Daily Democrat, Volume 1, Number 283, Decatur, Adams County, 9 December 1903 — Page 1

VOLUME 1

THE DISTRICT MEETING Democtatic Convention for Decatur.

CAMPAIGN TO OPEN SOON Will Select Member of State Committee. Mon. J. A. M. Adair is a Candidate to Succeed Himself. • In all probablility the district meeting for the selection of a member of the democratic state committee, will lie held in this city. A letter is at hand from the Hon. J. A. M.Adair, the present eighth district member of this committee in which he asks if such arrangement would

ELECT OFFICERS. Masons Held Important Meeting. Installation Will Occir Tuesday Evening, December TwentyNinth. The annual session for the election of officers was held last evening by the Masonic fraternityanrt the members chosen for the various chairs was as follows: P. L. Andrews, worshipful master-. Henry B. Heller, senior warden; Norman Lenhart, junior warden; George Kinzle, treasurer ;Earl B. Adams, secretary; D. E. Smith trustee; the hold over members of the board being A. Dugan and J. B. Coverdie. The date, Tuesday, December 2U was chosen for the installation event, always a pleasant one for the memben. A committee including Barney Kalver, J. 8. Cloverdale and L. C. Miller was appointed to complete arrangements for the installation. They will confer with the Eastern Star Committee and a joint installation to which members may invite their friends is probable. GETTING THERE. Drill on Baughman Wtll Down Six Hundred Feet. The drilling of the oil well on the William Baughman farm, south of town is progressing nicely, being down 600 feet last evening. It is expected that trenton rock will be found by Saturday, when the cas ing will bo put in. Good news is expected the early part of next week in the way of a gusher and we liojm' it comes true.

The Daily Democrat.

meet with approval. In answer ( iiunty Chairman McKean extended i a hearty invitation, which in all | probability will be accepted. Decatur is rather unfortunately situated, being in the extreme northeast corner of one of the largest congressional districts in the United States. The excellent railroad service , together with the advent of the in- ’ I ter urban, however, removes to a great extent the usual objections. The only business that will come before this meeting will be the election of a member of the state committee, but it will be an enjoyable meeting nevertheless, with speeches from many of the old war horses , from over the district. It will be an enjoyable day and we hope the democrats from all corners of Adi ams county will take advantage of the occasion to witness the opening of the campaign of 1904. Mr. Adair will be a candidate to succeed himself, and it is not likely that any one will oppose his desires. He has filled the position admirably and with complete satisfaction, and is very close to the democrats of the eighth district and to the state as well. The time of holding the district meeting has not been arranged but will likely occur the first or second week in January.

A WEDDING. Herman L. Mayo and Miss Bertha Steele Are Married. Last Saturday evening at 7:30 Mr. Herman L. Mayo and Miss Bertha M. Steele were united in marriage, the Rev. John C. White, pastor of the Methodist church, officiating. i Miss Steele is the accomplished daughter of Mr.and Mrs. John Dayj ton Steele, living a mile and a half i east of this city. The bride and I groom are both well known and have many friends, who with the Democrat extend congru* ualtions. FOUR WITNESSES. I Sheriff Butler Subpoenas Adams County People. Summoned to Bluffton to Testify In the Terrell Murder Trial. > ___ i Sheriff Butler made a trip to ' Berne, Linn Grove and Geneva last evening, his duty being to subpoena witnesses to testify in the Terrell murder case at Bluffton. At Berne he subpoened O. G. Hall, at Linn Grove Mr. and Mrs. Emmett Luman and at Geneva Ray McFay. All of 0 these people, now residents of Adams county formerly lived near Petroleum in Wells county. They a »re oil people and are acquainted f with the Terrell and Wolfe families. < They will be used in rebuttal havs ing been summoned by the state to B apiM’ar today. These are the only i. citizens from this county who have s so far been used in the famous case, k Mr. Butler left here on the eveno ing train and returned on the midnight at 1:18 after a hard trip.

