Daily Democrat, Volume 1, Number 33, Decatur, Adams County, 18 February 1903 — Page 1

r OLUME 1

BED SPRING WORKS A Representative to Come || Here Soon. Covington People Are in Earnest I and will Make an Effort to Locate in Decatur. tM Mb announced exclusively in the Dem i rat last evening a mammoth factory is desirous of locating in De cato: and an effort in that direction will >e made within the next few molths. This new enterprise is owned by Sevadener & Finfrock and is now located at Covington, Ohio. They man ifacture Diamond bed springs, invilid bed springs, matresses, clothes rack and ironing boards, and wish to chalge location on account of poor ship; ng facilities. They emplov a larg' number of men and boys ami if thek come here will even increase their capacity and will need from 200 people. A letter from the own' rs of the factory was received by thekfemocrat this morning and states that they are very desirous of moving here J ust now is their busiest season and it will be impossible for them to jManything positive tor two months orat til they have filled the large number of orders now on hand. However one or both of the owners will lie ben just as soon as possible and their vis# will be to make a proposition that mein - much for our city. They talk very fair and in a business like man nertthat convinces us that thev will reqb re only such encouragement as nAght and fair to all parties conThe Democrat is for Decaturknd Adams county all the time, and eady to assist in every way posfor the securing of such indus t-riA as will be a benefit toourcitizens. land this concern. ‘ WENTHODIST NEWS. Aft*- Conference Predictions as Made by an Exchange. * IN th the near approach of the anmxal meeting of the Methodist confer eact which will be held at Noblesville in April, comes the usual gossip as t>> thefchanges in the charges that will be ■Ugh' It is said that Rev. J. H. Jackson, formerly pastor of the church ben will re-enter the ministry and assigned to some good charge. Hepas not been doing active work for soo* time. A presiding elder will be to fill the place made vacant by the death of presiding Elder B A and it is said that Rev. 1. I Nan car may take the position altbobgh it is not as good as the one he now holds as pastor of the church at Kojomo, The term of Rev. C. U. as presiding elder of the Munwill expire. Mr Naftzgar mar wait and take that as it pays $2,000 a year and is aMtit the best in the state. Bluffton

ALMOST EXHAUSTED. HSIB *i Cistern at the Water Works Almost ■ Emptied Last Night. tie water supply in the big cistern i" <-itx pumping stal 1 mos exhausted last night. owing to prodigious waste of water. If the pnoi le haven’t their water systems - •traiged as to prevent the freezing of ■ except by allowing it to run, it Wnltl be a wise thing to make some improvements. Possibly they do not the conditions that stieli .;SW I,ls lead to, but it puts the city in •Wh a position as to make it possible fire to destroy the ent re town. •S there would not be enough water •NPl’fy to attempt a fight. All citishould consider the chances t Lev •Mlrunning and the danger they force neighbors by such imonsid acts, and l>e a little more saving ’® the use of water. I MRS. ELLA ROBERTS DEAD. l|rs Sampson Pillars receive I a message I ins afternoon stat her cousin. Mrs Ella <'ro >ks had died this morning at tier home m Van Wert from Brights dis She deceased woman was well in this city and her many ffipds regret to bear of her death. fy- I’illars will hardly be able to at the funeral owing to the sev. re THMkher.

The Daily Democrat.

SERIOUS CONDITION. Will Jeffries in Jail and Quite a Sick Man. SVill Jeffries is in a very serious seve/abh 31 V* f' 1 a ° d wl 'l^ lU ire i he fct r u Wel1 ’ eve “ he is lucky. He is a real good fel ! when solier, but for several years has been his own worst enemy’and has lieen drinking almost continually. He was et out of jail two weeks ago and has been living on drink since, ‘-ast night he was in such a condition at j 8 an jv? of mereyhe was taken j. d ! • 1 his morning he was wild ami it was feared the result might be serious, in truth he is not vet out of danger. Dr. J. M. Miller is treating him and it is to be hoped that the prisoner will recover and reform after so serious a lesson.

DECATUR’S FUTURE Citizens Have Awakened to a Sense of Duty. Possibilities of This City Are Lengthening and Ambitions are Beginnin£ to Materialize. From appearances discerns that Decatur has awakened from a sleep that lasted longer than “Rip Van Winkle’s,” and is at last taking steps to become a manufacturing city, which has long' been the ambition of its citizens. Two new factories, the \\ aring Glove Co., and the Big Store Pants Co,, have been secured within the past six weeks and another concern, the G. \\ . Swanders Furniture manufactory desires to locate here and may be’ secured with the proper encouragement. One of the greatest inducements that the city can offer to business people and especially the heavy shippers is the excellent railroad facilities, as shipments can be made to or received from any part of the [ mted States by direct routes. The city also has excellent light and water service and affords the best fire protection. Decatur is noted for its system of sewers and the advantages of natural drainage and may also be added that it is a most desirable place to reside in. There are many fine residences and the streets are broad and lined with uniform rows of shade trees. Let the progress recently begun be continued in a steady manner by the aid of every citizen and then we can look for a thriving city with its electric cars, manufactories, paved streets, beautiful residence and a five figured population.

