Democratic Press, Volume 1, Number 7, Decatur, Adams County, 29 November 1894 — Page 1

THE DEMOCRATIC PRESS.

VOLUME I.

Jerry Coffee was sore throating it a few days the fore part of the week. Mrs. E. Burt Lenhart visited her parents at Peterson over last Sunday, returning home the first of the week. You will note the advertisement of Adam Gilliom, the new dry goods merchant. His stock is new and just the thing. Head his ad. C. C. Boesse & Co., the hustling merchants of Pr ble, are represented in these advertising columns. Our subscribers in that neck ©’freedom should look ’er up. After a few days vacation the telephones are in apple pie order, working as best they know how. The lines are in excellent condition and everyltody is satisfied with the service of the company, a fact we are glad to chronicle. Frank Gass, the electrician, who has been in the employ of J. B. Edwards for the past five years and three months, has accepted a position in the dry goods store of M. Brernerkamp, while he will hereafter be found employed. W. O. Buller of Waterloo, came down upon his army of friends here last Thursday, remaining a day or two. He formerly was connected with the management of the Burt House, and being a genial sort of an individual made many lasting friends who would jump over a barb wire fence to smile at him Miss Sue Hartman of Geneva, gave quite a swell reception at the Shamrock last Thursday evening. A musieale, a daintily prepared luncheon followed with < ancing and social enjoyment were all given a reception by the many who paid their respects to the occasion. Guests from Wayne and Portland were present. Elmer Urich was brought into court Monday and was sentenced by Judge Heller to one year in tne northern prison, where he will be taken in a few days. The prisoner didn’t take on any emotional air. but was quiet, reserved ami meek as a spring kitten. He was an accomplice in the meat stealing at Monroe something like a year ago. Prosecutor Snyder has not as yet appointed a successor to the piesent deputy prosecutor, Jacob Butcher, at Geneva. Candidates of all sizes, kinds and conditions have come to the surface for recognition to this place, and that fact, no doubt, is cause sufficient for the delay. Who will get to sit on the juicy plum is yet a mystery too deep for penetration at this time. Geneva matrimonial circles are just now in the height of fashion, so Dame Rumor says. If her reports are correct Bert Redout will today lead to the hymenia! altar Miss Hattie Veley, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. I. N. Veley. They are prominent young pe pie at that place, with ma >y warm friends who will gracefully throw their old shoes in wishing them a happy life chuck full of married bliss. Here’s to ye’s. Au exchange would like to know why a young bicyclist doubles him self up like a home made doughnut the minute he begins to work the pedals, and why a fellow when he goes to throw a ball first screws it into the palm of his right hand with his left, then hops on his right foot while he bumps his chin on his left knee before he throws it ? Why does a girl whom nature has given a clear and healthy complexion, have to paint till she can’t wink for fear of breaking the enamel? Why does she bang her ha>r like a spitz poodle and make her head look like a window mop ? Echo answers why ? The Salamonie natural and artificial gas plants of Fort Wayne have been sold to the Deitrich syndicate of New York, the consideration being $1,100,000. The plant at An lerson also went into their hands, pay ing $200,000. All such corporations who aresupp'ied from the gas lielt are receiving and con sidiring oilers from this syndicate, who want to secure absolute control of the belt. 1 tie Trenton Rock Mining Company have been offered $120,000 for their in. erests, and many members of the company favor the sale, although no steps have been taken towards disp< sing of same and perhaps won’t be at the present. We presume, though, that in the course of time it will be operated in this way, and we doubt not but what it is advisable. However, we w ill see what we shall see.

