Daily Democrat, Volume 2, Number 111, Decatur, Adams County, 20 May 1904 — Page 1

VOLUME 11

ADAMS COUNTY LEADS Has More Miles of Macadam Road Than AnyCounty’in State

ALL BUILT IN EIGHT YEARS Wonderful Improvement Made Since David Steele Filed First Petition Nearly One Hundred and Fifty Mile $ Completed and Under Construction. {submitted by COUNTY ATTORNEY C. J. LUTZ.] For some time past numerous inquiries have been made regarding the extent of the macadam and gravel roads of this county, and believing that the public in general will be interested in a brief summary, I beg leave to submit the following: The first petition for a stone road was filed with the board of commissioners on the 6th day of J une, 189*5, by David Steele et al. for the construction of the “David Steele, or Decatur and Bluffton macadam road, and through the untiring efforts of Mr. Steele and many other public spirited citizens of Kirkland and Washington townships the road was finally built. This was but the beginning of good roads in Adams county. Numerous petitions were thereafter filed until today the countv has 37 macadam roads constructed and in course of construction, with a total length of 122 miles, and which are as follows: Lenrth Name of Road. In feet Decatur & Bluffton 59.680 East Washington 28,235 West Washington 37,245 Decatur & Monroe 26,E45 Joel Hirschey 19,350 Geneva, Ceylon & Wabash tp. 36,825 Wm. Shoemaker 7,880 Monroe Tp. Central 31,620 Pleasant Valley & Oak Grove. 31,765 Peterson & Prairie 15,785 Kirkland Tp. Central 15,750 West Jefferson 21,340 C E. Bollinger 31. MR Woods Macadam 35,340 Brushwood College 9,267

Decatur & Preble 18,715 West Pleasant Mills 3,960 North St. Marys.2l,sßo South St. Marys 21,410 North Preble 14,765 Peterson A Prairie Ex. No. 1 5,700 Decatur & Bluffton “ “ 1 5,300 East Washington “ “ 1 5,280 West Washington “ “ 1 5,250 West Washington “ “ 2 5,280 Decatur A Monroe “ “ 1 4,250 East Washington “ “ 3 10,650 Decatur & Monroe “ “ 3 5,320 East Washington “ “ 2 5,280 Decatur & Monroe “ “ 2 10,560 West Washington “ “ 3 5,280 Decatur A Bluffton “ “ 2 10,560 Monroe Tp. Central “ “ 1 10,700 Geneva, Ceylon A Wabash Tp. Ex. No. 1 15,940 Oak-Grove A Pleasant Valley Ex. No. 1 10,643 Oak Grove A Pleasant Valley Ex. No. 2 5,280 St. Marys Tp. special levy built by township trustee3l,6Bo Total number of miles stone r °ad in county, constructed and in course of construction, 122. Total cost of stone roads, 8397,102.80 Average cost per mile, 3,254.92

The Daily Democrat.

Macadam roads are divided as follows: Miles. Root Township 2 Preble :«• Kirkland 16 Washington 36 St. Marys 14 Blue Creek 6j Monroe 23 Hartford 2 Wabash 15 Jefferson 4 Total 122 In addition to the above named I macadam roads the county has the following free gravel roads constructed : Est. Name ot Road. Miler. Ossian & Decatur 9 Fuelling .... 2 Decatur & Magley 6 Preble, 1| Piqua & Ft. Wayne 61 Williams Branch 1 Concord Branch ] Friedheim 3 Koeneman 1| Monroeville 3 Union Tp 1 Mud Pike 2.1 Tricker 2| Graber 2 Keppert 2 Ashbaucher 2 Stuckey 1 Reynolds 8| Waggoner 7 Burke 8 Pontius 6 L. 0. Bears 6| Jimtown 3} Eek rote 4 J Shephard 1} Glendenning 1 Patton 1 Constructed and not yet accepted 9 Total 104 Which gravel roads are divided as follows:

Miles. Union Township 2 Root 16 Preble 15} Washington 5 Blue Creek 2 Monroe 3 French 9 Hartford 22} Wabash 11 Jefferson 7 Adams county has more miles of macadam roads than any other county in the state of Indiana, and petitions are now pending for atioiit twenty additional miles of stone roads. C. J. Lutz. IN MICHIGAN Mrs. Davis Kern Said to be Dying Message Came This Morning, and Her Many Friends Were Shocked and Surprised. Robert Blackburn redelved a message this morning from Gid Longenberger at Stanford Mioh., which reads as follows: “Tell Davis Dailey that Davis Korns

DECATUR, INDIANA, FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 20, 1904.

