Democratic Press, Volume 2, Number 68, Decatur, Adams County, 30 January 1896 — Page 1

I ffIISWEEK |

volume ii.

I the AMISH IN COURT. I Tb e AmiHli hflve taken Holland, I unenk. They have been the I * . Jagureof attraction thin week I rLr It and temple of justice, I Id f safe to say that I Ucoawnot upon their own mI S«<i<*ire,nor neither did they I £ AnioiiK the variety ol iaeu. | I ffiti" “> is *•* toke I Seto impresa their fe low man I Kb. iathat their every aetialMwed I Zn the supreme laws of God. I The* they observe ami recognize I the fillet extent, but no others. I Lee when they overstepped the I touds t ,f some of our national or I Lt, laws they considered them I ’ nlv ** harriers in their footsteps I nf rixht, ami heeded them not. I When the last grand jury was in I Mvion looking into any criminal I in? charges for the various violaI tions of o° r criminal and civil I |»«. they found and returned thirI teen indictments against these peo I nle Two of the thirteen indictI ants were found against Jacob I Schwartz for marrying without 1 cent" 1 , and unlawfully solemnizing I maniages. Three against David I Schwartz for marrying without license, unlawfully solemnizing marriage and faiuire to return cer tificateof marriage. Three indictments were returned against Chris tian Schwartz for the same offenses. The other five indictments were against Christian Schwartz, Peter Schwartz, John Schwartz, Peter Mazelin ami Peter J. Eicher, each for fornication. These charges of fornication arrise from the fact that the five people married were each married in their customary way, and to some of them were born children. None <f them had taken out marriage licenses, and in one sense of the word were not married. (>ne or two of them mari ried first consins, another breach against the laws of our state. They were arrested on the grand jury indictments but promptly gave bond for their appearance in court. The cases came up for hearing Monday morning, and the court room was crowded with curiosity seekers who were interested in knowing what the outcome might be. The Amish had prepared no defense, and neither did they offer any. They employed no attorneys until the morning of trial, when the lawfirm of Schurger, Reed & Smith were pressed into service in their behalf. The first case called was against Jacob Schwartz who was charged with solemnizing the mar riage of first cousins. This one was decided against the defendant. Tue next was against David Schwartz for solemnizing marriages without license. Here again the Judge rendered a decision in favor of the state, after kindly giving the defendant an opportunity to justify himself as to the course pursued. Here the defendant read about eight pages of scriptural passages, upon which he loaned his right of action and which that church also clings with an emphatic tread. The Judge, however, was a little more familial with the readings of Blackstone, upon which he based bis opinions, and under which he declared the defendant guilty. It being the first offense, and one too against a minister of the gospel whom he thought practiced the teachings of Christ a little more regular than any other class of religious denominations, he would be by assess-ng only a five dollar fine and the costs cf the trial. After this came Peter Mazelin for fornication, which was tried before a jury. The jury brought in a verdict of not guilty. The innocence of this defendant was based on the fact that he married the woman who is now his wife, so iccognized her and truely believed and thought sbe was h's wife. This being true he was legally married, and the crime of such a union, if there was a crime, was upon the person who solemnized the marriage without the necessary credentials of a marpage license. By agreement the balance of the cases were disposed °f in the same manner as those above recorded. The five charges °f fornication were dismissed, and me remaining eight were found in behalf of the state, by an assessKent of five dollars and costs in each case. The costs in each case *lll figure about #ls, which with me fine makes #2O, or a total of vlfiO for the eight. The defendants In the cases paid cash, so no bail, cither leg or bond were required. Ihe trying of the cases and the settlement of the balance occupied two days’ time, after which the on 8 haired individuals took them-

THE DEMOCRATIC PRESS.