Miss Getrude Geddes of Goshen, is a guest iu this city of Mrs. D. E. Studebaker. Jesse Niblick and R. K. Allison were at Portland last Sunday on business of importance. They returned that night. Dan Berry was out the other day trying his luck at quail killing. He managed to get five of this family, two pheasants and one rabbit, the total weight of which Dan reports at thirty-two pounds. Charley Foughty is wearing a badly disabled hand, having caught same in a cog wheel at the box factory Monday morning. It was the left member and is badly fractured and will cause him to give up work for some little time to come. Geneva is turning out more attorneys than any town in the universe just now. The last on the list is Will Kelley, who was here last Thursday being examined and attending to s me other business. We prophecy a noteworthy career for Will some day after hefully develops his originality and knowledge iu this profession. George W. Bolds was in town from Geneva the first of the week attending to some business of inter est to him. He reports the oil business as being right up to the standard with every one connected therewith asthi iving. The output of oil is keeping up to a standard that inspires confidence to those engaged in the business. Among the many social disturbances at Geneva here of late, none were more in keeping with society events than the one opened at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Waltz last Thursday evening, at which time they entertained a few of their married friends. It was a pleasant evening and many was the compliment bestowed upon the host and hostess The grand jurors inspected the county infirmary Tuesday, this being one of theii duties. They found everything connected therewith neat and tasty, and the inmates all healthy and comfortable. Notone complaint was registered against the present management, nor any gri< vances recorded. Everything was satisfactory as the grand jury’s report shows, for which much credit belongs to Mr. and Mrs. Haelling. The Clem Kennedy stock of merchandise iu Ceylon was sold at auction last Friday and Saturday, the entire footings reaching the close proximity of $l5O. Clem is implicated in a charge of conspiracy with Charles Bone in attempting to burn the store building several weeks ago, an account of which was iu this paper at the time. He is now under a bond of >SOO for his appearance iu court. Decatur has taken a long and commendable stride in the street improvement line in the past year, and the appearance of our shining little city, where such improvement has taken place, is quite noticeable and the good work should go on. Give us good streets and good side walks, so that when strangers appear in our city a favorable impression of our merits will be distinguishable. Besides that the convenience is not to be overlooked, as well as the fact that your property’ will increase in value just thre times the outlay on improvements. We feel sure that the fever has struck us, and let’s let ’er go. Malinda. The council met iu regular session Tuesday eyening. The meet ings of the council have been held each week inthepast, but herealb r the council will meet but twice each month—the second aud fourth Tuesday. The committee on public improvements reported that the trees hid been plante in the north side park as per contract, and an order was drawn for the amount due Fred Kno lle, contractor. Robison, Gillig A Co., contractors, were allowed SBOO on Fifth street and $288.14 on Third street improvements. The city attorney was in Strutted to pre] a e tlie ordinances of the city which have been put in force since t ie publication of the former ordinances i.i 1887, ready for printing i > pamphlet form. Dr. Coverdale being absent no action wis taken toward the n moval of T. J. Archbold, street coinmis sioner. The council will meet Sat urday night for the purpose of receiving the city engineer’s final reports on the Third, Fifth and Jes ferson streets improvement.

DECATUR, INDIANA, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1894.

Jim Fulton and wife were here over last Sunday, the guests of C. W. Miller and wife. Dr. Vizzard of Pleasant Mills, returned Monday from a three weeks absence with relatives in the southern part of the state. The Methodist ladies have been working hard for the success ot their Thanksgiving dinner, w hich can be found in the parlors of the church at noon today. Go fill up. D. M. Hensley experienced a fall down stairs the other day that he says doesn’t go in with his business. It almost disjointed his leglets and otherwise bruised his person, but by the aid of his determination he withstood it all without taking t is lied, and now is aliout his old time usual self. The Grand Rapids railway now deserve all the commendation our people can spare. The 10:12 : o’clock train north is changed to j 6:12, making an evening in Fort Wayne a possibility without leaving in the afternoon. It isjust the thing at just the right time, and no one along the line will appreciate the change more than the peo pie of Decatur. Agent Bryson knew what we wanted. S. I. Weit, a boot and shoe merchant < f Bluffton, made an assignment Tuesday for the benefit of creditors. The liabilities are placed at s7,o<m with $->,OOO worth of as sets to cover it up. The above firm has done business in Bluffton for many years and was thought to be as good as old wheat. A grocery firm at Lagrange also turned its toes to the daisies with liabilities and assets at about $2,500. Mayor Quinn also proclaimed, iso today the business houses re i mained closed from ten o’clock tin ’ til four, ai d our citizens generally j devoted themselves to being thankful for blessings received. The I poor people of our city, and their number is few, were amply provided for in one way or another. Religious services took up a part lof the day, and in ail every one bore expressions of thankfulness. May it ever be so.

