Decatur Democrat, Volume 52, Number 36, Decatur, Adams County, 9 September 1909 — Page 1

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ACTS OF CRUELTY . lAt the Light and Hope OrB phanage Arouses the State I X of Ohio \ Mr'.’” **""'** * > icrtILDREN RESCUED By Nearby Women Who | Used Underground Road f —Resumes Tomorrow H X I Rev. J. A. Sprunger, a firmer res- ® ident of this county, having been con|V nected with an orphanage at Berne, //is being tried at'Elyria, Ohio, for the mistreatment of children and his case | is attracting the attention of the en- ; tire state. For several years past 1 Sprunger and his wife have been conducting what they called the Light | and Hope orphanage near Binning* Siam, Ohio. They have a 500 acre farm H among the hills and have ninety boys ||snd girls between the ages of one and Bolghteen. Among those who have H'been Inmates there are the Lambert K- children, for whom Judge Merryman lis the guardian. The latter has always had great faith in Mr. Sprunger | and was greatly surprised to hear of ■ these charges of cruelty, and more so I at the evidence which is being offered. ’ The case against Sprunger was filed fe>y Humane Officer Lawrence and the first hearing occurred last Friday, and B was after the entire day was spent, ‘and the evidence pot concluded, conS tinned over to Wednesday of this B week. However, the evidence offered B was sufficient that the population of | the state has been aroused, and it is » likely that there will be no let up cm the Sprunger, 'unless he has flefew not made public. Dis- : /patches froih various Ito the press tell the story: Elyria, 0., Sept 7.—As a result of the investigation of the affairs of the Light of Hope orphanage near Elyria, in which Superintendent S. J. Sprunger admitted serving to the children meat from a cow which had died from eating too much clover, the three grandchildren of W. B. Gatz, of Lorain were volntarily released from the institution. The investigation which followed Mr. Gate’s suit in court to be appointed guardian of his grandchildren was not completed. The case was continued Saturday until Wednesday, when new witnesses will be offered by the Humane Society, which is taking a" hand in the investigation, and Superintendent Sprunger, it is said, will Introduce witnesses in defense. The airing of the matter in court has brought to light that Vermilion, six miles from the orphanage, has an “underground railroad” to assist children who have run away from the institution. There is a river between the orphanage and the “underground railroad," but the children wade across this. Mrs. George B. McCdnnelly, of Vermilion, has received and cared for a number of children -who have run away from the home, so have Mrs. Mary A. Zimmerman, Mrs. /Peter Hahn and Miss Nellie Griswold. They were in court during the investigation. At the .'trial Sprunger testified that the meat of a cow that had died from eating too much damp clover had been given the children for food. “I guess I will let my wife tell about that,” he said when questioned about the statement of children that they had been fed eggs that were tested in an incubator and would not hatch. Thoe. Baker, 16, and Geo. E. ’ Lambert, 18* both ot whom ran .away to Vermilion, told how 25 boys had to bathe in two tubs full of water, and that they had to use their underclothes after two weeks wearing to dry them-selves,-as no bath towels were pro-, vided. “There were just beds, rats, lice and bedbugs in our sleeping room," said Lambert “But what I wanted was an education. We could begin school only in December after the fall farm work was over, and had to stop as soon as we could plow.” j. “The children stand conditions at the orphanage just as long as they can,” said Mrs. McConhelly. “then | they run away. Three weeks ago, two L girls, Lillian Millington, 12, and LuIBelle Williams, 13, came to my home I for protection. They ran away, they Emid, because one of Jhe 'sisters,* as | the women of the home call themI selves, had beaten Lucile. They bad. I walked all the way, and had even| In mid cared for tlicni as I would for

