Daily Democrat, Volume 1, Number 4, Decatur, Adams County, 15 January 1903 — Page 1

VOLUME 1

DEALING IN BONDS. The County Treasurer Sells $16,326 Worth. Bonds on the Decatur and Preble and Pleasant Mills Roads Sold. According to advertisement, previously given in the legal columns of the weekly Democrat, the bonds on the Decatur and Preble and the west Pleasant Mills macadam roads were sold today by Treasurer Voglewede, and the sale afterwards ratified by the board of commissioners. The bonds all went to the Old Adams County Bank of this city, whose bid was $13,873 for the Decatur and Preble road bonds, and $2,450 for the west Pleasant Mills. Two other bids were filed, the bids of the Decatur National being respectively $13,743 and $2,411. J. F. Wild & Co., bond and security buyers of Indianapolis, only bid on the Decatur and Preble road, their offer being $13,785. As soon as the bonds are lithographed and signed by the board of commissioners, they will be turned over to the Old Adams County Bank, and the amount of their offer in cold cash turned into the hands of Mr. Voglewede. After this is done and the weather shows a more acceptable disposition, work can begin upon the construction of the roads. Calvin Miller will build the Decatur and Preble road, ann E. Woods the west Pleasant Mills. A FOUR YEARS’ TERM. A Bill to Make County Officers Eligible to One Term of Four Years. A four years’ term for all county officers, with an ineligibility to reelection, is the idea that has been crystalized into a joint resolution by Representative Corn of Dubois and Pike counties. He will introduce his production at the next roll call of the house. It calls for the necessary changes in the state constitution to bring about the above result. "The carrying out of this idea would work a wonderful reformation in the administration of the county offices," said Mr. Corn. "In the first place, it would help in the collectiou of delinquent taxes. The county official who s after his second term, in a close ounty is the man who does not make very strenuous effort to gather in he unpaid taxes of the voters. Treasurer’s Reports. The board of commissioners were in ession today, during which time they ook a good square inventory of Treasurer Voglewede’s annual report hich they approved sometime before oon. According to the document ow on file in Auditor Abe Boch’s ffice, the amount of cash on hand in he county treasurer’s office on Janury 1, 1902 was $137,472.07. The reeipts during the year were $336,43319, hich with the cash totalizes $473,05.24. The total amount of money aid out during the year was $321,70.75, which leaves a net cash balnce in the hands of our county treasrer of $152,343,49. THE 0. D. 0. Mrs. Dan Niblick entertained the . D. O. club yesterday afternoon, the casion being Mrs. Niblick's birthday. rogressive pedro was played in hich Mrs. James Niblick and Miss ay Niblick succeeded in capturing st prize, while the booby fell to the t of Mrs. D. D. Clark and Mrs. enry Meyers. After this elegant pper was served, and was one which e guests will remember for some me to come. The club presented rs. Niblick with a handsome cut ass dish, after which the guests derted for their homes wishing Mrs. blick many more such birthdays. Married Today. According to the story of an intite friend of Mr. Clem Holthouse, at very popular gentleman was rried this morning to Miss Annie fflng, a society lady of Delphi, Inna, in which city the wedding ocrred. Whether or not the story is e we were unable to ascertain, but relatives heresay he has announced marriage for some time this month we presume the report is true. . and Mrs. Holthouse will go to esboro, Arkansas, on their wedg trip and will make their future ne at Delphi.

The Daily Democrat.

