Daily Democrat, Volume 2, Number 40, Decatur, Adams County, 26 February 1904 — Page 1

VOLUME 11

SQUIRE KNAVEL I SHOT HIMSELF *

Accident Occurred While Out Hunting

MAY PROVE FATAL Thirty-Eight Shot Taken From Wounded Man’s Neck Attended by Drs. Clark and MillerAccident Occurred This Morning. ’Squire James Knavel, living two and one half miles east of this city, and one of the best known men of Union townhsip is lying at his home in a very serious condition the result of an accident which occurred at ten o’clock this morning. He and a young man named Pierce Worthington were out rabbit hunting, the ’Squire using a long barreled the shells being loaded with shot. They were about a half mile from the Knavel homo when the ’Squire tried to put the revolver in his vest pocket. As he did so the trigger caught on his vest, the gun was discharged and Mr. Knavel received the load in the left side of his neck. The shot passed upward and inward plowing an ugly looking hole nearly four inches long. The wounded man was taken home and Drs. J. M. Miller and D. D. Clark of this city summoned. They cleaned the wound and took out thirty eight shot and two wads. Mr. Knavel is about sixty years old and the physicians consider the wound a very serious one, owing to the danger of blood poison. At last reports today he was resting well and the outcome will not be known for a day or two. The revolver which caused the trouble is a peculiar looking one, being a Stevens & Company make and designed especially for shooting mark. It was displayed in the Democrat Bulletin window today and was the object <if much comment. ’Squire Knavel has many friends here who hope the injuries will not result as seriously as now feared. KNOWN HERE Railroad Man Badly Hurt at Hunting ton. Erie Switchman William Skinner was run down and struck by ti switch engine at 5:20 this morning, the wheels passing over both feet The accident occurred but a few feet north of the Market street crossing. The victim of this most distressing accident was picked up and conveyed to the Huntington hospital where Dr. B. H. Grayston. assisted by Drs. F. W. Grayston and Mclllvaine, found that the left foot und anklo were badly crushed, in fact literally ground to a pulp, and all of the toes on the right foot were beyond saving. The left leg was amputated about four inches above the ankle joint, und all that remained of the toes on the right foot was taken off. —Huntington Herald.

The Daily Democrat.

MARRIED HERE Popular Young People From Geneva United. On last Tuesday February 16 at Decatur occurred the marriage of W. F. Gettinger and Miss Gladys Butcher. The bride is a daughter of Jacob Butcher, an attorney of this place and she is also teaching school in this township having just recently graduated from the Valparaiso Normal school. Mr. Gettinger has been manager of various oil company’s interests with headquarters in Geneva for the past few years.—Geneva Herald. DISASTROUS FIRE Loss of Six Million at Rochester Many Blocks Destroyed, and for a Time the Entire City Was Threatened. Special to the bally Democrat. ROCHESTER, N. Y.. Feb. 26— The worst tiro in the history of this city started at five o’clock this morning in the basement of the Rochester Dry Goods Company on Main street. The fire spread rapidly to adjoining structures and many buildings were destroyed. Fire departments were called from Syracuse and Buffalo to aid in the tight. At eleven o’clock the lire was confined to an area and believed to be under control, unless the wind changes. Conservative estimates place the property loss at six million. A NEW SCHOOL Prof. Rittgers Opens Mail School to Teach Auctioneering. Prof. H. E. Rittgors of Linn Grove has opened a mail order business, gUng instruction in auctioneering. He has issued circulars announcing that ho will give twenty five lessons, within eight weeks, same to cost a ten dollar bill. The school is known as the Institute of Auctioneering and especial attention is given to instructing on the following lines: Priiciples of genoral auctioneering and salesmanship; sales of personal property, such as household goode, fanning implements jsales of live stock, such as horn's, cattle, sheep, hogs, chickens, eta.; of lands, town lota, properties, etc.; how to close deals, how to make binding contracts, etc. Five lectures are given with each course on important topics relating to selling, what to say and how to say it.