Amos C. Beeson has been elevated from the editorial management of the Winchester Journal to the presidency of the Farmers and Merchants Bank, succeeding Judge Marsh. It is so seldom you hear of a newspaper man having anything to do with banks, that when oue is so fortunate, the fraternity all brighten their faces with anticipating hopes. Brethren, be not downcast, for who knows we may all own a bank of our own some dav, some time. It can be very’ truthfully’ said that the number of men who mysteriously disappear and “don’t know how they got there” is grow ing quite large. In these latter days it has in fact assumed the proportion of a fad. If a man is short in his accounts, or dissatis tied with his wife, or indisposed to pay his debts, or falls in love with another woman, he mysteriously disappears. If not found themys tery remains a neighborhood wonder for years, but if he turns up somewhere he is utterly unable to explain how he got there. These stories have a very gauzy appearahce at times. The do< r of the sanctum swung hesitatingly upon its hinges. With an ambling step there entered a middle aged man. He wore his cap on the side of his head aud a look of self satisfaction on his unshaven face. His clothes had been newer once—and cleaner too. The editor readily recognized one of his old subscribers. “Yousee,” began the visitor, ez 1 had a little time spare, I jes’ tho’t I’d come in an’ pay—” But this was too sudden for the editor, and he had fainted By a very thorough application of water and printer’s ink from the wash bowl be was soon brought to, however, and the guest continue!. “Yes sir, jes’ tho’t I'd call in aud pay’ my respects to you aud sort o’pass the time o’dav, you know. \nd t 11 as how I alius stuck up for paper when the folks down our way is a kicken ’bout whats in it and what a’nt in it. So course you don’t get all the news and what do get an’t alius on the square, but you’r ru niu’ a party fair ’ aper; yes, sir, a party fair paper.” And shifting a quid ot tobacco from one cheek to the other and besmirching the editorials, which the editor had spent the morning on, and which, in the confusion had fallen on the floor, with tobacco juice, he departed.

A judgment was taken against John J. Foughty in the circuit court Saturday, in favor of the U. S. Nursery for $56.30. What did we tel) you about that new side walk in front of this office ! Just putting on more style than a big government mule. , Come and see us. Perhaps before this local is being read by our many’ thousands of readers Mrs. John T. Coots maybe lying cold in death. She has been aillicted some time with consump- * tion, and attending physicians say the end is near at hand. She has suffered for a long time and no doubt death will be a relief. Her many friends will receive this intelligence with regret. An Anderson girl is plaintiff in a circuit court suit, wherein she charges Courtland Van Riper with seducing her and otherwise debauching her by means of a mock marriage. The complainant avers that in 1890 the defendant induced ; her to elope to Bluffton, where a marriage ceremony was performed, i and it now turns out to be a fake of whole cloth. Bad town, that Bluffton.

Ex-Marshal Robt. Maloney, now iof Blue Creek township, doesn’t believe in doing anything by halves. While in the city last Thursday he took advantage of the cheap rates of becoming a patron of the Democratic Press and put up the price from then until the first of January, aud also the price for one year from then until 1896, which includes the Indianapolis I Sentinel. Bob knows a good barI gain when he sees it, hence the above investment. A school director down in Kansas, while visiting his school recently, when asked for his remarks j said : “Bhildren. lam glad to see ■ that you have ciphered clear through the ’rithmetic, beginning I at addition and going through sub- . traction,perdition, admonition, jur- ; isdiction, hallucination,derivation, ! creation and amputation. You went through the ’rithmetic like a j cyclone went .hrough Cowley conn ! ty, you made clean shuckin’ as you went. I’m much obliged to you for your attentionduring my predatory remarks.” Mrs. C. H. Baldwin arrived in : this city Tuesday from the state of Washington, having to travel through Idaho, Wyoming, Dakota, lowa aud Illinois before reaching her destination here. She was traveling for something like a week and we imagine was completely fatigued. Herself and husband were former residents of Ceylon in this county and will be remembered by many of our people. They went to Washington some three years ago and this is the first peep at the old home any of them will have enjoyed. Mrs. Baldwin reports them eozily located on a stock ranch where they are prospering but she prefers Indiana and especially Adams county to live in, and we can t blame her for that. “Popular Amusements,’’ what tdey have been, now are and will ' be, until a new generation of peo pie or the the present ones are washed with a revolutionizing spirit upon a subject that has more significance than the wordly pe >ple | allot it, was the subject advanced for a lecture by the gifted Rev. Gregg at the Christian church ' last Thursday night. It would be putting it very mildly, indeed, to say that he handled these many socalled amusements that many times cling more closely than the sacred bonds of home, without gloves, lie simply cleared hi> skirts of personal feelings and obligations and walked all over everyone's corns, aud when one ponders or reflects and even looks back upon the unrecorded historj’ of their own lives for a grasping hair with which to rebut the many scathing-annunci ations, they fail to find oue iota that will bear testimony. Mute aim lifeless they are to anything that justifies the present sacriligious customs of society and amusement. Thus it is and perhaps will ever be. Rev. Gregg paid his respt'ets to almost everythingtiiat has crazed our people int' its applause, and while he talked plain yet every one who wants to display a fair mind will have to admit its truthfulness. The lecture was practically illus trated and brought forth much applause and comment from those who were favored with hearing it. \\ e would like to publish it for our readers, but owing to our limited space i-.nd its length we are unable to do so now.