wife not expected to live, notify her bro hers and sisters.” This will certainly prove to be very sad news, for the many friends of Mrs. Kern, and especially to her immediate relatives, whom have never known that she was sick, other than that she has been suffering for several years with a spinal affliction, which was never considered as very dangerous by any of them or even bv the doctors. Mrs. Kern is a daughter of Gid Longen berger who was formerly a resident of this county and who is well known here having moved to Michigan a few years ago where he is now making his home, she is also a sister of Mrs. Davis Daily. Her husband Davis Kern is well known here being engaged in the farming business east of our city for years and only a few months ago moving to Sanford Mich., where he became actively engaged in the real estate business. The Democrat joins with Mrs. Kern’s numerous friends in wihsing her a speedy recovery. Marriage Licenses. James C. Rodgers to Catherine E. King. Manley Irwin to Orpha Tumbleson.

ShSrSn SiSiSSSiSiS: SicSiSiSiSiSiSiS) | i’kogkamT ■ | | DECATUR HIGH SCHOOL t C()MM ENCENI ENT MAY 20. 1904 Orchestra, Characteristic “Navajo” S’ tg Invocation Rev. Grethers | Oration, “Benedict Arnold” Bertrand Segur § Essay, “Washington Irving” Ray Allen | | Essay, “Cobwebs” Fanny Hite | IConcert Etube, “Ruebenstein”, Miss Gertrude Moses go Oration, “Procrastination” Albert Sellemeyer | Essay, “Characterization of Wadsworth” Edith Smith go Essay, “What Next?” Charles Merryman | Reading, “Absolution” May G. Coverdale tj Oration, “The Almighty Dollar” Charles Knapp | f Cornet Solo Albert Sellemeyer §J -g Essay, “Visions” Marie Patterson Essay, “Why I Go To School” Harry Andrews 5 f Oration, “The Ideal” Argo Brushwiller S’ t| Violin Solo Prof. Withans | Presentation of Diplomas Supt. H. A. Hartman go | Benediction Rev. Pontius I (5 Orchestra “Funny Folks’* f g)

COURT NEWS Judgment Rendered In Ayers Case.— Other Business. In the cases of Henry Hamold and Roll Snyder vs. the Riverside Oil company, the defendant filed a demurer to each complaint. The cause of Sarah Ayers vs Alfred Ayers, in which the latter asked for a modification of the order of the court, so that he could have the custody of two of the girls, was heard this morning. The former order of the court was sustained except that the father shall have the privilege of seeing the chilrdon on first and fourt h Tuesday of each month at two o'clock p. m. James A. Furguson executor of the George W. Archbold estate filed reappraisement, report of sale and full payment of purchase money sale confirmed, deed ordered and reported andjipproved RECORD SENTENCE Michigan Man Goes to Prison for Life for Burglary. MASON, Mioh., May 11)—Lewis Oliver, who in company with Fred Lesarge, stole |3 and two hats from a butcher shop has been given a life sentence in Marquette prison by Judge Wiest. It was the prisoners’ third offense for burglary. Judge Wiest says that the statute provides that whore a prisoner has been twice sentenced for felony and is again arresed he may Ik> senenced for life.

NARROW ESCAPE Mr. Shea Stops a Serious Runaway Mrs. H. R. Moltz and Mrs. Daily Escape Luckily From Any Injury. While Mrs. H. R Moltz and her mother, Mrs. Dailey were driving south on second street this morning, the former who was driving, accidenly dropped the lines. The horse was traveling at a lively gait at the time and when the lines loosened and fell against him he became frightened and started to runaway. Mr-'. Moltz bravely attempted to recover the lines but was unable to reacu them and a serious accident

seemed certain. E. L. Shea, pro- ( prietor of the Burt noticed the , frightened horse and powerless la- ( dies in the rig and dashing into the , street succeeded in securing a hold on the reins and stopping the horse, , but not before they had crashed into a livery rig, standing in front of 1 Loch & Dirkson's hardware store. | Luckily no serious damage was; | done and the exoitment was over in a few moments. Mr. Shea is to be commended for his act. HAS GUARDIAN I John Terrell Officially Declared Insane by Judge Vaughn. Yesterday the jury who tried i John W. Terrell as to his sanity i reported that he was a man of un- i sound mind and incapable of man- i aging his own affairs. They re- I oommendi'd the appoinment of a : guartlian and this morning Judge i Vaughn appointed Pleasant H. Stanley as his guardian, fixing his bond in the sum of |2,000. Mr. < Stanley is a resident of Nottingham i township and was a friend of Mr. I Terrell’s during his more fortunate days.—Bluffton Banner. < I Walter Chapman Dead. Walter Chapman who acted in the I capacity of operator for the Chicago i and Erie Railroad at Wren Ohio, < died this morning at his home at i that place. We were unable to i learn the cause of his death or any i thing concerning the funeral arrangements. Mr. Chapman was quite well known hobe and his death will be a sad blow to his friends.

