Daily Democrat, Volume 2, Number 110, Decatur, Adams County, 19 May 1904 — Page 1

VOLUME 11

BIG MERGER IS PLANNED Erie and Clover Leaf Talking Business.

NEW YORK DISPATCH Decatur to be Made Junction of Roads ♦ Recent Activity in Erie Stocks Leads Expert Financiers to Believe Deal is On. Special to Dally Democrat. NEW YORK, May 18—The recent activity in the Erie stocks, coupled with a sharp advance in prices following a slump, has given rise to countless rumors in regard to the property. One of these, and the one in which considerable credence is placed, has it that the stools are being manipulated in such a manner that they will be controlled shortly, if not now, by the Harriman interests and those affiliated with him in the control of the Toledo, St. Louis & Western, or Clover Leaf railroad. if consumated, will be in the interest of the Erie, and will give that road, when the two systems are consolidated an excellent entrance into St. Louis. Rumors to the effect that such a consolidation is in view have been rifo for several months, by both sides but the interest in Erie seems to have added strength to the report. Should the roads be merged or even a close traffic arrange-

ment be made the roads and may effect’their 'junction at Decatur, Ind., and many new trains added for through business into St. Louis. The Erie has long sought a better outlet to the west and the morgre with the Clover Leaf seems an ideal plan for this purpose. While E. H. Harriman iq,not yet known to be in positive control of Erie, it is known that he and his friends havo been heavy buyers of the stock and that they have offered none of it for sale recently. The above despatch was sent out with New York market reports and is no doubt a conservative statement. It will be published in metropolitan papers all over the world. The Indianapolis Star used it this morning and accompanying it was a map of Indiana showing Decatur as the most prominent city in the state, such towns as Bluffton, Marion, Frankfort, Kokomo and Huntington; looking insignificant. Notice. All members who intend to join the F. 0. E, No. 215. at Fort Way tie, are hereby notified that the initation work will commence at 5 o’clock p. m. on June 1. After the work is over a big banquet will be served. Al) are requested to hereby take notice. Sotnethiug like twenty-five applications have been filed from this place.

The Daily Democrat.

TO LEAVE HERE. ■ ’< Prof. Craig is not an Applicant for Next Year. Prof J. W. Craig, commercial teacher in the Decatur high school, has served notice upon the board of school trustees that he does not desire to make application for a position here for next year. He has accepted a most profitable position of a similar nature in' one of the leading colleges. Prof. Craig has been here two years, coming from Indianapolis. He is well recommended by the trustees and his associate teachers and his departure is regretted, though his many friends are glad to hear of his success. Mr. and Mrs. Craig leave Decatur with the beet wishes of a large circle of acquaintances. DAMAGE SUIT Charles Haviland Sues Pat Fahey Wants SSOOO for Being Charged With Robbery and Arrested. About a year ago Charles Haviland, a well-known stock dealer of Geneva, was arrested on an affidavit filed by Patrick Pahey, a Jefferson township farmer, charging him with larceny. Fahey claimed that he met Haviland at New Corydon and that the latter engaged with him in a scuffle, immediately after which he missed his pocketbook containing ?125. Haviland was taken to Portland, held in jail twenty-four hours, then released. Afterward he was indicted by the Jay county grand jury, tried and acquitted,’ the evidence being rather slim. The affair had almost been forgotten until this morning when Attorneys L. C. Devoss and C. J. Lutz filed a case in circuit court here for Mr. Haviland in which he demands £5,000 damages from Mr. Fahey for loss to his reputation and harm to his business. The complaint alleges the story of the arrest and acquittal and says the plaintiff's reputation for honesty and uprightness was untainted until April 15, 1903, when he was arrested and the story printed in numerous newspapers, Mr. Fahey is said to be quite well off, owning a good-sized farm in the Jefferson township oil fields. K. 0. T. M. M. J. Butler Home From State Camp Review. The great camp review of the Knights of the Maccabee convened at Terre Haute Tuesday and continued in session two days, transacting much important business. The most inter eating part of the review was the. election of officers, which resulted in the re-election of Milo Merideth, of Wabash, for great commander, and J. W. Replogle, of Goshen, for great record keeper. The minor offices were about evenly divided among the different tents of the state. Mel J. Butler returned this morning from that place, he having represented the Decatur tent No. 19.

DECATUR, INDIANA, THURSDAY EVENING, MAY 19, 1904.

