Decatur Democrat, Volume 57, Number 41, Decatur, Adams County, 10 October 1912 — Page 1

Volume LVII

DEATH BY OWN HAND Marshal E. M. Atkinson of Geneva Committed Suicide by Shooting Himself. AT AN EARLY HOUR Placed Muzzle of Double Barreled Gun in Mouth and Pulled Trigger. Marshal E. M. Atkinson of Geneva. , well known over the county in his o'as well rs an oil' man, killed himself instantly at s:?u o'clock this morning at his home on | Harrison street, at Geneva, by shooting himself through the head with a | douhle-barreled shot-gun. The shooting was evidently done with suicidal I intent. The tragedy took place in his room, where he had just arisen from bed, and no one saw him do the awful deed. His wife had arisen and had gone to the kitchen to build a fire; where she was when she beard the fa [ tai .shot, and fled at once from 'he | house Neighbors who heard the shot | has-lened to the scene and were the . first to see the awful sight. Mr. Atkinson had evidently just arisen from the bed and taken a seat on a chair at the ! foor about three feet away. He was' clothed only in his underclothes, ex I -cept for his stockings and supporters The instrument of shooting was a double-barreled shot gun. Evidently i the first barrel was empty, as the wife, | stated that she heard first a click and | i then a second one with the shot. The end of the gun had been slipped | through the waistband of the underclothes into the leg of the drawers,. uw nrougui to the floor, where it rest ■ ed. this precaution being taken to; steady the gun. The mouth bad then; teen placed over the muzzle of the j I gun. Mr. Atkinson leaning his head forward to do sc. The left hand waWj pi. ' ed over the muzzle end of the gun, near the mouth and the right hand used to pull the trigger. Death doubtless Came instantly. The face was not I disfigured, but the crown of the head was bulged out, the shell crushing the skull bones. Coroner Grandstaff reached the i scene about 8:30 o'clock and viewed i the body, taking the evidence of a I number of witnesses and will return Thursday to finish the inquest. Mrs. Atkinson stated that both had ; retired at 9 o’clock Tuesday evening after returning from town. Mr. Atkinson arose about 4 o'clock this morning, but returned to bed again. Just j we,.ue they got up for the day at; about 5:30 o’clock, she says he asked her where his gun was. She went into the kitchen to build the fire and then ; heard him walking about. She went; into the bedroom and saw that he had the gun and asked him wbat he w anted | to do with it. He replied that he just | wanted to look at it. Mrs. Atkinson then returned to the kitchen and about two minutes afterward heard the shot. She ran screaming from the house. This soon brought the neighbors, and among the first ones on the • scene were N. B. Shepherd, Archer Haughton and Wid Pease. Dr. Price was called, but Mr. Atkinson had doubtless been killed instantly and was beyond the need of a physician. Despondent Over Trouble. Despondency over troubles resulting from his office as marshal, and also from great pain which he suffered Tuesday from neuralgia and toothache, are thought to be responsible for his death. Evidence at the coroner's inquest brought forth the fact that some time ago he spoke to his wife regarding his work and said he had so many troubles he was afraid ho would kill himself sometime. As marshal, he was bound to incur the enmity of some, and it is said that a certain element in Geneva has been making things disagreeable for him. Only this week, Finley Kelley, was sentenced to fourteen days in jail tot intoxication and was placed in the Geneva calaboose to be brought latet b> the jail here. Il is said that sometime during the night the lock watf pried off the calaboose and Kelly was liberated and when Mr. Atkinson went to get him found his prisioner gone. ri>h> with other'trouj>les that are bound to come to one who serves the public, no doubt brought the climax to a head