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I my own. Lucile has since been turned over to her father, and now that I have the right, I will send Lillian back to her mother in Chicago, who has written for her.” Two of the strongest witnesses for Humane Agent Lawrence were Dorothy Farnum, 17, and. Dewey Brown, 11. Both now are Inmates of the orphanage. Dorothy Farnum was taken to Dr. H. D. Patrick, Elyria oculist, who testified that the girl had trachoma so badly that with one eye she could not see his hand farther than three feet away, and with the other only ten feet away. Dr. Patrick also testified th<t the disease infections would have , been amenable to treatment if given at the proper time. This is the disease which bars children from entrance to the United, States. On the stand the girl said her eyes had been bad four years. When asked what had been done for them, she said, “They prayed for them and put on some salve." Dewey Brown testified as to punishments administered. “I was pull- ' ing weeds one day in the potatoes when Brother Boyd beat me with a • stick until there were ridges on my legs and I could hardly sit down. Another time another brother beat me 1 with a strep doubled to make a loop.” Benny Sutllff testifled that once he 1 had been beaten because he left spme ; cows Sprunger had told him to watch. 1 “There was a bad bull in the lot. I ran away when he came for me and did not go back,” said the boy. Among the other acts which have 1 caused a storm of indigation against the managers of the home include the ■ cooking of field corn in the same 1 boiler in which the soiled, 'clothes /were boiled, the bathing of a dozen ' boys in the same water at one time, forced to sleep with clothes on to keep 1 warm and many otters. 1 " y. ; Indianapolis, Sept. 7.A-Dr. J. N. 1 Hurty, - secretary of the state hoard of health, is preparing for the next r issue of the monthly bulletin issued f W Hie' boarci, ahf article" which will appear under the heading: “Why These Conditions?” The subject for the paper was furnished by Dr. L. G. Cromer, of Union City, local health officer. According to a letter received from the officer, a famfy of eleven , persons in Union City is afflicted with typhoid fever, six of the eleven being . stricken. The home has only two rooms and only two beds. All of the . well members) of the family and three i of the sick ones sleep on’the floor, and , an altogether distressing condition is the result, according to Dr. Cromer. Also, according to Dr. Cromer, there are no funds by which the conditions can be bettered. There is no public hospital in the city and no pub’le money with which to employ a nurse, . if, indeed, one could be induced to attend the cases under such conditions. In his article Dr. Hurty will , say: "Speh Incidents as this indicate the mockery of tteJndiapa law inhar- ■ ing for the state’s citizens. Under the law the state board of health has power to take all necessary steps to relieve such a condition as Dr. Cromer has reported by providing better surroundings and appropriate care. Under the same law we are required to take charge of such a condition and treat it properly in order to prevent the spread of the disease to the remainder of the community. But after giving us the power, and placing on us the requirement, it refused to appropriate us one cent of money with which to do what we are empowered and required to do. and this poor family must go on doing with what a kindhearted physician is prompted to give out of a spirit of charity. The state is well enough off to give 815.000 for protection against bugs in fruit trees and foul brood'in honey bees.-and to give >IOO,OOO to protect our cows and calves at the fair grounds, but is not able to give one penny toward rellev- , ing such human suffering as is reported by JJr. Cromer. Apparently we have yet much educating to do." —o - ■ ■ •-•* Mrs. Joseph Steigmeyer, a pioneer lady of Union township, is very seriously 111 at her home suffering from a stroke of paralysis, which overtook her yesterday. Mrs. Steigmeyer has been sick for some time past as she had two strokes previous to the one of yesterday. She is somewhere In the seventies, and her serious illness along with old age makes death an almost certain thing. She and her husband are making their home with their, son John, and are given the .best care possible. She is the mother oT John, Joseph, Fred and Andrew 'steigmeyer, all of whom are prominent farmers of this county.