DECATUR, INDIANA, FRIDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 26, 1904.

WENT TO JAIL Berne Man Fined and Decides to Save Money.

James Wright of Berne has celebrating yesterday and was picked up last evening by Marshal Cordua. This morning he appeared before ‘Squire Smith, plead guilty and was trned one dollar and costs, amounting to <9.80- He plead to be released, said he left home yesterday with fifteen dollars in cash and expected to buy some clothes. He had <9.93 left and ’Squire Smith informed him he should have thought of the clothes before ho bought six dollars worth of whiskey. He decided to go to jail which he did. BROKE A LEG Joe Colchin Meets With Painful Accident Horse Slipped and Fell, Pinioning the Boy’s Leg to the Ground. Joe Colchin, a boy aged about sixteen years, and who lives near the jail had the serious misfortune this morning to break his left leg between the knee and ankle. Joe was riding along on Third street on a horse that was not shod and in turning the corner at the Murray Hotel to come east on Madison street the horse slipped and fell, falling directly across the left leg of the boy. Several men who were sitting in Fred Scheiman’s Meat Market at once hastened to the boy’s aid and in a few moments had him liberated. They carried him into the shop and Dr. C. S. Clark was hastily summoned and reduced the fracture. Joe was then taken home where he will undoubtedly be confined for some time. A GOOD SHOW “Aristocratic Tramp” Well Received Clever Acting, New Scenic Productions and Laughs for Every Minute. The production of “An Aristocratic Tramp” given last evening at Bosse’s opera house by Lem B. Parker and a well drilled company was greeted by a fair sized audience, who were kept in an uproar from the time the curtain rose until it dropped in the last, by the antics and funny saying of the tramp. The playjwas full of thrilling and exciting scenes and hair breadth escapes by hero, and closing as all other plays of this nature with the hero and leading lady getting married and the villian Ix'ing foiled in his designs and lieing brought to his awful fate. The automobile and train Mbenes were a neat piece of scenic setting and was most realistic. The show on a whole was a well played and deserves a full house whore ever they may go, and should they over repeat the per formunco here will undoubtedly bo greeted by a large and enthusiastic audience.

ON SERIOUS CHARGE L A. Henning Arrested Last Night Taken to Auburn Where He Was Indicted for Grand Larceny by the Grand Jury. L. A. Henning of this city was arrested at seven o’clock last night by Deputy Sheriff Dallas Butler and Policeman Fisher. At midnight George W. Bleeks of DeKalb county arrived and took him in charge. He was taken to Auburn on the morning train, where he will answer to a charge of grand larceny and obtaining money under false pretenses. He was indicted by the grand jury of that county at their December but as his exact location was not learned until Monday, the arrest was delayed. He made no resistance when arrested and his friends believe he will be able to prove his innocence. He is expected home tomorrow. EGGS DROP Price Falls Ten Cents in a Week Believed They Will be Cheap Enough for the Masses by Easter Time. The egg market is still on the downward tread. The merchants were only offering 15 cents today and were selling for 18. This is a drop of 10 cents in less than a week and will be hailed with delight by the people who have been accustomed to using a large number of eggs but who have been unable to pay the fabulous price at which they were quoted a week ago. The highest price reached in this city this winter was thirty cents. Easter is rapidly approaching and a local merchant stated that eggs would soon be down to the normal price and that the demand for Easter would be as large this year if not larger than ever before. If the price is right at Easter time, he said, people who have been compelled to do without. BUYS A DOG John Kern the Owner of a Valuable Canine. A few days ago while at Bluff ton, on business for the firm he is traveling for, John Kern of this city purchased a fine full blooded hunting dog, at least that is what John told a number of his traveling friends, but from all reports up to I ♦he present, the only good hunt ing the dog has shown is for his meals, still that is a good sign and John should not become discouraged. He purchased this dog from John Jones, who is quite a dog fancier, that is when some one is not look-; ing or the owner is not around to see how much ho fancies them, and he paid the handsome price of one dollar for the dog and he paid it in actual cash and not in stage money. Still John is satisfied with his bargain and proud of tho dog.