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at thia time. Mr. Atkinson also suffered greatly from tooth ache and neuralgia yesterday. In the morning he had gone to a dentist to have a tooth drill- | ed and filled In the afternoon about | three o’clock he dropped Into the office of Squire Armantrout and while there the filling came out. He suffered Intensely and told Armantrout that if the misery did not soon ease, he would ■ go crazy. Mr. Atkinson was’ about fifty-two years of age. He is survived by his wife, Emma, but leaves no children. Mr. Atkinson came to Geneva some ten or fifteen years ago, when the oil iioom was at its height, he being engaged in that business. He was elected to the office of town marshal and served a term, and'was defeated later when he ran for a second term. He then left for Michigan, where he was engaged in the lumber business, but returned again to Geneva to reside. About seven months ago he was apixiinted by the town board to serve as marshal. Mr. Atkinson was quite recently appointed by Judge Merryman to serve as a member of the children's i board of guardians to succeed Mr. Andrew Teeple, whdse death occurred a few months ago. Mr. Atkinson was well and favorably known and was quite prominent. He visited in this city several times recently, and it is said was here only Tuesday. He was also here in attendance at the Ollie James speech last week. Mr. Atkinson was a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows lodges. COURT HOUSE NEWS Will Ward Case Called for Trial in Adams Circuit Court Today. BEFORE A JURY Special Judge Hartford is Hearing it—Howard Parker Estate Closed. The case of the State against Wil! Ward was called for trial in the cir--1 cult court this morning before a jury land a judge. The Hon. R. H. Hartford of Portland is hearing the case as special judge. This is the case in which Ralph Spade charges Ward and Ode McClish with conspiring to steal $6lO. This is another of the get-rich-quick cases in which McClish, who is now serving a term in state's prison at , Miccigan City, is implicated. Prosei cutor R. C. Parrish is prosecuting the lease, while Ward is being defended Iby Attorneys A. P. Beatty and L. C. | DeVoss. At 2:45 o'clock a jury had 'not been secured. The final report of Albert B. Riley, administrator or the Howard Parker estate, was approved. He was ordered 'to pay over $171.88, due Leah Parker, to her legally appointed guardian. This was done and reported and the j administrator discharged. The trial of the claim of Austin, one of the alleged creditors of the Adams j County Publishing company, for which ' a receiver was appointed upon appliI cation of I. D. Landis, the former editor, which was set for today, was postponed until October 2th. The case of John A. Hendricks vs. Nelson Fossnlght, appealed from Wabash justice, set for October 25th, has bedp left off the trial calendar. The appraisers of the damages to be incurred by Sarah Baker et al., in the appropriation by the Chicago & Erie of land for double-tracking purposes, filed report, fixing the damages at S4O. The damages to be sustained by Maria E. Hower et al., were fixed at S2O. In the case of Charles Van Camp et al vs. Laura Van Camp, demand, SB,OOO, a motion filed by the defendant to set aside and quash the notice of the plaintiff to have the defendant appear here , for examination, was sustained, lhe defendant is now married to Edward H. Tunell, of McClean county, N. D„ , where she resides, and she alleges that ■ she is not required to appear for ex- ■ amination outside of the county >n which she resides. The examination « was to have been held here October 9th, in the Will Hammell office. t The final report of Harvey O. , guardian of Detnaris Ray, and current , report as to other wards were approv- , ed and the guardian discharged as to I Demaris.

THE BEET PARADE Mr. Wagner Announces All Weighing Stations Outside Decatur Will Close ON OCTOBER 15TH Day of Big Parade—Request That Dinners be Furnished for Workers. The Holland-St. Ixniis Sugar company has announced that no beets will be received at any of their weighing stations in the Adams county field on Tuesday, October 15th, excepting at the Decatur plant. On that date will occur the beet wagon parade, when it it expected that five or six hundred wagons will be in line. Since so many fanners and laborers wish to come in on that day, the company has decided to close all the outside weighing stations, believing that it will not be worth while to keep them open. In this connection we have been asked to request the farmers is convenient to prepare baskets of dinner to feed the beet workers. This is requested for two very good reasons. First, it is thought that the restaurants will be overcrowded and that it may be difficult to obtain dinners, and second, there is nothing counts so much with these workers as good treatment and this dinner will aid greatly in securing good help for next year. The dinner will be served on the grounds near the sugar factory and it is hoped will be a successful event for all concerned. This is not a demand, but simply a request, and one that is up to the farmers. i The beet workers will take a promiI nent part in the parade, divided into delegations representing fheir native country, carrying their own flags and singing their national hymns. FELL FROM TREE Almon Shafer. Aged Sixtyfive, Fell Eighteen Feet from a Ladder. HE CANNOT RECOVER Has Been Unconscious Since Fall—Became Overbalanced —Alighted on Head.

