first year in its history that the State Board of Agriculture has held a horse show after night. The live stock pavilion will b« brilliantly illuminated by arc lights there will be a band concert each evening and vaudeville and other features will be on the evening as well as the day program*. Roman standing and chariot race* will make up a new feature at th* State Fair, these contests to be given in the live stock pavilion They will be genuine race*, too, the Fair man. agement giving silver cup* to th* horsemen who win the moat

STATE FAIR RACES Many Thousand Dollars Spent On the Mile Race Course at Indianapolis. THE PURSES AMOUNT TO s2l ,9qq [ Program of Races for Each Day_ Vaudeville, Band Concerts and Live, •tock Parades for Fair Two Race* Scheduled for Half-mil. Track. With what is practically a new race course, and with uncommonly rich purses, the races at the Indiana State Fair, beginning September 7. g t T , promise of being the most interesting held by the State Board of Agriculture in many years. The mile track has been resurfaced and Improved until it is doubtful If any State fair in the country has Its equal. Several they, sand dollars have been spent by the board in this work. $6,000 going this direction last spring. After the track was resoiled and had had the weather of winter in which to pack a twelve ton steam roller was sent over it and made it as firm and smooth as a floor, yet to a horses hoof it gives a response like rubber. The mile track was ditched along both edges and during tbe spring rains it was possible to dry it out and work over the surface after an hour or two of sun. The half-mile track, which is Inside the mile course, has also been ditched and otherwise improved, and two races, on the order of those sent over the oldtime county fair tracks, will start on it during the coming State Fair. Another improvement about the race course which the spectators win enjoy has been made by removing the high ground of the infield along the north side of the track. The track .used to be so much lower than this elevation of earth that from the grandstand only the heads of the horses and drivers could be seen. But at the coming races a spectator may sit in the grandstand and see the feet of the horses all around the mile course. The sum of $21,900 is offered by the management for the State Fair races. The contests will begin on the first afternoon. Monday, of Fair week and the final races will be given on Friday afternoon. On Monday the program includes the 2:13 pace, purse $800; 2.14 trotting stake. $2,000; 2:07 pace, $800; 2.26 trot, over half-mile track, SBOO. On Tuesday, the events are: Three-year-old trotting stake, $800; 2:25 pacing stake, $2,000; 2:20 trot, $800; free-for-all trot $1,500. The Wednesday events are: 2:30 trotting stake, $2,000; three-years-old pacing stake. SBOO ; 2:17 trot $800: 2:19 pace. SBOO. Thursday’s races: 2:11 trot $800; 2:10 pacing stake. $2,000; 2:23 trot $800; 2:22 pace, over half mile track. SBOO. On Friday the three races are: Free-for-all pace, $1,500; 2:08 trot $800; 2:16 pace, SBOO. Between the races each day interesting vaudeville perfoinnances will be given in front of the grandstand and on Wednesday and Thursday afternoon parades of the horses and cattle will be held. The Indianapolis Military Band will also give concerts during the races. The race course, with its grandstand and uncovered seats, now can make comfortable nearly twenty thousand spectators. STATE FAIR NIGHT SHOWS Special Events to Be Given in the Big Livestock Show Pavilion. The Indiana State Fair will during the week of Sept. 7, have a generous list of features for the night shows which are to be given in the arena of the livestock pavilion, which will accommodate 10,000 people. The night performances begin at 8:15 p. m.. and close In time for visitors from over the state to go home. The prize horses and cattle at the Fair will give evening parades and there will be exhibitions of fancy turnouts, saddle horses, high steppers, jumpers and other animals which will make a very pretentious horse show. There will also he chariot and Roman standing races, a new feature at the Fair, and twenty t.hor oughbreds will give hippodrome races. A number of acrobatic bears and a highly trained pony will give exhibitions. and the Heras family of ten acrobats, and Madam Schuman and hel wonderful horses and dogs will give performances. The four Bard brothers will give some sensational acrobat ic feats, and the three Olivers will per form some wonderful turns on a high wire. Diavlo will give a high 4ive and a number of other specialties are or the list. The Weber band of Cincin nati, which for several years has bees winning high favor with State Fair vis Itors, will give concerts and with it two vocal soloists will appear. In all its history, the State Fair has not had so many attractions to offer its patrons. In the regular departments the prizes are rich and in ths entries, particularly horses and cattle the number is very large. By paying admission to the Fair in the morning, the visitors may spend the day seeing the big exposition and attend the nigh* shows without additional cost