MARRIED TODAY. Charles Zeaser and Miss Catharine Shaffer happily Wedded. Charles Zeaser and Miss Catherine | Shaffer daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Shaffer were married this morning at the St, Marys church. The ceremony was preformed at 8 o’clock by Rev. Wilken, and Miss Maggie Zeaser, a sister of the groom i acted as brides maid and Charles ! Rumsehlagus test man. Immediately I after the st rvices the newly wedded i couple and many friends went to the home of the groom, three and one-half miles south of the city, where a large feast was awaiting them. The festivities are to te climaxed this evening by an elegant supper, and many people from this citv will te present. Mr. and Mrs. Zeaser have many friends here who wish them a full ex i tent of felicity and success. Ihe I Democrat extends congratulations.

Jury Gives John Weger Fifty Dollars Fine. Judge Erwin charged the jury in the case of the State vs. John Weger at 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon, and they retired fur consultation. At 7 o'clock they returned a sealed ver diet, which was given into the hands of the foreman, Alltert Spuller, until 9 o’clock this morning, when it was read in open court. It read: “We, the jury, find the defendant guilty, and fix his punishment at a fine of fifty dollars. This, with the costs, will aggregate a sum of ?1(X) or more. The charge was assault and battery and the result of a fight between Weger and Runyon, Linn Grove saloon keepers.

DECATUR, INDIANA, WEDNESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 13, 1903.

REYNOLDSONTRIAL Kidnapping Case Began This Morning. Sensational Developments Looked for and the Case is Creating Interest.

Oliver D. Reynolds is on trial in the circuit court, charged with having kidnapped Julia Leser, a young lady who resides in Monroe township. The case was called at nine o’clock this morning, J. C. Moran, prosecuting attorney, and Daniel N. Erwin appearing for the state and D. D. Heller & Son for the defendant. Two hours were taken up in securing a jury and not until eleven o’clock was the opening statement made. The jury as chosen is made up almost entirely of men not on the regular panel and is as follows: C. E. Suttles. Frank Arnold, Jonas Fisher, Perry Elzey, John McKean, Jr., John Rex, Henry Stettler, John Tabler, Cy Weaver. Jacob Mangold, A. N. Baxter and Will Russell. The case will continue according to the present outlook for several days and some sensational developments are [looked for, as another popular young man may be mixed up in the affair. Many witnesses are in attend ance and the court room is crowded with listeners. An attachment was issued for Hulda Moser, a witness for the defense. The affair which caused the grand jury to return an indict ment against Reynolds is well known to most of our readers. Reynolds, who is a married man, and Julia Loser left July 19th and remained away several months, being finally located in Illinois, and shortly afterwards came home. The only witness in the case this morning was Fred Roher, who testified concerning the publish ingof a letter from Reynolds in which he stated he wished to come home and reform. Jacob Loser has l<een on the stand this afternoon several hours and told the story of his daughter’s escapade and return home. Miss Loser and several sfsters were in court all day but Mrs. Reynolds did not appear.

DEATH CAME. Jacob Bender Died This Morning. The Deceased Was a Prosperous, Honest and Upright Citizen,

Jacob Bender, one of the old and honored citizens of Adams county, died at his country home south of town at twelve o'clock last night. He has been ailing for several weeks, and during the past several days his illness liecame so serious that all hope for his recovery was abandoned. The deceased was seventy three years, one month and twenty-two days’old, and came to this country from Germany forty-five years ago, and aside from a year or two in Ohio, has lived all these years in almost the identical spot where he died. He was honest as the day is long, and lived a quiet, peaceable and happy life. The remaining family consists of three sons and one daughter. Ered Bender, who is at home here, William Bender, of Lima, Ohio, Israel Bender, of West Milton, Ohio, and Mrs. M. L. K izer, of Linn Grove. In additian Mrs. Prank Horton, of Geneva, and Joseph Kizer, of Poneto, will be here to at tend the funeral services, which will be held Friday morning at half past ten o’clock from the Evangelical church in this city, with interment in Maplewood cemetery. JOHN MOUGEY RESIGNS. John H. Mougey has resigned his position as traveling representative of the Carnahan Shoe Company of Fort Wayne, and has accepted a position with the Rialti Mfg Company of Bal timore. The new position is a splen did one and we cngratulate him. His territory is Western Ohio and Eastern Indiana and he begins his duties March Ist.

