Daily Democrat, Volume 1, Number 208, Decatur, Adams County, 10 September 1903 — Page 1

VOLUME 1

COWARDLY MIDNIGHT ATTACK

Home of Editor Rohrer at Berne the Scene.

I House Partially DeI stroyed. An Attempt to Murder the Family. I No One Injured, Though Two Powerful Dynamite Explosions Were Made. H A cowardly attack upon Fred Mm R-direr, his family and home wa> KB made early this morning and was 9B partially successful. Mr. R.ffierer ■Bas is well known, is the editor of KB the Berne Witness and the leader Eof the Anti-Saloon forces in that iScity. He has been ever alert and i'Bhas never stopped dealing blows •■against the cause he lieleives so sB detrimental. During the past two weeks he has been told that there £'B w ‘ ls considerable talk that his home was to be blown up and he has B been expecting most any emergen- ■ cy. At 1:47 this morning an exploB sion occurred followed a minute ■ later by a heavier one. Mr. and ■ Mrs. Rohrer were awakened by ■ the first explosion but remained ■ quiet until the second one came and E when this one caved in the windows B in the bed room they deemed it time ■to be getting out. The Rohrer ■ home is located on the north east p corner of Sprunger and Washington B Streets in the central jiart of town. The first charge of dynamite was placed between the screen and frame of a window on the west side if and the second inside the screen i. <’* the front door. Mr. Rohrer ■believes the affair was carefullv I planned, that the perpetrators pi.o' Ked a light charge in the window ■expecting that when it went off ■fr<-d would rush down stair-- and ■out to the front door just in time k to receive the full effect of the ■much heavier charge placed a’ that ■part of the house. But Fred consul ■■Cred himself just as safe in bed as ■anywhere else and remained there ■until the shooting was over. Then ■he and Mrs. Rohrer came down ■Stairs to view the wreck. The teleFjphone was shattered some but Fred ■was able to call up Stengel & Craig's Kdrug store and tell them what had ■occurred. Quite a crowd had gath ■ered on Main street tadievinga liank ■or safe had been blown and they up ■ poured at the Rohrer house. Two ■ down stairs windows and one upKatairs were demolished, the front ■door was blown across the sitting ■room, the front ]>orch was almost ■totally wrecked ami the floor and ■ceiling being torn out almost entire ■ly. The interior of the house pre ■rented a sorry apjiearanee, chairs land stands were overturned and ■ piled up in a heap, glassware ami ■ dishes had been thrown from the ■ shelves and the pieces were strewn ■over the floor. Mr. and Mrs. Rohr ■er and three children spent the rest ■of the night at the neighbor's ■homes. Fred coming here this ■ morning to continue his fight in ■ commissioners court against the ■saloons. Mrs Rohrer and children ■will stay with her sister for a few

The Daily Democrat.

days until their home is repaired, workmen having started repairing the house this morning. The damages will be paid out of the temperance fund, though Fred received twenty five dollars donations by mail this morning from his sympathisers and this amount will be increased no doubt during the day. \\ hatever is received in that manner will go into the fund. When first explosion occured a neighbor, N. G. Funkhouser rushed out of his house and had just reached the street when the second bomb exploded. The exact time is known, from the fact that the clock stopped and still shows thirteen minutes to one. Berne citizens are greatly excited and hundreds have visited the scene. The affair it is beleived by many will turn the tide of public sentiment strongly in favor of the temperance people. Mr. Rohrer says: “I was looking for such a thing to happen, having been warned several times. My wife was also expecting it and we were neither one very badly frightened. I beleive they have done their worst now and we will not lx? bothered any more. It is the death blow for saloons in Berne I shall continue my fight and believe I can win out.” The damage will not be over $l5O. The attack was one of the most cowardly ever attempted in the county and is denounced in strong terms by every fair minded citizen. No clue has yet been found to the cowards, but the officers will use every possible effort to run them down and if successful the guilty ones should and will be punished severly. LICENSE WAS GRANTED. Bluffton Anti-Saloon League Loses Their First Case. The anti-saloon crusade at Bluffton lost out in their fight against Sheriff Stanton, whose license they contested upon a charge of immorality. The commissioners granted the license on the grounds that the charges pushed against the applicant were not violations of the Nicholson law. They have been having a hot tune there between those engaged in the liquor business and those opposed to the promulgation of this traffic in Bluffton. The tight against the saloons in general will go merrily on, so say those who have warmed up to the subject. WILL RACE TODAY. Virgil C. and Sunda Girl Start in Same Race. A crowd of Decatur people will go to Montix'lier tomorrow to see two Decatur f.orses start. Some will go over on the train and an automobile party made up of at least three automobiles will also make the trip. In the 2.25 pace Virgil C. owned by Dr. Clark and Elmer Johnson and M. A. Hamm’s Sunday Girl will start together. These horses being from the same town and never huving raced together before makes the contest especially interesting. Admirers of both animals are confident in their favorite and are willing to back their opinions. Mr. Hamm has also decided to race his mare in the Fair races and it is probable that Decatur people will have the privilege of seeing todays exhibition repeated.

