Decatur Democrat, Volume 51, Number 46, Decatur, Adams County, 26 November 1908 — Page 6

The convention of the Christian Endeavor societies of the Fort Wayne district to be held at the Presbyterian church Thursday and Friday of this

week, will be delightful and educating. Nothing has been left undone which would conduce to the appropriateness of the event Decatur families are preparing to entertain large delegations from surrounding towns during the two days' session.

The ladies of the Washington church are arranging to give a big dinner on Thanksgiving day and no doubt the affair will be well patronized by people from the cmomunity. also from this city and ether parts of the county. To accomodate those who care to go from here the ladies have arranged for conveyances to be at the corner of Second and Jefferson streets, near the Interurban station at 9:30 o’clock, Thursday morning. The fare for the round trip will be only ten cents. Here’s a chance for you to arrange sot a delightful day in the country with a good dinner and at a small ccst. You are especially invited to participate, Fcr a number of years Mrs. Marie Holloway has been a member and enthusiastic worker in the interest of the Ladies’ Shakespeare Club and Ladies’ Historical Club, two of the leading reading societies of the city. Her co-workers deeply regret the fact that she has decided to leave Decatur and to show her ‘he esteem in which she is held, they called upon her Monday night in a body. Mrs. Holloway was greatly surprised and showed her feeling when one cf the members, representing the two organizations, presented her with a beautiful watch. The evening was spent in a happy social way and the expressions from the various ladies left no room for doubt in Mrs. Holloway’s mind as to her popularity.

The Holy Grail will meet at its rooms tonight at 7:00 o’clock. A large attendance is requested as plans for the winter's work will be made. o BIG OIL CASE TAKEN UP Attorney General Bonaparte Contends Court Was Without Jurisdiction. Washington, Nov. 23.—Attorney General Bonaparte filed today a petition for a writ of certiorari to the circuit court of appeals for the seventh circourt reversing the rulings of Judge Landis in the case in which the Standard Oil company was fined $29,000,000 on the charge of violating the anti-trust law. The attorney general takes the position that the court of appeals was wihout jurisdiction when it reversed Judge Landis's decision. o CONVICTS OVERCOME GUARDS Seize French Penitentiary, but Failing to Find Keys, Are Recaptured. Grenade, France, Nov. 23. —The convicts in Belem penitentiary today overcame their guards and seized the building. They were unable, however, to fini the keys to the gates and could not escape. The authorities broke down the gates and recaptured the prisoners who offered a desperate resistance. The civil guards, who were called out, were obliged to fire several volleys in the air before he convicts surrendered.

CAN AVOID WAR IN BALKANS. Diplomatic Conference in Rome Results in Optimistic View. Rcme. Nov. 23.—Signor Tittoni, Italian foreign minister: M. Milovanovich Servian foreign minister and M. Barrere, French ambassador, had a lengthy conference today on the situation in the Balkans. They reached the conclusion that war could be avoided and the proposed international congress w’ould settle satisfactorily all pending questions. o RETURN HOME FROM JAPAN American Commissioners to Oriental Exposition Reach Frisco. San Francisco, Cal., Nov. 23. —Among the passengers on the steamer Mongolia were Mr. and Mrs. Fancis B. Lomis, William A. Newcomb and John C. O’Laughlin. Mr Lcomis and Mr. Newcomb are members of the American commission to the Japanese exposition, recently postponed until 3 917, and Mr. O'Laughlin is secretary. o EARTHQUAKE CAUSES =>ANIC Portugese Towns Are Shaker., but No Casualties Result. Lisbon, Nov. 23.—Earthquake shocks were experienced today at Alhambra, Alverca, Viliafranca and Arruda, near Lisbon. The residents were thrown, into a panic, but there were no casualties. Walls of some of the houses were cracked.