selves hence, sadder but wiser, no doubt. The Prehr dou ’ t deal re to say anything detrimental to the lives and customs of these peculiar Amish, although a hair cut and a shave wouldn’t do them spiritual harm. On the other hand we ad mire their self denial and devotion to the cause and teachings of ('hrist. We blame them, however, for not educating themselves upon a higher plane of mind and thought. If they would do this, they could readily discern no evil in upholding the freedom of America, its constitution and the category of laws that uphold, bind ami preserve us as a nation and a people of free mind and free thought. They eould do this and still lie the walking images of the Savior whom they adore at any time or at any place. They deserve the punishment meted out to them, and while jierhape they will fait to see it that way, yet it is safe to predict that another century will elapse before they i again will stand at the bar of justice, criminally charged with any ! crime. Judge Heller was at Portland last Saturday. Clarence E. Baxter is on the sick list this week. Otto France returned home to Berne, Saturday. Mrs. J. Q. Neptune is visiting relatives at Willshire. Mose Byers and wife were at Shelbyville this week. Mr. Syphers and family have moved to Indianapolis. J O Sullivan, of Dunkirk, was in town Tuesday on business. Banker Porter and G. W. Bolds, of Geneva, were in town Tuesday. Attorneys Butcher and Peterson of Geneva, were here last Friday. Elder Simpson, of Fort Wayne, preached at the Washington church last Sunday. Postmaster Grandstaff, of Mon mouth, was greeting friends about town Tuesday. John Graber, the manager of the county infirmay, h;is been sick for a week past. Dr. E. H. Leßrun, veterinary surgeon, was at Markle Monday on professional business. Henry Blakey announces his name this week as a candidate for the democratic nomination for treasurer. Henry hails from Union i township, has lieen a political worker for some time, and in all is a real clever fellow. A surprise was given Mrs. D. O. Jackson yesterday which is reported as being a most pleasant and enjoyable occasion. Mrs. Jackson was sixty-six years old, but one wouldn’t have thought so, if they had seen her on this occa sion. Charley Coverdale of Bluffton, and well known to many in this city, has departed to parts unknown. No particular reason or cause is assigned for the rash act, as he was not incumbered financially to any serious extent. He leaves a wife. Martin Van Simcokeand Lewis Cyrus De Voss are the defendants to a damage suit wherein Charles Neuenschwander wants a cool #I,OOO for false imprisoning him, thereby damaging him the previlege of free navigation. Neuenschwander was imprisoned for a charge of guilt rendered in Esq. Simcoke’s court. Dibble X Meibers are putting on more genuine style than any one might suppose. A handsome new cab arrived from Toledo the other day which they will proceed to put into active service ere long. Besides this, they drive nothing but the finest horses. This firm deserve more than local mention for their pride in keeping up to date in the progress of their business. The oil well east of Geneva, mention of which was made last week turned out to be a dry hole. The people living at Geneva were as much humiliated at this final turn, as were those who were financially interested in the welfare of the producer. The company, however, are not much disappointed and will try their luck again, this time nearer Geneva on the Byrd farm. 1 fa field ofjoil is finally located there, the business of Geneva will double during the next year, and that is considerable. Here’s hoping they will get anything they want.

DECATUR, INDIANA, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30.1890.

