Daily Democrat, Volume 1, Number 304, Decatur, Adams County, 2 January 1904 — Page 1

VOLUME 1

SEARCHING FOR THEIR SON I George Martin and Wife Go to Chicago.

WAS HE A VICTIM OF IROQUOIS FIRE? Have Been Unable to Hear From Him. Ont of the Descriptions Lead Them to Fear the Worst. -Initials in a Watch Case. George Martin and wife who live j west of the city about six miles left yesterday for Chicago, probably to return from their mission with the charred remains of their son Ever since the horrible loss of life in the Iroquois Theatre on last Wed nesday afternoon they have been trying to get in direct communiea tion with their son, who has been working there and hearing nothing from him, they left yesterday to ascertain whether or not he is among the dead. What first aroused their suspicion was the fact that the papers stated that a body was found that could only be identified by the initials in his watch which corresjiond exactly with their son's and further that three years ago they had made him a present of a watch and hud engraved the reon his jntitals, and from the fact that they have lieen unable to hear from him have given them causej to fear the worst and if their suspicions should lie true and they probably know positively by this time . Their home coming will cer tainly lie a sad one. It is hoped by their many friends that such will not be the cise and that they may f>e reunited with their son. Sever al Decatur people w* re in Chicago and witnessed the awful scenes as have lieen depict'd in the various newspapers and all say the stati nu nts published fail in telling the terrible story in half its right lines Among those who were on the seenc shortly after the alarm was given were NV. P. Edmondson, Fred

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The Daily Democrat.

C. LaDelle, Charles Peterson and others. It was rumored last evening that the parents and friends of Miss Grace Miller, who is attending the Chicago Music Conservatory, had grave fears that she was among the victims, as they could not obtain communications with her. A representative of the Democrat talked to L. C. Miller her father, this morning and he .said: ‘‘The statementis not true, who have never felt any anxiety concerning Grace for two reasons, first, she would be busy during the afternoon and not likely to attend a matinee; second, she lives with friends and had anything happened to Grace, we would have heard from them, before we heard of the fire.” LOOKS SURE That Rural Carriers Will Get Better Pay. Rural carriers are almost certain of receiving more pay, but just how much cannot be told yet, but it will probaby tie an increase of |2OO making a salary of SBOO per year. Congressman Hemenway, chairman of the appropriations committee said: "There is no doubt that the carriers of rural free delivery will get an increase in pay, but I do not believe it will be given by a bill, but by an amendment added to the general postuflice appropriation. Personally I am very much in favor of giving these men an increase and I am satisfied it will come.” Congressman (' B. Lmdis said there I much ho was uncertain. “I j would be an increase, but just how think. ' siys Mr. Landis, “that the rural carrier ought to receive a straight salary of at least S6OO a year and an allowance of not less that S2OO a year for horse hire or maintenance. NVe are all working for the measure and there is no doubt that the increase will lie made.” Congressman Holliday ’ siys there isa disposition to increase . the pay of the rural free delivery’ earner- and that it will In* done. He favor- paying them according to their work and not according to the length of service. “The house will pass a suitable measure. " said J Mr. Holliday.

DECATUR, INDIANA, SATURDAY EVENING, JANUARY 2, 1904.

| DEATH LIST IS 582 . Victims of Fire Nearly all Identified. I Owners of Building and City Inspector 1 Arrested on Charge of Manslaughter. i 1 Special to the Dally Democrat, 3 p. m. Chicago, 111., Jan. 2—The total 1 number of corpses recovered from the Iroquois theatre tire stands today 582, compared with 580 yesterday. t Os these but thirty remain t unidentified. The church bells toll1 ed for five minutes at noon today I and business activity suspended > while long lines of funerals wended their way to various cemeteries. Will J. Davis and Harry J. Powers owners of the Iroquois theatre and city Building Inspector Williams are under arrest charged | with manslaughter. lu all twentynine arrests have been made. Mayor Harrison has issued orders, . directing theatre managers to obey I “standing room” prohibition and 1 to station employees at every exit. SEUNHO BANQUET I ’I i Delightful Event at Murray Hotel. i i i ' Club Members Entertained Their Husbands in a Most Channing > Manner. , ' The Sennho outdid all their other Asocial gatherings last evening by , I entertaining their husbands to a ( fine banquet at the Murray Hotel, iThut is their husbands at least I thonhgt so. The hotel was beautii fully decorated and from eight i o’clock on the fun was kept up and the members und their husbands enjoyed themselves by playing [cards, guessing contests and a pea i nut frolic, at all of which Clark [Coverdale showed himself a winner j and our informant wishes to an nounoe to the public for Clark’s benefit, that for the balance of the 1 year he can supply his customers [with fresh peanuts. During the banquet the men did not dure to speak us a tine was imposed upon anyone found guilty of this offense. But they defend themselves by saying that they.bad no chance, as the women kept up a constant conviTsation und those who were bashful were thus spared. The men real ized that if they said anything it would result in another feast which they would undoubtedly be ostracized. All who partook of the good things claim it was the best they ever ate and Mr. und Mrs. Murray wen complimented time again and the men are hoping the Indies will entertain them again soon. The honored guests were Miss May Bowers and Mr. A. Baxter of Fort NVuvno and Miss ('allic Seheiboeher I of Chicago.