The grand jury filed their report at » 10:30 Tuesday morning me result being , six indictments. The report says that they have been in session six days, have examined 115 witnesses, have in- ’ i vestigated thoroughly all misdemeanors and felonies reported and hereI with return six indictments. They vis- . ited the county infirmary anl jail, making a special investigation at the infirmary, visiting that institution personally and examining witnesses under oath. They report the place to be in fine condition, and Mr. and Mrs, Graber are given due praise for their management. Under their care splendid crops have been the harvest, the stock is in excellent condition, the treatment of the inmates has been above reproach. The report says: "We feel that the county is to be congratulated • for having the efficient services of Mr.! and Mrs. Graber, as they s.eom to be the right people in the right place.” The report also fehow? that the jurors found the jail to be in excellent condition and Sheriff Meyer was given• due praise. While the report does not I say so, it is evident that Charles Wolfe was not indicted for the nur- j der of Jacob Mangold, as all those : against whom bills were returned were admitted to bail upon order of the court, which could not have been possible in a murder case. As the jury devoted a great portion of their time to this affair, it is probable Wolfewas indicted for assault W’ith intent to mur-i der. From no official source, it is' rumored that all the other indictments' excepting one or two were for felonies and the boys who usually suffer from ' the grand jury sessions seem to have escaped easily this time.

In the Citizens’ Telephone company vs. the Fort Wayne & Springfield Co. case the court nominated Judge LaFollette cf Portland, Macy of Winchester, and Sturgis of Bluffton, from which three the parties are to select a judge. D. E. Scott vs. L. A. Graham, accounting, reply filed by plaintiff to defendant’s answer. Emma E. Webber was granted a divorce from Samuel 4. Webber, the defendant failing to appear. Mrs. Webber was given alimony in the sum of S3OO and costs and the custody of the son, Nelso O. Webber. Defendant ordered to pay sum of $8.35 per month until further order of the court. Real estate transfers: Dore B. Erwin to Dora M. Meibers, pt. lot 12, Decatur, commissioner’s deed, $915; Jane Wible to Lewis Wible, pt. lot 237, Geneva, ssoo* C. C. Cloud to Henry L. Warner, 7 acres in Washington tp., sl,lOl. Hunters’ licenses were issued to E. E Ferry, Melvin Weymiller, Charles Schug and Gayle Homerickhouse. Sheriff Meyer was notified Monday night by telephone that a woman heavily veiled was traveling along the highway headed for Ossian, pushing a baby cab in which were two children, that she wore a veil and seemed ill and almost unable to travel. She finally reached Ossian, where she went to a hotel, and where she was found to be the wife of a well known farmer of this county. Just what the trouble was has not been ascertained. Marriage licenses were issued to the following: John Kaiser, 21, a farmer from Allen county, and Augusta Gallmeyer. 24, daughter of Fred Gallmeyer; Arta Shady, 23, farmer, ind Emelia Goldner, 20, both of this county.

CELINA TO HOLD AN ELECTION , Big Campaign on the Local Option Question. Celina, 0., Nov. 23—The local op-; tion contest is fast drawing to a■; close. By Monday next the fight will all be over and the votes will tell the ' ■ story whether Mercer will be added ; to the column of six wet counties or ; whether it will be joined to the list; of forty-three counties that have voted dry in the Rose local option test. The 1 last week of the campaign premises' to see the county as greatly enthused ;. and excited as in any political contest ever waged. Beginning with Sunday,:, the campaign of an all week of contin-' uous spechmaking was begun. At St.< Paul's M. E. church Dr. Taylor, of Borton, a minister of the gospel, an expert chemist, spoke to two audiences. > The one in the evening taxed the seating capacity of the church. Dr. Taylor will address the W. C. T. U. meeting at the Free Methcdist church on Tuesday afternoon. Meetings were also held in various parts of the county, at Ft. Recovery, Wabash, Neptune, Coldwater, Mendon, all had big meetings.: o WATCH FOR THIS SWINDLER Bellefontaine, 0., Nov. 23.—The International Harvester company is loking for a Iman who represents himself as an agent and after checking up the books of dealers in small towns asks to have a check cashed. The game has been worked at Belle- i center and Dunkirk.

