Democratic Press, Volume 1, Number 45, Decatur, Adams County, 22 August 1895 — Page 1

THE DEMOCRATIC PRESS.

VOLUME 1.

P. W. Smith is home from Bay View. ( A. H. McConnaha ami wife Sun dayed at Winchester. Mrs. R. K. Erwin is this week entertaining Mrs. Rose Huffman, of Louisville, Ky. A broth* r of Albert Britt son, the shoe man, is home, sick, from the state university. Dan Niblick and wife go to (’hi cago next week to spend a few days among the exciting scenes of that gushing city. Jabob Butcher, William Drew and George W. Peterson, legal lights of Geneva, were attending court here this week. Frank Stone, wife and baby were in the city on Monday, visiting with their sisters, Mis. Luckey and Miss Victoria Stone. A Bluffton house of ill repute was coppered one night last week and thirteen inmates were hauled un liefore the mayor as the fruits of that home gathering. Mrs. Frank Evarts, the wife of Bro. Evarts of the Journal, arrived in the city Sunday evening. They will go to housekeeping in the B. J. Tervter new Fifth street residence. Postmaster John Welfley has on hand unclaimed letters addressed to Jas. G. Miller, Clem Johnson, John M. Pratt, Chas. Grody, Ren Dull, W. L. Breiner, Mablon Bailey and F. M. Steele. Clayton Shepherd and wife, of Hartford township, are rejoicing over the birth of a son. and that means that W. H. Shepherd is grandpapa—a fact which should l>e especially emphasized to do justice to this occasion.

Drs. Costello and Holloway and Justices A. J. Hill and J. R. Smith held a sanitary inquest last Saturday ami adjudged Catharine Keiper of unsound mind ami a proper subject for treatment in an insane hospital. She resides in Union township. The southern statesmen w ho have lieen attending this week's session' of the circuit and commissioners' courts report that, while corn will be a fair crop in their part of the county, it will not be anything like as good as in the central ami northern sections. They have suffered more severely from the drought.

Rev. Murray, of Monroeville, was in the city on Monday and informed us that on August 30 a fine new Methodist church edifice, costing $6,000, will be ded < at* $ at that place. Dr Vicford, of the Main street church of Ft. Wayne, will have charge of the dedicatory ceremonies, all of which will be mighty pleasing to witness. Any one having business with the new trustees can addre-s them as follows: John D. Nidlinger, Decatur; L. W. Lewton, Monmouth; Lewis Fruchte, Magley; Jonathan Bowers, Peterson; John Steele. Decatur; William Smith, Pleasant Mills; Jacob Wechter, Willshire, Ohio: William Schng. Berne: C. E. Stuckey, Vera Cruz: William Hall, Linn Grove; John Brown, Ceylon; W. V. Brckmaster, Geneva.

Miss Helen Kintz entertained a number of friends, Tuesday e'en ing, in honor of her cousin, Mi» Maine Powers, a charming young lady of Fremont, O. Those piesent were the Misses T. Rademacher,, F. and M, Center, K. Touhey. C. Fullenkamp, C. Vogelwede, L. Eizey and M. Powers, and Messrs. M. Miller, <». Ebinger, C. F. Martin and C. Voglewede Ibe evening was pleasantly spent in cardplaying and dancing. All lie lads and lassies report a good time,. as is usual when Miss Kintz is hostess. The remaining days of the insti tute, last week, passed oft just as smoothly as the first half—the ins thing Thursday morning being an explanation of “A badly-managt* school,” by Prof. Ingler. Then Prof. Moffett gave a few instructions on “Grammar." Iheba am< of the day was consumed by lectures and musical instructions •' Prof. Ingler and Orr. The lee meon Saturday were by Ingler. ■"J” son, J. A. Anderson, of the a schools, and Prof. Moffett, o l l - city. All were interesting <• beneficial. The institute throughout was a success and much g ( “ work was done. The session ended with the adoption of a set of r s lutions, which will be found i " where in this issue.

