Daily Democrat, Volume 2, Number 62, Decatur, Adams County, 24 March 1904 — Page 1

VOLUME 11

james McMullen killed in a wreck

MET AWFUL DEATH AT CRESTLINE THIS MORNING

LIVED BUT A FEW HOURS Had Many Relatives and Friends in Decatur His Wife Taken to His Bedside From Fort Wayne on Special Fast Train. Word was reoeieved here this morning announcing the fact, that James McMullen, an engineer on the Pennsylvania railway was severely injured in a wreck at Crestline,Ohio, early this morning. Mr. McMullen has for years been an engineer on this road on one of its finest passenger trains and was always held in high esteem by the officials of the road being a man of fine habits and in connection with this being well versed in machinery,and it was thus while doing his duty to his employers that he was in all probability given his death wounds. When word was retrieved at Fort Wayne announcing that a wreck had occurred, and that Mr. McMullen was injured the road officials at once summoned a special tram and his wife was swiftly carried across the country to be at the bedside of her husband to care for him in the best possible manner before death, as the railroad physicians declare he cannot recover as he was scalded and burned in a terrible manner. Our informant could not tell us the full particulars of the wreck or in just what manner it happened as the.full particulars hail not as yet been received at Fort Wayne. Mr. McMullen is a brother in law to Dr. Costello of this city, having married some years ago Miss Emma Costello formerly of this city. A great number of people of this oily are acquainted with the above named and were terribly shocked by the sad news. LATER—A telegram was received at noon stating that Mr. McMullen died at 9:45. The message was received by M-s. Barney Wemhoff who is a cousin of the deceased man. ARE POPULAR Geneva People Married Monday by Judge Erwin Are Well Known. Robert G. Harbison and Bessie R. Millette, both hailing from this place, were married at Clerk Gerber b office in Decatur by Judge R. K. Erwin last Monday afternoon. No sooner had the oeremony been performed when upon making their exit through the court corridors they were beseiged by a dozen or more of the officials and their assistants and bountifully showered with rice. They left Decatur for Spencerville, Ohio, to spend their honeymoon with Mr. Barbison’s parents. Mrs. Harbison is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Millette. She was graduate from the Geneva high school last year and is one of the popular young ladies of the town. Mr. Harbison is a driller in

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the oil field and has been working in the Geneva field for three or four years. The couple will reside in the Millette property on High street. They have the best wishes of their many friends here for their future happiness.—Geneva Herald. EASTER BALL C. Y. M. S. Boys Getting Ready Over a Hundred Invitations Are Out and the tvent Will be a Splendid One. On Easter Monday evening April 4th. the C. Y. M. 8. Club of this city will hold their third annual Easter ball at their club rooms in the New Studabaker block and from the program prepared it will lie one of the swellest society events that has ever been given in this city by any local organization. The boys have so far issued over one hundred invitations and contempalting a fine crowd and a good time. The music will be furnished by True Fristoe's rag time orchestra and this alone should ofter some inducements. The boys of this club have a reputation of being fine entertainers and always doing things up in style, but on this occasion they will endeavor to out do all former and like occasions and are not sparing any time or money to make itj a success. Should you prove to 'je among the lucky number in receiving an invitation you should not fail to accept it, and give yourself one evening’s enjoyment and be royally entertained

ARE READY Red Men Will Have a Great Time at Fort Wayne. The oomimttee appointed to arrange for the district meeting of the Red Men, which will be held in this city next Tuesday, met last night and completed all the details for Hie gathering. The great chiefs will have their headquarters at the New Aveline hotel. The reception committee will meet at the wigwam at 10 o'clock a. m. to meet the deleagtions as they arrive. The parade will occur at 7 o’clock in the evening. At that hour the local and the visiting tribes will form on West Berry street with the right resting on Harrison street. The line of march will be west on Berry to Webster, south on Webster to Jefferson, east on Jefferson to Calhoun north on Calhoun to W ayno, east on Wayne to Barr, north on Barr to Berry, west on Berry, past the Aveline hotel, whore the great incohonee and other great chiefs will review tho parade from the balcony, thence to Harmony hall, whore the meeting will take place. Advices received from the district indicate a largo attendance at the mooting. Tho ladies composing the Degree of Pocahontas will entertain the visitors at dinner and supper, which will be served in the Red Men’s hall.—Fort Wayno Journal Gazette.