Almon Shafer, aged sixty-five, a well known farmer of St. Mary's township; fell from an eighteen-foot ladder Tuesday afternoon while picking apples in his orchard and broke the two collarbones, and received internal injuries which will prove fatal. He was working in a tall apple tree and was at the apex of the ladder, which was eighteen feet long and in reaching out after the fruit became overbalanced and fell, alighting on his head and shoulders. Help came immediately and he was carried to the house where medical attention was given him. Both collar bones were broken and internal injuries of a serious nature were inflicted. He lapsed into unconsciousness and has since continued so, not being able to resognize his closest relatives. The physician in attendance holds out no hope for his recovery. Mr. Shafer is well known in this city and has a host of friends. He always greeted one with a smile that will be missed by many. — o REV. SEAMANS TO SPEAK. At Trinity M. E. church on Thursday evening at 7:30 o’clock, there will be a missionary service relating to both home and foreignmissions. The work will relate to both home and foreign missions and will be conducted bj Rev. R. E. Seaman, forman pastor of the church and now of Decatur, and Rev. Edwin Dixon, (ft Leo.—Ft. Wayne News. . PRE-COMMUNION SERVICE. A service preparatory to the communion service of Sunday will be held tonight at 7 o’clock at the Presbyterian church. The members of the church are urged to be present. WM. H. GLEISER, Pastor.

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday October, 10 1912.

* CAST YOUR STRAW BALLOT. * * * * We are sending each reader of * * the Daily Democrat In the city of * * Decatur this evening, one of the * * Cincinnati Enquirers straw vote + * ballots. We ask ion to fill same * * out carefully and honestly, seal it v * and hand to the carrier boy, to- * * morrow evening. They will not ♦ * be opened until they arrive at the * * office of the Enquirer and you V * need not sign them unless you i< * wish to. Vote, that the trend of v * opinion may be known. If you + * will not be at home place the on- * * velope where the carrier can se- * * cure it without trouble. V THE DECORATIONS Persons Coming to the Business Section This Morning Were Surprised. AT THE DECORATIONS Many Arches Put up in the Night—More to Come Each Night. Citizens coming to their work in the business section of town this morning were agreeably surprised at the appearance of the streets which had over night been decorated with twentyeight beautiful arches of flags and

streamers, the first part of the decorations for Old Home Week to be held here commencing next Monday. The Seifert Brothers, decorators, commenced Tuesday night in earnest to place the decorations for the week in place and will continue their work every night until it is completed. The decoration of the majority of the business houses is yet to do. and will be taken up as soon as the balance of the arches are placed. When the arches are all up and the business houses all decorated the town will present an appearance which will ! please, and display the city progresAll the decorations will be in place for the opening next Monday morning and the week will start off with a rush. The special trains run by the railroads will add materially to the I crowds and the week cannot help but be a hummer. , FIRS' 7 " TWENTY YEARS Mr. and Mrs. Marion Davis Friday from Springfield, Mo., to visit here with relatives and attend the Old home week celebration. Mr. Davis was born , and reared here but this will be his first visit in twenty years. He is a brother of Mrs. J. R. Porter, Mrs. Ella Redding and R. A. Davis. ANNUAL SYNOD Os the Indiana Presbyterian Church Held at Shelbyville Next Week. BEGINNING MONDAY Rev. Gleiser and C. J. Lutz Delegates from the Local Congregation. Rev. W. H. Gleiser and C. J. Lutz, who have been named delegates from the local Presbyterian congregation to the annual Indiana Presbyterian synod to be held at Shelbyville, will leave Monday to attend the sessions which open Monday morning and continue through Wednesday evening. The program promises many good things and among the numbers is an address by Rev. Mark Allison Matthews, of Seattle, Wash. Rev. Matthews is moderator of the general Synod, and is also pastor of one of the largest Presbyterian churches, in the United States. E. A. K. Hackett of Fort Wayne, editor of the Sentinel, is also listed for an address. Many other men of national and stafe reputation in this church will take part and the synod promises to be one of great inspiration to the many attendants.