Marshal Millard Cowan visited Geneva yesterday afternoon. The Presbyterian Sunday school are picnicing in the Cross grove, three miles nort west of town to-day’ Rapid progress is being made in the waterworks trenches, and in thirty days more all of them will be completed. The Home saloon front fairly shines under a new coat of paint, which has just been completed by some artist in lhat line. The Misses Celia and Anna Smith of 119 North Third street are entertaining the Misses Joe and Nellie Fox of Fort Wayne. It was a very noisv crowd that gathered at , on' north Third street, Sunday evening. Girls, why not behave as ladies should • Charles T. Payne and James L. Zimmerman, regularly drawn petit jurors, were excuse*!, and Jesse I Steele and Frederick Thieme were called to fill the panel. A wooden-legged tailor jagged 1 ■ up Tuesday morning and proceeded to paint the town in all the shades of red. He was taken in by the officials and given ten minutes by the mayor to leave town. Jacob Abnet, Samuel A. Butcher and Charles B. Adgate were admitted to the Adams county bar of | practicing attorneys last week. This is an indicator that law still continues to be an important profession among mankind. Burglars attempted to go through the Studebaker Bank, at Bluffton, Sunday night, but were undoubt- ] edly frightened away before they ‘ got fairly started at their work. It’s funny they should want to rob; I a bank when silver is quoted by] | some people at fifty cents.

Prisoner Vance Hotsenpiller appt awl in court last Friday and informed the court that he was unable to employ counsel to defend him on the charge assessed against him —that of forgery. The court then appointed Mann & Beatty as counsel in his behalf, and the case will come up some time during the term. By an action of the circuit court the marriage bonds heretofore existing between Stephen and Margaret MeConnehey have been declared null and void. Margaret was also allowed alimony in the sum of $ and the custody and care of three of the live children. Thus it will be seen that marriage is a dark, dismal failure. Bob Klein, the German tailor who left the employ of Pete Holthouse & Co., some time ago, and took with him some unpaid for clothing, which was afterwards the means of putting the law on his trail, is now a free man. In open court, Tuesday morning, the prosecution dismissed the ease against him. Bob is in hard luck. Since his confinement in jail, his wife has been quite sick at her home in Pennsylvania, ami Monday morning a telegram came, announcing her death.

Frank Wenet of Monroe township had the misfortune to have two lingers of the left hand nearly mashed oil while trying to roll a log out of the J. K. Martz ditch. It seems that Frank and a com panion had taken a job of ditching and as the log was in their way they must remove the same. They succeeded in getting it nearly out when by rolling it up the bank it ~o t out of their reach and descend ing caught his fingers between it -uid a *nag with the above result. Frank was taken by his companion to the surgeon who removed the mashed fingers.

Adams county bonds don t go begging, by any means, as the sale of the Waggoner gravel road bonds on Tueß d a y fully demonstrated. The face of the bonds sold was sr> 6 3B Lamprecht & Bro. bid the’face of the bonds and mium; The Old Adams County Snk bid the face of the bondsand So premium; Deitz, Dennison & Prior bid the face of the bonds and premium; A. F- Ramsey of th,. Citizens' Bank, Crrwfordsville, Jd the face of the bonds and s6oo 1 , The bonds were turned P -XThe Crawfordsville gentlewho pays therefor $13,288. This surely shows that Adams financial condition is ah Ind a yard wide, a fact that "°. l-edit on the officials havy,Ve >»»>"■» money.

DECATUR, INDIANA, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22. 1895.

Miss Minnie Oberwagner, of Delphos, 0., is in the city—a guest of Miss Fanny DeVilbiss. Prosecutor Snyder and Jesse LaFollette, of Portland, were attending to some court cases here this week. The Misses Emma Jackson and Lena Barthol spent last Sunday, at New Haven as guests of Miss Lida Snelker. Charley Woodruff and Charley ] Petter were before Esq. Bryan, hist I Monday—being hauled up on a | charge of horse rac ng. C. A. Neuensch wander, of French township, and one of the Press] readers, was circulating among friends and business, Monday. A marriage license was issued Monday morning to Frederick A. Rump and Agnes A. Huge. The latter is the daughter of the Preble ] township Evangelical minister. J. Bart Shirey and his sister go Ito Missouri this week, where Bart i will try to regain his lost health, and most sincerely we hope he will succeed, for if anyone deserves better tilings we think Bart does. The pioneers of Adams county will enjoy a day all their own, on August 29. They have anange ments all perfected and a gala time is expected. If you wear the mantle of an old timer, remember you are included in this mix. Objections were made in court to the granting of administration papers to John Urick, who some time ago had been appointed administrator of the estate of Henry Urick, deceased. The court after hearing the objections confirmed ] the letters of administration.