GOT HER CLOTHES. Juryman Gets His Duds Mixed Up With a Woman's. One of the finest citizens of Hartford township is Christian Pontius, who is serving as a juror at the present term of court. He is honest, straight forward and popular, and these facts make funny an incident which occurred this morning. During his stay in this city Mr. Pontius is boarding at Jacob Martin's restaurant and last evening when he retired happened to hang his overcoat over a line in his room and on which was also hanging the dress of one of the young ladies who works at the restaurant. This morning he dressed hurriedly, grabbed his overcoat off the line and went down to breakfast. While passing through the restaurant he was accosted by a lady who demanded her dress, and paying no attention to Mr. Pontius embarrassment, reached over and pulled the dress from under his overcoat. Clinton declared his innocence and the affair has quieted down, save for the "roastings" that the juryman receives from his friends. THE FARMERS WANT IT. — They All Want It, in Fact Can Not Get Away From a Good Thing. Ever since the advent of the rural route, publishers of weekly papers have felt the demands made by patrons of these routes for a daily. People living in the country are just as much up to date in this matter as their brother in town, and all that is wanted is a way to get a daily mail. Lew Ellingham, publisher of the Decatur Democrat, one of the best weeklies in eastern Indiana, of splendid circulation and good advertising patronage, is the latest publisher hereabouts to fall in line on the daily proposition, and began Monday issueing one of the neatest little papers you can imagine, with lots of news, an attractive make up and a good amount of advertising. The management of the publication will be under the guidance of John Heller, a son of ex-Judge Heller, and a newspaper man of long experience. Success to you Lew; same to you John.—Bluffton Evening Banner. USED A WHIP. Farmer Strikes Miss Mary Rex in the Face. A bob-sled was standing in front of the Big Store last evening when three little girls ran up and jumped on. A young man, whose name is said to be Harmon, was sitting near the rear end of the sled with a piece of buggy whip in his hands. The action of the girls seemed to make him very angry and without the least warning he struck one of them, Mary Rex, in the face with the whip. Luckily the whip glanced and Mary was practically unhurt, but this fact does not excuse the big fellow who made such an attempt, while the jumping on and off bobs may be aggravating to some people, there is certainly some better way of stopping them than by such means as this. BRILLIANT WEDDING. W. B. Westlake, of the Marion Leader, Marries a Society Belle. W. B. Westlake, editor of the Marion Leader, was married yesterday to Miss Agnes Coate, a prominent society belle of the same city. The ceremony took place in the afternoon and was as brilliant as such occasions usually are. WELL KNOWN HERE. George McKean, an old resident of Bowerstown, Harrison county, Ohio, died at his home yesterday and will be buried tomorrow afternoon. He is a cousin of John McKean of this city and a relative of Judge D. D. Heller and is also quite well known to a number of other people of the city and county. IT SHOULD AND WILL WIN. The Decatur Daily Democrat is a new publication that shows the man behind it a newspaperman. A paper of the Democrat’s calibre should and will win.—Hartford City Gazette.

DECATUR, INDIANA, THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 15, 1903.

INSTALLATION. Geneva Highly Entertains Secret Orders. The Grand Army, Sons of Veterans and W. R. C. Hold Public Installation. Geneva had on a social air last night and very creditably entertained at a public installation of officers, in the grand army post, the sons of veterans and the Woman’s Relief Corps. In the two former the Col. J. W. Headington of Portland acted as installing officer, and in his usual graceful and impressive manner officered those who will be the shoulders and front of these very popular organizations. Mrs. J. W. Headington filled a similar responsibility in the Woman's Relief Corps and very successfully conducted the ritualistic services incident to clothing these officials with the due authority of their office. The installation took place in the grand army post hall. An oyster supper folowed which was served in the I. O. O. F reception rooms and was an enjoyable ending to a very pleasant evening. The geneva cornet band furnished music. HAPPY HOURS. Young People From Root Township Enjoy Themselves at Butler’s. A party of about twenty-five young people from the neighborhood of Albert Butler's former home broke into jail last evening and proceeded to enjoy life in a manner which proved their sentences were appreciated. In fact an outsider would have formed the opinion quickly that its not always a punishment to go to jail. Refreshments, games and other amusements made the hours go all too quickly and the occasion will ever be remembered by the participants as a happy one. The guests were Misses Emma Mutchler, Etta Mutchler, Tishie Singleton, Nettie Mann, Ada Mallonee, Etta Mallonee, Bessie Fisher, Minnie Sheets, Grace Reed, Elsie Fuhrman, Adda Ruckman, Dessie Butler and Messrs, Harry Reed, Charles Fuhrman, Charles Cook, David Cook, William Ruckman, Earl Butler, Frank Mann, Harve Butler Forest Elzey, John Singleton and Jesse Singleton. The party came and went in a big bob and you can imagine the fun. The occasion was given in honor of Dallas Butler, who returned from college at Indianapolis on account of a small pox scare in that city. W. E. Smith rendered some very fine music during the evening. HOG CROP GOOD. Farmers throughout this county are unusually busy just now harvesting their hog crop and getting their supply of meat and lard for this year laid by. The porkers this year are very fat, made so by the large corn crop, and farmers will have an abundant supply of meat for this season. A great deal of fresh pork is being disposed of at private sale. Not a great deal of corn has been sold, and thousands of bushels can be seen stored away in huge cribs. Most of the farmers believe that the price of corn will go up and they are saving their supply for the rise. Outside of butchering but little work is being done on the farms. Farmers generally take an optimistic view of the wheat prospects and believe that next summer’s harvest will be a good one. Every indication points to this. Mock’s New Jokes. Every one here knows Levi Mock, the seven footer from Bluffton, and know his reputation as a good story teller. He is here this week for the first time in several months and his absence has given him an opportunity to gather up a bunch of new ones and when he starts to tell one you can get ready to laugh for there’s always a chance. This morning before court opened he had all the persons, lawyers and court room officials in an uproar and only the sound of the sheriff’s gavel announcing that court was in session, checked him. He knows some good ones but lack of space prevents us telling them. Ask him for the tale of the fishing nigger boy. NEW ADMINISTRATOR. In probate court yesterday a suggestion of the death of Isabelle Mier, administratrix of the estate of Ferdinand Mier was reported and application for letters as administrator was made by Christopher Eickhoff. He was duly appointed.