James Leavy, roadmaster on the Grand Rapids, was here Mon’ay looking over the line, and smiling around among his friends. The many friends of Mrs. Mary Fonner were shocked Monday morning at which time she very suddenly died of quick consumption She was well and favorably known by all our people. The funeral services were held at the Methodist church yesterday after- : noon at two o’clock, by Rev. Gregg. Interment in Maplewood cemetery. The family of J. R. Christen of Marion, were in attendance at the funeral. Charles Bone was brought into court Monday at which time the grand jury returned a bill of indictment which charged him with an attempt to commit arson. Our readers will remember the case. It I conies from Ceylon, and the article under destruction was the storeroom of Clem Kennedy, valued at ; a few hundred dollars and which was fully’ insured. Attorneys Bobo A Coffee made a motion to quash the indictment an account of some legal technicality, and up to the time of going to press the Judge I hasn’t ruled upon the motion.

The Geneva hunters returned from a five weeks outing at the lower peninsula, where they slayed all kinds of wild game. We said they all returned, but we meant to say all but William Fields who was detained by the game warden at Grand Rapids. The said warden just kept all the game and the penalty for such a breach of formality at $35. Will looked wise, plead his own case, aud tried to jew the fellow down but “by’ the life” it wouldn’t work. In spite of all this the entire lot swear on a volume of Luke that a nicer time was never cut out, and we take it for granted that such is the case.

John Boocher has been appointed , receiver over the few remains of absconding John Blakeslee, in the cause where Robinson Peoples and . Hiram L. Gladden are concerned, j they being the owners of a chattel, mortgage covering a stated number of sheep owned by’ fleeting John, i By’ the way it may not be out of order to here mention that indefinite information finds John luxuriantly rolling in wealth across the border in Canada. We can’t state this to be deep dyed fact and we don’t suppose any’ one in these diggings can, but having a long lingering nose for the latest news we can almost smell him in that region. He has many friends here who would no doubt like to clasp him to their bosoms, but unfortunate'y that won’t pay the bill. O'Neal Bros. & Co. of Portland, failed last Friday. They’ were for several yeais the leading millers, having the explicit confidence as well 75,000 bushels of wheat and many’ thousands of dollars in money which belonged to the farmers and businessmen of Jay county. It is simply another case of mis placed confidence and those who trusted iu their honesty as well as their ability to pay, will get no re bate further than the good will of the men who systematically done them up. Tnere was said to have been stored there something like 75,000 bushels of wheat, of which not a grain was distinguishable any where about the mill. The said wheat was either ground into flour and sold, or sent t> the eastern market and there disposed of by the O'Neal’s aud the cash put down tn their inside pocket. The utmost confidence was always indulged in these people and they were quoted as gilt-edge by every body. Grain men as well as farm ers the county over were victims, aud th’’ kicking is somewhat awful. Since the eras i came it is authoritatively stated that the members of the firm trotted a clever pace. They wore diamonds, broad cloth and carried their heads at about forty degrees to the left. They spent lots of money and went into debt for lots more, so when the th ng is all summed upa good sized kick is entitled to those who hold the sack and who most likely will get nothing else out of it. They were put under a SI,OOO bond on a < barge of emb zzlemeut, preferred by some one who had wheat stored in the mill. If that ease should happen to stick about a million j others will follow, but the chances I are all against the oue case. It is simply a clear case of got your foot in it, and the easiest way out of it s io suii’c and look pleasant. This don’t cost anything or the O'Neal i boys would have it charged up.