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

PROUD OF IT. Gert Reynolds is Improving His Shop. The barber shop of Gert Reynolds on South Second street is undergoing some repairing today that will make it blossom forth like a spring daisy. A coat of handsome wall paper is the principal feature of improvement and Gert will be prancing about in a day or two as proud as you please. Call and see him if you doubt our word. AWAIT REPORT. Hostilities in Columbia Still Apparent. The Missouri Supreme Court Reverses a Bribery Case. Special to The Daily Democrat Lagnaira, Venezuelal, Dec 9— French steamers Versailles reports, Colombian steamers as landing 1100 men from Cartagena, near mouth of Atralo river on Gulf Daries, to open wav over Darien mountains ' into Panama. Other troops from department Canca, Columbia, converging on Panama and from all parts of Columbia troops are marching or waiting the result by General Reyis mission to Washington. Special to the Daily Democrat. Jefferson City. Mo., Dec. 9—The ! supreme court today reversed Col. Edward Butler bribing case and discharged the prisoner. Butler was convicted of bribery in connection with the St. Louis garbage contract und was sentenced for three years. A QUIET TIP. Don’t Get in Uncle Sams Way. It woud be well for drivers of wagons to remember that all United States mail carriers have the right of way in pubic highway when on duty. They can not be driven into the ditches by heavy loaded wagons without violation of the United States mail law, and if a collision is made by so doing and the mail delayed it will not be long thereafter until a deputy United States marshal will he looking for certain partes who will answer to roll call at Indanapols. This law applies] not only when meeting a vehicle but applies to those in front of the mail as well, when the mail makes an effort to pass. G. R. & I. WRECK. Train Derailed at Adams Station Last Evening Train No. 3, on the Grand Rapids railway due here at 3:12 o’clock was delayed here last evening for three hours owing to a wreck at Adams Station. A freight train was switching there and in backing up on the side track the rails spread thereby throwing the train from the track also four box cars that were heavily loaded with merchandise. The wreck train was called out of Fort Wayne as was also the whole section gang from here and after three hours of hard work the track was cleared ready for traffic again. Fortunately no one was hurt.

STILL GRINDS. [ Commissioners Having a Busy Session. Quarterly Reports of County Officers and Other Miscellaneous Business. • The third day with the board of commissioners found them still mixed up with business in which the county is interested. John W. Cowan, David Steele and Homer Foust as viewers on a road petitioned for by Jonas Neuenschwander of French township, filed a report, to which B. F. Wiley remonstrated, and the same was continued for a hearing to the January term. The petition for an extension to the Decatur and Bluffton macadam road was found to be correct and accord ing to law, but the road can not be built at present owing to the fact that it would increase the indebtedness of the township, in excess of the limit prescribed by law. The petitions of E. W. France for vacation of highways, was continued to the next term. The county officers reports shows the following :Clerk— Civil cases <267.37, probate <165.60. marriage licenses <ll6, other licenses <2, transcripts <26, certificates <16.25, insurance fl, miscellaneous <12.35, total <718.57. Recorder— Deeds <236.50;, mortgages <180.50, releases <32.60, articles of association <207.80, total <657.40. Sheriff —Collections SB, writs <11.87, fees <131.30, deeds <l, total <152.17. Auditor—Transfers <14.50, bonds <4, liquor licenses <25, school fund mortgages <1.50, total <45.50. Bids were opened for supplies at the county infirmary and contracts awarded to Niblick and Company for groceries and dry goods, Lock & Lins the hardware, J. D. Hale salt, and coal oil, Kuebler & Moltz tobacco, Holthouse Drug Co.,drugs. AT PUBLIC SALE. Stoneburner’s Stock to be Auctioned. Trustee Smith Sets Day for Beginning Sale at January Twelfth. David E. Smith and R. S. Peterson trustee and attorney for John B.Stoneburner have advertised that they will, beginning at eight o'clock Tuesday morning, January 12 and to continue from day to day until all is sold offer for sale at the place of business and in the building situated on Second street, in the city of Decatur, in the building whore in the assignor, John B. Stoneburn er, formerly carried on business, at public auction, to the highest bidder the personal property of said trust consisting in part of pianos, organs, string instruments, musical supplies of all kinds, accounts, wag ons, harness, and supplies news sury to the carrying on a musical business. The goods will have to bring two thirds of the appraisment before t hey can bo sold und hence the lowest bid accepted at the sale will be on this basis. Nevertheless the people of Decatur and vicinity will have an opportunity to purchase some musical goods cheap. Twelvemonths credit is to be given.

