Daily Democrat, Volume 2, Number 117, Decatur, Adams County, 27 May 1904 — Page 1

VOLUME II

believes McDonald guilty Jacob Schafer Returns From Bedford

ATTENDS MURDER TRIAL Expects a Verdict of Guilty From Jury Believes the Penalty Will be Life Imprisonment on Account of Circumstantial Evidence. A representative of this paper today had the pleasure of interviewing Jaoob Shafferjwho returned last evening from Bedford Indiana where he was attending the case of the state of Indiana vs James McDonald for the murder of Miss Sarah Shaffer the history of which our readers are well posted upon. Miss Shaffer was formerly a resident of this city and is well known here. The following is| the discription of the affair as Mr. Shaffer tells it. Considerable trouble was at first encountered in selecting a jury and two whole days were thus consumed before the jury was selected immediately after which the prosecution made its opening statement and began on the examination of the witnesses. The story of the murder was completely gone over by the witnesses telling of the finding of the body, the imprints seen about the shed and the way Miss Schaffer was last seen Jdressed when she left her boarding house. Then was taken up the work of the detective and his tracing the crime and finally placing and fastening the crime on McDonald who at the time contradicted himself in a number of places. After all the evidence had been introduced by the state the defense outlined their plan and at onoe proceeded with the evidence, there intention being to prove an alibi showing that McDonald was not there at the time the murder was committed but in this however the defense absolutely failed and thereby lost the main point in their case. They then introduced witnesses to testify in behalf of the defendants reputation which brought forth the fact that it was bad and he had always been oonisdered a dangerous man in and about Bedford. Mr. Shaffer further stated that when he left Bedford both sides had gone in to the arguments and it would soon be in the hands of the jury. Mr. Shaffer stated that all the better class of people at Bedford were of the opinion that McDonald w’as the guilty man and that the jury would so find- He is also very enthuastio over the manner in which the prosecution handled the case and is himself of the opinion that the verdict will be guilty,but that the jury will not find for hanging McDonald, as the case is to full of circumstantial evidence. He is now anxiously awaiting the verdict. Attention, U. R K. ot P. All members of the uniform rank are requested to bo at the lodge room Decoration Day at one o’clock to participate in the ceremonies of the day. French Quinn Captain.

The Daily Democrat.

ARE BUSY Graduating Class of St. Joseph School Arranging for Commencement. Arrangements for the ninth annual commencement of the St. Joseph High School are being completed and the event will occur Monday evening June 20th at Bosses opera house. The graduating class includes Misses Emma Terveer and Celia A. Kinney and Mr. Edwaid F. Berling. Invitations will be sent out within a week or ten days. TO THE JURY Patton Damage Case Concluded Divorce Refused Charles Cook.—Other Business of Today. The cas<' of Henry Patton vs Fort Wayne & Southwestern Traction Company went to the jury at 7:30 this morning, "court having opened early for the convenience of the lawyers and witnesses who wished to return to their homes. At three o’clock no agreement had been reached and the general opinion is that the jury will fail to agree, thus necessitating another trial. William H. Niblick vs John Bichard and Louis M. Andrews complaint and lost note, dismissed and costs paid. Charles H. Cook vs Edith F. Cook, divorce suit, answer filed by prosecuting attorney, at issue, cause heard, finding against plaintiff and divorce refused, costs taxed against plaintiff. Sophia E. Huduett and Clara Bailey vs Margaret Reppert et al, petition filed for reappraisement and same ordered. Tray Huey, ditch proceeding, i»etition filed for order to pay labor and expense, claims ordered. In the David Studabaker estate a petition was filed by the executors to sell notes and mortgages, so ordered at private sale at full value for cash. ONLY ONE GROUND Methodist Conference Adopt New Rule on Divorce Question. The committee on state of the church of the Methodist general conference, after a spirited debate, decided that domestic infidelity shall be the only ground for divorce recognised by the church. There was an effort to have cruelty and desertion included as grounds; the majority of the committee was opposed to thia. This committee will also present a resolution asking congress to enact a constitutional amendment tha* will make impossible certain practices of mormonism in any part of the United States or in any country subject to its jurisdiotien.

DECATUR, INDIANA, FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 27, 1904.

