Daily Democrat, Volume 2, Number 108, Decatur, Adams County, 17 May 1904 — Page 1

VOLUME II

i. l ll). Ar npt to Assassinate Governor Durbin -aw — The Official Went From Decatur to Chicago.—Attacked in Public Hall. n i K Governor Durbin came near being the victim of n crazy or drunken tnun at Chicago Isat night, where he was addressing the African M. E Conference The man claimed tii at Gov Durbin had disputed the word of Father Abraham and suddenly started toward the governor, Shaking his finger at him and exclam ling “Any man who dares to dispute the word of Father Abrals han the father of the nation, I will kill him.** Before he could ’ teach the rostrum he was seized by i •Bveralof the ushers and rushed through a side door into the street. After being pushed through the door the man ran off and disappeared. The usher threw him out so quickly that it was not learned whether or not the man was armw,. ed He was white and apparently ■■about forty years old. The ushers £k«,|aid they were unable to toll ’ whether th 1 n: in w i.-. demented or (■ad teen drinking. As stated in Jt- rdays paper Governor Darbin Was in Decatur about lit teen min«to transfering from the Erie to the G. R. & I. going to Fort Wayne and from there to Chicago. With the governor were Secretary of State Storms, Tax Commissioners !" Tartin and Wingate, Deputy Audiir of State Billheimer and the otiti,al stenograher of the tax board, tate Senator Ogburn, of New astle. COURT NOTES ■ Damage Case Against E. M. Ray Settled ■ Arguments for New Trial in Famous Faylor-Studabaker Case to be Heard May 25th. KThe case of Julius Haugk vs Ed M Ray, Hii't for damages demanding S3OO, was dismisssed and costs paid. ■ •Roll Snyder vs Riverside Oil Com]>any, defendant ruled to answer absolutejn five days. —o—- ■ Henry Hamold vs Riverside Oil <& Gas company, defendant ruled to answer within five days. ■Samuel Hurless and Ellsworth ■own vs. Riverside Oil & Gas company et al. motion and showing filed for cost bond, plaintiff ordered to file cash bond. Fay lor et al vs David D. Skudaliaker, the famous Wells Ooctity case already heard four Aes, was set for argument on motion for new trial May 25th. —o— Btate vs James Burns and Ernst Blank, Burns plead guitly and senten.’ cd one to three years iu penttentary. Blank acquitted.

The Daily Democrat.

FAMILY TROUBLES To be Heard in Court Friday i Alfrad Ayers Asks for the Custody of His Children Who Left Their Mother and Came to Him. A rather sensational case will be called in circuit court Friday when the domestic troubles of Sarah and Alfred A. Ayers will again bo aired. The parties were granted a divorce about a year ago, Mrs. Ayers being given the custody of the children and the alimony being settled between the parties, amounting to about $5,000. Mrs. Ayers has moved to this city while Mr. Ayers resides in Blue Creek township. Recently Mr. Ayers had the case redocketed and asked the court to give him the custody of two of the children , girls, who it is alleged refuse to live with their mother claiming that she "beats and mistreats them. Recently they ran away from their mothers house and I went to their father with whom I they now live Mrs. Ayers lives in the James Niblick property her,e .she will fight the case. Both Mr. and Mrs. Avers are well known over the county, Mr. Ayers havi ing served for several years as I justice of the peace for his town ship. i NEW TIME CARD Some Radical Changes on Clover Leaf All West Bound Trains Changed Con-siderable-Commercial Traveler Made Local Train. Agent T. S. Miller of the Clover Leaf has received his official notice i of the new schedule for passenger trains which goes into effect on that road next Snuday. There is a, very radical change in the two morning west bound trains, the one dne here now at 11:25 will after Sunday go at 6:43 in the morning and number three which leaves now at 5:25 a. m. will go at 10:10, The ' Commercial Traveler will go west ’ about a half hour earlier than now. ’ There is only a slight change in the east bound trains. The new time card will be as follows. I Going East. ■ Present time New Card No. 2—11:50 a m. ,11:42a.m. No 4—6:43 p. m 6:43 p. m. 1 No 6—5:25 a. m.’ 6:05 a. m. 1 Going Weft. No. 1—11:25 a. m. 6:43 a. tn. No. 3—5:25 a.m. 10:10a. m. 1 No. 5—9:19 p. m. 8:50 p. tn. 1 Tho Commercial Traveler will bo made local trains between Delphos and Toledo so they will do little to help the road’s world’s fair business. Trains one and two run only between ferankort and Delphos. 1 ___________ Card of Thanks. Tho family of David Steele desire to express their sincerest thanks to the many friends and neighbors, who so kindly assisted during tho illness and bcriovement of their daughter Bessie.

DECATUR, INDIANA, TUESDAY EVENING, MAY 17, 1904.