G. H. Martz and W. E. Fulk were down in Jefferson township last Tuesday looking up some difficulties in cleaning out the Farlow ditch. There were some recent transfers of land on which quite an amount of ditching was included. The exchange of land was all o. k., but in the amount of ditches was \ the trouble. The manager and secretary 7 of the horse racing, Dan W. Beery and Herman L. Confer, are busy with the preparations for the grand opening of Steele’s park, which is • set down for September 19, 20 and 21. It will be the best racing ever displayed in Decatur, and that is sufficient reason why all should attend. Prepare for the event. J. Tom Merryman was in Detroit ■ last week, circulating among a meeting of commercial lawyers. There were present lawyers, collectors and representatives of col- : lecting agencies from every state in the union. While there they organized what will now be known ! as The Lawyers’ Collecting Agency ■of America. Tom was selected on Ihe committee to draft the consti : tution —so it’s all right. The new . organization is said to be quite ben- | eficial to the profession. Besides ; this, the Detroit gathering was ! most social and enjoyable—a fact that can’t be overlooked.

Miss Flo Beatty pleasantly enter tained a number of guests Wednesday evening, at her home on north Second street, in honor of Miss Edna Bowen, of Geneva. Those present were Misses Jennie Congleton, Bessie Dorwin and Mabel Hisky of Bellvue, O ; Messrs. Ard Gilliom, Charles Andrews, Don Quinn, Miles Pillars and Warn Moses. Music was furnished by Messrs. Andrews and Gilliom, after which refreshments were served, and at a late hour a’l departed for their respective homes. A good time is the unanimous report.

Frank M. Schirmeyer was one of seventy-five real estate men who enjoyed a ride over the Burlington route from Chicago through Illinois, lowa, Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado. Frank is much exercised over the many enjoyable features of the trip. It was a special train, consisting of three Pullman c .aches; so, of course, the world was theirs. Stops were made whenever the spirit moved them and it is safe to say that nothing of importance escaped their observation and investigation. Frank is much in love with the generous people of that part of the globe, who did everything under the sun to make the visitors enjoy themselves. Prosperity reigns supreme there this year. Talk about crops—this part of the country knows but little about it when the west has a prosperous year, and they have it this year in all its majestic glory.

William Sehug, Monroe township’s new trustee, was attending institute last week, but found time to give this office a friendly cashup for a year call. Bert Mann and Jesse Roop each plead guilty of intoxication in court Monday, and were each fined one dollar and costs. The arrests were made on grand jury indictments. “Oi kin take a joke as w-ell as ony n on,” said O’Flaherty, “but whinOi’m stand in’ paceable on th’ strate corner, mindin’ uv me own business, an’ a mon comes up an’ hitches his boss to me—faith, and thot’s no joke.” Mrs. Mary’ Tottenshall, of Dayton, 0., is visiting relatives in Hartford township—among them being W. H. Shepherd and family. It has been forty years since she last visited that part of the country. “Now, all of you give something. If you can’t give a dollar, give half a dollar, or a quarter, or a dime, or a nickel. If you can’t give a nickel, spit in the hat; do something, anyhow.” This was Sam Jones’ clever way of taking up a collection.

J. E. Stoops and C. L. Walters have opened a legal and general agency 7 office on Monroe street, second door from the Burt. They deal iu all kinds of fire, life and accident insurance, and you will get the best by 7 giving them a call. Squeeze an eye on their adv’t. John M. Frisinger and Arthur Fisher left on Tuesday with sixty head of tine horses. Bob Peterson accompanied them. They go to New York and theie take passage by ship for the German horse markets. They will card the Press upon their arrival and our readers will know all about their success on that continent. Tuesday morning Daisy Morrical of Buffalo, swore out a warrant against Frank Mann, charging him with bastardy. Frank was arrested and promised to marry the girl. A marriage license was brought from Decatur and Esq. Veley united the happy couple in the holy bonds of matrimony. Marshall Barns officiating as the groom’s best man. — Geneva Herald, Night Policeman Geary and family are having more than their share of sorrow. Only last week we published the tragic death of a daughter. On Monday the twin brother of that girl fell from an apple tree, in which he was playing. The fall resulted more seriously than would be imagined. The left hip was broken and when found the bone was protruding through his clothing. The boy’s back and body are also badly 7 bruised and recovery is doubtful, indeed. Sympathy won’t heal the wound, but the family have the sympathy of everyone. Many of our farmers are praising Decatur for their generosity. Their new waterworks afford places on the streets for the farmers to water their horses, and tea us may be hitched in the back alleys wilhout fear of being cut loose. The iron posts that Bluffton has set in the alleys is appreciated by our farmers and is a move in the right direction, but the farmers are almost obliged to pay ten cents to get into a feedyard, in order to water their horses. Farmers take notice of all of these things and merchants should see that they are accommodated, as the farmer is in dispensable to county seats. Bluff ton Banner.

