Decatur Democrat, Volume 52, Number 30, Decatur, Adams County, 29 July 1909 — Page 2

Charles WUHams, held pending the Investigation of the death of tfie Unknown man who was found Friday morning along the Chi; cago & Erie tracks, were released at six o’clock that evening. The previous plans were changed and the coroner’s Inquest, continuing at three O’clock Friday, continuing about three hours and' resulting in a verdict by the coroner that the man whose name will appear on the records as John Jones, true name unknown, had cojne to his death from the effects of aldoholic iflWitiflation. The first at the inquest was Frank WilsMi, a man whe is sixty years old, and who has been on the road for thirty-five years, according to his story, leaving his home at Hartford, Conn., in 1873, and has not been home since, and has not heard a word from home since 1882. He had at the time he left home a sister, several brothers and his parents were alive. Now he does not know which are alive or dead. He told his story of meeting the unknown man, but it developed that a part of his story at least was false and he so admitted afterwards. Joe Toops, conductor on the local freight, was called, and said that the man’s body was discovered by a brakeman named Pence on through freight numbed fifty, who notified the tower man and he phoned to the station. Toop, H. R. Motz and Mr. Fleming went to the place and found the man and notified the officers. Jesse Cole, operator at the tower said he had seen the three men going west about six o’clock last evening and that one of them had a beer bottle in his hand. Mr Fleming corroborated what had been sa'd and then Charles Williams the other suspect, held was called, and toll what is believed by the officials to have been a truthful °tory of the affair. He 'said teat he was boin in Johnstown, Pa., thirty years ago, that his parents die t when he was five years old, that he left there in 18? n just before the big Coed and had since drifted over ’he country. He is a tinner by trade, but for twelve years has been an umbrella mender He was in Huntington Thursday and met. a number ot tns "profesh," among then? being W Ison. He had some

ttir-ey and gave-a pal $1.25 and be went to the drug store of Schaefer & Schaefer and bought a quart of -Jcohol. He and Wilson then caught a freight to this city, while the others of the crowd missed It from some cause dr other. Arriving here Williams went to ..the Wells-Fargo office and got a package containing some umbrella covers, Mid where he signed as Charles Williams. His statement as to this was corroborated by Pen Elzey, the agent. Williams and Wilson then went to a saloon where they had three glasses Os beer each and then started for a spot west of town; near the Erie tank, where Williams had left his kit and a grip containing the .alcohol. On the way they met the Granger and Williams invited him to go along and partake of the beverage and he readily agreed. Arriving at the spot, the unknown went after some water and after his return they mixed the water and alcohol and all drank liberally. The unknown man he said drank a half pint or more and then apparently in a stupor, laid down and went to sleep. WJUlams bad some lunch and be and Wilson ate sos this. Just about dark they decided to seek shelter in the old Lynch building, as it looked like rain. Williams tried to rouse their companion, shook him, but got no response and supposing he had a good drunken sleep on, left him and never gave Kim a thought afterwards, as the rule of knights of the road is “let every devil look out for himself.” Williams said and told the truth no doubt, that if he had any idea that the man was dead he would have quietly left town during the night. After hearing the evidence, and having examined the body, Dr. Grandstaff said he would return a verdict that death had been caused by the alcoholic route and the men were released. There seems to be no chance for the identification of the dead man, as there is no clue on which to work.

. o it’ ■ $ A. fire originating from a spark •which fell upon the roof of the Niblick and Company elevator located on west Monroe street, completely devastated the structure Saturday afternoon contents as well being totally destroyed before-the mighty sweep of the contents as well being totally deafternoon Charles Niblick, who has been employed at the elevator, discovered a blaze and an alarm was immediately sent in. The flames, aided by a north westerly wind, soon enveloped the building and before the fire department was on scene -the warehouse was but a mass of flames, the fire giving forth so much heat that the laddies could Scarcely get close enough to throw the stream upon the structure. Hose were attached at three different dydrants and the laddies made a heroic effort to extinguish the blaze, but the water seemed but feeder and the roaring flames devoured building and contents within