i R" 1 i ■■.■■■gggggSßgg!""' Decatur, Indiana. Thursday, Sept. 9 lsOo

JURORS EXCUSED] - ■■■" < Three of Regular Panel Re- i lieved—-Other Items from ' Hall of Justice i THE SECOND DAY | Several Partition Cases Disposed of-—Causes Are Set for Trial Judge Merryman Tuesday morning excused three of the regular panel of jury selected for the September term. They are Elias Carpenter, who recently moved to Ohio; William Lotzenhlzer, whose hearing and speech are defective and Eli Engle, who has a valuable contract to complete by a given time, the delay of which whicn be caused by his serving on the jury and thus cause him considerable loss. Attorney D. E. Smith filed a new case, entitled Edward E. Ham’l vs. Onandago-Indiana Oil Co., and Joy C. Hamil, complaint to foreclose, chattel mortgage, demand $3,000. Another new case filed was by C. J. Lutz, the title J>eing Fred Schafer et al vs. John J. Meyer, suit oh notes, demand |125. Real estate transfers: Paul G. Hooper to Leo lot 1012 Decatur, £75. Caroline Haughton et al to Christian H. Roth, 58 acres French township, $3,900. Sadie HammelJ to Will Hammell, one acre Washington township, $250. z Z. - J i *j *■■■.' ' - ./.Li. •*. ,»*- Abe M. Neuenschwander, guardian for Lydia M. Neuenschwander and six others, filed his report which was approved and the , partnership of guardian and J. ML Neuenschwander was continued until further order of court. Nettie Roop, guardian for William J. Smith et al, filed final report as to William. Tazwell Fritz, guardian for George A. Fritz and others, filed his current report, which was allowed. A. M. Habegger, guardian for Albert Stauffer and others, filed current report, which was allowed. Elizabeth Davenport, guardian for Josie L. Yager, filed current report. Louis F. Miller, executor of the Mary Gnepper estate, filed report of sale; approved. William Hilgeman, executor of the George H. Hilgeman estate, filed report of sale of telephone stock; approved. v Elmer Eley, executor of the Sarah B. McDaniel estate, filed final report and was discharged. Mary Bremerkamp vs. Joseph Bremerkamp, petition for order to convey real estate, default of defendant J. W. Teeple appointed guardian ad litem for defendant. Finding for plaintiff on her petition. . ' Isadora A. Kalver vs. Decatur Furnace Co., appearance by C. J. Lutz for defendant petition for order to sell property filed by receiver. Ella Debolt vs. Chauncey Debolt, divorce, appearance by Peterson & Moran for defendant. John H. Mumma vs. Hugh McGuire et al, default, cause heard, title to land quieted as prayed. D. E. Smith appointed commissioner and reported deed. Martha Trim vs. John Trim, divorce, default of defendant rule against prosecutor to answer. Charles Heffner vs. Jacob Hunslcker, damages S6OO, appearance by Peterson & Moran for defendant Albert Miller vs. G. R. db I. Ry Co., damages $5,000, appearance by A. P. Beatty for defendant George W. Fisher et al vs. Phoebe Fisher ot al, partition. Default of defendants. Finding for plaintiffs, that George W. Fisher, B. F. Fisher and

Sarah A. Christman each own onefourth of property named in petition, minor heirs own other fourth. Land ordered sold at private sale. J. H. C. Smith appointed commissioner and filed bond for $6,400. Ordered to insure'buildings for SSOO. Joseph D. Beery vs. Stephen Wilkin et al, submitted decree quieting title issued. P. G. Hooper appointed commisslbtier to convey land to plaintiff. A. P. Beatty entered his appearance for the Clover Leaf in the Sophia Conrad petition for ditch. . D. N. Erwin, guardian vs. Christina R. Niblick et al, partition, appearance by J. C. Sutton and Heller & Son for defendants. Adda M. & W. J. Hahnert vs. Martha Dunter et al, partition, appearance by Peterson & Moran for J. W. and Hattie Andrews. Default of other defendants. H. B. Heller appointed guardian ad lltum for minors. Rosie Passwater vs. Charles Passwater, divorce, cause set for hearing on plea in abatement, on September 14th. Bank of Wren vs. Cardwell Box Co. et al, note $6,000, rule to answer made absolute within five days. The Fred Bracht ditch was referred tc> drainage commissioners. On account of Surveyor Ernst relation to parties interested, Orval Harruff was named to act in his place and Rinehart Lelmenstall was appointed a commissioner. They will meet at the clerk’s office on Monday, Sept. 20. Hatruff’s bond was fixed at- $5,000. > 1 • Agenettie Aspy vs. Andrew J.. Pyle et al, quiet title, default of part of defendants, waiver of summons and appearance by Andrew Pyle and others. National Bank Of' Commerce vs. Caadwell Box company et al, note $5,000, rule to answer, made absolute in five days. Wisconsin Lumber Co. vJ. Cardwell Box Co. et al, suit on drafts, dismissed and costs paid. Henry A. and Sarah Tindall vs. Jacob Fogle, partition, set for trial, Saturday, September 18th. Doug Balser vs. L. H. Boknecht et al, note S6OO, D. B. Erwin withdraws defendant. A marriage license was issued to Harry Horn, aged 23, a cqptractor from Union City, Indiana, to Anna Louise Schaub, aged 21, of this city. Benjamin H. Elzey, aged 21, express agent, and Lucy Emma I£ruetzmann, aged 24, both of this city, have been granted a marriage license. ——o at— — Warren Hamrick, who has been suffering from appendicitis at the Campbell home near Salem since last Thursday was brought home Tuesday. He was accompanied by his physician and made the trip in an ambulance wagon, without any apparent bad effects. He was taken ill while on his route and has suffered intensely. He is now unable to speak above a whis.per, but it is believed he is out of immediate danger. Frank Hackman of this city went to Toledo Sunday morning, his mission being to seek for his brother, Henry Hackman, who left here twenty years ago, and who had not been seen or heard -from since by Frank or other relatives here. The journey was successful, as Frank found his brother, well and prosperous and the meeting of the brothers was a happy one. After a three days’, visit, Frank arrived home Tuesday. / oFort Wayte has teen harboring several cases of smallpox for some little time, and it found its way to the home of Martin Kiefer, living four miles northwest of Preble. Mr. Kiefer has It in a severe form and at present time Is a very sick man, although he is in no way dangerous. The health oncers are making an effort to wipe it out before an opportunity Is given for the disease to spread, and it is not thought that there will be any more cases. Mrs. William who has been sick for some time, and who recently submitted to an operation, is rapidly recovering, and is now able to be up and around the house. It is now thought that she will recover and regain her usual health. - ■