POOR PAY. Rural Mail Carriers Work for a Baggardly Salary.' A newspaper writer does not see a very flowery future for the rural mail carriers. He says that at the present time the carriers are paid the munificent stipend of S6OO a year and from this amount they must keep two horses, says a carrier. The horse feed will cost him sls a month or $l5O a year, leaving him $450 a year on which to keep himself and family. His rent will cost him SIOO a year, that leaves him 350, his groceries will take another SIOO and clothing will cut another century mark out of his salary. By the time he pays for his horse shoeing and repairs to his wagon he has about enough left to keep himself in a cheap grade of chewing tobacco. If he serves this liberal government until he is too old to read the addesses on the envelopes he can then retire to the poor farm where be will be maintained by the county and the government pays no more attention to him.

ENGLISH CAPITAL The Oil Business Looking Up. A Representative With Real English Money Investing it in Indiana Oil Fields. It is not generally known but is true that the American manager of millions of English capital invested in the Indiana oil field, visited this place recently. To a few of the local men interested in the Decatur Will shire-Wren field he imparted the pleasing {information that for more than a year he had been watching the field above mentioned, and was inclined to feel favorable toward it. The i conversation revealed the fact that ! his stock of information was not all bluff, as he told them even more about the field than the bovs knew ; themselves, without referring to re- ! corded evidence. According to his I theory all the elements of an oil proI ducing territory is confined there the only lacking qualities being sufficient , capital to to carry the project through. While no large production has lieen ! found, yet every well drilled has revealed such a promise as oil men like ;to see. Were the present operators backed by capital running into six . figures, the future of the field would no longer lie in doubt. The gantleman told of some of his e\[>eriencefl with sal water wells. His company have one in the W’ells county field that lias been pumped for two and one half years at a cost of $350 a month, and as yet not a sign of oil has fieen discovered. They are now put ting on a four inch tubing, an air compressor apparatus and are going to exhaust the water at all hazards. Another well in the Beaumont. Texas, field pumped water for several months and the first day on oil pumped two hundred barrels. The gentleman will in all probability pay more attention to the field here, and if it looks go<xl enough mav seek an avenue of letting loose of some good coin fresh from Lombard street, London.

EIGHT BELOW. The Coldest Snap of the Winter Monday Monday night was the coldest night of this winter. The coldest hour was at 7 o’clock Tuesday morning, when the government thermometer at the Philadelphia Quartz works registered eight lielow zero. This was one degree lielow the record for the winter, it lieing seven degrees below on Jan. 12. There has been little cold weather this winter, and only on four nights has the thermometer been below zero. Much of the time it was a few degrees isdow freezing point. The only real cold weather before this sjsdi lasted for four days. On Jan. 11, the thermometer registered two degrees below zero, and the next night it went to seven below. On Jan. 13 it went to six above, and the fol lowing night the register • showed three degrees below.

SALOONS INCREASE The Nicholson Law Not a Saloon-Killer. The Patriot Phalanx State Prohibition Organ, Not Jubilant Over it. In reviewing the action of the legislature in failing to pass the Luhring bill, which would strike out the blanket remonstrance feature of the Nicholson law, the Patriot Phalanx, state organ of the prohibitionists, is not as jubilant over the situation as some other temperance advocates. While expressing gratification that public sentiment prevented any weakening of the present law, the Phalanx declares that as a saloon killer, the Nicholson law, which is withal a license measure, is the most stupendous farce on Indiana’s law books, and asserts that the temperance people who think that the liquor traffic can ever be ended or even seriously hampered by the working of this law are laboring under a very great delusion. In support of this assertion the Phalanx, in its current issue, quotes from the official reports in the office of the state superin tendent of public instructions as to tlie revenue derived from the saloons of Indiana, each having paid SIOO to the state school fund. In <BBS, the year the Nicholson law was passed, the amount of revenue received showed there were 3,962 saloons. There was a slight reduction in the years immediately following the enactment I of the law, since which time the number has steadily increased, the figures I being as follows: 1896, 3,780; 1897, 3.445; 1898,3,869; 1899. 4,013; 19<>0. ; 4.269; 1901, 4.370; 1902, 4,877. On 'January 1, 1903, there were 4.964. This is exclusive of drug stores and groceries which sell liquor under government license.

