Daily Democrat, Volume 1, Number 207, Decatur, Adams County, 9 September 1903 — Page 1

VOLUME 1

DIED FROM BRUTAL ASSAULT

John Busenbork Died at Four O’clock. Son-in-Law Joseph Osburn, His Murderer.

GIVES HIMSELF UP Result of Quarrel Over Selling Farm. Victim Lived Just Twenty-Four Hours and Suffered Most Terrible Agonies. At 4 .15 p. m. Mrs. Elijah Walters telephoned to this office that Mr. Bosenbeck was dead. The end came at four p. m. At 3:45 p. m a represen tative of the Democrat sent the following message from the Bosenbeck home: ‘-The patient is sinking rapidly. It is not realized how bad he really is There is not the least hopes for his recovery .” Joseph Osburn, thirty-five years old assaulted his father-in-law John Busenliark an old man sixty nine years old at four o'clock last evening and as a result it is believed the victim will die. His condition is terrible, his nose lieinu- brokon and mashed into a pulp, his jaw broken, teeth knocked out and his whole sact 1 cut and mangled. Dr. (.’. S. Clark is attending the injured man and says his condition is < < i tainly critical. The only eye wit Hess to the affair was a son too young to understand the terrible crime and a hired hand named Richards who so far doesn t seem inclined to talk. The two men Ind quarreled several times about the f arm which they own jointly having purchased the land, heated tour mies northeast of town in I nion townhsip of Julius Haugk last March. Osburn wanted to sell and Resenbeck didn’t. They met in the branyard last evening and the trouble broke out afresh. After a few words Osburn knocked the old man down and beat him in the most terrible manner imaginable and inflicted the injuries us stated above and which will very prboably prove fatal. The general belief is that the deed was committed with a hea\y club as one was found near the scene, covered with blood, though Ogburn insists lie did it with his fists. The hired hand Richards who witnessed part of the affair nt least and took Osburn off. is Iwdl.i frightened and doesn’t seem to be able to toll his story. Sympathy of the family amljieighlMir- appeals tn b<> with the old man and say i 11 assault was uncalled for, that Mi

The Daily Democrat.

Busenbark was a kind md cour'eo is gentleman. Osburn is quoted with - lying that she wants nothing more to do with her husband. After the issault the victim laid on the ground for half an hour until neighbors arI rived and helja'd to carry him to ! the house. Immediately after the . trouble Osburn went to his cellar, changed clothes and without saying a word to anyone came to town. He went to prosecutor Moran's office and said he had fought j with his father-in-law and wanted ito plead guilty to assault and battery. An affidavit was sworn out and a subpoena issued for Bosenbeck and constable Blackburn sent out to get him. Arriving there he and Homer King who accompanied him soon realized the seriousness of the case and returned at once. I Osburn was placed in jail to await the condition of his victim. Should he die the charge will be murder. If he recovers the charge will probably be assault with intent to commit murder. At ten I o’clock this morning Dr. Clark visited his patient and reported his condition very serious. He said “Mr. Bosenbeck hud no perceptable pulse and his labored breathing shows 'he is injured internally. My cani did opinion is he cannot live through the day.” It is reported that while Osburn lived in Grant county he had some trouble wtih an old citizen, that he assaulted him and nearly beat him to death with a blacksnake whip. The victim recovered however and Osburn escap'd punishment. Osburn has an uncontrolable temper and says from the time he struck the first blow until the affair was over he never knew what he was doing. Some people think Ins mind was nnlmlunevd owing to his worrying over business and say he acted very queerly at the ball i game last Sunday. A representative of the Democrat I called on Osburn at the jail early this morning and he told his side of the story in plain and simple manner. He said: "Until a few months ago myself and family were living happily together in Grant county. My wife's father also owned a farm I there and lived alone. He kept ask : ing me to sell out and form a part ; nership with him, buying a farm large enough for both. After some time we agreed to buy the Julius Haugh farm in this county, and did i so, paying seventy-five dollars an acre for same. We moved here last March and took possession, and it was soon apparent to me that we could never agree. We quarreled continually and I soon begun to urge that we sell the farm and buy ' two pieces of land close together Where he he could farm his section I and still live with us. He refused 11 listen to this, then we tried dividing the land, but 1 couldn’t take the half with no buildings on as I hud no money to put up new ones and he wanted »srtCo for the other half which was also more than 1 could stand. We talked and quarreled about the muter all summer and he kept continually asking me what I was going to do and 1 finally threatened to take the nuijtter to court. Yesterday evening at four o'clock wo met in the barn yard and the old question was immediately brought up. 1 told him I

DECATUR, INDIANA, WEDNESDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 9, 1903.