Mr. Rathbone, of Indianapolis, a gov- ’ ernment postal service employe, was in Decatur yesterday afternoon and transacted important business. The first matter taken up by the official was that of re-leasing the building in which the office Is located. The present lease expires January 1, 1909, but a new one was drawn which holds the building for five more years. Mr. Fritzinger who owns the structure has received $720 per year from the government for the use of the lower floor, he to furnish the light and heat. A new arrangement wag made yesterday, however, by which Mr. Fritzinger will receive $l2O more per year for janitors’ fees. He will now furnish a janitor. Mr. Rathbone while here got the last year’s receipts of the local office, which amounted to a little more than $13,000. After loolkng over the various departments and pronouncing them in good condition, the official left for Fort Wayne. The Decatur postoffice is surely a money maker. The business is increasing wonderfully each month and it is not Improbable that the amount of last year’s receipts will be materially creased this year.

Over it all the sun shines with a brightness not surpassed by the best efforts of the midsummer sun and the chap who has loved and lost his pawn ticket, thanks Old Sol and laughs the clothing merchant and his fleece-lined underwear to scorn. But there is a serious side to the great drought that has existed over the northern part of this state and in a lesser degree over the entire state. Few people realize that it wag the greatest dry spell in the history of Indiana, so far as authentic records and the memory of the oldest pioneers can be believed. In spite of this appalling fact there has been, so far, surprisingly little damage. Os course business has suffered, it has been difficult to husk corn, the stock are beginning to suffer slightly from lack of aready sup- , ply of water and the farmer has a bit of a backache carrying the precious ; fluid for them, there has been thousands of dollars of muck land ruined, the clover crop has been practically ' put out of business for next year and the dust on farm and city street is ■ terrible. On the other hand the pres- ’ pects for a good ".’heat crop have not been entirely destroyed and it has been the finest kind of weather for cribbing corn and getting crops in, the auto enthusiast has been enabled ;to enjoy his car, by sticking to the • city streets to avoid the dust and the chap with the bicycle has saved many i a nickle from his car fare fund. The year 1908 all over the United States | has been an exceptionally dry one and of all the sovereign states Indiana , has set the record. General facts from over the state show: That from the first of the year to the middle of May i there was an excess precipitation of 5.50 inches, but June showed a deficiency, except at Farmland, Randolph county, and that the months of July and August were normal with a deficiency of 1.68 inches at Auburn. | At the station in this city it is shown i that during the period from May to ! September 28 there was a fall of 8.86 •inches, which is very light. Speaking !of the drought over the state (the period broken by general rains on September 28) the report of the climatological service states: “There probably was never another period of equal length, intensity and extent experienced in this state, certainly none ■ during the period covered by the rec- | o'ds of the weather bureau which extends back to 1871. —Fort Wayne ; News

Harry Baker, a young married man i residing in the south part of the city, ; an employe at the Coppock Motor company, and when sober, a very clever and law abiding citizen, made sever- , al bad threats Monday night while on a spree and as a consequence was arrested by Marshal Bohnke. Mr. Baker a painter by trade ,and a good one, became intoxicated Monday where- ' upon a near relative notified liquor i dealers not to dispose of any more j intoxicants to him and the order was obeyed. This angered Baker and fraught with wrath he went to the the rd ware stores of the city where he tried to purchase a revolver, stating that he would shoot the man who interferred in his business. The hard- ■ ware dealers of Course refused to sell him the weapon and this added to his fury. At several times he threatened violence to his brother-in-law, it is 1 said, while his wife lay at home hovering between life and death. Mrs. Baker has been ill for several weeks , it is reported that her condition . i serious in the extreme. Baker was given a severe lecture by Officer* Bohnke and was admonished that another such spree would be the stepping stone to lead him Into serious trouble. Inasmuch as Baker is well respected when himself it is hoped 'that no occurrences similar to that lof last night happen to blnr the happiness of him and his.