DECATUR, INDIANA, THURSDAY EVENING, MARCH 24, 1904.

ARRESTED HIM Mr. Henning Taken Away This Morning DeKalb County Farmers Have Organized and Employed Lawyers to Fight Him. L. A. Henning, ex-hay and coal merchant went back to Auburn at 1:30 this morning being accompanied by Sheriff Weeks, who arrested him at the Henning office at four o'clock yesterday afternoon on a charge of grand larceny and obtain ied money under false pretenses. The arrest is the result of a grand jury indictment. Mr. Henning’s business transactions in Decatur were straight forward and honest and the community can scarcely believe him guilty of wrong doing. However the officer took him says the feeling against the prisoner is very strong among Dekalb conuty farmers who claim he bought their hay and refuses to pay for it after same had been shipped, going into bankruptcy to avoid them. They have organized against him and employed two of the best lawyers in the state to assist the prosecutor. It is said the evidence against the defendant is very strong and the farmers will make a determined effort to punish him to the fullest extent. THEY WERE THERE Delphos Party Were at Toledo Got Bat Little Satisfaction Out of President Shonts.—Committee Getting to Work. President Shonts, of the Clover Leaf, this morning received a delegation of business .men from Delphos who came to ask that that city be not disturbed as a divisional point on the line. The anxiety of the Delphos people was brought about by the newspaper reports that Decatur was to become the chief interchange point with the Erie railroad. If this is brought about it is probable that crews would run through to DecaMir instead of only to Delphos. President Shonts informed the delegation that the matter was yet in a tentative state. There was about fifteen gentlemen in the delegation.—Toledo Bee. As was supposed tho Delphos delegation got but little satisfaction from their interview with the wise Clover Leaf president. The committee appointed here have already got down to work and something of interest will no doubt develop within a very few days. Mr. Shonts has made his proposition and Decatur is going to accept it.

ON MAY FIRST Free City Delivery Will Begin Time of New Service Changed to a Month Earlier Than Expected. —The Schedule. Postmaster Albert Brittson recieved a letter this morning from Congressman George Cromer stating the postoffice department, at Washington had completed arrangements for beginning the free mail delivery in this city on May Ist instead of June Ist as previously ordered by the department. This will be good news to Decatur people as it makes the change come a month earlier than has been expected. The examination for carrier will be on the date previously arranged, Saturday April 9th and the successful candidates will be notified a week or two afterwards. Mr. Sowers expects fifty people to take the examination as the number is now near that. Mr. Britson says the schedule of mail delivery will be as follows: Business deliveries at severi a. m., one thirty p. m. and three thirty o’clock p. ra., and city deliveries at eight thirty a. m. and two thirty p. m:

DIRECTORY OUT Rural Route Books Are Completed Are Accurate and Contain Names of Every Rural Route Patron and His Family. The Adams County rural route directory, published by Charles S. Peterson has been completed and will soon be sent out. The book is accurate and contains the names of every person on every route in the county, being invaluable for people who have business transactions with the farmers of this community. Tho book contains 120 pages, filled with tho names pictures of prominent citizens of the county, homes and public buildings of Decatur and the advertisements of Decatur, Berne and Geneva live business men. In his introductory Mr. Peterson says: "The Adams County Rural Route Directory was compiled for the purposed of furnishing handy reference book for both merchants and rural route patrons. The book is thorough and complete, or as near so as it is possible to get such work. The names of the heads of all families are in capital letters with the members of their Immediate family following. The names in jiarenthesis are people who get their ma 1 in the same box with his family. In compiling this work I have hud the ready assistance of the various merchants and business men whose names appear in the book and their interest in it deserve for them a good patronage from the residents along rural routes. Hoping the book will .well fulfill tho mission for which it is published and thankin g those who so materially assisted me, 1 am Respectfully Chas. S. Peterson.” A copy of the book will be placed in every rural route home in the county free of charge, 1500 having been issued for that purpose.