believed we could sell for what we paid and I thought we could never agree. He refused and I insisted, fine word brough on another until he said "why don't you take it to court, you said you wanted to.” I lost control of mysef and struck him knocking him down. I became so angry I didn’t know what I was doing and struck him again and again. When I first realized what I was doing the old man was unconscious. I immediately came to town expecting to plead guilty and pay my fine but the officers would not do so and I came to jail. I am sorry I abused the old man but he I aggravated me so I lost my mind completely for the time. I was worried anyway for fear I couldn't meet the payments and would lose what I lift’d. I was never in trouble but once before and he got me into that. I hope he gets well, lam thirty-five years old and Mr. Bosenbeck is sixty nine.” The terrible happening is a shock to the community as both men were well thought of, though it vas known they did not agree. Osburn is thirty-five years old. dark complexion, with black hair and eyes, sandy moustach. He is about five feet eight inches high and weighs about 150 pounds. He claims he gave Bosenbeck the terrible beating with his fists, though his hands show no marks. Osburn has employed attorney D. E. Smith to defend him and if the victim dies several other attorneys will assist. Ira Richards the hired man told the story of the fight as he saw it, this afternoon, saying, “Mr. Bosenbeck was sitting on a wagon arguing with Joe (Osburn) when the latter became angry and struck him knocking him off the wagon on to a pile of manure. Osburn stuck the old man five or six times before I could get him away. lam a friend of all parties and would rather not take any part in this affair.” STILL ON GUARD. Fred Rohrer Still Watching the Cracks Up to Date Joe Hocker Has Not Appeared for Liquor License Fred Rohrer is stiffen duty at the commissioners room guarding against the probable appearance of Joe Hocker, the Monroe applicant for a liquor license. No chances are being taken of the applicant slipping past Fred and running in any kind of a ringer. As a quiet tip however we advise him to keep a vigilant watch over the east window of the commissioners room, as with a little outside help he might make the circuit by that route. The attorney for Mr. Hocker says that his client will not appear as there is not enough money in the saloon business to fight in any court for license. He docs a moderate business in a small town that his profits do not warrant any court difficulty in trying to keep in the business. As the board are busy checking up the treasurer's quarterly report and in attending to the other business of their term it is likely that Mr. Rhorer will have to hold down his present job for another day or two.

THE REAL STUFF A Glance at the Interurban Grade. Fort Wayne & Springfield Company Are Pushing Along Rapidly. If any citizen of Decatur still has any doubt in his mind that a traci tion railway is to' be built between | this city ahd Fort Wayne he should | make a trip a few miles north, | where actual work on the grade has i begun. About a mile of the grade 'is banked up and completed and i another mile is plowed up and the , fill being made. The men are working this way- and stakes showing the right of way may’ be seen i within a short distance from town. | The line will run on the west side of the road, through the front yard of many homes and at one place we noticed a house will have to be moved. However the farmers realized the benefit of an electric line will be to them and gladly gave the right of way in most instances. About fifty men and a | dozen teams were at work last evenling when a Democrat representative ■ visited the scene and we assure our ■ readers that the scene appeared business like. The grade is elevatled and looks substantial and good’ j and proves that the Fort Wayne j I & Springfield Company are doing | the thing up right. The grade will j be completed this sass and early- next year our people will tie enjoying I (-very advantage of an interurban. ' Farmers along the line of whom we j talked'seemed pleased. A GOOD LECTURE. Rev. Frank Lankenau Talks to a Large Audience. Rev. Frank Lankanau who has been visiting in this city with his parents lectured at the Zion Luthern church last evening to a large audience. His talk was entitled “The Colored Mission, in the South’’ a subject upon which Mr. Lankanau is espi'eially prepared tospeak owing to his long experience in the southern mission work. His discourses are very interesting and received with much appreciation. Mr. Lankanau his lena minister in the Evangelical Lutheran church for 15 years and for 12 years has been engaged in the colored mission . work. At the present time he holds the position ns Senoir and has charge of three New Orleans mis sioiis. In connection the church ( schools are maintained for colored 1 children and last year almost 600 i students were enrolled and an increase is expected this fall. Rev.;' Lankanau left over the Erie this noon for his home in New Orleans going by the way of Chicago. ON THE PROGRAM. Decatur Lady to Take Part in Convention. A program of the annual convention of the Churches of ('hrist to be held this year Heptembcr 16-17 at Gas City has been received here. A number of well known workers of the state are on the program and among others we notice that Miss Ina Wyatt of this city will lend in a i discussion. The convention is for ' the fifth Indiana and will no doubt bo largely attended. The church hits 124,000 members in the state.