Washington, Nov. 24—Representative Crumpacker, of Indiana, who spent Sunday with President-elect Taft at Hot Springs, went on to Indiana and will not be back here fcr a week. Mr. Crumpacker went to Virginia to consult Mr. Taft on two subjects—the speakership of the house and tariff revision. While he has been against the existing rules for several years he is for Cannon for speaker and it is believed here one purpose of his visit was to dissuade Mr. Taft from opposing the re-election of Can non. The Indiana member wants to see the new president and the speaker get along harmoniously. Mr. Crumpacker is quoted as saying to the president-elect that Mr. Cannon will not stand in the way of a revision that will be satisfactory to the country. He asserts that both Taft and Cannon, through their campaign speeches, are committed to a policy of carrying out the tariff pledge of the national platform. Personally Crumpacker is in favor of revision downward and he so told the presi-dent-elect.

Washington, Nov. 24. —H. J. Miller and C. H. Worden, es Fort Wayne, who are financially interested in the Hartford City Paper company, and B. A Van Winkle, of Hartford City, manager of the mill, are here on a mission in connection with their manufacturing enterprise. In addition to attending the tariff hearings on the wood pulp question before the ways and means committee, they called on assistant seertary of the treasury Reynolds and other government officilas, with reference to the tariff rates on seme of the raw materials that enter into the manufacture of a certain grade of paper which the Hartford City mill is turning out. They assert that some of their competitors have been able to get raw materials into this country at a cheaper tariff rate than the Indiana concern.

Washington, Nov. 24. —Friends of Joseph G. Cannon say that more than enough votes to re-elect him speaker of the house of representatives are now pledged to him. Most of the pledges have come in without solicitation. A good many Republican mem-bers-elect of the new house who did not have much to say about their friendship for Cannon during the campaign hastened to assure him of their support as soon as they realized that the chances were ten to one that he would be continued as speaker. They desired to be in line for good committee appointments or committee chairmanships. The best evidence of the fact that Mr. Cannon has the speakership “nailed down” for another term is found in the failure of several ambitious members of the house to announce their candidacies for speaker. So far Charles N. Fowler, of New Jersey, is the only man in the field against the Illinois man.

Sadie Steffen, fourteen months’ old babe cf Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Steffen, of Kirkland township, met a horrible death Sunday morning. The Steffen home is along the Wells county line, and on the Sabbath morning the little girl, only and much beloved child of the Steffen family, was playing about the rear door of the house, prattling in baby language, while her papa and mamma were getting ready to go to the Neunuanese church. The smile of happiness on the other’s face was changed to one of horror, when suddenly looking up she beheld her baby girl coming toward her with a horrible wound in the neck. The child had toddled out to the well, got hold of a glass and while trying to take hold of the pump handle had fallen, the glass breaking and as little Sadie fell over, her neck struck on the jagged edge, cutting a wound in the neck and severing the jugular vein, from which the blood gushed in a perfect torrent. After the accident the little girl tried to reach the house and succeeded in getting to the porch, where she fell crying “mamma,” just as the latter glanced out to see what had become of her. A physician was summoned from Craigville and succeeded in partially stopping the flow of blood but the babe tore the bandage off and the hemorrhage was renewed. In the meantime. Dr. Ccok, of Bluffton, had been called and made a record run to the home in an automobile but was too late as the child had twice sank away and been revived and the third time was beyond help, breathing her last a few moments after Dr. Ccok ar rived. The parents are well known in their community, and have the sympathy of all in their hour of sorrow The other collapsed and is in a serious condition, being almost frantic at times. The father is ill from an accident of ten days ago, when he had his collar bone broken. The funeral services were held Wednesday from the Neumanese church. ——o . Mrs. B. F. Owens, of St. Louis, arrived last evening ana will be the .guest of her mother, Mrs. Congleton, and other relatives and friends here for several wwka, probably remaining until after Christmas.