STILL AT IT No Change in Illinois Republican State Convention. Special to The Daily Democrat 2:00 p. m. SPRINGFIELD. ILL., May 19. The big state convention is still in a deadlock on the nomination for governor. But one ballot, the forty-eighth, was taken today, and that resulted practically as the previous one with Yates eighty votes in the lead. An effort for adjournment is being made. HORSE STOLEN Sheriff Butler After John Johnson Stole Valuable Outfit From G. A. Brandt, East of This City. Sheriff Butler is looking fcr a horse and buggv and the thief who stole them. A man named John Johnson is said to be the culprit and G. A. Brandt, who lives about eight miles east of here is the loser. Every possible effort will be made to land the man and recover the goods. Sheriff Butler has sent ont cards to officials of surrounding cities which tell the story as follows: Stolen—From the home of G. A. Brandt, a bay mare, nine years old, weighing 1100 pounds, dark mane and tail, dark legs to the knee, small lump on inside of left hind leg, breast harness, brass buckles on hip straps, top buggy, red running gears, new, red shafts, gray cushions well worn. Stolen by John Johnson,dark hair, smooth face, five feet, six or seven inches tajl; will weigh 165 pounds. |25 reward for capture of thief. Address all information to Albert Butler Sheriff Adams County.

OIL NOTES. Eighty-four Wells Completed In Field Last Week. In Indiana last week 84 wells were completed in the oil fields and 17 were dry, leaving 67 producing wells which made a new production of 33 088 barrels. Grant county still leads in production of new wells, but Delaware county leads in production. Out of 14 wells drilled in the latter county 6 were dry and the other 8 produced 995 barrels the first 24 hours. While the wells’drilled there are big aver age producers, about half put down arc dry, as in all new fields therefore while some oil companies are making money others are losing. YOUNG TRAMPS. Three Boys Taken at CloveJ Leaf and Jailed Over Night. Marshal C'ordua arrested three young looking trumps lust evening at the Clover Leaf depot on a complaint made by the night operator. They were placed in jail over night and brought up before Mayor Coffee this morning and allowed to state their side of the case. Each one of the boys told a straight forward story and from their iippoarance and talk hud undoubtedly seen bettor days. They were given a nice piece of fatherly advise from Mayor Coffee about roaming over the county and told to get out of the town and not cause the officials any more trouble.

SCHAFER CASE State Will Conclude Evidence Today % Some of Yesterday’s Testimony.— Girl’s Father and Brother on Stand. BEDFORD, Ind., May 18—The state announced today that it would complete its evidence against James McDonald, charged with Tie murder of Sarah Schafer, tomorrow. McDonald will be the first witness for the defense. Captain Cook, who lives near the alley where the fatal struggle is supposed to have occurred and who found the body of the murdered girl in the cab shed, was the first

witness today. He described the I body when found with cinders ground into the face, head, clothing | and gashes on the head. He said | that he and family were eating supper within twelve feet of the alley at the time the murder was supposed to have occurred, but they heard no noise. A window faces from the dining room on the alley. Mrs. Phoebe Dunn, who was working on a veranda next to the alley and shed, heard no noise from 7to 7:30 that evening. Other witneses testified having left Miss Schafer eating her supper in the dining room of her boarding house at 6:20. Ten minutes later she walked one block past the alley and. was not seen alive again. John C Schafer and G. M. Schafer, of Elkhart, father and brother of the murdered girl, and Jacob Schafer an uncle, of Decatur, were in b the court room today. The father was called to the stand. His testimony covered the last visit of his daughter to their home in Elkhart during the holidays . When asked by Attorney Lowe if she was of a happy disposition, he replied: "Indeed she was " He said the family had no opinion as to McDonald's guilt or innocence. G. M. Schafer testified that his sister had never shown ev■lence of sorrow or trouble of any kind. Capt. J. D. Alexander told of meeting Miss Schafer on his way home on the night of the murder. He said that she was singing and that he spoke to her. A SAD DEATH Geneva Young Man Dies in Colorado. —Victim of Lung Trouble. The Geneva Herald says:—Dr. Gus Ralstain, who went to Colorado about a month ago with his son, William, for the latter’s health, returned Friday morning with his boy a corpse William Ralstain was but a young man and up to the last year or two was full of life and robust in appearance. But an affection of the lungs soon reduced him to a mere skeleton when he left with his father for the west. The trip proved too much for him and the hand of death came quicky to claim its own. The grief stricken family met the father at the depot hero and the remains were taken to their home at New Corydon to await funeral and interment. NEW ROUTES Two New Ones Start From Geneva.— Nos. Three and Four. Monday two now rural routes started out of Geneva, making four in all. The carriers for throe and four are N. E- Helmer and John Aspy. Route No. lon which Perry Burk is currier, has been changed so that but a small portion of his former patrons are on his route. Mr. Burk goes through White Oak and says the White Oak road is in an awful condition.