DECATUR, INDIANA, THURSDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 10, 1903.

SUBSIDY CARRIED. Portland and Wayne Township Whacks Up to Railroad. The railroad election in Wayne township and Portland Tuesday was ’ carried for the road by the majority of ninety four. Asa result the C. B. & U., a steam railroad line I which will ultimately be built from . Cincinnati to Chicago through Portland and Bluffton. By the election i Tuesday the road will get $54,5,00 j a sum of money that will greatly . i aid them in paying expenses of their J enterprise. The line of the road if ever completed from Cincinnati to ~ Chicago will make a great paying , line and will benefit the towns and country through which the road ’ | passes. SURPRISES. Three Prominent Citi- » zens Are Surprised. I Grandma Ferry is 89, Mother Rice 80 ana John Williams is 55 Years Old. Mrs. Francis Rice was an unsuspecting victim of a well planned surprise yesterday. Mrs. Rice was eighty years old, and her relatives made the most of the occasion. Mother Rice was taken to Steele’s park where her relatives assembled and a family dinner was served. Mrs. Rice enjoyed the event immensely and was the recipient of . many earnest congratulations. John Williams of West Madison street, was completely surprised today by an army of friends who had gathered to celebrate his fiftyfifth birthday. While Mr. Williams • was being decoyed away from home, about forty members of the G. A. R. and W. R. C. gathered at his home and gave him a glorious welcome on his return. To cap the climax each guest brought a we'l filled basket, dinner was prepared and the greatest surprise to all is how that feast disappeared. It was cctrainly a grand treat and 1 the event throughout was a com plete success. The afternoon was spent in recalling exjieriences and incidents of bygone days. Grandma Ferry was surprised this afternoon by her neighbors and rell atives at the home of her granddaughter Mrs. W. P. McMillen, Grandma Ferry is one of the best i known and oldest Decatur’s citizens. , Though nearing an ex treme old age > she is still comparatively active ■ anil takes a live interest in all that is going on about her. She is known to nearly every resident of this city and her neighbors especially hold her in high esteem. She has not been in the beat of health : the last few days, but she was high ly pleased with the affection shown i her this afternoon, and enjoyed the event as much as anyone present. Today she is eighty-nine years old and best wishes for another decade of good health were heartily exi pressed by all. Mrs. McMillen who i arranged the affair served light rei freshments to her guests. Mrs. R. i D. Boyles of Fort Wayne <tas the only out of town guest.

LEVY REDUCED. County Levy Next Year Reduced 4 Cents. Board of Commissioners Complete Their Business for the Term. The county council have agreed to all appropriations and when figured out it makes a tax levy for county purposes of twenty eight and one fourth cents, a reduction on the rate over last year of four cents. The county sinking is eight cents, and the gravel road repair is eight cents on the SIOO valuation. Some special appropriations wer: awarded the assessor of Union township getting S2O, Preble S3O, Washington $lO5, St. Marys S3O. Blue Creek sls, French S3O, Hartford S3O, Wabash S3O. The county board of review were given $225, repairs at court house, $lO, post mortem $25, poor fund SSO additional superintendent salary $225, auditor books and stationary S2OO, chairs for court house S2OO. The session was agreeable and ended to the interest of all concerned. The board of commissioners were busy this afternoon making the levy for macadam road bonds and interest. They expect to finish and complete the term tomorrow. HE DEMANDS Ambassador Wants Governor Removed. Minister Lishman Wants Some Cne Appointed Who Can Preserve Peace. Special to Daily Democrat. Washington, D. C. Sept. 10—Minister Lishman cabled the state department from Constantinople today that the French Ambassador demands the removal of the Governor of Beirut and that other foreign powers will do the same. Lishman is vigorously urging Porte to replace governor with some one more capable of preserving peace. A FALSE REPORT. Fifteen Cents Admits Children Fair Week. The report has in some way gained circulation in the eastern part of Union township that the admission fee for children to the Great Northern Itulina Fair was twentyfive cents. This is erroneous and as a correct ion, the charge for children any day of the great exhibit is but fifteen cents and on Wednesday children are admitted free. Arrangements for the great fair are going merrily on and good or bad weather will see the greatest throng of people ever assembled in thiscity. The fair itself will lie the greatest wonder of all fairs and it will be time and money well be spent to’attand.