BIG DAMAGE SUIT FILED Mary Patten Fell Off a Merrv-. Go-’Round

ANTI-SALOONISTS Will Put Up a Stiff Campaign Fight This Year. The Indianapolis Anti-Saloon league is carrying on a vigorous campaign throughout the state, under the leadership of Ulysses G. Humphrey and is preparing to enlarge its work, in contemplation of threatened action on the part of the liquor interests, against the Nicholson law A strong, eflfort is to be made to interest the voters of both political parties but care is to be exercised to avoid entangling alliances with either party. According to present plans Winfield Helt and E Iward S. Shumaker will devote the greater part of their time to the work of agitation, conducting Sunday services, Lincoln legion meetings, etc.

IS WILD AGAIN Sylvester Hill in Serious Condition Streak of Insanity Evidenced Again and the Poor Victim Nearly Dies as a Result. There is now no doubt concerning the sanity or insanity of Sylvester Hill of Pleasant Mills as he was again on yesterday afternoon taken in at the county farm and was in a . terrible shape, practically being wild. Superintendent Garber as soon as he was delivered to his care summoned Dr. D. D. Clark of this city to the farm to see if he could not quiet him in some manner, ai d the doctor informs us that when he arrived there he never in his life saw a man in such a condition, and further stated that he thought that he arrived just in time to save his life. He is broken down not only mentally but is also in a bail con dition physically and cannot long stand up under the terrible ravings of his affliction. GIVES DECISION 1 Judge Vaugn Decides a City Ordinance ' Unconstitutional. 1 Hartford City’s fire limit ordi- j nance is unconstitutional, is the decision of Judge Vaughn in the case of the city of Hartford City vs Albert Saxon, who replaced the William building, on west Washington street, in spite of the ordinance which prohibits one from repairing a frame building in the fire limits if it has been damaged by fire to the extent of 50 percent of its value. The ordinance arbitrarily declares that such repairs shall not be made, neglecting tho saving clause that the repairs shall not bo made if the building is a menace to adjacent buildings or is a nuisance. Layers see that the dudgo is right in his conclusions as to tho ordinance and the city ia not disposed to contest the decision.—Hartford City News.

NUMBER 62

WAS BADY INJURED And Demands SIO,OOO From Owners of Outfit The Sult Was Filed Here This Morning on Change of Venue From Allen County.

A 110,000 damage suit was filed in circuit court here this morning on change of venue from the Superior court of Allen county and entitled Mary Patten vs John, William and Edward Ferari and John Lewis. Tne complaint shows that the Ferari Bros, are owners and John Lewis manager of an entertainment known as Gondolas runaround or Sea Wave as they called it, being a contrivance, similar to a merry-go-round, consisting of cars in which the pubilo for the sum of ten cents each are invited to sit in and are carried up and down at great speed for the purpo.se of pleasure and entertainment. This outfit exhibited in Fort Wayne a week or so during last June. Among those who accepted the invitation, paid her dime and made herself comfortable in one of the chariots was Mary Patton. It was however, far from a pleasure ride for her, for the machine had started but a moment when the car in which she was seated jumped the track and the lady was hurled to the ground with terrific force. She was picked up unconscious anil carried to a hospital where for weeks she lingered between life and death, her head and body having been badly injured. According to the complaint her injuries were such that she will never fully recover and as it was caused ty the run around being poorly constructed. She wants SIO,OOO to pay for ber pain, her inability to perform labor,to settle for doctors and nurse fees, etc. It is said her doctor fees alone were ♦ 1000. The accident happened June 27 last and the complaint was filed the same day. The iiajierH further allege that immediately afterward the owners of the Sea Wave took the machinery apart and shipped it to Ohio, thus preventing an examination. The complaint is in two paragraphs, the lust one being filed January 22. Attorneys Robert B. Drebelbiss and H. 1. Smith appear for the plaintiff.

MISS GURTNER DEAD Marta Gartner died of dropsy at the home of Chris Hofstetter, south of town, Thursday. Miss Gurtner was born in Canton Borne, Switzerland, November 17, 1842 and imigrated to this country in 1851. She was deaf and dumb all her life. The deceased was a sister to Mrs. Hofstetter and also to Mrs. John Hchimtt near Vera (Cruz. Her age was til years anil four months. The funeral services were held at the German Reformed church, south of town, Munday forenoon, the Rev. E. H. Vornholt, officiating. Berne News