SCHOOL BOOKS Change Means Expenditure of Thousands of Dollars. The new school books which the parents of Indiana children will have to buy for the next school year will cost them many thousands of dollars. This is a handsom elite sum to be expended for books alone, but the state board of education has ordered it to be done, and be done it must. There is no way out of it. Contracts with the new publishing firms have been made, and those firms will insist that their books be used. Next year it will be necessary for children in nearly’ all departments to have new text books. The first, second and third readers are being revised; a first primer will be used preceding the new first readers; both arithmetics will be changed and the probabilties are that Walsh’s arithmetic will be used, although this is not definitely settled; a new primary geography published by McMillan & Co., will be used, the vertical copy books will be discarded and the old fashioned slant writing will be revived. IN MISSOURI Prisoner in Jail Here is Wanted Believed That Ernst Blank is Horse Thief.—Officers Coming After Him. Ernst Blank who is serving out a sentence for vagrancy and intoxication and who was believed to be implicated in the Hower & Hower robliery but was acquitted for lack of evidence may have to face another serious charge. He is believed to be wanted in Missouri for horse stealing and jail breaking, at least he very greatly resembles the photograph of one Anderson whose home is at Anderson, Indiana and for whom a SIOO reward is offered by the auhorities at Columbia, Missouri. Deputy Sheriff Dallas Butler first noticed the resemblance and sent a description of Blank to Sheriff Frank C. Bedford, sheriff of Columbia who immediately wired to hold the man and asked if he would go to Missouri without a requisition. Blank refused to move an inch and such word being sent to Sheriff Bedford he immediately wired that he would secure necessary’ pajiers and come at once. He will probably arrive here tomorrow or next day and if he identifies the prisoner will take him with him. CLUB GIRLS. Bon Ton Ladies Entertained by Miss . Lollie Meibers. The Bon Ton club met last evening in regular social session with Miss Lollie Meilier at her home on North Fifth street, after a postponement < f two weeks, and if all reports of the the same are true a most enjoyable time was certainly had by all present, As was the usual custom pedro was installed as the favorite game, and for several hours the girls were lost to the outside world and all struggling for the first prizes. It took ten games to decide the winners, which proved to be Misses Katie Mylott and Rose Fullenkamp, while Misses Gertrude Bremerkamp and Rose Geary brought up the rear. Appropriate prizes wen then awarded to the winners and loos ers respectively. During the evening') enjoyment a swell three course lunch eon was served and at a late hour al adjourned to meet next Wednesdoi evening with Miss Katie Mylott.

NUMBER 110

A GREAT WELL Toledo Paper Speaks of Cully Well Says Owners Are Without Practical Knowledge, and Are Losing Many Barrels. The Toledo Times says:“The big well in Willshire township, is doing eight hundred barrels daily. The owners of the well however, do not seem to have practical knowl-> edge of the business and for that reason much oil has gone to the bow-bow. When the scene was visited the other day by an oil man from this city there was an army of men thtowing up dykes to save the oil that the wells seemed determined to produce. A wall of earth three feet high and extending around a space of territory seventy five feet in length and twentyfive feet in diameter with apartment walls at regular intervals of about fifteen feet had been partially completed. Upon this “tank - ” the army was at work, whije two lone tank builders were engaged in the erection of a 250 l»arrel tank. Os course large amount of oil went away in the soft soil and no one could properly time the amount the well was producing. But an old oil man will give a very close guess by watching the stjeam for fifteen minutes. This well was a very good surprise to the trade at that end as the territory surrouding it was condemned years ago by small strippers and dry holes. FEARLESS WOMAN

Madam Pauline and Her Famous Act Only Woman in the World Who Leaps the Gap—A Free Attraction. Madam Pauline, wife of J. D Andrews, advance agent for the Pawnee Bill show and who was in Decatur yesterday is certainly an interesting and entertaining woman, who tells her many exciting experiences in a most, pleasant way. She is without doubt the most daring actress in the world and her feats who have startled thousand people have witnessed her performances. She is the originator of the loop the gap act the leading feature with Barnum & Bailoy's show this season and the only woman who ever attempted the act. Starting at an elevation forty two feet astride a bicycle Madam Pauline darts down an incline almost perpendicular, on a narrow track then leaping in space flies a distance of forty feet alighting again on the rack While doing th|S turn recently in an lowa town Madam Pauline was badly injured and is now traveling with her husband until she regains her health. She will join her company in a few days and will be seen by those who come to Decatur Tuesday, May 31st as her act is a free , attraction given on the outside the i' big tent. Another free attraction is a leap of 100 feet in a not. The [ show is one of the best on the road this y M r requiring two large trains to carry his paraphanalia.