Daily Democrat, Volume 2, Number 60, Decatur, Adams County, 22 March 1904 — Page 1

VOLUME 11

THE DIVISION PROPOSITION Delphos Making Effort to Retain Shops

DELEGATION AT TOLEDO Believed Their Visit Will Have No Effect A Clover Leaf Employee Says the Change Means 300 Employes In Decatur,

Sam Pohson, formerly a citizen of Decatur, but who has lived at Frankfort for several (years, being an employee of the Clover Leaf railway was in the city last evening the guest of Fred Schafer and family. He says the feeling all along the line among employees is favorable for the location of company beadquarters in this city and if a division is established here it means twenty crews of five men to the orew to begin with besides the shops men and others to be employed in the ice plants and yards which would make a total of three hundred men. He says he knows the company is in earnest and the proposition is up to Decatur. This city will do her part beyond a doubt. It is but seldom that a city of our size has an opportunity to secure an industry which beigns operation with three hundred men, many of them skilled mechanics ar d all at good wages and a city which turns down such an opportunitfy can see but a short distance into the future. Word from Mr. Shonts is daily expected and then look out for more hustle and hustle than was ever noticeable in Decatur. That the Delphos division alone is worth having, even if that was all that has been promised, is evidenced from the fact that today a party of a dozen or more Delphos business men are in Toledo to confer with Mr, Shonts and his official staff to ascertain if any act on their part in the way of raising money or dismissing law suits would save the division for h 'tn. It is believed that their trip will be futile for two very important reasons, namely, first, President Shonts has expressed his offer in the presence of more than two hundred citizens. It was no hesitating offer but an out and out proposition from a thorough business and railroad man who has a reputation of not talking too much and of never going back on’a statement. Secondly, a mutual arrangement between the Clover Loaf and Erie companies has been completed after years of labor on the part of stockholders and officials of both roads. This being true it stands to reason that Decatur is the logical point for division of both roads as many of their buildings and tracks lie used in partnership, at a groat saving of spaoe, labor, money and buildings. No other city on the two lines have both roads and the location here is ideal for the proposed consolidation headquarters. Hence little alarm is felt here of Delphos throwing any oold b water on the project

The Daily Democrat.

A LONG DISTANCE Wemhoff Monument Co. Ship Goods to Far West. Burney Wemohff& Sons are establishing a reputation for builidng beautiful monuments that is be coming or reaching. For more than a quarter of a century the Wemhoff Monumenta Works have constructed tomb stones in this and surrounding counties and of late years their business has branched about even beyond the state business. Yesterday they shipped a menument to Java, South Dakota and two to Wray, Colorado. These statements speak for themselves and proves the result of years of honest labor. A CRUEL JOKE Boy Set fire to Mike Touhey’s Coat Was Arrested But Could Not be Proven, and Defendant Was Acquitted. Fred Blazer, a young man was tried before S’quire Smith this morning on a charge of assault and battery and was acquitted, through the efforts of several of his friends. The charge doesnt’ seem very severe but nevertheless the crime committed was a very serious one and from what we have heard the boy was guitly though it was impossible to prove it. The prosecuting witness was Michael Touhey, a well known character and harmless old man. He was asleep in the Erie depot when Blazer and two or three of his companions entered and decided to nave some fun with him. Fred set fire to a piece of paper and placed it under Mike's body. The blaze soon enveloped the old man, who sprang up Jbadly frightened. He succeeded in getting the fire out but not until his coat sleeve had been burned off. The joke was a cruel one as poor old Mike might have been cremated and the boys deserved severe punishment for such an inhuman act. TO ORGANIZE Sons of Veterans Will Meet Thursday Evening. Theodore Kenedy has called a meeting for Thursday night at the G. A. R. that when another at tompt will be made to organize a Sons of Veteran (lodge. Thirty seven names have been secured on the regular form sheet and fifty is the required number. It is hoped those names will be secured by the date mentioned ami the organization completed. The fee is but fifty cents and every young man in the city of his eligble should join and bo proud of his opportunity. Remember the date, Thursday evening.

DECATUR, INDIANA, TUESDAY EVENING, MARCH 22, 1904.