a very short time A large quantity of grain had been stored in the elevator and as it burned an awful hpat waq shed in every direction, keeping pedestrians hundreds of feet from the burning building. The Hart building, located just east of the elevator, was on fire several times, as was the roof of the Hower and Hower grocery, and it was only by timely work that these buildings were saved. The conflagration Immediately assumed dangerous proportions, after it was noticed, and it was the biggest fine occurring in Decatur for several years. Fully fifteen hundred people witnessed thp burning building. The elevator was owned by the Niblick brothers, as heirs of the late Jesse Niblick, who built It In 1871, just after the G. R. & I. railroad had 1 been completed. Mr. John Niblick estimates the loss at $7,000, with insurance to th§ amount of $3,000, SI,OOO each in the Royal and National, Gallogly & Lower, agents and SI,OOO in the Security, H. H. Harruff agent. The estimated loss on the building is from $5,000 to $6,000 and the contents included 150 bushels of clover seed, about 300 bushels of wheat, 300 bushels of oats and 100 bushels of corn, besides the machinery and the loss may reach SB,OOO. When asked whether or not they would rebuild, Mr. Niblick said he could not state until after a conference had been held with the other heirs, but it is likely that it will not be rebuilt at once, as it would be impossible to complete it now for this year’s business. The Citizens’ Telephone company suffered a loss of about twenty-five dollars, owing to damage to the poles and wires. At three o’clock the big brick livery barn on the east side of the railroad caught fire, but was soon extinguished. O 1 • John Dodson, the big chief of the outfit who produced a sensation here last Saturday evening by giving a houchle-coochie performance on Madison street, and who was landed in jail and later fined, was again in custody, this time on a more serious charge, that of grand larceny. Several days ago Charles H. MacDonald, who operates the candy stand at the

carnival grounds, appeared before Mayor C. O. France and signed his name to an affidavit charging Dodson, whose true name is by the way unknown, also John Doe and Jesse James, real names equally a mystery, had robbed him of fifty cold plunks on last Saturday night. He said that late in the evening he was standing in front of the Meyer ft Moses furnitare store when the three mqn approached him and while two talked to him in an endearing way,’ die third, Mr. Dodson, reached into his pocket and extracted his roll of fifty dollars.; He was located Friday at Montpelier Saturday to bring the Marshal Butler was to have left for Montpelier this morning to bring the man home, but he was called over’ the phone late that evening and told by the Montpelier marshal that the. men had escaped, blit that they expected to land them again during the night, and if they did so would send word, and if not, would write apd explain how *lt happened. o— —- A victim of a serious case of malarial fever contracted tn Missouri gnd with but slight chances' for recovery, John Wolford, of Monmouth, was the flames. At two-thirty o’clock that where he was conveyed to his Monmouth home in an ambulance. He occupied a cot on the entire trip, and notwithstanding the fact that he stood the trying ordeal of traveling well, the seriousness of his condition has caused much alarm among his friends. Mr. Wolford went to Missouri several months ago where he began work in the employ of the Allison Land company. About three weeks ago he was taken ill from the excruciating malady and has since grown rapidly worse. Physicians advised his removal from i that climate and lhe was? brought • back to old Adams county, where he will fight the battle against death, i Hopes are not abandoned for his recovery, although at this time his case

is extremely critical. The many friends of the afflicted man join in hoping that he will Immediately and ultimately recover. Mr. Wolford was accompanied from Missouri to his home by his wife. Tupigon, P. 1., May 22. Dear Father—Sunday and back here for a day. I have been out In a subcamp all week running the line through to Salape. One of my men i got sick the first of the week and another yesterday. The general audl- > tor Is here today looking over the paper work and tomorrow the general , road committee of P. I. and several t other high moguls came along to make > a general inspection of the Island of i Bohol. 3 I saw several amusing things this 3 week. The first meal I |te about i 50 Philippines stood outside watching t me eat. That was probably the first - time they had ever seen an American i eat. I have one of the survey boys