DURBIN FOR SENATE. His Machine Being Constructed With Political Skill. It already looks as though Governor Durbin has a tight hold on the present majority in the legislature. It is also believed from ample evidence that there exists a very close alliance between the Fairbanks machine and the governor. What this means is problematical. There was a time when Durbin was selected as the Fairbanks candidate to beat Beveridge two years hence. Then there was a row. It was a bitter row and Fairbanks threw Durbin for Congressman Hemenway. It was to be Hemenway for United States senator. This quieted down and then came Hemenway out for governor. It is now an open question whether Hemenway or Durbin will be the Fairbanks candidate for the senate. The events of the past few days are creating the impression that Durbin is to be given countenance for the senate and Hemenway is to succeed him. This would place the Evansville congressman in a position to jump in if Durbin's strength should be found insufficient to beat the junior senator. LAST SERVICES. — Funeral of John Wafle One of the Largest Held in County. An immense crowd of people attended the funeral services of John Wafel at the Preble German Lutheran church this afternoon, and this but slightly proves the high esteem in which he was held by his great circle of friends. Rev. Klausmier officiated and rides were performed both at the house and church. Besides a large number from this city and the many people from the country surrounding his home, the following arrived this morning from Fort Wayne: Mrs. Lusa Grote, Anna Grote, Lizzie Wafel Sedar Kleinsarge, Annie Wafel, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Wilter, Charles Miller and wife, Chris Koch, Martin Wafel and wife, Mr. and Mrs. William Wafel, Mr. and Mrs. August Wafel. Mr. and Mrs. Otto Wafel, Gus Bultimier and wife and Mrs. Koenneman. THE LAST SAD RITES. Bluffton’s New Electric Light Plant Turned Down by Commercial Club. Bluffton’s electric light proposition has been knocked higher than Gilderoy’s kite. The Commercial Club has had a meeting and a heart to heart talk upon the future prospects of Bluffton from an electric light standpoint, and they firmly and resolutely and with unanimity tied the proposition in new crepe and with sad and heavy hearts laid it away in the musty archives of their east room. It has company with many other fond hopes that have met a similar and premeditated death. A new invoice of tin lanterns has been ordered for quick delivery. QUIET AT NIGHT. — Decatur Streets Deserted Since Business Houses Close at Six. Since the first of the year the business houses have been closing at six o'clock each evening and the result is that the streets are quiet and almost deserted and for the first time in years business men and their clerks have been given an opportunity to get acquainted with their wives and families. While business is suspended in the down town portion of the city and we are commercially dead we are very much alive socially and parties, sleigh rides and other events of this nature flourish in a way they have not done for months. WORDS OF CHEER. Ben F. McKey Handles the Truth in a Few Lines. LEBANON, Ind., Jan. 14, 1903. Friend Ellingham:—The Daily Democrat is the real thing. It is pleasing to the eye and interesting to read. May it prosper. Yours fraternally, Ben F. McKey & Son.

FAVOR DUNBAR. Jury Out Only a Short Time. Jefferson Dunbar Allowed $1200 For Taking Care of His Father. The Dunbar claim case closed at noon today, the entire morning being occupied with hearing arguments of the lawyers. Evidence was concluded last evening and at the opening of of court at nine o'clock this morning lawyer C. J. Lutz began the first speech. He was followed by D. E. Smith, Levi Mock and Abe Simons who closed. Judge Erwin instructed the jury and sent them to the council chamber at 11:45. Shortly afterwards the jury went to dinner and their consideration of the case was resumed at one o'clock. Precisely at 2:30 they returned a verdict as follows: "We the jury find for the plaintiff and asses his damages at $1200. The case was fully explained in yesterdays issue and the claim was one presented by Jefferson Dunbar for caring for his father, Lucien Dunbar. He asked for $2,828. GROWING SERIOUS. Persecutions Against Dr. LaFollette Became Unbearable. The enemies of Dr. Lafollette of Williamsport, are becoming very angry at the seemingly determined effort to injure him in every way possible as may be observed from the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette: "A number of the residents of Williamsport called at the office of Prosecutor Emrick yesterday afternoon to consult with him about applying the strong arm of the law to the men who have made the recent dastardly attempts to injur Dr. Lafollette by placing dynamite in his stove wood, burning his barn and posting up scurrilous notices about his family. They said they had two or three men under suspicion and while they did not have sufficient evidence to convict them they had determined to take the matter in their own hands unless the outrages cease. Concrete Arches. G. A. Smith, representing the National Bridge company of Indianapolis, was before the board of commissioners today showing some handsome designs of arches and bridge material. Their long suit is concrete arches which replace the stone and make one solid piece of work when complete. It is supposed to be solid, substantial and will last to the end of time. If half what he said about it is true, but a short time will elapse until the concrete method of structure, not only for bridges but buildings as well, and especially for all public work. The board purchased none of the new fangled material, but simply sized it up for future reference. CONSTRUES THE LAW. The appellate court has just given a construction to the act of 1899 which required all assignments of mortgages to be in writing and to be recorded within foty-five days, under penalty of forfeiting ten per cent of the mortgage debt to the state, or to the debtor in case suit to foreclose is brought before the state has sued for the penalty. It rejected the theory that the act was intended to give information to the taxing officers, and held that the mere transfer of notes secured by a mortgage within the act, so as to make the mortgage subject to a penalty for not recording it. BADLY BURNED. Raymond Deam, the eight-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. George Deam living in the south part of town was badly burned this morning. He was firing up a coal stove when an explosion occured. A sheet of flame shot out and enveloped the boy, burning his face and one arm to a crisp, His injuries are not serious but very painful. ——— Gospel Meetings. A protracted meeting has been running in the Methodist church for the past two weeks, beginning with the new year. There has been a large attendance, with the manifestation of great interest. The services are dismissed each evening at 8:30. All are very cordially invited to attend.