SURPRISE PARTY. Mrs. Beecher Meibers is Taken Unawares by Lady Friends. About forty lady friends surpris-1 ed Mrs. Beecher Meibers at her home on Sixth street last evening. Mrs. Meibers was forty years old and the ladies took advantage of the occasoin. The affair was planned by Mrs. Fred Schafer and Mrs. Geo. Baliey, and its success is attested to by- each and every lady present. The ladies met at the home of Mrs. Geo. Bailey and from there went to the home of Mrs. Miebers. The latter was presented with some beautiful pieces of china, as a token of kind regards. Different games furnished amusement for the assembled crowd until a late hour, when they left after appropriate congratulations. WEDDED TODAY. Forbing-Meinerding Nuptials This Morning. Joseph Meinerding of Fort Recovery, Was the Groom,-The Couple Left for Buffalo. : A simple but impressive ceremony I was the one which occured at the St. Mary’s Catholic church this morning, when Miss Gertrude Forbing was united in marriage to Joseph Meinerding of Fort Recovery, I (1. The bride wis married in traveling costume and the ring ceremonywas used. Miss Rose Forbing was bridesmaid, and W. Ramer • of Celina acted as groomsman. At ten o'clock a wedding breakfast was served and the couple was presented with a number of beautiful and costly- tokens. Mr. and Mrs. Meinerding left this morning for a trip to Buffalo and Niagara Falls, after which they will be at home at Fort Recovery. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Forbing and scarce needs an introduction. She has always been popular among Decatur society, her musical accomplishments having merited her much praise. Mr. Me"erding is connected with a large department store at Fort Recovery and has many friends here. Among the out of town guests present were, Mrs. L. Meinerding and daughter Mayme of Fort Recoevry, Mrs. B. Anthony. W. Romer, of Celina, Miss Agnes Meinerding. AVill Men erding of Alexandria. Jacob For bing Kenton ()., Mrs JMiirt Rein hart and daughter Marngret of Fort Wayne. _________ i NEWS FROM TEXAS. 1 James and Chat Eddington Are Now at El Paso. James Eddington and his brother Chut Eddington who left for the west some time ago are at the pres- I ent time located at ElPaso, Texas. In u letter to his friends here Jim tells of his experiences and opinions of the southern country. He says ! there are fairly good opportunities for skilled workmen but that it is i impossible for a white man to se- ; cure common lulwr as all work • which comes under this class is done by Mexicans and negroes. For a i while the two boys were at Douglas, ; Arizona but state that that town was the toughest and dirtiest they were ever in. If they decide to migrate from Texas they will probably go to Los Angeles, California. The boys say that their health is holdng out good but the drinking water is disagreeable and they want to find n more congenial place.

NUMBER 207

A NEW ONE. New Member of County Council Appointed. R. E. Smith Appointed to a Vacancy From the Third District. A new member of the county council is doing business at their regular and annual session of this body, now transacting business at the sheriff s office. Robert E. Smith is the name of the new member, he having been appointed by the county council to till the vacancy caused by the resignation of Peter Solduer of Berne He will I represent the third district, which |is composed of Jefferson, Blue Creek, Monroe township including Berne. Mr. Smith is one of the old reliable citizens of the county and will make a very valuable member of that body of county officers. They expect to finish their first days work by having the appropriations agreed to. and that will make the remainder of their labors comparatively easy. Up to this time they have reduced the appropriations for the circuit court #I2OO, change of venue SSOO, clerk of court supplies S2OO, insanity SISS, expenses and fuel at court house $155, boarding prisoners SIOO, superintendent infirmary SIOO, bridges $125. The job is not an easy one but they are pushing into it with lots of vim and will no doubt get through all right. BLUFFTON’S OPERA. Their Prolonged War Cry at Last Bears Fruit. After the dreary waste of several barrels of printer's ink and the consumption of many months’ time, the Bluffton opera house now seems like a certainty. The new feature to Bluffton will be a sure enough beauty, costing something near thirty thousand plunks. It will be three stories with business rooms and offices on first and second floors, and the plans throughout are said to be chuck fuff of architectural beauty. Work will begin on the structure in less than a week. Four thousand dollars' worth of tickets have been sold for the opening performance, this being part of the scheme of the promoters to get in their graft. While Decatur posesses a model little ojiera house, yet W. 8. Hughi's who has long been anxious to erect a modern playhouse, is yet in the same frame of mind and will put up halt the money for such an enterprise. A RUNAWAY. George Barnett and Thos. Andrews Figure in a Spin. A horse belonging to George Bar nett became frightened at a (lover Leaf train this afternoon and came down Second street at a terrific gait. The hold backs broke and the buggy kept bumping against the horse's heels. This frightened it all the more, and Mr. Barnett tug ged ut the lines in vain. When near the J. 1). Hale grain house. Dr. Miller caught the rear of the buggy and another gentleman held the horse. The shafts of the buggy were splintered and the harness broken. Thos. Andrews was in the buggy with Mr. Barnet and he says he thought sure he was nearing the other shore.