Miss Mary Steele, of Magley, Is visiting relatives here. I*. A. Macklin of Geneva, was here <m buisness Monday. Adam Cully went home to Gene va from Willshire, Saturday. Sheriff Ashbaucher went to Ge neva on official business Saturday. Mrs. French Quinn visited Mrs. Jennie Todd at Bluffton last week. Attorney J. M. Smith, of Port land, attended court here last Saturday. Mr- Davis a former publisher of the Willshire Gazette, was in town yesterday. Mrs. L. G. Elliuuham and mother were visiting relatives at Winches ter this week. Rev. Stoops is home from Angola where he had lieen bolding a serie* of meetings. Peter Soldner, of Berne, showed his p easant face to his numerous friends here TuesdayMis. Foughty came home from Berne, Saturday, where she had bee.i visiting her daughter. Clerk Lenhart was confined at home nursing a pile of sickness, of a more or less serious nature. Harry Hough, of the Sentinel Print ing Co., was in to • n this week looking after business. He has just recovered from a two mouths’ I illness. Flanders & Mills have an advertisement for your inspection this week and if you watch the space they occupy, you will find something you need during the coming year. Fill up on advertisements for reflection. Some of the daily papere are nowtelling of a proposed electric line which C. E. Everetts, together with a corporation, will build from ! Celina, Ohio, to Wabash Indiaya, by the way of Geneva, Montpelier, I Warren, &c. It is supposed to take aboat #1,5(H),000. Columbia Harrison, one of the oldest settlers in Adams county, died Tuesday night. He first located hete in 1830, bringing his family two years later, since which I time he has always lived here. He is also a second cousin of General Harrison. The funeral services will occur Saturday from Mt. Tabor church. Every tri s ee and assessor in tl.e county have subscrilied to a fund which is lieing raised to fight in <:iurt|or any other kind of a twenty foot ring, the shortages that will arise in their term of office. In changing the time when theseoffi cials take office it cuts the term short about nine mouths. They don’t propose to have it, and we don’t blame ’em. Bill Perry, the bold bandit of Buffalo, attempted to do the cow | boy act last Friday by driving through the streets on the run and distributing a few war whoops along the way in approved dime novel style. He was promptly nabbed by the marshal and paid #10.50 for his fun. He will dohis “hoss racin’’ hereafter out on tbe Brushwood road where it isn’t so expensive.—Geneva Herald. Wells county w ill have a case involving one of the nice points in the Nicholson bill iiefore the higher courts of tbe state. It is one touch ing upon the loitering section of the law, wherein Elmer Walbert is the defendant. In his defense in the circuit court he claimed that ( the minor in the ease entered his saloon, bought a bowl of soup and then walked out, and his attorneys will take the case to the appellate; court for a decision. Walbert was: found guilty in the circuit court, but the action of the appellate court will result in the term loitering being fully defined.—Bluffton Press. The “egg swindle” is the last scheme against the farmer. It is thus described: “A man representing himself as a salesman for a wholesale house induces the farmer to buy a bill of groceries for which he agrees to take eggs in payment. “To keep matters straight” the farmer signs an agreement and an order for the groceries. The sales man signs an agreement that he will take the eggs. The groceries fail to come, but the farmer’s order turns up in a bank as a note which he has to pay. We might add that the ones taken in, are usually those who can’t “afford” to take their county paper.—Bluffton Banner.

(Hem Kennedy and wife, of Geneva, visited relatives here last week. A. P. Beatty was attending to a case in the Van Wert court the first of the week. J. Frank Mann was at Chicago yesterday attei ding to business of in tercet to himself. A number of the township trustees held an informal meeting in Trustee Steele’s office Monday. H. M. Amspaugh and wife of Wyandot, Mich., are in the cityvisiting with W. H. Reed and wife. Sam Fetters, ex-commissioner, was in town Monday and Tuesdayon business of more or less importance. A surprise was given Mrs. G. W. Woodward last Monday, which ended in a mighty pleasant time to all present. Postmaster Weltley reports unclaimed letters lielonging to D. E. Harmond, William Hodson, R. C. Hayward and Ed Draw. Hod Kolp, the pleasant manager of the Fair, has lieen tendered a very lucrative position as traveling salesman, and quite likely will accept it. James Richard and Minnie Everbtt, William I. Crozier and Icy R. Merritts, David A. Wickey and Mary P. Schwartz have been licensed to marry since last week’s issue. In the list of pensions granted yesterday the name of Jos. Bremerkamp, of this city, is one of the deserving, and we are glad to see him thus remembered and remuneratsd. A farmer at New Castle committed suicide in rather a novel manner. He crawled to the top of a straw stack, set tire to the straw and then shot himself. Undoubtedly he was determined to die, come what might. At ths Christian church next Sunday morning the subject of the sermon will tie “Christ’s care for His church and its purpose.” In the evening the subject will be “Scriptural and other conversions.” All are cordially invited to attendAn exchange says that the only way to enjoy a sausage all that is necessary is faith, hope and charity; faith in the sausage, hope that it isn’t your own dog, but if it is, charity enough to believe that the man did not know it. Here is another problem for readers who are f >nd of mathematics: A street eighty feetwideand one sixty feet wide cross each other at right angles. A pole 100 feet high stands in one of the angles. What is the distance from the top of the pole to the diagonal corner of the street. Rev. Father Sclachter a missionary, is attracting immense crowds at St. Mary’s Catholic church this week, where he is nightly discoursing on the many interesting biblical subjects. He has traveled extensively and that fact adds to his general store room of knowledge. He has to be seen and heard to be appreciated. We had the pleasure last even ing of listening to Rev. Father Sclachter, who is conducting the mission at the St. Mary’s Catholic church. The subject of “death” wasn’t a very comfortable one to contemplate, Int he very impressingly illustrated the truthful re suits of a life of wickedness when it come time for him to die. The Rev. has a powerful voice, is a scholarly orator and will interest any one who hears him. The large and magnificent church was crowded, fully 500 people being present. The New York sharks who have made a specialty of “stealing plates from ti e treasury department” for years, are again flooding the country with circular letters agreeing to furnish #3,000 for #3OO, and the money is said to be “just as good as the genuine,” only it was printed from stolen plates. When the sucker makes a purchase he usually gets a satchel full of brown paper instead of crisp counterfeit bills. The fact is, no plates are ever stolen from the treasury department, on the contrary, the guardians of the department are so watchful of the plates and everything connected with the printing office that not even a bit of paper could be taken out without their knowledge. Don’t bite if you get such a letter. —Montpelier Herald.