j hardest job is the drainage. Some , of the bridges over some of the in* s nocent looking streams will be 4D foot f spans. When it rains here some 1 water descends. I have a new duty j now, sign up all the papers in the • office. I spent last Mnoday in the j office, was called in again Thursday 1 and had some more today. A fellow i feels lots better though I guehs the ■ first time he signs as superintendent ( than after he gets accustomed to It. So long, BERT. 0 > The body of John Jones, the un- , known tramp, will be used as a spec- [’ imen for dissecting purposes at the state university at Blpomington. The body is that of the man found dead I along the Erie tracks Friday morning, and about which there hovered i for a few hours a suspicloi that murder had been committed. During the i day Coroner J. C. Grandstaff as rei quired by law, notified the anatomical , board at Indianapolis, and that morning received a message from the , chairman, J. E. Morris, directing him i to have the body shipped to B. D. Meyers of the state university, where It will be used in the college work. As may be known by some there Is a law in this and nearly every state s requiring that this action be taken ; where tramps or others die and the bodies are not claimed or Identified, that the anatomical.board be notified. If they have any applications from > the colleges for bodies they are sent > to one of them, at the expense of the : college, and if not the body Is turned : over to the township. The body ot this man fas embalmed and then presented the features off affine looking, well proportioned man. It was shipped to the university CHARGE OF MURfiftW FILED Woman Who Killed Her Baby Now Mourns for Its " I -OSS. I Bluffton, Ind., July M.-Mrs. Gertrude Bump, wife of Ralph Bump, the woman who ten days ago,, murdered

her four-months-old boy and then attempted to commit suicide by drinking carbolic acid, was today brought from 1 the Lutheran hospital, Fort Wayne, to' the home of her parents, Mr.and Mrs. Bruce Merchant, near Zanesville, this county. Acharge of murder, jvas filed ’ against her In justice’s court at Fort . Wayne but she was allowed to furnish bond in the sum of $5,000. She now deeply mourns the death of her child and declares that she did not realize what she was doing. It is not thought likely that she will be convicted of any criminal charge, but the sheriff took the steps he did to hold her for i' grand jury investigation. _i——o-—— —i FLEW THE COOP AGAIN t Rev. McCarty Failed to Give Testimony to Opposing Counsel. W. H. Eichhorn, of Bluffton, was in > the city Friday morning for the pdrj pose of taking the deposition of Rev. L W. E. McCarty fa the suit brought by the aged minister against his divorced wife, Mrs. Isabella Williams; asking an accounting under an ante- , nuptial contract, but again, on the grounds that he had hot been propJ erly summoned, Rev. McCarty failed t to show up and the attorneys for the defense will ask the court to set aside the complaint The rule In case a ( party to a suit doed not submit to an ( examination by the opposition, providing he has been properly called, is the ’ striking out of the pleading, and Judge LaFollette must decide whether or not [ the subpoenaing of the minister was t regular. McCarty was summoned through a notary public and his con- . tention is that he need not submit , to an examination unless required to do so by court—-Portland Sun. i 0 CAME NEAR DROWNING , Miss Ethel Shepherd of Portland, Fell In the Reservoir. *OI

Portland, Iffd., July 24.—While Mr, and Mrs. John Iholts and daughter Melba, Miss Ethel Shepherd and Clifford Smith were enjoying a fishing trip on the Grand, Reservoir a£ Celina, Miss Shepherd accidentally fell from the boat into the water, and but for the cool-headed and quick vtork of Iholts might have drowned in the twelve feet of water into whichshe plunged. They had fished all day, Miss Shepherd, sitting In the end of the boat, became drowsy. A sudden lurch of the boat when Iholts landed a large fish caused her to lose her balance. As she rose the second tlm& Iholts succeeded in grasping her by the hair, later lifting her back Into the boat The incident broke up the fishing for the day, although MIM Shepherd suffered no ill effects from her experience. > * Fort Wayne, July 24.—(Special to Daily Democrat)—The primary held here yesterday furnished