Taft 347 ’ 9 ” Bryan 338 ’ ? Eugene W. Chafin (Pr 0. 18.04a Thomas E. Watson (Peoples) 1,193 Eugqne V. Debs (Soc.) 13.476 Martin R. Preston (Soc. Lab). 643 Thomas L Hisgen (Ind.) 514 Total vote for president 721,126 Taft’s plurality over Bryan .... 10,731

The official plurality for Taft in Indiana, computed on the vote for the first elector, William T. Durbin, as against Adam Heimberger, the Demr ccratic elector who headed the ticket, will be 10,731, according to information given out by Secretary of State Fred A. Sims. The vote for the first elector on the ticket is usually competed as the popular vote of the state, as many voters do not realize the necessity of marking the ticket for the other electors as well. The official vote for the other electors will not be tabulated until some time today. The official result fcr the first, or top electors on the ticket, gives William T. Durbin 348,993 votes and Adam Heimberger 338.262. Between this vote and the vote for the second men on the electoral list there is a difference in favor of Durbin over his fellow Republican elector of 4,795, betwen Heimberger and J. W. Spencer the second named elector, a difference of 3,579 votes. Fred C. Gardner, the second Republican elector, polled a vote of 344,198. Spencer, the second Democratic elector, polled 334,683 votes. The difference between the first elector and the electors following him on the ballot is always about 1 per cent of the total vote. Many voters by the Australian ballot system do not appreciate the necessity of marking each succeeding elector on the ballot, as well as the first. This is the reason given for the difference. There is always too, some little scratching among the electors, which may make a slight difference between the second elector and the electors succeeding him on the ballot. Just what this difference will be in Indiana for the last election will be deteremined some time today, though it is of little interest except to the electors themselves.

T. S. Williamson, of Anderson, deputy state inspector of kil public buildings, was in Decatur yesterday looking after the improvements he recommended on his previous visit here. He visited the various school buildings, inspecting the new fire escape at the West Ward and the stairway at the North Ward. Mr. Williams remarked this morning that the citizens of Decatur owe their hearty support to the school board. He said “They not only made the improvements recommended immediately, but of the very best and most substantial material obtainable.” Especially is he pleased with the fire escape at the West W T ard and he took occasion to say that it is one of the best in the state. The deputy state inspector also inspected the moving picture show buildings, but found few deficiencies. Al the Grand he recommended that the entrance in the interior be made one foot wider which can be done in a few minutes. Decatur biuldings are safe he said, before leaving the city this morning. We may add here that the fire drills at the school houses are a marked success. The pupils can exit by the system in a very short time and the parents have nothing to fear.

There is considerable trouble brewing in the Noah Stimmel family, of Craigville. Saturday a daughter, Mrs. Ellen Haines, of Joplin, Mo., started home and with her took several articles of household goods. A call was received by the sheriff of this city by the brother, Elmer, to stop her but she had gone. It is also claimed that Noah Stimmel, who has been sick for some time, has been induced lately to make a will leaving his son Elmer out of it. Previous to this there had been a will in which Elmer was given the bulk cf the property. 'H l i s caU sed friction between the brother and sister.—Bluffton Banner.

Samuel Fetters, ex-commissioner of Adams county, has for the past twelve years been down with rheumatism, and was practically bedfast except for a short time last summer when he was able to drive to Craigville, his nearest market -point. When commissioner many years ago he weighed four hundred pounds and was the heaviest official ever holding office in Adams county. He has been cut down to 175 pounds by his continued illness. Mr. Fetters had his pension increased to $24 per month through the efforts of Congressman Adair and his friends.— Bluffton News. Thurman Gottschalk, representa-tive-elect from Adams county, was in. the city Saturday. Mr. Gottschalk, like all of the members of the coming house of representatives, is very much interested in the senatorial fight. He said when here that he thcught that John W. Kem would be the next senator, although he admitted that Adams county would probably be for Hoffn»n. of Port Wayne.— Bluffton Banner