Trustee Schug of Monroe township, was in town Monday on business. James Parks, formerly of this place, but now of Portland, was her# on business last Saturday. lawt Sunday morning twentylive new mvmlH-rs were taken into the Presbyterian church of this city. The case of forgery against Samuel Evans, has been continued until the next term of court, by agreement of the attorneys in the case. Reports gained circulation that Elias Coverdale died of heart disease at Greentown last week. Con tradictory reports refute the alsive statement. Dr. Boyers is in search of a hair tonic, and one of our lawyers ad vised him to join the Amish church, and charged him #5 for the advice. Peter Kinney is an announced candidate for treasurer of Adams county. He hails from the region of the Kinneys on the hill, and is a mighty nice fellow, thank you. John Nolan manager of the candy kitchen at Bluffton, made an assignment last Friday fir the l»en< fit of creditors. The liabilities are #1,500 with assets amounting to SI,OOO. Tbe stockholders of the Grand Rapids & Indiana railway company, will meet at Grand Rapids on March 4, for the selection of thirteen directors who will serve for one year thereafter. The ease of the state of Indiana vs. Herbert R. Howe for obstructing highway at the time the water works plant was being put in, was fined #5 in the circuit court Tuesday. Mr. Howe plead guilty to the charge. The fine driving horse which Dan P. Bolds purchased at Chicago last summer, die I very suddenly last Saturday afternoon. It was a fine driving horse with considerable speed and good looks, but like all other lieasts, he must die. Prosecutor Snyder, of Portland, took a hand in the doings of court here this week. In the Amish eases he very gracefully based his arguments upon certain scriptural productions, and from the familiar ; tone in which he handled Paul one, who didn’t know, might conclude I they were related. The petit jury arrived on hand Monday morning for duty. As drawn it consists of Joseph Dailey, J. H. Laughrey, John Muter, John Dirkson, Perry Longibill, Daniel Heller, Lafayette Rape, David Werling, Ferdinand Berning, W. ; H. Bowman, William R. Dorwin and T. P. Harris. Mr. Werling was excused from serving. Attorney C. M. France files a complaint for Anna B. Reynolds who seeks a legal separation and divorce from William C. Reynolds. The complaint shows them to have l>een married on March 8, 1887, and lived together as husband and wife until January 24, 18!)G. She states that fur two years her hus- | band has cruelly treated, struck and abused her. To them were born four children. She prays for a divorce and all other proper relief. The Decatnr Board of Trade is now a sure enough live and energet’c corporation, who are dead willing to locate trusts, corpora tions and other monstrous moneyed institutions who are hankering for any kind of a nice place to live and do business. The final winding up of this organization was Friday eve ning at a meeting held at the court house. At this time John S. Bowel s was made president, E. X. Ehingcr vice president, Anthony Holthouse treasurer, and Frank M. Schirmeyer secretary. Also nine directors were selected in thej names of Henry Krick, W. 11. Nib j lick; C. A. Dugan, Mat Kirsh, E.; Fritzinger, J. T. France. Gerhart Berling, Fred Schaefer and Alex R. Bell. Both the list of officers and directors are our most vigilant, energetic and hustling business men, who won’t leave a stone unturned that will interfere with the very best interests of Decatur. Everything is now in order for the reciva! and meditation of proposals, and as this is leap year any one can make them. Now if something beneficißl to the city of Decatur proposes itself, let’s do our very best to locate it. We can do it. What say you!