' his closest competitor, Charles Mecame in third. It was the most ex- ' citing contest eVer held so the city. Over six thousand votes were cast and it was nip and tuck, first one candidate leading and then another. At ten o’clock U was announced that McCullough had won b/slx votes, but a recount showed Schmidt In the lead by four. For city clerk the democrats named David C. Stout, his majority being 700 and for city judge, William Fruchtenlght was chosen by 47. The republicans named Jesse Grice for mayor who won by 1,400 over Skelton; W. T. Jeffries for city clerk and J. Frank Mungovan for city judge. — O 1 ." BUG HARMS WHEAT FIELDS The chinch bug has been at work in the Adams county wheat fields. In Kansas and lowa for years the bug has ruined many fields, but here it has not been Very well known. The chinch bug is a good sized green bug, and when a handful of wheat is pulled up, hundreds of these bugs are founds at the roots. This year has been the first that they have been in Indiana fas great number, and it is unusual The old Amspaugh farm, located on the Peterson road, has a twelve acre wheat field which has suffered much from the insects. Mr. W. B. Weldy, a well known retired farmer has had a number of farmers show him their fields which the chinch bugs have ruined. Oscar D. Coons, aged thirty, a farmer from near Briant, Jay county, and Ida Jane Kelley, aged thirty-one, of Geneva, were granted a marriage license Saturday morning. A few minutes later at 8:30 Judge J. T. Merryman said the words which united them in the happy bans of wedlock. One real estate transfer was filed it being William W. Swartz to Theodore H, Gray, lot 385, Geneva, SI,OOO.

Auditor Michaud had his first bus-j iness transaction with the state board of accounts Saturday, when he received a request that he fill out blanks which were enclosed, giving some very necessary infortnation, including the names of alV* the township trustees and assessors and their addresses, the expiration of the-terms of all the, county officers, and alphabetical list ofthe cities and towns in the county. The information was retained to the board forthwith. Several of the township trusteeswere in the city today, making their annual 'report to County Superintendent Opliger. Monday is the last day tor filing these reports. A marriage license wps. issued to Joseph Gettys, aged 23, a farmer from near Hartford City, and Ethel Brandyberry, aged 22, of Monroe. • ‘ —Q At the law office of Dore B. Erwin immediately after noon Saturday, bids were '‘opened for the construction of a brick school house, and when the same is competed it will be located fa district one, St. Marys township, and is known as the Union school house. Eight bidders presented their tickets to the township advisory board? they all with Trustee 0. J. Suman being present at the letting. The bidders' and their bids were: Linn & Patton Baegley. Baumgartner $3,377.50, Manlier & Custer $2,585, Fred Hoffman & Son $3,300, Mann 8c Christen $2,738, Sam Kuntz $3,369, Dan Welkel $2,800, George Brewster $3,195.36. Some of the bids' were dose, but Manlier ft Custer won out by a small margin, their bid being SB2 lower than the next low bld.- The building will be a brick structure, of handsome design and containing all the necessary ventilation demanded by the state board of health for the preservation of the health of the children, who may attend the school at district number one. The successful bidders and contractors will make good their end of the contract and give to St Marys township one of the best buildings Os its kind. They will begin work in- a few days and will rush the work to completion. .-- ' : ' i -—-o ——— HE BUYS A RED TOURING CAR William Hoile of Union Township, Buys an Automobile. ' > [ ' ’ ■■ - ' William Halle of Union township, i and one of the best farmers and good i fellows in the county, has purchased ‘ a Reo, five passenger touring car, and . from this time forward will demon- ’ strate the fact that a ‘farmer really ► has more business with an automobile > than any one elsjß. The car is a beaui ty, and Mr. Holleand family will eni joy much pleasure from the purchase. It is thought that many other farmers in the county will soon own a car. • O~— —, H. H. Harruff, the real estate man, I to arranging to t 0.,, to . few W.