EXCELLENTREPORT . T - I » '• ' \ 1" Annual Meeting of the Citizens’ Telephone Co. Held Last Evening BOARD RE-ELECTED The Old Board and the Old Officers Chcfeen for Another Year • The annual election of directors for the Citizens’ Telephone Company occurred last evening, quite a number , of the stockholders being present at the meeting. Reports were read and approved, the most important perhaps being the statement of the condition of the company at the close of busi- . ness, August 31, l»09. The following ’ is this report: / 1 ' ASSETS. ' Decatur Exchange toll lines and rural lines ...$66,587.10 ’ Berne exchange 14,415.10 Real estate (exchange building) 3,615.80 j Sundry accounts receivable. 9.83 Due from subscribers 935.58 ( Cash on hand 1,880.78 J .- $87,444.19 LIABILITIES. , Capital stock $50,000.00 Bills payable: Borrowed money $6,500.00 Purchase money 1,500.00 8,000.00 , Coupons outstanding 28.65 Accounts payable 17.15 Advance payments of rental 710.0 c Surplus and undivided profits 28,688.34 $87,444.19 j The showing is a most excellent one, > and indicate that one consent has grown from an infant industry into a gigantic corporation, transacting a lot J of business and growing financially greater every day. For this the company is indebteded for a wise and . thorough business administration of ’ its affairs. All reports offered to the stockholders were unanimously apt proved, and the board congratulated 5 upon the excellence and business methods involved in taking care of the property and interest of the Citi- > zens’ Telephone company. The old • board of directors were re-elected and i commissioned for another year, they . being John S. Bowers, Dr. D. D. Clark, F. M. Schirmeyer, E. X. Ehinger and ; Godfrey Christen. After the stock- , holders’ meeting adjourned the board i met and organized, the old officers being elected, John'S. Bowers president, Dr/D. D. Clark vice president, F. M. ■ Schirmeyer secretary and E. X. Ehinger treasurer. At the meeting of t the board the usual six per cent dividend was declared. J. B. Holthouse 1 and C. J. Voglewede audited the > books of both the secretary and treas- • urer ,and reported them correct. 1 0 *— 1 At ten o’clock this forenoon at the • home of her father, Christian Gilliom, ! in Wabash township, Miss Zilla Gilliom will be married to Jonas Sprunger, son of the widow Mrs. Catherine ; Sprunger in Monroe township. She is a member of the Missionary church , and he of the Mennonite church. Rev. J. W. Kliewer will officiate at their wedding, be attended by : many of the near relatives of both the bride and groom. An elaborate 1 wedding dinner will be served. The 1 young people have the highest respect and good wishes of their friends. They : expect to go to housekeeping in the house on Water street now owned and occupied by Chas. Laisure and family. Mr. Sprunger is financially interested in the firm Sommer & Co. and is em--1 ployed there. —Berne Witness. — —o — The parochial schols Tuesday morning with attendance of 263 which is perhaps a slight increase in the enrollment There are seven rooms in the building and all of them are comfortably crowded, but good care will be taken of them by the able , corps of teachers, who are in charge. There is no change m any of the 1 teachers and the work moved off this morning without any difficulty whati ever. Rev. Wilken is much Interested in these schools and spends a great 1 deal of time in looking after the welfare of the youth that is under his care and guidance.