FAVOR CHANGE Minority Report on Amusements to Make Fight in M. E. Conference. The committee on slate of the, church of the Methodist general conference, having in charge the question of the proposed change of the rules in regard to dancing, card playing and theater going has decided by a vote of 55 to 43 against recommending any change. This result was reached only after a vigorous and prolonged contest in the committee meeting. A minority report presented by members of the committee who favor a more liberal construction of these rules will be offered in the general body will be the signal for the most spirited struggle that will occur on the floor during tne present conference. RODGERS-KING Well Known Decatur Lady Married Yesterday Mrs. Kate King Weds Mr. Rodgers of New Castle, Pa.—Ceremony Per- * formed at Fort Wayne.

Mrs. Kate King of this city was united in marriage yesterday afternoon to Mr. J. R Rodgers of New Castle, Pa. The happy event occurred at 4:30 o’clock at the residence of Rev. Dr. Moffett, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, Fort Wavne, that gentleman officiating. The happy couple left here yesterday afternoon and returned this morning, their announcement being a complete surprise for their friends. Mrs. King has been a life long resident of Decatur, and for the past several months has been living with Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Meyers, 313 South Adams Street. Mr Rodgers is a highly respected gentleman, and well to do. He first met Mrs. King about a year ago at Greenfield, Ohio, where she visited the family of Dr. Ballard who formerly livedhere. The Democrat extends heartiest congratulations. STREET PARADE a Buckskin Ben Will Have $50,000 Pageant. Rnckskin Bill's Historical Wild West Shows' wierd and startling street parade, which takes place at 10 o'clock a. in. daily, has five hundred jieople and horses in line. The plain, the prairies the pampas and stcepes are represented, Indians, warriors, squaws and papooses, guides, hunters, trappers and scouts, expert cowboy riders mounted on bucking bronchoes; buffalo, elk, Texas steers, mountain pack trains, prairie schooners, Indian travoys, talla-ho coaches, old time prairie stages, beautiful, daring western girls, handsome Indian Princesses, Soutn American Gauchos and Australian boomerang throwers; bright eyed senoritas from Mexico; desert born Beduin Arabs, Japanese athletes and Hin doo fakirs; detachments of cavalry troopers from the armies of the world; artillery companies of many flags; master horsemen of the universe; Mexican, Indian and American bands and strange Oriental music of many nations. The immense menu will be located at Decatur Tuesday, May 31 has 10,000 seats for, 10,000 people, under absolutely waterproof canopy that encircles the immense arena and there will be 2 performances daily at 2 and 8. p. m. rain or shine.

NUMBER 111

COMMITS SUICIDE Adams County Girl Kills Herself at Marion A LOVE AFFAIR THE CAUSE OF THE AWFUL DEED Marie Bowser Drank Carbolic Acid This Morning and Died Within a Few Moments. Marie Bowser, eighteen years old, and a resident of Jefferson township, this county, commited suicide at Marion, Indiana, this morningj She drank a large quantity of carbolic acid and died within a few • • • • - • i ' moments. She has been working in Marion fcr a few weeks and her suicide is thought to be the result of a love affair. Her father, George Bowser died several years ago and her mother married a man named Alexander and now lives near Chat, anooga. The news of the sad death of Marie was rocevied here by telephone and word sent at once to the girl’s mother. The body will probably be brought to this county for burial. SCHAFER CASE Blood Stained Clothing Offered in Evidence Several Witnesses Examined Yesterday. —State to Rest Today it is Thought.

BEDFORD, Ind., May 19—The state continued its effort in the Janies McDonald murder trial this morning to show the manner and cause of death of Sarah C. Schafer, and announced that it will not get this evidence before the jury before tomorrow night. It is apparent that the case will not be submitted to the jury before some time next week. Men and women were scrambling for seats in the court room at an • early hour today. Many of the women brought their babies and they filled the gallery of the room at 8 o’clock. The father, brother and uncle of Miss Schafer, who were at the scene of the murder last night, were among the early arrivals at the court house, 'rhe bloody and mud caked clothing of the murdered girl was introduced in evidence while Sheriff Smith was on the stand. While it was in evidence the father and brother of Mias Schafer left tho court room. Tho outer garments were matted with cinders and blood, the underwear torn and the stockings caked with mud along the front from the shoos to the knees, showing she had been on her knees and had been dragged during the struggle. Several other witnesses wore examined. The defense will likely begin today.