TO PRISON Jim Bums Sentenced Last Evening Admits Burglarizing Hower’s Grocery, But Refuses to Implicate His Pals. That there is some honor even among thieves was demonstrated in circuit court yesterday afternoon when Jim Burns, from all appearances, a notorious crook, plead guilty to burglarizing the Hower & Hower grocery and took a sentence of from one to three years in the Michigan City penitentiary, without implicating his pals. His partner Ernst Blank was on trial before jury for being implicated in the robbery and one word from him would have taken him to prison with him but Jimmie refused to “peach”. He was placed on the witness stand and admitted his own guilt but said Blank had nothing to do with it. Policeman Fisher saw throe men in or near the building and thinks Blank was one of them. The evidence showed that these two men with three others came to town together and there was little question as to the guilt of both, still no direct evidence could be obtianed against Blank and Judge Erwin instructed the jury to return a verdict of acquital which they did in a few moments. It is rather remarkable that Burns is willing to serve a term in Michigan City while his accomplices go free because he alone holds the key to their guilt. ON TRIAL James McDonald, Slayer Os Miss Schafer

Trouble in Securing Jury.—Defendant Appears Confident.—Much Interest. James McDonald, charged with the murder of Miss Sarah Schafer a former Decatur girl at Bedford last January 21st is on trial at Bedford. Over 300 jurors have been examined and but three have boon retained. McDonald assumes a confident air and while the jury was being empanneled gossiped good naturedly with his lawyers. It is now expected that fully tw« weeks will lx, required to try the case. Fifty seven witnesses have already been summoned for tho state and fifty for the defense, James McDonald will be the first witness for the defense. While there are many visitors at Bedford tho case doos not cause tho excitement that might bo expected and McDonald is led to and from the court house without any particular excitement. Opinions as to his guilt, is greatly devided and the out come of the trial will bo awaited with interest by the many friends of the murdered girl over the state. It will be remembered that Miss Schafer was teaching school at Bodford and was murdered without apparent cause on the night of January 21. She was a neioe of Jacob and Fred Schafer of this city.

A HORSE RACE Geneva Men Back Their Favorite on Portland Track. L. G. Botkin and Frank M. Sullivan of Geneva are tho owners of two promising race horses. For a long time there has been a controversy over the winning quuli'ies of the two colts and this resulted in a race on the fair ground tracks here Monday afternoon, Three quarter mile heats were run in which Anderson Mac, owned by Sullivan won two out of three over Botkin’s horse, Major a son of Major Hal. A nice sum of money had been placed on the race.— Portland Commercial Review. BAD WRECK . Clover Leaf Trains Collide at Marion No Lives Lost, But Damages Will Amount to Over Four Thousand Dollars.

MARION. IND. May 17—The collision of two trains on the Clover ■ Leaf here yesterday afternoon re- . suited in a loss of several thousand dollars. The accident occurred in North Marion near Bradford street. Through freight No. 45 was standing on the track. A coal car, which was the last of a train of ears coupled to the switch engine, collided with it The coal ear was piled upon the top of a large box car. The front of the engine, including the pilot and the tender were totally wrecked. The engine was badly damaged and it will cost the company about SI,OOO to place !it in running order. The firemen and enigneer on the engine saw that the collision was inevitable and jumped. As the train was standing still thej- escaped injury. It is considered strange that the engineer of tho switch engine did not see the frieght train. The only i reason given is that several large box cars coupled on to his engine in front of him preventd him from seeing ahead. There is no curve m the track however, at this point, and the railroad men are able to see ahead for some distance. The engine damaged was one that was bought by the railroad company only a short time ago and was highly valued Local officials of the Clover Leaf refused to give out anything last night when seen concerning tie accident When asked why the through freight train was standing on the main track one of them said he knew of no reason for tho same. The train had been standing there for nearly an hour. STILL ON EARTH •‘Jinks’’ France Seeks Dates at Summer Parks. “Jinks" Franco erstwhile ball player, comedian and theatrical manager, has been heard from. In response to an advertisement in the New York Clipper for the attractions for the Hessaium Park Casino, the managers received a reply from France. Ho is associated with Miss Dernuth* who does a turn while he doos tho professional whistling act. It has been several years since “Jinks” has been heard from, although ho was very much in evidence during the palmy days of Huntington base ball.— Huntington Herald.

ARE RETIRED Methodist Bishops Out of the Service Eight Places to be Filled and Much interesi is Manifested in New Appointments. LOS ANGELES, May 16—The ballot on retiring five bishops from the present, board was announced at this morning session. The detail of the vote was not given, hut the recommendation of the committee was adopted. This action retires Bishops Andrews, Fuss, Walden, Mallalieu and Vincent. Taken together with the resignation of Bishop Merrill, which was accepted and the death of Bishops Ninde and Hurst, the board is depleted by eight active members. In conneo tion with the retirement of the five bishops the conference this m< > ling passed a resolution presenr.-d by Dr. G. H. Forbes, of '.polls, providing for six months full pay for the bishops from the date of retirement. The general annual salary of an active bishop in the Methodist church is $5,000 and each retired bishop receives $2,500 a year during his life time. HON. WILLIAM BUTLER Death of Prominent lowa Citizen Well Known Here. The Clorinda (Iowa) Herald gave the following account of the life and death of Hon. William Butler of that place who has many relatives and is well known here: It is hard to realize that the familiar form of Mr. Win. Butler will be seen no more on the streets of our city, where he has been such a prominent figure for so many years but death comes and claims its victims when wo least suspect. When Mr. Butler took the train for