Samuel Murdock, general manager of the Wabash, Logansport, Peru and Decatur natural gas companies, made a statement to the state board of tax commissioners, on Friday, as to the condition of the several lines under his management. He maintained that, on ac count of the steady decline of the pressure of natural gas, the risk taken in investing money iu such properties and the cheapening of material used in the construction of pipe lines, the assessment of the properties represented by him should be made as follows: Decatur company, $31,697.20, instead of $87,073.80, as returned by the board of review of Adstns county; Peru company, 321,017.16, instead of $74,017, as returned by the. board of review of Miami county; Wabash company, 331,747.95, instead of 396,747.95, as returned by the board of review of Wabash couuty. The state board has not as yet acted upon the complaints and statements.

Mrs. Kitty McDonald and Miss Mary Conner of Springfield, Ohio, visited Mrs. Coffee, Mr. and Mrs. Will Bosse, and Mrs. Durksin over last Sabbath. The E. A. Vail stave and head ing factory, at Ossian, burned to the ground Saturday night. The origin or the fire is unknown. The loss incurred is $9,000, with $4,500 insurance.

W. H. Shepherd, of Hartford township, was in town the first of the week on business. He has just recovered from a severe sickness of poisoning, which had the better of his right leg and so-1. It laid him up for three weeks, but he will now recover without much further delay. The Decatur Tailoring Company is a new business firm in this city, which will be ready for business in the Niblick building, northeast corner Monroe and Second streets, in a few days. The business will be in charge of Charles E. Doty, of Pete Holthouse A Co. That the new firm will do an excellent business goes without saying. The people of Decatur and vicinity should embrace the opportunity, perhaps the last one this season, on Wednesday, August 28, to visit Toledo and one of the best resorts in the west, Lake Erie park and casino. Special train will leave Decatur at 6:30 a. m., and returning will leave Toledo at 6:30 p. m, stopping only at Pleasant Mills. Ample coach and lunch car.

The city dads met iu regular session Tuesday evening, with Councilmen siblick and Vail absent. The only important business transacted was the reconsideration of the action on the Second street waterworks pipes. They decided the main line in the east sidewalk and a three or four inch line in ihe west walk. This decision will be heartily received by many proper ty holders along the brick thoroughfare. Bills allowed- Burns & Patterson, $1.50; F. W. Dibble, SSO; Wilson, Murphy & Co., $16.50; Decatur Journal, $1.75; city engineer, $106.50; Albert Brittson, $4; Democratic Press Co., $3-75. Henry Dinning, one of those every day tourists who preambulates for a livlihood, put iu rather a disfigured appearance in this city Saturday. One eye was entirely obliterated, his face scratched and bleeding, besides other injuries. A tale has gone forth to the effect that Dinning was struck by a train, but that is neither logical or true. If a train had gotten a swipe at him sufficient to dig out an eye, there would have been little left of Dinning to repeat the tale of the fatal ity. If the truth and the whole truth were known, it would be dis covered that some human loconio tive was the cause of toe injuries, and we believe also that it wouldn’t be necessary to go out of town to locate said locomotive.