SPECIAL TRAINS - 1. . I I —— • Will be Run by the Grand Rapids & Indiana for the Home-coming Week. A GREAT LATITUDE i — Os Time is Offered Visitors Here—Operates from Ft. Wayne to Portland. The Grand Rapids & Indiana RailI way company has issued the special | schedule of special trains which will be run by that enterprising company ;to accommodate the visitors to the i Home-coming. The trains will be operated the 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th and 119th, from Fort Wayne to Portland land will give the greatest latitude in accommodations that is possible. Complementing the regular trains tlie i schedule will afford a great range of I time to the visitors who use this line and the people of this city feel grate- . ful for the accommodation given. The schedule reads: Southbound. Leave Ft. Wayne 7:30p.m. Hoagland 7:50 p.m. Williams 7:55 p.m. Decatur 8:08 p.m. Arrive Monroe 8:20 p.m. Arrive Berne 8:30 p.in. Arrive Geneva 8:40 p. in. Arrive Bryant 8:48 p. m. Arrive Portland 9:00 p.n.. Northbound. Leave Portland Eh 15 p.m. Leave Bryant 9:28 p. m. Leave Geneva 9:35p.m. Berne 9:45 p.m. Monroe 9:55p.m. Decatur 10:10 p.m. Williams 10:20p.m. Hoagland 10:25 p. m. I Fort Wayne 15:45p.m. o IS LOCATED HERE Dr. Sterling Hoffman of Linn Grove Opens Office Here for Practice. HAS MOVED HERE Has Opened Office Over Interurban Station—Excellently Qualified.

Dr. S. P. Hoffman, who has opened bis office over the interurban station, lias moved his family into the property just vacated by Oliver Schug at 223 North Fifth street. Dr. Hoffmann, who is a Linn Grove young man, comes to us a very highly recommended young man, and has made especial preparation for the practice of medicine. He was formerly a teacher in the sciiools of this county, two years in the common school and two years as principal of the Linn Grove high school. After deciding to prepare for the practice of medicine he began his preparation by securing a liberal education. He received his B. S. degree from Marion Normal college and his A. B. degree from the Indiana university in 1910. In the meantime he spent one year in chemistry at Purdue university. After receiving his degree at I. U. he was given a teaching fellowship in the department of physiology in that school. Deciding not to interrupt his course he declined to accept this position. Again the following year, during his junior year in medicine he was given a teaching fellowship in Washington Medical university at St. Ixiuis in the department of pharmacology, but again desiring not to deviate from his course he decided not to accept this place. Dr. Hoffman graduated this June from the Indiana University School of Medicine and on examination before the state board of medical registration made the honor roll with the high grade of 904 points out of a possible 1,000. Indiana university is one of the leading schools of the middle west and the system employed in this state for the teaching of modern medicine and therapeutics is second to none in the union.

HEARING THIS AFTERNOON. William Cook Went to Van Wert to Answer Horse Stealing Charge. William Cook, who was charged with stealing a horse from P. C. Masterson of Van Wert, Ohio, and who was released on SSOO bond, wen to Van Wert by automobile today noon and at 1 o’clock was given a hearing before ’Squire Manghtp. Cook was accompanied by Deputy Sheriff Kelly and Johnny Corbett, the twelve-year-old boy who claims that he accompanied Cook to Van Wert Sunday and was told by him to take the horse, out of Masterson’s stable and start for home. The horse was purchased from Cook by Masterson and it is said was not settled for. —c J. R. COFFEE LEAVES TOMORROW. Jerry Coffee and family will leave Thursday for Los Angeles, Cal., where they will make their future home. They are leaving Adams county, not because they do not love our people and the locality, but in the hope that Mr. Coffee’s health which has been very bad for several years may be improved. They desire us to say to their many good friends in this locality, Good-bye, and to assure them that their best wishes remain with the dear ones in old Adams county. o - — NECK WAS BROKEN Georee R. Venis of Bluffton Dies Three and Half Hours After Accident. HAS RELATIVES HERE Formerly Lived in Adams County—Funeral Will be Held Thursday. Many relatives and friends from this city will attend the funeral of George ; R. Venis, ex-councilman of Bluffton,, and a former Adams county resident, which will be held tomorrow after- i noon at 2 o’clock. The death of Mr. Venis occurred Monday night at 11 o’clock, three and a half hours after he fell in an accident in which liis neck was broken. Mr. Venis was at his shoe store and repair shop, and had climbed to the top of a ladder to search on one of j the top shelves for something, when ; he slipped and fen. In the fall, he ; struck his head on a small stool and i foot rest combined, and death ensued I three and a half hours later. Mary, I wife of Thomas Elzey, and Thomas i Venis, of this city are his sister and brother, as are Samantha, wife of Ho- j mer Walters, of Continental, Ohio, and i Sylvester Venis of Hoagland. George Riley Venis was born in Ohio on April 24, 1856, the son of Rudolph and Elizabeth Venis. The family moved to Indiana and settled 1 in Adams county when he was a ’ young boy and he came to Wells county about forty years ago. He i first located at Vera Cruz and there learned the trade of a shoemaker in the shop operated by Ephraim Mosure for a number of years. After learning his trade he came to Bluffton and opened the shoe store in which he has been interested ever since. His son, Roy, has been a partner in business with his for a number of years. Within the last year they added a stock of shoes to their repair shop equipment. Mr. Venis was married on February 26, 1877, to Miss Ellen Stonebrook, who had been practically a life-long resident of Wells county. She survives him with three sons, Roy, of this city: Carl, of Fort Wayne, and Raymond, of Muncie. There are also several grandchildren surviving. MEET AT BLUFFTON. The local Odd Fellows’ lodge is in receipt of a letter from the Bluffton lodge and cantonment giving the news that on October 28th they will hold a district meeting there at which several of the state officers will be present and a big program has been arranged for the entertainment of the visitors. There will be a drill by the Bluffton Cantoment., the best drilled cantonment in the world. The visiting brothers will be assured, a warm reception and many from here will go to Bluffton to be in attendance.