OtReULATI«N 2800 WEEKLY

Number 36

/Harry Olsen, a Swede, who has been working at tbe Murray house as night clerk, left Tuesday a. m. between the hours of three and five o’clock and took with him seventy-five dollars in cash which had been given to his care last night by John J. Glendening, a traveling man from Indianapolis, also the overcoat of D. F. Gilfoyle, the Standard oil man from South Bend, and president of the Decatur Furnace company. Mr. Glendening is the Indiana inspector for the grand lodge of Royal Arch Masons, and came here yesterday to inspect the local lodge. He returned to the hotel at about ten o’clock and preferring not to keep his pocketbook in his room, turned it over to the night clerk. Later Mr. Gilfoyle came in and placed his overcoat in the locked check department. The night clerk attended to his usual duties and was seen at three o’clock by the night porter and the driver of the night bus. Shortly afterward, the porter, a colored man, dropped off to sleep, and when he awoke two. hours later, the porter was gone. Mr. Murray was notified and he in turn called the sheriff and police and a diligent search was begun for the Swede. It is presumed that he left on the 3:18 train over the Erie for Chicago, as ue had formerly lived there and ww« was sent along the line and to the Chicago police. Olsen came here Weil recommended, being a brother of the Pennsylvania railroad agent at Fort Wayne, and his bold act caused much surprise. The loss to Mr. Murray will be considerable as the overcoat taken was a good one. Mr. Murray has two safes for deposits himself, but the money was given to the clerk after he had retired and he knew nothing of it. — —— o . Judge Merryman Tuesday morning I announced the appointment of Mrs. D. I D. Heller, Henry Lankenau and Mrs. Henry Krick as members of the 1 Adams county Board of Guardians, to serve during the ensuing three years. M>-s. Heller is > the president of the board and she : and' have served dur-, i' ing the three years past and since the . organization of the board. Mrs. Krick is a new member and succeeds Mrs. William Beachler, who was forced to resign when they recently I moved to Union City to make their ; home. The board has been in exls- , tence for three years and have done much good, looking after the children who need care, finding homes for 1 them and seeing that they are well ! provided with food and clothing and ’ are educated and given the proper care. At present they have in their charge thirty children, all of whom [ they look after faithfully and do all ■ that can be done to make of them , men and women. They will make a . complete report to the county council now in annual session and among [ other things will ask the council to consider a county home for the Or- , phans and for the children that need such care. This would greatly aid the good work these people are en- : gaged in, and would- be a wonderful teip to the poor and uncared for boys 1 and girls of this locality. —,—: o—l0 —1 The Adams county council went into session at a late hour in the .afternoon, but after they got down to business there was no time lost until the , long list of appropriations were entirely gone over and given their official stamp of approval. Every item of expense that will be considered in the transaction of the Business for next year was included in the appropriations made by them. The members of this body were all present with the exception of A. G. Briggs, of Geneva, and who is president of the board. Those who participated in the business of the board were Mat Kirsch who also acted as president; J. W. Merriman, J. O. Kraner, Tice Ullman, William Baumgartner and Ed Zimmerman. It was a busy session but they waded through tne mass of appropriations in a business like way. Ernest Doehrman and a number of other northern Adams county citizens were here Tuesday to interview county council in behalf of an appropriation for a bridge over the St Marys river on the Allen-Adams county line. The board had previously agreed to stand for their share of this expense but the Allen county board wanted to divide the expense of such an improvement 0 * Rev. Vernor went to Evansville this morning, where he will make a few days’ visit with his parents and will then go to Smith Mills. Ky.. where he will conduct a revival meeting for two weeks. t s