WAS SPLENDID Closing Attraction of Endeavor Lecture Coarse a Fine One. Those attending the last number | of the lecture course at the opera house last evening are glad of it and are loud in their praises, while those who were not there are regretting it. The attraction was Wallace Bruce Amsbery, reader, and Valentine Abt, harpist. The former was perhaps the best monologue artist ever heard in] Decatur. His readings were mostly hnmerous and the crowd were de lighted with his efforts. Prof. Abt is a musician of rare ability and his work of last evening was fully appreciated. The lecture course has been a splendid success and those who attended were well repaid for their time and money. The financial Jesuit was not a glittering one but the society is even and our people have been well entertained WERE ACQUITTED Young Men Fought, But Only in Fun Lawrence Schiedel and Martin Brunnegraff Escape With a Lecture From Mayor. Mayor Coffee’s court this morning was the scene of quite a novel legal battle in two cases preferred by the state against Lawrence Schlegel and Martin Brunnegraff the charges in each case being assault and battery on each other the affidavit being signed and sworn to by Amos Fisher Night Policeman. There was practically no case against the young men and it seems that the testimony of the witnesses conflicted as to whether or not the two boys were mad and really intended to fight. The evidence also brought out the fact that the affair had been prearranged and was intended for’a boxing match and was all in fun,and that in all probability some person got excited thinking it was an actual fight and telephoned for the police. Mayor Coflee on hearing all the evidence concluded that there was not sufficient evidence to 'warrant a conviction in either ease and discharged each of the defendants. However giving the boys a very severe lecture, concerning rowdyism. The fight was held last Sunday. John Moran prosecuted and Shaffer Peterson defended. HAS WON OUT Prof. Ogg Has Driven Tobacco Habit From Kokomo Schools. After a prolonged crusade, Professor 11. A. Ogg, superintendent of the Kokomo schools, has banished the cigarette from the public schools of that city and will start a work of the same kind in the Marion schools, where he lectured a week ago. Kokomo now has an army of 3,000 pupils pledged against the use of tobucoo in every form. Professor Ogg has made a study of the evil effects of cigarette smoking among children and, aided by the faculty and board of education, began a war of extermination against the weed. As a result of several courts of inquiry about a score of tobacco dealers were arrested for selling to children in violation of law. The boys wore made to tell where they bought tobacco and it is now an impossibility for boys under 18 years of >.ge to buy tobacco in Kokomo and the cigarette habit is entirely broken up in the schools

GOOD NEWS I Leßrun Fortune Has Been Traced I Mayor Berghoff of Fort Wayne, Sent for Alex Leßrun to Complete Identification. Alex Leßrun went to Fort Wayne this afternoon in response to the following encouraging letter received this morning from Mayor Berghoff who has in charge the recovering of the Leßrun fortune: Fort Wayne, Ind., March 20 — Alex Leßrun, Decatur, Ind. Dear Sir: — I wish you would call at my office as soon as for further identification as one of the heirs of the Leßrun estate. We have traced the estate, and before we can go any further and expend any more money we want to see you and make all arrangements necessary for the prosecution of your claim. Respectfully Yours, I Henry C. Berghoff. For several months the heirs have been making efforts to ascertain whether or not they could not secure their share of the vast estate of an uncle who died recently in Germany, and whose wealth was estimated at twenty millions. Mr. Berhgoff has had the matter in charge and seems to have heardsomething good. At first it was rather supposed that this would result as have so many claims of othes people against European estates but it has now assumed a light wherein there is’no doubt but that a considerable sum will be recovered. The heirs to the big estate known here are Alex Leßrun, Dr. E.H. Leßrun, Mrs. J ames Steele of Kirkland township, Frank Gast of the Fullenkamp store and his sister Mrs. Barney Wisemetel of Kokomo, and Minnie, Sadie and Mary LeBrun all of whom are married and live near Monroe. The heirs will hear the good news gladly and heres hoping they secure the entire twenty million STILL AT WORK ~ Oil Well to be Drilled on the Joshua Bright Farm. The St. Marys Oil company is making arrangements to drill a number of oil wells in the vicinity of Gurry ville and they already have a derrick going up. It is located on the Joshua Bright farm two miles east and two miles south of the Holthouso well which was drilled by the Pittsburg Oil company last week. This well is going down in wildcat territory and is but a short distance from the territory held by the Pittsburg company. Its progress will be watched with a great deal of interest by the people of that vicinity, it has been claimed that there was something suspicious about the work of the Pittsburg company, although this is hardly likely. The jieople living in vicinity of the wells claim that the work of finishing each of them up was done in a very mysterious and suspicious manner and thatthey do not think they had a fair test. If they didn't the company spent a whole.lot of money for the sake of fooling them. Considerable diflioulty was experienced in getting the rig in on the Bright farm and fourteen teams were used to haul the stuff. The roads are not in the best of condition and the heavy loads sank almost to the hubs. However, it is all in at the present time and within a few days the drill will be started. — Bluffton Banner.

ARE STUBBORN Commissioners of Jay County Mandated by Ex-Officials. A special from Portland says: Efforts of Sheriff Andrews, ExSheriff Whipple and Ex-Clerk Andrews, Ex-Sheriff Whipple and ExClerk of the circuit court E.V. Fitzpatrick to collect several thousand dollars per diem, alleged to be due under the recent decision of the supreme court, took a sensational turn today, when a writ of mandamus was served on each of the county commissioners to compel them to take action. The creditor officers had been insisting on payment of the per diem, and they learned Saturday that action was to be deferred until after the fall election. As Sheriff Andrews is interested in the siut papers had to be served by Deputy Coroner Perry.