ONLYI.SO PER YEAR

NUMBER 68

Decatur's Imard of trade is now thoroughly organized and is already receiving pro|M*sitiohs from would lie locaters.—Portland Sun. Samuel Douk is an announced candidate for commissioner in this the second district. Bam was sheriff of the county for two years, and is i otherwise qualified and well known. Dr. C. S. Clark announces his name ns a candidate for coroner. I The Dr. has filled that jsisition for the past two years, is genial, clever and a worthy member of hie pro--5 session. Among the many other curious things that have arisen since the trial of the Amish has been agitated, is a letter from a fellow in Wisconsin seeking knowledge on the question as to who and what , the Amish are. The business men of Decatur, Ind., organized a bus<m*ss men’s club last week with forty members as a starter. When will our business men get their eyes open and . get in sh:q*e to add to their own good! Echo answers, when.— , Celina Democrat. Peter Kinney of Jeflerson town- . ship, was circulating among the ■ faithful here the fir<t es the week, > with a view of testing his claims of being the next treasurer of Adams . county. Pete is one of Jeflerson’s wide awke hustlers, and would make a nice looking treasurer, sure enough. t A card from Michael McGriff r states his inability of making the . race for auditor, owing to illness that now confines him to his home. This will lie a disappointment to 1 his many friends, who were cocked and priimsl, as it were, to hustle in his liehalf. He thanks those very 1 anient friends however, for their intentions and well wishes. Preparations are lieing made for the organization of a district medi--1 cal society, to be called the Upper ’ Maumee Valley Medical association. The object ot the association will tie to organize solidly the counties of Allen, Adams, Wells, Whitley, Noble, DeKalb, Wabash Kosciusko, Elkhart, Lagrange and Stuben, in Indiana, and Williams, Defiance, Paulding and Van Wert, in Ohio. It is proposed that the t first meeting lie held in Ft. Wayne on February 18th.—Walwish Plain Dealer. At the council meeting last Tuesday evening the judiciary committee reported against the allowance of the claim of County Treasurer ‘ Bolds for services collecting city taxes amounting to #1,400. The ! report was approved. The clerk was ordered to draw a warrant on the city treasury and pay the note of #5.182.50 for a temporary loan, 'due the Old Adams County Bank. . The following claims were allowed: Chas. Smith, #1.00; 11. Cutting, #2.85; I). Roop, #2.25. The marshal was instructed to investigate the character of the drinks sold in the building at the corner of MonI roe and Third streets. An ordiI nance regulating the water works lof the city was passed to its th’rd reading and final passage. The (•oiincil then adjourned. The Baldwin heirs have begun ■ suit to recover title to valuable property in Montpelier. Abel Baldwin, the founder of the town of Montpelier, set aside certain corners of certain blocks in the original plat for the park purposes, w hich are situated in the business portion of the town, under conditions which his heirs now claim I have not been complied with. Some time ago a real estate agent of Montpelier succeeded in getting quit claim deeds from the Baldwin heirs to certain lands ami lots in Montpelier, the ostensible object being to clear titles. Those deeds, in reality, conveyed these park corners, a fact of which the heirs were not aware until some time after the transaction was completed. All the heirs of Abel Baldj win have given power of attorney |to J. A. Baldwin, of Amboy, at whose instance the suits are now begun. The first suit is that of John C. Baldwin and wife and Henry C. Baldwin and wife vs. Laughinbaugh <& Zerin, the present claimants to the park corners, to set aside the conveyance. The allegations under which they seek to recover are that the deeds were secured by fraudulent representations, and without a valuable consideration. The property is valuable, and, should it be recovered by the Baldwin heirs, it will give them a handsome sum, estimated at $500,000.