Zto d be ri fo XTeX e to the people of Adapis county, who are interested in properties in that section or who care to be. 4 »■ Q.X 1.-hCA.-'u. ...-A. Louis Webber, residing two and onehalf miles west of Decatur, over whom a consultation was field Friday by Drs. (Jlark of tilts pity and McOscar of Fort Wayne, can survive but a few days, according to a statement from the physicians. The affilcted man, who is fifty-five years of age, was taken ill seven weeks ago. A superfluous growth in the abdomen caused him muefi inconvenience. The services of a physician were engaged but not until after the cancerous growth had spread across the abdomen thus renderjng recovery all but impossible. He has steadily grown worse day by day, and every indication points, to an early death. It is thought’ that the spleen is in most part affected. Drs. McOscar and Clark Friday consulted over Mr. Webber’s condition |nd subsequently gave out the statement that recovery would be nothing short of a miracle. The aged afflicted map is well known over Adams county, and has a large following of friends who will regret to receive the sad tidings. —_o__ Attorney J. C. Moran was at Portland Saturday, where he closed the sale ot a $12,000 Issue of macadam road bonds for Wabash township, Jay county. The bonds were issued in August, 1900, ana on account of the <MMiflt proceAX &$h -Wl observed thedlspoeal of same they had not been able to sell them. Attorneys Peterson and Moran were engaged to sell the bond* and the necessary red tape was well taken care of by them and they lost no time in disposing of the bonds. The sale was made to E. M. Campbell’s Sons and Company of Indianapo’is, who Saturday consummated the transaction at Portland. The sale of the bonds will now permit the construction of the road in Wabash township, Jay county and the farmers Whose land abuts the road to be improved are elated to know that the highway will be given immediate attention. The Decatur attorneys have made an? enviable reputation in this line of work and the results of Saturday is but a repetition of what they have been doing for years. . —

■ Dr. and Mrs. P. B. Thomas received a message Sunday evening from their daughter, Mrs. Otto Haubold, announcing that they had landed safe and sound in New York City. They left that city last night on the Pennsylvania flyer and arrived at Fort Wayne Monday morning, coming to this city on the one o’clock car over the interurban. They left here April 10th and sailed from New York two days later, having been absent three months'and a half, and their trip has certainly been a pleasant one. They have visited the prettiest spots fa Italy, FYance, England, Switzerland and other countries of Europe, always seeking the places of the most interest and from the tone of letters, must have found them. They sailed from Southampton on the steamer Cleveland, on July 16th, coming over the Hamburg Tines and being on the ocean nine days. Their many friends here will be glad to see them and hear of the wonderful sights they have seen abroad. ' ■■' O ' Habeas corpus proceedings were filed Monday a. m„ through attorneys Peterson & Moran, to prevent Sheriff Meyers from taking Mrs. Sarah E. Hendricks to the insane asylum at Richmond. It will be remembered that about ten days ago, an Inquest was held on Mrs. Hendricks and she was declared of unsound mfad. Her sons Theodore, with whom she lives, and John E., when they read of the action, were much surprised and came to this city and employed attorneys ; to prevent such action, claiming that their mother was not insane, and that they Wished to care for her. The pai pers were received today admitting . her to the asylum*ahd the Attorneys at once filed the action. They say in the complaint which is against Sheriff Meyer, that Mrs. Hendricks is in very poor health, but is of sound mind and will be able to prove this if given an , opportunity to do so in court. As sbon as she - is able She will likely come here and the cause will be heard , before Judge Merryman. I — I A marriage license was Issued to I Charles Nicolet, 21, a cutter in a paper ■ box factory at Fort Wayne, to Mary r Agnes Best, 16, of Preble. t ' v _ ' • < Real estate transfers: Jesse A. ■ Buckmaster to Jefferson school town- . ship tract In Jefferson township, S4O. , D. D. Heller & Son, attorneys, filed a new case entitled Evaline Archer et , al vs. Mary Byson et al, a petition for ■ «>. pann'to. «f r«f ~Uto.