An entertainment of merit is to be given at the St. Peters church in Union township, on the evenings of Friday and Saturday. December 4th and sth, in which a number of the young people of that community will participate and which is being looked forward to with anticipations of a splendid time. The teacher, P. W. Dorn, and Rev. Dornueif are in charge. A business man's program has been prepared and will be printed tihi< week. The program as arranged is as fellows: Piano duet—Mlaeee Tabea and Lydia Dornseif. Dialogue—Fritz Hjblle, Ida Boerger, Emma Fuelling, Emilie Melcher. Karl Boerger and Hugo Gerke. Violin solo—P. W. Dorn. Recitation—Theo. Heuer. Song—By choir. Dialogue—Carl Boerger, Hugo Gerke, H. Melcher, A. Christianer, Karl Tieman. Quartet—“ Alice, where art thou?” Dialogue—Louis Scheerer, Theo Heuer and Martin Fuelling. Violin solo. Song—" Good night” by the choir. The affair is to be given under the auspices of the Y. P. S. and will no doubt be well patronized.

The funeral of Conrad Weiss, known here as “Coney” or “Shorty” White, was held Tuesday morning from St. Marys church. His brother arrived yesterday and superintended the affairs pertaining to the burial, paying all expenses. The death of the man brings to light the story of a peculiar man. He came from a good family who lived at Easton, Pa. He left home twenty seven years ago and went to Lorain, Ohio, where he remained until he came here twenty years ago. Here he gave his name as White and has always been known by that. He was industrious and for many years has been employed as a brick mason’s assistant, earning good wages. He has not written home since he came here and his folks had no idea where he was. rather supposing he was dead. He had never confided his story to any one here excepting Frank Conter, whom he gave his story a number of years ago. The latter wanted to write to Coney’s relatives but was pursuaded not to. The man’s mother and father worried considerably over him. and when the mother died about three years ago she asked that his share of the estate, amounting to a considerable sum be held for him for a number of years. Accordingly since that date there has been an account of SI,OOO in a bank at Easton to Cooney's credit. Had he but known it he could have been living in ease, for in addition to this he owned an interest in a valuable farm, his share cf the estate being valued at $4,000. He had no reason for these peculiar actions except that he seemed to be a frame of mind to do so. He never complained, but few people he was ill. until it was announced that he had died at the infirmary.

Harold, son of Dr. and Mrs. C. B. Wilcox, though but a lad of sixteen summers and a junior in the Decatur high school, has written a play entitled ‘‘The Knights of the Holy Grail" which has been published in the national magazine >f the order and will be staged for the first time by the Knights of the Grail at Kingston, N. Y., during the holiday season. Harold is a youth of unusual intellect and has employed his ability well in his com position. The play from his pen is one which not only .abounds in good morals but will provoke laughter from the humorous inclined witnesses as well. He has written a play which will appeal to all who see it and the various roles when played as written, true to life it is a production well worth the consideration of the public. The young man has not only been successful socially, but It is reasonable for him to expect quite a revenue from his effort. In fact he has already been the recipient of many inquiries, and he holds the rights to the drama.

EXPLOSION HALTS FUNERALOne Person Dies, Another Fatally Burned as Cortege Leaves House. Locust Corner, 0., Nov. 23.—An explosion of coal oil which was used in starting a fire caused the death of Alberta Bradbury, 15 years old, fatally burned Mrs. Emerick Carvin and slightly injured two children, 10 and 8 years old respectively. The explosion occurred just as the funeral party of Aaron Bradbury, who was an uncle of the dead girl, was leaving the house. Another member of the family was ill of typhoid fever in. the house at the time. The undertaker rescued Mrs. Carvin. The house was only slightly damaged. -o — Rev. M. H. Garrard, pastor of the Christian church at- Laporte, caused a sensation by openly and bitterly denouncing the women of the city from his pulpit, many of them prominent in elite circles, who have flocked by the hundreds into the court room to hear the Lamphere trial.