VALUABLE RELIC George Wemhoff Has Rare Card Secured In Rome In 1874 by Father Wemhoff, and Upon a Memorable Occasion. George Wemhoff has in his possession a valuable relic which he prizes very highly and which comes to him through his uncle. Father John Wemhoff a former pastor of the Catholic chruch here and who died in 1881. The heir loom is a card which Father Wemhoff secur ed in Rome in 1874. In one of the buildings there are preserved (clothing worn by Christ and His followers and as may be imagined these clothes are carefully gauided. They are wrapped in pure silk and only once in fifty year is this wrapping changed. When this is done is the only time the clothes may be viewed and on these oocassions the covering is cut into small bits, pasted upon souvenir cards and distributed. Father Wemhoff attended one of these occasions and the relic George hud is the card thus obtained. The souvenir includes a piece of pink silk which covered the rote of Mary, Blessed Mother of Christ; a piece of white in which were wrapped Christ's body clothes; a piece of yellow in which were preserved the girdle ; which Chrsit wore when crucified and a piece of red in which were folded the gown of John the Baptist.

IT’S ALL OVER Indianapolis Gas Co. Has Suspended Business. Residents of Indianapolis will quit the use of gas on April 1. On ( that date the Consumers' Gas Trust company will suspend business and the people of the capital city must return to wood and coal. After seventeen years of enjoyment of the luxuries of gas the people of Indianapolis must cut it out entirely,but they are not grumbing much for the service the past two years has been very unsatisfactory. Two years ago the gas had to be abandoned entirely in the factories that its life might be prolonged for the comfort of the householders. Now, however, the limited supply has ceased to warrant the continuance in business of the only company equipped to furnish gas, so the final abandonment of its use has come about. The company will take no I more gas from the field but the releif comes too late „to be of much assistance.

NUMBER 60

TO THE FAIR Bachelor Maids Will Go to Together Sunday Chronicle Gives an Account of One of Decatur’x Popular Clubs. The Chicago Chronicle of Sunday gave a column history of the Bachelor Mai d s Club of this city saying in part: The Bachelor Maids' Club was organized on Nov. 5, 1902. All members are eligible when the important subject of matrimony is to be discussed, although they are occasionally termed “the old maids" by some unfortunate subject of Cupid who failed to possess the neoessarv qualifications when it comes to invading the club’s membership interest to the effect that a disruption is threatened through the taking away of one of the fair members. The club, with the exception of the L mten season meets weekly. The rules make it necessary for each in 'mber to be host to the members at special periods. The attendance is always good, since a tine is imposed by the worthy president, Miss Edith J. Wemhoff, unless th? member la absent owing to illness. In thik event the members present arrange for a relief party and the afflicted “brother” is called upon and it is safe to predict that no more tender care nor more kindness could be elicited anywhere than that issued by the club members. Social pastimes are indulged in by the club members and some of the meetings result in many excursions and a diversions and from the traditional “quilting party and sewing bee.” When the organization will come to an end is not known. This however, will be when the last member has been called from the ranks either by marriage or death. No members will be admi- ted, consequently the clubdecreasesconstantly. A president and treasurer, as well as a secretary, are elected an nually by vote and the records regarding every meeting and event of any importance k that transpires is recorded. One of the most eventful periods of the historj’ of the club will be chronicled during the coming summer when an extended i excursion to the world's fair has teen planned. The members of the | club will lie chaperoned by a firmer member who has severed her connection with the organization through marriage. They will remain at the exposition for some time and have prepared foi a gixxl time. | The restrictions of the chaperon will not interfere greatly with the pleasure seeking girls, according to the promise from that worthy individual, which was exacted before the position was given. There will be the husband of the chaperon, but with his wife and fourteen fair girls where will he be; there will be numerous offices that will bo difficult to hold, but this one will prove something that has never been heard of. With more than a dozen pretty girls and a wife to look after, the St. Louis world’s fair bids fair to bj stamped in his memory for years to come.

Real Estate Transfers Catherine A. Lug to Roy Archbold lot 212 Decatur, $(!00. James Hurst to Aho Bohnep ptsec IS Washington tp 50 acres 12400. Frank Mazelin to Pater Mazelin pt. hoc 20 Monroe tp 80 acres ♦O4OO Lafayette August Henseltnun pt sec 15 Wabash tp 80 acres ♦3OOO. Ira P. Lake to B B. Fordyce lot 1H Decatur |SOO. |