FUNERAL TOMORROW

John Busenbark to be Buried in Grant County.

Coroner Holds Inquest. Prisoner Osburn is Restless. Eats But Little and Cannot Sleep Special Grand Jury to Meet Soon. As stated in last evening’s issue John Busenbark the victim of Joe Osburn, died as a result of the terrible beating he received about four o'clock last evening. He was unconscious during most of the day, the only sign of recognition being a word occasionally when he would ask tor war ror oali his daughter, Mrs. Osburn. He seemed to suffer great pain, especially during the afternoon and until a few moments before the end came it required the strength of two men to hold him. He seemed very strong and those attending him did nor think death was so near. About three o'clock the physician, Dr. C. S. Clark was summoned but a few moments before he arrived the patient was beyond help. His breathing had been labored all day, showing internal injuries. During the

WIN SECONDS. Decatur Horses in the Race World. Kingmore, Beery & Holthouses' great pacer was an easy second money in the free for all at VanWert yesterday. A number of Decatur people were in attendance and say that it was a sight to see the little horse go easy into the place next to the lead. The race was won by Paulding Boy who went the course in 2:13 1-4. Kingmore has been in the stall for some time and i not yet in his time racing condition. True Worth raced in the 2.20 trot at Montpelier yesterday and got second place. Those who saw him go say that it was an easy position for the black horse and had his driver cared to have him marked he could have won first place. NEARING COMPLETION New School House in Union Township a Beauty. Trutsee Koldewey reports the construction of the number five school house in Union township, as progressing at a lively rate, and that its early completion is exjiected. The building is among the finest in the county and is already the pride of nearly every one in the township. As soon as it is ready for occupancy school will o]xn, the teacher selected living Goldey Staler, one of the bright young teachers of the county. Trustee Koldewey is mighty proud of the building, and well ho may be.

NUMBER 208

afternoon his feet and hands became icy cold, his breath came in gasps, slower and slower and finally ceased. The deceased was sixtyeight years, seven months and five days old. He came to this county from Grant county last March During this short time he made many friends and was admired and respected by all who knew him. The funeral serivces will he held from the home, four miles east of the city at nine o'clcok tomorrow morning, Rev. E. H. Pontius of the United Brethren church officiating. Interment will be made at the Knox cemetery in Grant county, the funeral party leaving at It :25 tomorrow morning. Joseph Osburn who must answer for the death of his aged father-in-law is passing sad moments in the county jail. He has not slept since placed in his cell. Tuesday evening and eats little. He is found in tears often and has hut little to say. When informed that his victim was dead he said: "Well, I will have to answer the consequences.” He has employed attorneys D. E. Smith and D. D. Heller & Son to def ?nd him. Prosecutor Moran has prepared an aflidavit charging Osburn with murder in the first degree. This will be filed this afternoon in circuit court and Judge Erwin will probably cr der a special grand jury impaneled to indict him. The case will probably come to trial within a fewweeks, Coroner Sobneck. Dr. J. S. Coverdale and C. S. Clark held an inquest over the body of John Busenbark this afternoon. While they had not returned when we went to press the general opinion is that the verdict will be that the deceased died from injuries inflicted by Joseph Osburn. Attorneys Moran and Smith were present.

DEATH’S CALL. Grandma Kern Died at Her Son’s Home. She Was Ninty-Six Years Old, and a Well Known Pioneer of the County. Grandma Kern who has made her home for some time past at the home of her tieice Mrs. J. W. Vail died at the home of her son Phillip Kern, last night at 12 o’clock after two weeks illness. She became severely ill while visiting in the country and her extreme old age would not permit of a recovery. Grandma Kern as she was most famliarily known was 90 years and 22 days old and has lived in this county for half a century. She leaves four children, Mrs. Daniel Railing of tins city, Phillip Kern and Washington Kern who live near here and Mrs. Moyers of Starke county, Ohio, to survive her. The funeral will bo held Saturday afternoon at the Salem church the funeral party leaving the home of Phililp Kern at 2:30 o'clock. Interment at Salem cemetery.