HAD PLENTY The Ice Cream Opening Was a Bonanza for the Children. Last night was a holiday for the children as well as for some of their older sisters. It was ice cream opening night and every soda parlor in the city was crowded from seven o’clock until their supply of cream was exhausted. The season is on now to a certainty and if you failed to attend last night’s event you will have to buy your cream. It was good to hear the boastings of the children as to how many dishes they had indulged in and many a man smiled as his mind wandered back to his boyhood days. One little girl claims to have eaten sixteen dishes, many can be found with a record of ten or twelve, while the one who let the opportunity slip without partaking of at least five was considered easy. The cream was the make of the J. W. Place Company, whose reputation is known far and near as the itskies of the ice cream business furnished eighty five gallons of cream for this occasion. This season bids fair to outrival many of the past which have been record breakers. ESQ. MORAN So it is for This Day and no Other An Ejectment Case Being Tried Before Him This Afternoon. A case, is being tried this afternoon before John Moran at his office in the new Studabaker block entitled Lucy J. Gregory against Mrs. Ada Simcoke on an ejectment proceedings. The case was originally filed before Squire James 11. Smith but a few davs before the trial a change of Squires was asked for and as there is not another Justice in this township besides Squire Smith he appointed John C. Moran to try the cause. The complaint is in three paragraphs setting forth a verbal contract and other causes on which the plaintiff deamnds the possession of her property. As we go to press the attorneys are busily engaged in arguing the cause and no verdict had been rendered the plaintiff is represented by David E. Simtta and the defendant of Dore B. Erwin. We will publish the courts decision in tomorrows issue. APPOINTMENTS MADE Members of the Board of Review Have Been Appointed. Judge Erwin has appointed Henry Lankanau of this city and Amos Hirschey of Berne as appointive members of the board of review, who with the county assessor, auditor and treasurer make up the personal of the board to begin active work the first Monday in June. The labors of such officials are usually very laborious and require great care and accuracy in making up the assessment of each and every Individual in the county. The assessment lists as returned by the several township assessors have Iteen bound and are now ready and waiting for the board of review to begin their labors. MOVING (BOWLING ALLEY. O. Jackson is today moving his bowling alley from the Luckey Building and will ship it to Rochester where he will run and operate the same.

NEXT WEEK Work to Begin on Erwin Oil Well Monty Raised and Arrangements Complete to Test Field North of Town. Work will begin next week and the oil well to be drilled on the farm of Judge R. K. Erwin, four miles north of town, the work to be done by the Shepherd Oil Company or rather by Mr. Shepherd himself. The money has been raised and all arrangements completed for the first test well ever put down north of the city. It is probable that another well will lw drilleed as one well would scarcely be a test of the field. Farmers in-the community are becoming interested and it is believed that no further trouble will be had in raising the necessary funds. Many oil men and Decatur citizens who have spent more or less time in the scientific study of the oil business are confident of the fact that oil in paying quantities ' is north of town and more interest will be manifested in this well than any drilled near here for some time, as the development of a field means much for Decatur. ARE CONFIDENT Prohibition Party Sav Their Candidate Will Defeat Cromer. The prohibition leaders are to do some big stunts in Indiana during this campaign. Charles E. Newlin, their state chairman, looks through optimistic spectacles and predicts as follows: “We hope to elect our candidate for congress in the Eight district and retire George Cromer. Our nominee—Aaron Worth, of Jay ocunty—has the respect and confidence of everybody. We also think that we shall elect Sumner W. Hays, our candidate for judge in the Jay circuit court. We expect to carry Richland township in Jay county without fail, and Sims township in Grant county. “We will make the hustings ring with our speakers. Felix T. Me Whirter, our candidate for governor, accompanied by two othei speakers, probably M. W. Harkins, of Muncie, and E. G. Shouse of Chistman 111., formerly of Kokomo, will spend five days every week out in the field and will visit three or four points a day. HEART FAILURE Causts the Death of Attorney Marsh of Celina. Attorney Marsh, of Celina, dropped dead yesterday afternoon while transacting business in one of the law offices of that city. His death was due to an attack of heart trouble. He was well known here and was one of the ablest lawyers of Ohio. His son Loree Marsh was a guest of Noah Loch and family here last Sunday. The Decatur friends of the family extend their sincerest sympathy. EUCHRE CLUB Pleasant Meeting Last Night With Mrs. W. F. Brittson. Mrs. Floyd Brittson was at home to the Euchre club last night. Miss Craig earned the prize a terra cotta bust. The substitutes wore Mrs. Ora France and Mrs. John Heller. The next meeting will be in two weeks with Miss Bess Congloton on South Third street.