OPEN HOUSE. Misses Bryson and Betry Entertain Friends. Misses Lucile Bryson and Dossie Beery kept, open house at the home of the former yesterday afternoon for the members of the Black Rag club and their friends from two to five o’clock. The house was decorated beautifully with colors and flowers and those who took ad van- . tago of their invitations were royally entertained. Mrs. Jeff Bryson presided at the coffee urn and dishod hot coffee and wafers to the guests and everyone was presented with a dainty souvenir. This event closed the week of entertainments given by this club and all who have been in attendance will never forget the girls for making them pass a week so quickly in such a pleasing manner and the ladies were congratulated by everyone for the easy manner in which they handled their programmes. NOT FILED YET. Motion for New Trial in Murder Case. Osborne Sentence Withheld by Judge Erwin Until He Hears the Motion. Attorney for Joseph O.wne convicted of murder in the second degree, have not yet filed their motion for a new trial, though it was expected they would do so Indore this time. They are still working ' on same and will be ready for business it is believed soon. It is said ' that a number of affidavits have been obtained against one of the jurors in the case, charging him ! with having formed and expressed | his opinion before being accepted :as a juror in the case. This will lie •; made one of the strong points ini I the motion for a new trial, | ! though there will lie several others, i ' Interest in the ease has quieted hut ' should a new trial be granted the [ subject would no doubt again beI come the whole topic. Joe seems in t I fairly good health und spirits. I [Judge Erwin stated this morning that he would not pass sentence [ upon the prisoner until after hearing | the motion for a new trial. Then 1 are but two weeks left of the present term of court and this time l will be occupied with the FayelorJ Studabaker case, but the motion J for new trial may I e filed any l time. ■ I THE RIGHT PLACE. Crowd of Young People Enjoy Hosp:*i tality of the Kohns. ! A merry crowd of about 35 boys land girls compesed a sleighing .[party New Year's evening undchose ! Kohnc's brother's home as their ■i place of destination. Games and music were indulged in till about eight o'clock when a royal lunch t prepared by the hostess was served. {About nine o’clock all returned to their respective homes saying I they could not have chosen a better . place for tin ir evening entertain ► . ment. VERY ILL. , Mrs. Bertha Murphy, who has been • quite sick for some time at the home t of her father. Horace Botthoff, is very r low today, an I hopes for her r••emery are very doubtful.

j SURPRISE PARTY. Rev. E. A. Allen a Victim of Friends. His Congregation Called at the Parsonage Last Evening.—A Good Time. If ever inot.il man was surprised it certainly was Rev. E. A. Allen last evening when fifty members of his church and flock burst in on him to show him how much they appreciate his good work and his earnest efforts in securing them their present place of worship. During the afternoon Miss Gusta Cramer telephoned him that certain parties from Bluffton would arrive about six o’clock to be married and Rev. Allen at once hastened to change his clothes, shave and add in general to his every day appearance so that he would look proper to fulfil his duties and while thus waiting for the parties, who never came, his flock burst in on him. To say that he was surprised can hardly express it, he was actually overcome. . After the excitement had subsided he was presented with a beautiful chair, to which he responded in a neat little speech, how ever to show that they had not overlooked Mrs. Allen as she was presented with a fine set of knives [ and forks. A fine banquet was servled after which all adjourned wish I ing Rev. Allen and wife many more happy New Years. COURT NEWS. Business Transacted Today.—New Case Filed. Business in circuit court today was as loiiow.-. Margaret Sherry vs R-sa NVerling et al. distribution ordered according to finding of interests heretofore made by court. Grace Houghton et al vs Israel | Bender et al finding that present I worth of life estate is SBSO and this amount ordered paid to G. NV. Brown guardian.plaintiffs attorneys alloweii 15. Henry Nelson vs .I S. i Bowers, demurer filed. Jane Acker |vs NV. D. Ayers et al answers, set for trial January 11. A. Taggart etal vs Northwest Virginii Oil (' impany, labor claims ordered [paid. D. I). Heller Son filed a new ease entitled Frederick Better vs John ("ipinger ami others, com plaint to quiet title.

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NUMBER 304

JANUARY WEATHER. A Dose of Hicks That Will Make Us Shiver. Irl R. Hicks, the weather prog nosicator forcasts weather for Jan uary that is discouraging. At the beginning of the month there will be a storm period central on the 3 and 4th. The temperature will rapidly fall and there will be gales and blizzards. On the heels of j these will come a dangerous cold wave from the northeast. A regular storm period will extend from the 6th to Ith central on the 6th The storm will be moderate and rainy at the beginning, but will be come severely cold. A reactionary storm period is predicted for 14, 15 and 16th. A regular storm period will extend from the 18th to the 23rd. becoming bilzzardous in the j last half of the period. The month [ will end in the cener of the storm period. ANNUAL REPORT. Jail Housed 237 Prisoners During Year. Sheriff Butler Sends Statistics to Chief of the Indiana Bureau, B. F. Johnson. i Sheriff Butler has completed his report for the year 1903 and same has been forwarded to B. F. John son, chief of the bureau of statistics for Indiana. In perusing same we found several items of interest. During the year the jail has entertiiinml 237 prisoners of which num Ipier all but three were males. Eight. 'of the number wore negroes, nine . were charged with assault and bat j tery, two with forgery, five with I larceny, one with murder, ninetythree with intoxication, ninetyeight with vagrancy, one with bastardy and twentyeight forother charges. Not on an inmate 'of the jail was charged with bur 1 1 glary, em'iezzleinent, robbery, perjury, horse stealing < r other crimes for which a space was designated lon the blank fitted out by Mr. But iler. Only eight people were chnrgIcd with p< nit< ntiary off. ns-s dur--1 ing the year and most of these were commonplace crimes, the one prisoner charged with murder lie : ing the only serious one against ! the 231 prisoners. The record is c-rtainiv a g >od one for Ad ims ic unity.