service. His subject was "The Unitv Os Churches.’’ In the course of his remarks he showed where all the protestant churches are united in the worrtces of one Savior and’alTwnrklhty toward reaching one great place—heaven, but the only difference is the difference in the creeds and’ that it sr.-jwsa.-ss were united in one great body to battle against sin and garner sheave* for the Master. I j’ v Our town was very quiet SUndhy a» nearly everybody was ih attendance at the old setters- picnic northeast of town, where was gathered 1 a large concourse of people. Every one spokein the greatest praise of the able address delivered by the-Hon. C. J. Luts of Decatur, ami the entire program was carried out as advertised. Much credit is due to the manager* of the affair. y Work, real work, commenced at Geneva today oh the Bluffton, Celina and Geneva traction Itoe. At just 1: IT ' this afternoon the plowing began for the grade. A. large force of men are at work setting the grade stakes and doing the other necessary work. Theline will be pushed to an early completion as the contractors, Brown, Bears & Company have a contract to complete the grade within sixty days. Who safd Geneva was nob going to have a traction line, even if it does come down a side street? W. B. Bawdy, formerly of Geneva, but who for a year has been conducting a hotel at Pennville was here Saturday looking for a house. He has sold fils hotel and win move Ms family back to this place. -—y,....... qJI . Sheriff Meyer tfiis morning received a communication from Sylvester I. Weaver, of Union, Ohio, asiihg Mm to assist them in locating Ms mother who left her home there about four weeks ago, saying she was coming to this county to vfsit with relatives of her deceased husband, who Hve near Geneva. Since then no word has been received from her aud it is fear?ed she has met with foul play. She is about sixty-five years eld and when she left home had with her fifty dol- _ lars hi cash and snipe valuable notes and other papers. She is described as being about five feet high, weighs 180

pounds, slightly gray, wpre a black and white dress and her mind is slightly affected. Her husband had « number of relatives at and near Geneva and the Mr. Weaver who wrote the letter is her only son, but is in senttoe letter to KmM jittoAtkinson at Geneva, who will no doubt thoroughly investigate fae affair. ,!jK fr 0 T . Cris Metjhberger of French township, was In the city and left with the county treasurer $3,700 fa cold cash and took away with him the John Lobsiger macadam road bonds. These bonds are far Adams counters share of the county line road, dividing the townships of French fa this bounty and Harrison fa Wells county. The money will be turned over to the proper officials of Wells county who have in charge the financial end of this road construction. Mr. Meshberger is one of French township’s well to do citizens, and a man, too, who rightly believes that Adams county securities are about the best and most gilt edged that a man with money could hold. Four mortgages were the only documents filed at the recorders office during the past twenty-four hours. County Assessor George Gentis is back to work at his office after a week’s illness. He is still quite • weak, but is oh the mend. County Clerk James P. Haefling is . at Portland looking after change of ; venue fees and otherwise Checking up with the county clerk of that place. — ———o— " WhY THEY GRINNED ! Mrs. Grant was undoubtedly the ’ disciplinarian z in the family, and Mr. I Grant, who was a very busy lawyer, i was regarded by the two children as i one of themselves, subject to the laws ' of "mother.” But one day Mrs. Grant I became very 111, and at luncheon Mr. Grant, who felt that the children were already showing signs of "running > wild," felt obliged to reprimand them* ■ “Gladys,” he said, “stop that immer dlately or I shall have to (take you from the table and spank you.” stead of making the impression he had . fondly hoped to do, he saw the two ■ little Imps glance In a surprised man- . ner at each other, and then simultaneously a grin broke over the faces I of both culprits, and Gladys said In t a voice of derisive glee: “Oh, George, r hear father trying to talk like mother!’’—August Llpplhibtt’s.