Napier, Mo., only a week previous to his death, he did not realize that he would see is homo town no more —but such are the workings of Divine Providence. He was sick les-, .han twenty four hours and had a stroke of paralysis Thursday, which rendered him unconscious up to the time of his death Friday morning. William Butler was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on the 13th day of September, 1827, and died on the Cth day ot May, 1904, on his farm near the town of Napier, Mo., aged 76 years, 8 months and 22 days. He was born and raised on a farm and familiar with the hardships incident thereto. In the spring of 1*43, he with the rest of his father’s family, move to Whitley country, Indiana, and resided in a heavy timbered part of the country—the home of numerous tribes of Indians. Hero it was that ho .obtained his first experiences that stood him well in the battle.of life’s problems in after years. It was the hardships endured in a new country like this was that tended to make strong his character and fitted him for the duties and responsibilities in later life. On the 2nd day of February, 1851, he was married to Miss Margaret MoCowen, of Richmond, Ind., and settled in Whitley county. Ind., on a farm where ho resided until the year 1855, when he moved to Now London, in Henry county, la. During the spring of tho year 1856, ho with two brothers, Jessie and Jacob, with their families migrated to Page county, where they settled on preemption claims in Harlan township . Mr. Butler purchased a farm north of Clarinda in the spring of 1855 where he moved with his family

NUMBER' 108,

and resided or a number of years* The Clarinda Hospital for insane buildings arc now located on tho farm. In 1871 he became an extensive grain and stock merchant, and . built tho first grain elevator in ■ Clarinda, and in connection with hi.« brotl’ar, Jacob, they conducted the grain and stock business for elevon years, under the firm name of Butler Bros, doing an extensive and profitable business. On July Bth, his wife, Margaret died, and on the third day of March, 1873, he was again united in Marriage to Afjss I E!eun, ’ r D - McCarty, who died on the Stith Jay of July 1900, leaving an only daughter, Nellie, who now survives her father, and is the Only survivor of the family, Mrs. Nellie Cozad was born in Denver, Colo., on the 26th of August, 1875, and she and her husband, Mr. J W. Cozad have been making their homo with Mr. J Butler, in this city. Mr. Butler represented Harlan township . on the board of supervisors for ( eight years, and Nodaway township four years. He was a represents-, five of this district in the lower house in the thirteenth, fourteenth, twentieth and twenty first general . assemblies of the legislatures of lowa. In 1884, in the house of representatives, he made a strong fight for the town of Clarinda in trying to secure for the town of Clarinda the location of the asylum, which attempt was successful. He was an honored member of the Masons, the O hl Fellows, the Knights of Pythiis and the Knights Templar. In later yi ary he has been a little more conservative in this business relations. conducting the Palace Livery Stable in Clarinda, and loading a more quite life. In politics, ho was a republican, staunch uni true. In charities liberal, never turningthe needy or pour from his door 1 empty handed. Ho was always an imp irtant factor in the promotion of the town and community in which he lived, and probably no citizen of Page county was better known. The funeral services were held at • the home Sunday afternoon, conducted by Rev. W. W. Merritt, of Red Oak, and the burial services were in charge of the Masonic order. The services at the cemetery were very impressive and the body i of Mr. Butler was laid to rest beneath the flowers of his many friends. The relatives from a distance were as follows: Mr. Albert 1 Butler, from Decatur, Ind., Miss Lizzie Nugent, of New London, lowa, Mr. and Mrs. ,1. B. Sullivan

and son, Butler Sullivan, of Humeston, la., and Mrs. J. b. ' Schneider, of Lathron, Mo. BEGINS MONDAY Famous Dunn Murder Case at Fort Wayne. Judge Smith of Portland, who will try the cuse of Charles Dunn, accused of murder, was in court and heard the motion of Prsecuting Attorney Dawson for continuance. Mr. Dawson stated that continuance was wanted because one of the state's witnesses, Dr. Greenell, of Huntertown, is ill and probably will not be able to attend court and that another important witness, a woman, is in a delicate condition and will be prevented from appearing. Attorneys Colerick and Morris, on behalf of Dunn, opposed the continuance but said they would concur in the petition of the state if Mr. Dawson would tile affidavits setting forth what he intended to prove by the absent witnesses. After considering the matter Mr. Dawson decided that ho would not care to do this, and he then assented to the trial next Monday. The judge then instructed the proper officials to draw a special Venire of 100 names from which to impanel jury, the panel to report on Mon - i day morning. Dunn was in court, > looking well and healthy. He has - again allowed his white beard to grow and looks much the same as 1. he did when he was arrested nearly 5 throe years ago.—Kt- Wayne Jourr Oaßotto -