A MARRIAGE Young People Wedded by ’Squire Smith at Clerk’s Office. Julius Brunner and Mattie Urick of Berne were married at the county clerks office in this city this morning by ’Squire Smith, the officials being the only witnesses to the occasion. The bride wore a snow white dress and the couple attracted suome attention on the streets, it being generally surmised that they were newly wedded. NEXT FRIDAY Dr. Willets Will Lecture in This City Famous Old Apostle of Sunshine Will Tell the Story of “A Model Wife." Dr. A.A. Willits will lecture here Friday March 4th, this being an attraction of the Christian Endeavor course. In consequence of his appearance , Rev. Jamison’s lecture has again been postponed. Dr. Willits subject here is “The Model Wife,” and is assurred that the event will be a worthy one. Dr.Willits stands as the successful lecturer of two generations When Beecher, Phillips and Gough | were on the platform the name of! Dr. Willits was common in the same connection, and no list of the successful lecturers of this day is complete without this advocate of good cheer. Although the doctor has been lecturing for nearly forty | years, he is still in full strength. He is as young in spirit and as vigorous in thought and action as he has ever been. He travels extensively. Lecturers nearly every night, and frequently preaches on Sunday. The docor has neverm issed a date through physical weakness. NARROW ESCAPE Martin Ault Mixes Up With Gas Engine Fell Against Fly Wheel and Was Jerked About In a Lively Manner. Martin Ault an employee of this office, had u very narrow escape 1 from death this morning. The 1 water tank attachment to the gas 1 engine was overflowing and he at- 1 tempted to climb up to see what was wrong. The ladder slipped throwing him over against the large < fly wheel of the engine und dragg- < ing his arm into tho wheel. The < speed of the wheel threw him i down and away thus freeing his arm, which however was badly wrenched and is black and blue from his shoulder to tho elbow. Had he fallen a half foot further he would probably not have been able to tell how the accident happend as it would have resulted in sudden death. Mart was certainly very fortunate in this mishap and states that he willjbe more careful , in the meantime.

NUMBER 40

TO TEST LAW Rural Carrier Has Trustee Arrested Will Ascertain Whether or Not Rural Roads Must be Kept in Good Condition. The first arrest in the state under the law passed by the last legislature requiring the boards of county commissioners, township trustees and road supervisors to keep in passable condition all roads in their respective districts along which rural mail routes have been established was made yesterday when Dr. J. M. Reynolds, trustee of Union township, Clark county, was arrested on complaint of George School, a rural mail carrier. Dr. Reynolds was immediately released under bond and the case will be given a speedy hearing. The law specifies that if any of the officers named above fail to have such repairs made on the road complained of for a period of five days after receiving notice of the defective condition of the highway he shall lie deemed guilty of a misdemeanor und upon conviction thereof shall lie lined in any sum not less than nor more than (25, for each day such highway is allowed to remain in an impassible condition. COURT NEWS Several Suits Disposed of Today Two Partition Cases Submitted and Judge Erwin Gives Decisions.

Henry Nelson vs John S. Bowers, suit on account, demand 1100 set for trial Monday March 21. Michael Smith vs George Appleinan, damages evidence heard by i agreement of parties the court finds for plaintiff and assesses damages at ten dollars, defendant restrained from cutting any green growing timber, each party to pay half costs. Mary Carries et al vs Peter Kintz et al, submitted a finding for plaintiffs, that each is owner of real estate as set out in complaint. —o — David Wheeler vs Mary E. Glendenning, finding that plaintiff is owner of two fifths o f lands described in complaint. Samuel Oplinger and George O. McKean appointed commissioners and ordered to report at present term of court. Mary F. Swartz of al vs Mina M. Swartz, I). B. Erwin appointed guardian ad litem for defendant, i finding that plaintiff are owner of land as set out ii. petition. David I Manlier, A, R. Wolf and R. A, 1 Drumomnd appointed commissioners to divide said real estate.