AT WILLSHIRE Decatur Knights Assisted in the Conferring of Degrees. Some twenty five members of the Rockford and Decatur Knights of Pythias were in town Tuesday night, visiting the stated convention of Chas. A. Knott lodge, No. 542. and assisting in conferring the Esquire and Knight ranks on a half dozen candidates. The visiting Knights displayed great familiarity and proficiency in the work, and certainly afford great sport for many local Knights. Chas. A. Knott lodge is having a decided boom and some of the best young men of the community are seeking the privelege of wearing the insignia of modern Knighthood. Soon it will be referred to as When Knighthood’was in Willshire, instead of ‘ When Knighthood was in Flower.”—Willshire Herald. GOES TO PRISON Robert Knox Found Guil* ty at Portland An Accomplice Givtn His Freedom for Turning State’s Evidence. The most interesting forgery case in the criminal history of this country closed last night at Portland when Robert J. Knox, king of forgers, was found guilty by a jury in the circuit court. He will be committed under the intermediate sentence act, with the maximum calling for fourteen years' imprison nient. The case against him was worked up by the Pinkerton agency, under direction of the American Bankers' association,"and the conviction was clinched by John Schoonover, his accomplice, becoming a witness for the state- ■ Schoonover admitted that the American Bankers’ association had promised to be easy with him, in the event of his confession. Knox comes of one of the famous families of America. He is a lawyer by profession, society man and a graduate of Hamilton college. He is a nephew of John Jay Knox, former comptroller of the currency and president of the Bank of the Republic; a brother of Emma Knox, former head of the Emma Willard school at Troy, N. Y. and grandson of the Rev. Dr. John Knox, the famous Scotch preacher. This will make his third prison sentence. John Schoonover, alias H. B. Gordon, was released shortly before noon today by Judge Vaughn, on motion of Prosecutor Wheat, his liberty coming as a recompense for testifying against Knox. He will return to his home in New York. SOLDIER SERMON Veterans Invited to Attend Church at Alpha June sth.

On Sunday June 3 at ten o'clock a. m. Rev. W. E. McCarty of Hoagland will preach a for the especial benefit of the old vcrterans at Alpha church two and a half miles north of Mcnmouthand the service will no doubt be an interesting one. All old soldiers, the W. R. C., Sons of Veterans and Spanish war veterans are cordially invited to attend. Rev. McCarty himself served in the terrible struggle of '6l bet ween the north and south and his words on this occasion will come from the heart and he wants to greet every comrade in the county on the day I mentioned above.

NUMBER 117

ZION CLASSES Meets Continue With Great Interest Eloquent and Sincere Sermons and the Transaction of Business Occupies the Time. Report from 2 p. in. Thursday: After completing the pastoral reports the committee on overtures reported nine items w’hich were considered by items. Most of these were referred to other committees by whom they will be brought up under further recommendations. Among the number is a report from five young men students in the Mission House preparing for the ministry under the care of classis. These are L. C. Hessert, M. P. Schaeffle, F. W. Knatz, Edward Worthman. and Otto H. Scherrv. Two of these are completing their course and will be ready to take charge this spring. M. P. Schaeffle and F. W. Knatz, at their own request were dismissed to Sheyboygan classes, for the purpose of availing themselves of the examination at the annual meeting which comes after the close of school. The hour of the day was a Referendum entitled “The Significance of the Rite of Confirmation” by Rev B Ruf.superintendent of the Reformed Orphans Home at Ft. Wayne. This was an able paper, it brought out the false conception on the subject in the different periods of church life and history and a criticism on the methods of preparation The Heidelbey catechism since the year 1563, is the text book used mainly for this preparation. In the case of some of the applicants the intellectual, in others the spiritual predominates. In the paper as also in the discussion the question of practical importance was to what degree can we expect those confirmed to stand on their conviction and conversion. The attitude of the pastors differs somewhat here on account of the ages of the applicants, their raising and their opportuni ties and an individually which doesn't depend on either. It was admitted it is much easier to print cut failures and mistakes than to master the difficuties in the way Great emphasis was laid cn the personal heart to heart talk. It was urged that the period after confirmation is critical and the subject must have a closer oversight by the pastoi an<l the church so that the roots of faith and virtue may be less disturbed until the tree can better withstand the storms and the child may not stand on uncertain ground. The author of the I>a|>er insists that the neglect ot parents has to answer for much of the difficulty both before and after confirmation. With all that appears to be in the way the pajter assures us that here is much ground for encouragement, as in nearly every instance our efforts will sometime prove not to have been in vain. The seed may lie for a time and then will come up with surprising promise. With some discussion in the manner of reporting adult baptisms, in connection with confirmations and the naming of several special committees, classis adjourned. The evening from 7:30 was occupied by preaching services The Rev. Joshua Walbach, of Auburn Ind., preached on the subject of “Family Woiship.” He used twin texts—Acts 110: verses'4 and 9, —Discussing the value and efficacy of prayer; showing that all Divine institutions in so far as they are in the hands of the agency of man arc under the care of God in answer to prayer, and as the family is of such, great significance, • family worship is its welfare, the welfare of tn<> church of society, or any other movement in charge ot man.