MADE UP. Bas Men Battle at the Morning Train. The Clover Leaf railroad was the scene of quite a little battle this morning at the 5:25 train between "Poodle” Meibers and Dave Andrews, respective bus drivers for the opposing hotels. It is the custom when a train pulls in for the men at once begin to call out the hotel they are representing, and from all accounts Meibers had the stronger voice and was out calling Andrews when Dave took offense at same and at once proceeded to attack Meibers, but he found his match and it was only the question of a few moments until Andrews knew he was up against the real 'ting. The traveling men interfered and what might have been a bloody battle was thereupon called a draw. The men shook hands and peace again reigns between them. THE OLDEST YET Paul Baumgartner Beats Record on Books. Has German Bible 367 Years Did and Another Half as Ancient. And now comes Paul Baumgartner with two old books, one of which makes those we have mentioned in these columns recently from 100 to 150 years old, look like mordern literature. One of these volumes is without doubt one of the oldest books in the United States. It is a German Bible published at Zurich, Switzerland, in 1536, or 367 years ago. The book is well preserved and the date appears in three; different places. It is bound in wood covers and the pages are filled with crude pictures. I Mr. Baumgartner secured the book from a family named Kaehr who live in Wells county, and who have owned this rare old volume for centuries having passed it down from generation to generation. It is very large and heavy resembling a present day court docket in outside I appearance. Paul also owns another J German bible, published in 1726 and which though not so old he values even more than the other as it was ; given him by his mother whose i family has owned it for many,many years. Both hooks are interesting ’ and almost invaluable. CORN IS GREEN. Mr. Egley Says Crop Has Not Dried Properly. Mr. C. G. Egly, the well known grain dealer of Berne was at the Wayne hotel yesterday. Mr. Egly is somewhat discouraged over the condition of the new corn crop, which he says has not dried out properly. Speaking on the subject he said: “Wo are having much the same experience with corn that we had last year. The corn is green anil sticky does not shell or grind well, and many mills, especially in the cast refuse to rocieve new corn. The grain does not seem to be drying much and shippers; in general arc discouraged over the; outlook. This condition of affairs is no doubt, duo to the fact that | drying frosts did not come at the proper time. It will be some time j yet before corn gets in fit condi t ion."—Fort Wayne Journal Ga zette.

NUMBER 283

THE TERRELL CASE Evidence Offered on Plea of Insanity. Lucy Wolfe, Wife of Murdered Matt Tells Pitiful Story of Her Trouble. The Terrell murder case in Wells county is still on and will probably not be concluded this week as was dnticipated. The defense is taking up more time than was expected and will close probably tomorrow, the state will take a day or two in rebuttal and the arguments will not begin it is thought now before Monday. Yesterday and today considerable evidence has been offered showing that Terrell comes from a race of people subject to insanity, a number of his relatives having been afflicted. Several hours were occupied by Mrs. Lucy Wolfe, wife of the murdered man and during her story, which was very pitiful her father, the murderer, wept bitterly. She testified as to her betrayal by Wolfe and that he refused to marry her until practically forc- ; ed into doing so by his father,Jacob Wolfe. She said that the sceond week after they were married Wolfe began to mistreat her. He told her that he thought more of Cad Blair, another girl, than he did of her. She said he also once disclaimed their child after it was born, and told her that it belonged to her father. She testified that she was not given enough to eat at i the home of Wolfe’s father, and that Melvin Wolfe, his stepmother and his stepsister mistreated her and told her that she would have to go home. Once she took laudanum to kill herself. Her husband abused her, she said, because I she was sick three weeks before her child was born, and that when she rebelled he beat her. DECIDED CHANGE Trains on C. & E. to be Taken Off. Other Trains Nearly all to Change Time During Winter Months. The Chicago <fe Erie railway are ] arranging to a new time card to go into effect soon and some decided changes will take place it is authoritively stated. Under the new schedule it is said, train No. 8, oast bound will leave Decatur at 2:35 p. m. instead of 2:55 a.m.; No. 13 west will leave at 5:37 p. m. instead of 5:12 p. in.; No. 7 west will leave at 3:20 a. m. instead of 1 42 a. m.. the present time. Several other : changes are contemplated but have | not yet been arranged, the new tabl(\tncluding a complete change in time of freights us well as passen I gers. Passenger trains number ; nine, the west bound Buffalo Chi •■ago limited and number ton easl ; bound Buffalo and Chatauqua lake are to lie taken off, the former due here at 10 a. in. und the latter nt 9:55 p. in. It is also stated jthat one or two other trains uro to lie taken off for the winter months at least all dead freights | will be run as extras.