W. J. BRYAN ! IS COMING The Great Commoner and Samuel M. Ralston Here Friday, Oct. 18th. OLD HOME WEEK Entries for Horse Show Coming in Rapidly—Concerning the Ponies. William Jennings Bryan, the great commoner, three times a candidate for the presidency, and the most popular American living today, will be in Decatur on Friday morning of next week. He will be accompanied by Samuel M. Ralston, democratic candidate for governor of Indiana, and a number of other noted men. The news was confirmed in a telegram from Mr. Ellingham received Tuesday evening. County Chairman Bosse is already busy on the advertising, and he has appointed John W. Tyndall as chairman of the reception committee. A delegation of twenty-five will leave here at 6 o’clock Friday morning, going to Ft. Wayne, where they will meet the party and return here, arriving at 8:30. The speech will probably be made on the west side of the court house and it is needless to say that many thousand will gather to hear the world's greatest orator. Friday is also horse show day of the Old Home Week, and the visit of these men of national fame will but add to the festivities of the occasion. They will go from here to Bluffton, thence to Marion, Anderson, Muncie, Portland, Winchester and into Richmond for a night meeting. As but three days are allotted to Mr. Bryan in Indiana, owing to the great demand for him in every state, he will speak in only a comparatively few cities and Decatur is fortunate to be in his itinerary. It will be one of the big days of the campaign as well as of the Old Home Week. All arrangements are being completed to make the day a banner one in Decatur. John T. Myers, chairman of the horse show committee, reports that the entries are coming in rapidly and the success of that feature of the big week is assured. A big interest is being manifested by the farmers from all over this secption. In connection with the horse show will be given a pony show, entries in this being for the parade only. Cash prizes will be given on ponies, first $3.00: second, $2.00; and third, SI.OO. Please send in your entries early so as to be sure of your stalls. Miss D. O. Jackson writes us from Boyerstown, Pa., regretting that she cannot be here, thanking ns far the paper and invitatiqps and declaring that her thoughts will be in Decatur next week, even If she can’t. Mr. and Mrs. L.A. Hayward write from Georgetown, Mass., ordering the paper sent to them that they may keep in touch with our live community. Mrs. Anna Fahrenbach and family of Ft. Wayne have accepted, while Miss Franke Thompson of Calgary, Alta, Canada, sends her regrets. The streets of Decatur fairly made the business men gasp this morning as they came down Second street, where the decorators were busy all night, putting up the streamers across the street. Flags and buting are everywhere and we are sure getting ready. The business men have caught the spirit and at least half have added a coat of paint to their store fronts. PUT UP THE LAMP. Martin Mylott and a force of men raised the new light post in front of the city building this morning, getting it ready for Old Home Week. There will be a six thousand watt lamp placed on this and will light up two or three squares. - —o ——•— DAILY CENSUS REPORT. Dorothy Vernon is the name of the nine-pound daughter that came into the home of Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Carr ! Christen Tuesday afternoon. The ! babe came in time for Home-coming | but intends to stay.

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