NUMBER 7

* The next holiday is Christmas, Tuesday, Dec. 25. While at Berne last Tuesday, we were financially remembered and pleasantly entertained by such princely good fellows as Tom Donnelly, Sam Simison, H. G. Braun, J. O. Kunkle, Eugene Eshleman, Jacob Brenneman, Wm. Sheets, C. Rose, Jacob Eley. C. C. Yoder, Peter Soldner, .John Eley, Postmaster Michaud, Dr. Bergman and Dr. Stoneburner, to whom the ; Democratic Press makes an acknowledgement. Monday night after the Odd Fel- ! lows had concluded their routine of business and the docket was closed ; the noble grand, his supporters, the I secretary and warden—if you don’t know what these monstrosities are just “jine” the gang and find out —set ’em up to the Boys, the bill of fare being apples and cigars. ! Bro. Gregg toasted them and read a i poem, entitled, “Burdens of Life” —something that never burdens an Odd Fellow. Remarks were then made by several others among which can be mentioned John DeLong, who fairly caused j the members to raise the roof in ap ; planse. The fun then concluded aud the boys chartered a reserve seat and rode the frisky goat home. C. D. Carr is home again after I absence of a few weeks devoted to Michiganders, whom he interested in his “business authors,” a modern i game for the age of mankind. At Adrian he was being shown ; through a deer park when he and his companion were attacked by a buck of the deer species who made it comfortably’ warm for them in a very few minutes, and no doubt for the thoughtfulness of Mr. Carr, ' they both would be wearing crowns in the upper world. By quick and ■ unexpectant superiority the buck was thrown down and its feet tied, i but not until after it bad left its j ear marks upon Mr. Tabor, the gentleman who was with Mr. Carr. ; It was a fortunate escape, and an ordeal which they’ both may never I forget. The New York Store seems to be I in a state of astonishers, sotospeak. The fire of two weeks ago brought things to the present crisis and where things will finally terminate is indefinite indeed. Directly after the blaze the store was closed to meet the insurance adjusters who were here all of last week turning things inside out. Au agreement between them aud Oberman to invoice the stock was finally agreed upon, and R. K. Allison, Frank Crawford and au expert from Columbus, Ohio, went through the Stock, totalizing the value ot same at about $5,000; and the amount of insurance allotted him was $1,233. After this had been fully decided Oberman gave S. J. Friendly a chattel mortgage on his goods of $2,000, issued in two notes due and payable after date without relief of valuation or appraisement laws, etc. This, it was said, was given him for moneys already due. Besides this t here was another chattel in one note of SSOO pay able us above given Stephen A. Bradley, ami another to France & Merryman, attorneys, for $501). Oberman then undertook to confess judgment >-n these three ci attels which call for *3,000, but the att rneys for the creditors raised a herculean ciy of ibjections and wanted to be made a party to his confessions. This sort’er stopped this procession and something else would evidently have to be did. The attorneys i n both wings then agreed that the validity of the chattels and the right to attach the stock of goods, be tried at one and the same time, and this will be heard and determined before Judge Heller next Monday. The attorneys on behalf of the creditors, however, attach' d the goods, which are now in the hands of Sheriff' Ashbaucher, and which are being again invoiced with a view of getting somewhere near their saleable value.’ Billsare due the following : Hays, Go’dburg & Co., New York, $1,194.35; B. Light & t’o., New York, $344 45; S. Gotthalf&Co., New York, $2lB 18; Young, Grah & Co., Rochester, N. Y., $57.85; K< ntucky Jeans Clothing Co., L aiisvill-, Ky., $152.C0. Mr. Oberman under oath gives his indebtedness at from $7,000 to . SB,OOO. You will note by the above i that things in regard to the find ■ adjustment of this stock ate some- > what tangled, and which way lie t ight of justice may leap, would be t hard to tell. Oue thing is sure Mr. i Oberman will get slightly th- wmst I end of the bargain, nomatterwhich way it ends.