NUMBER 4

ROPE IN EYE. Peculiar Law Suit at Geneva Follows a Queer Accident. A small piece of manilla rope flew into the eye of William A. Baker of Geneva, while that gentleman was at work a year ago. He couldn't imagine the trouble, but suffered terrible agony for three weeks during which time he was treated by a physician at Geneva without apparent results. At the end of that time he was taken to a Fort Wayne hospinal and an expert soon discovered the cause of his trouble and removed the piece of manilla which had by that time imbeded itself far into the eye ball. The operation was made too late and Baker lost half the sight of the eye. Under the circumstances hedid not feel as though he owed the Geneva doctor anything and when that gentleman shortly afterward left town and located at LaGrange Baker believed the account had been wiped out. However, a short time ago he received a statement for $100, refused to pay it and a suit was brought to collect it. The case came up for trial before a Geneva justice yesterday, Samuel Butcher of that place and Mr. Eggeman of Fort Wayne, appeared for the plaintiff, and J. T. Merryman of this city for the defendant. The case was dismissed for failure of the plaintiff to file a cost bond, he being now a nonresident of the county. The case will probably be filed in the circuit court soon. Mr. Baker's defense is on the grounds of mal-practice. ANOTHER DRY ONE. A Remonstrance That will Likely Make Geneva a Dry Town. Yesterday’s Cincinnati Enquirer contained a telegram from Geneva, which stated that a strong remonstrance against saloons in that town and township had been secured and filed. An investigation reveals the fact that no such document has yet reached the filing stage, but that it was in mode of construction and later on would contain the requisite number of names to make Geneva dry. Berne has already gone the route, as has Williams, and this would make it appear that the war is still on. Not much opposition has been involved in the attack on the Geneva saloons. Has a Birthday. The home of J. H. Hobrock, excommissioner of Adams county, was the scene of a lively and enjoyable time last night. It was Mr. Hobrock's sixtieth birthnay anniversary and his army of relatives and friends put up a job on him. They invegled him over to Hoagland while the guests arerived and took charge of the house. Besides the neighbors and friends present, there was Fred Heuer and wife of this city, J. H. Stellhorn and wife, Martin Hobrock and wife, Herman Hobrock and wife, Mrs. Engelking, and Miss Lizzie Hobrock, all of Fort Wayne. Several valuable presents were given Mr. Hobrock as a token of the respect and esteem in which the host is held by the many assembled. Thirteen a Hoodoo. A peculiar combination of the number 13 has been revealed at Newcastle. A Newcastle man sent to another city for a bill of goods, inclosing a money order. The order failed to reach its destination and an investigation followed. It revealed that the application for the money order was made on the 13th of the month, and it was for $13.13. It left that city on December 13, and the order was in a railroad wreck on that date, thirteen miles from the Ohio river. The payee's name contained thirteen letters. The train that was wrecked had thirteen cars and thirteen other money orders were lost. The man who started the money order from Newcastle expects the government to return the $13.13 to him. A CREDITABLE PAPER. The Decatur Democrat has begun the issue of a daily edition and the first number, which reached this office yesterday is a creditable one. Lew Ellingham, the publisher, has made a success of his weekly, and his daily ought also to succeed.—Hartford City News. —— Killed Step-Father. A man named Riggs was killed at Marion last night by his step-son. Riggs went home drunk and struck his wife, whereupon her son grabbed a piece of furniture and dealt the old man such a blow that he died in a few minutes.