The circuit court during the past; week has disposed of the following docketed cases: State vs. David Baker, fined 35 and costs; St de vs. Webster Foreman, acquitted; State vs. Sam S. Wagoner, three eases, continued; State vs. Robert Klein, defendant discharged; State vs. Jesse Roop, fined 31 and costs, amounting to $10.45; State vs. Aaron C. Huffman, fined 32 and costs; State vs. Bert Mann, fined $1 and costs, amounting to 310.45; Martha A. Stewart, executrix, vs. J. F. Laehot, et al., judgment against defendants for $243,43; Northern Indiana Oil Company vs. William Shoemaker, affidavit by j plaintiff for change of venue, which was granted and case sent to Allen county; Gaar, Scott & Co. vs. Juo.. G. Bittner, judgment against de fendant for $201.94; Samuel M. Shugart vs. James W. Griffin, judg ment against defendant for $3,760; Isaac Raver vs. Catharine O. Raver, divorce granted plaintiff and de fendant given custody of minor: child until further order of the court; Margaiet McConnehey vs. Stephen McConnehey, divorce granted plaintiff and S3OO alimony, the plaintiff to have the custody of the children Lena, Lula and Harry, and the defendant to have the cus tody of Willie and Jimmie, until further order of the court; George Aumiller vs. Harriet J. Aumiller, divorce granted plaintiff and he also given custody of the minor child: Martha A. Stewart, executrix, vs. John S. Anderson, et al., judgment against defendants for $200.20.

NUMBER 45

THEY’VE GONE. >— It’s Good Riddance of Bad Rubbish. Last week seemed to be down on the record as a time for jail breaks and, judging from the many reports coming in from all parts of the country, there were several who took advantage of any frail opportunity to make themselves unheard of. The fever spread to this city, and by an outrageous and foul assault on the wife of j Sheriff Ashbaucher three of the burly' rogues are now' breathing free air—every breath of which ought to stifle them until their gaslight of life winks out. It all happened about 8:30 last Thursday evening, when the residence of the jail was occupied only by Mrs. Ashbaucher. One of the escaped convicts put forth a consumptive mouth and entreated the sheriff’s wife to gratify his only remaining wish in this world by a drink of ] fresh water. She readily complied—took the bucket, filled it with w;:*er and opened the door to the jail proper to put it safely within their reach. At this junc- ] tore Johnson, who was awaiting trial on a charge of collecting money under false pretenses, seized and held her. Two other prisoners threw open the door and began looking for another door to get outside, which wasn’t difficult then to : find. The sheriff’s wife showed I fight from the first, and it was with I some difficulty that Johnson held I her at all. But he did and in the melee her arms and body w ere badIly bruised. The three then made I tracks, the trail of which isn’t in the geography and can’t be traced, j The alarm was immediately given | and in fifteen minutes 200 people i w’ere at the jail. Dispatches were j sent every way and men drove in I every direction that night afnd all ‘ the next day, but no shadow of the flown could be distinguished. ; Sheriff Ashbaucher has exerted every means w’itbin his power to get a clew to them, but without > success. The fact te the escaped ] were all old veterans at this lawless business and wouldn’t foolishly betray themselves in any’ way. For this reason it is pretty’ safe to ] predict that they will never be , heard of—at least, not any where near here. Johnson is five feet eight inches in height, will weigh ] 160 pounds, and wore a dark moustache when he left though we j suspect he do> sn’t wear it now. ] The other tw o were Jay county prisoner , named John Haley and Charles Scott. They were taken | in at Dunkirk for safecracking, and I w’ere notorious criminals, although it is alleged that not much of a case was against them at Portland.

Os course, we sympathize with Pete, but we don’t think the case demands sympathy from anyone. The same accident would have happened to any other sheriff under the same circumstances. No ! blame is or can be attached to him. Only last week some twelve crim - nals escaped from a Chicago jail, six from Toledo jail, three from Jeffersonville, in this state, and ten from Murfreesboro, a small town in Tennessee. So, you see, Pete just happened to be in the unfortunate list. That’s all. Besides, Adams county will get out of paying considerable court costs, and that is just that much found. Seel It is not generally known, but is a fact, nevertheless, that bo nb fiends either tried to destroy the property or take the life of Prof. A. D. Moffett, and both facts seem probable. Yesterday morning a dynamite bomb, with fuse attached, was found on the front veranda cf the superintendent’s home on Fifth street. The fuse had been lighted, which showed the destructive intent of the evilites. The officers have smelt a hot trail, and it is be- ' lieved and hoped by every decent , and law-abiding citizen that they will bag the article that performed the dastardly deed. It th* y succeed, the penitentiary populace will be increased before the ending of the present term of court Bills are being printed adverising the horse fair at this place, on September 19, 20 and 21. Ar rangements are under headway 7 for some of the fastest speed iu the country to be here at that time, and you will most surely make the mistake of your life if you do not attend. Make your arrangements to be there. Address all commnnj ications to H. L. Confer.