THE HOOSIER DAISY. Good Show Marred bv Illness of Miss Cliffton. It was a slim attendance that witnessed “A Hixisier Daisey” at Bosse's Opera house last night, but the show was put through at its best, notwithstanding. The play was of the comedy class, with its serious circumstances and pleasing, though unexpected course of events. The presentation of the play may be averaged as good, and several of the cast can lie classed as artists. Miss Bessie Clifton as the “Hoosier Daisy,’ did a successful turn, completely filled the role as an uncouth, gawky, Hoosier girl, and the approbation of the audience was evidenced by the rounds of applause which she received. After the swiniil act Miss Clifton was taken suddenly ill owing to the suffering caused by neuralgia of the muscles of the neck, and it was necessarv to summon medical aid to relieve her. She went through with her part, however, and certainly showed an unusual display of grit in doing this. Dr. J. M. Miller attended her.

SPRING STYLES. — The Spring Hat for Men That will Look Like Thirty Cents. Spring hats, now offered for sale disclose that it is useless for a man to ■ try to persuade himself that his last year's stiff hat looks very much like the new styles and will not be distin : guished from them, for the new styles are nearly as radically different from ! last year's as were last year's different: from the time when those grotesque ! little headgears were worn that are , now seen only on the stage. The new stiff hats have flatter brims and lower crowns, with the result that a man I with a full face will look like a stage I commedian. They have a qeer. ham , mered-down appearance that is pleas ing upon first sight, but ns they are the proper thing it is probable that in a short time their unique form will no 1 longer be noticeable. The soft hats are of the same type, also, but the, range in designs is greater and, therefare, the innovation in them is not quite ho striking. Thb predominating colors for tte spring hats will be j black and gray.

NUMBER 33

TO RETIRE. Senator Fleming to Quit the Game of Active Politics, Senator Stephen fi. Fleming is to retire from active politics at the close of the session of the legislature,March 9, according to a story printed in an Indianapolis paper. The story says that Senator Fleming yC’ill resign as a member of the democratic state committee and will devote all hie time to his various business interests which have assumed very large proportions. The senator said last night the story was true except in one particular. Said he: “They say that I am not in accord with the democratic party. That is not true. Ido not believe in hitting a railroad or corporation every time there is a chance, just because it is a corporation, but I do lielieve in hitting them when they need it. My health demands more rest than I ata getting. I shall have to give up active politics. lam compelled to leave this evening for the east and be back here for the session Thursday. This is too strenuous for me. I must have rest.”

NOTHING DOING. Regular Meeting of the Council Held. Elm Street Sewer Matters Postponed and But Little Business Transacted. The city council met last night is regular session with Councilman Pet erson in the chair. All members were present except Mayor Coffee and i Councilman Stettler. After the regu lar routine of preliminaries the following bills were allowed: A. Van I Camp, labor, $25.60; Schlegel A Doc- | tor, labor, $2.50; J. C. Patterson, ex press, $2.13: Natianal Carbon company, $36; A. E. Rose, labor, $2.19; Port Wayne Electric Works, supplies, $145.33; DeSota Coal company, $42.30; [Sunday Creek Coal company, $51.78; Standard Oil company, $13.34; C. A E. railroad company, freight and coal. $36.45: J. G. Smith, labor, $15.15; J. G. Smith, labor. $4.35. A motion that the sewer committeee te authorized to employ a competent engineer, owing to the present inability of Engineer H. B. Knoff to act. to go over the line of the Elm street sewer, make computations and report all deficiencies was approved. The inspection will te made as soon as the weather will permit. It was not decided last night who would be selected as they have several good men in view, but wl oever he is he will be acceptable to botti property owners and contractors. Council adjourned to meet in continued session next Tuesday evening.

MAKES THEM MAD. Traveling Men Don’t Favor the New Rules. A new rule to be enforced bv the Western Passenger association will be put into effect March Ist, and will ■ doubtless bring a protest from the commercial travelers. The rule relates to charges for excess baggage. Heretofore the roads in the Western association have charged for excess baggage, which is all over 150 pounds at the rate of about 12 per cent, of the first-class fare. The minimum charge however, was fixed at fifteen cents. I The new rule makes tho minimum I charge twenty five cents, which will effect commercial travelers that make short trips, or that travel from tow a .to town. The rule will apply to trips where tho fare is less than two dollars. PENSION DUE HIM. W. R. Edwards went to Van Wert yesterday to look after a pension that I is due him in the late Spanish Ameri- . can war. Edwards served with Company G, Nth Infantry, U. S. A., in l Cuba, and took part in the famous charge up San Juan hill, in which one i of his eyes was put out by a bursting shell, and he was shot through the , hip, At present the government only pen*; ins those veteran of the late war who have been maimed, but it is thought the* •t , »- r , while all those who performed service will be put on I the government pension (pl).