Daily Democrat, Volume 2, Number 131, Decatur, Adams County, 13 June 1904 — Page 1

VOLUME 11

FORGER MILLER IS LANDED Located by Letter Written to His Sweetheart

ARRESTED IN TEXAS I Sheriff Butler Will Go to San Antonia for Him h i Youns Man Who Cashed Forged Check at First National Bank to Answer « for Mis Crime. i < William Miller, a young man who < on February last forged the name of Martin Gerke, to a check for seventy five dollars and cashed it at j the First National Bank in this city, is under arrest at San Antonia, Texas and will be returned here for trial. It is but another proof of the impossibility to escape the hands of the law under the present police system, aided by the telegraph and .' mail services. Miller came here last fall and secured a position on the farm of Martin Gerke east of town , where he worked until the day of , his disapjiearanoe. He was industrious and apj>arent]y honest. On the day mentioned he was given , five dollars and sent to Decatur to buy groceries and provisions. He kept the five, forged the check for |75 and even tried to sell the team of horses which he had driven in. He left here immediateey and it was several days before any action was taken to Icoate him as Mr. Gerke exjjected him to return until be discovered the orged check. His home was near Plymouth, Ind., i and where his parents are respectable fanners. He was engaged to a young lady named Clara Rathifrom at bouth Bend, and it was through her that Miller has finally been located The April grand jury indicted him for forgery and embezzlement and Sheriff Butler at once began a systematic search for his man. The first real clue came from South Bend where the police reported that the mans sweetheart had received a letter written by him from Hot Springs in which he said he was going on a long tr ip to the South West for a wholesale whiskey house. The police at that place were notified and Saturday Sheriff Butler received a telegram from the chief saying that Miller was under arrest at San Antonia. Mr. Butler immediately telephoned there and yesterday got an answer from the Marshal W. H. Irvin saying they would hold the man and to see letter. Upon receipt of the letter Sheriff Butler expects to leave at onoe for Texas and another week will no doubt find Miller behind the bars of the Adams county jail. TO PRISON Dallas Buller Leaves Tonight with Young Woodruff. Deputy Sheriff Dallas Buttler will leave tonight for Jeffersonville where he will take Ray Woodruff the young man convicted of grand larceny last week. Young Woodruffs sentence is from one to fourteen years and it is safe to say he will not do any’ stealing for several years. He stated Saturday that he had been connected with several other crimes since coming homo and if he wanted to could take another young man along with him.

The Daily Democrat.

HER BIRTHDAY Mrs. J. S. Colchin Celebrates That Event Today. Mrs. John S. Colchin entertained seventy five of her lady friends this afternoon in honor of her birthday at her home on Fifth street. The afternoon was mbst pleasantly spent by playing progressive pedro, the winners of which we were unable to ascertain as we go to press. A fine three course luncheon was then served to which all present did amply justice and at a late hour all adjourned wishing Mrs. Colchin many more such pleasant occasions. The out of town guests that were present were Mrs. Jules Spies of Cleveland O. and Mrs. Clem Holthouse of Delphi, Ind.

AN ACCIDENT Julius Haugk Nursing a Disabled Eye. Julius Haugh met with a very serious accident last week that almost rendered him totally blind. He and one of his workmen were fixing a bellous in his blacksmith department at his stone quarry in Blue Creek township and in leaning over the tire place th? workman aocidentially pulled down on the bellous causing coal dust soot and cinders to fly up in his eyes rendering him at the time almost totally blind. He at onoe came to town and had his eyes treated but he is still being troubled and can hardly see. He stated that on last I night he could not sleep on account of the acute pain. He is unable to do any work iand is confined mostly to bis home in a dark room. TWO DEFEATS Local Ball Teams Lose Games Club Going to Monroeville Encounter Runaway and Were Piled in a Ditch.

The Decatur Hickory’s played a nice game ol ball yesterday at Monroeville but unfortunately were defeated in ten innings by their husky opponents. The game was replete with sensationa plays and our boys gave a good account of themselves. The trip was marred somewhat by their team running away and throwing all the players out into a ditoh' the rig was demolished and the bovs were forced to telephone home for another rig before they oould return. They are all satisfied with the treatment and give Monroeville full credit for winning the game. The score was 12 and 11. —o— A team from this city known as the Big four were defeated yesterday by the Magley team by a score of 9to 7, at Magley a large crowd was in attendance and the game was a fast one from start to finish. The boys were afforded lino treatment.

DECATUR, INDIANA, MONDAY EVENING, JUNE 13, 1904.

ARM BROKEN Pete Leßrun Injured While Wrestling With Brother. Peter Leßrunn, Saturday evening about five thirty had the misfortune to break his left arm between the shoulder and elbow which w’ill lay him up for several days to come. The accident was purely accidental and occurred while Peter and his two brothers were scuffling in the front yard at their home while waiting for supper. While wrestling Peter heard the bone snap in his arm and at onoe knew it was broken. He was hurridly taken to Dr. Beavers who dressed the arm and who stated that the bone was broken square off then split and shattered quite badly. Peter says he is suffering all kinds of pain. WON EASY Decatur Gives Delphos Another Defeat Exciting Game of Ball in Which Rosenthal's Showed Superiority.

Again yesterday afternoon at Steel s Park the fast Delphos Bill team was given the bitter pill of defeat by the Rosenthals, and ar? now forced to admit that they are no match for their Hoosier neighbors. Delphos came yesterday fully determined to win the game at all hazards and regain laurels lost here two weeks ago, when they were defeated by a score of 8 to 7, taken no chances they placed their best pitcher, Grady, in the box pinned their faith to his abiilty For two innings Grady did his duty well and not onoe did the Rosenthals have a look-in, while Delphos accumulated two of the kind that count. Here is where the scoring on the part of Delphos was stopped, and for the remaining seven innings they were presented with a nice string of “noddings” while the Rosenthals got quite busy and piled up the nice total of nine, and thus the game ended. The game was replete with fast plays and nice hittings and the crowd was kept on edge, waiting fcr the unexpected that did not happen, as Delphos, time after time, had numerous men on bases. At this stage of the game the Rosenthals tightened up and gave their pitcher, Farrel, perfect support and pulled out of many tight squeezes. The special features of the game was the sensationa] play, ing of left field by D» Vinney, who handled seven difficult chances without the semblance of an error and assisted in a beautiful relay throw home, catching a runner at the plate,. The plaving of third base by Peterson, accepting several difficult chances and his running down of two be runners between second an thirds was highly appreciated. For Delphos Jannan, it third base, was the bright star who on two different occasions knocked down base hits, retiring the batsman at first. The score by innings was as follows. 1 2 3 4 5 0 7 8 9 RHE Delphos 110000000 2 10 10 Rosthls 00201114x9 5 3 Batteries, Grady and Fetig; Farrel and Pennington. Two base hits, Jannan Pennngton and Farrel; struck out by Grady fl by Farrel, 4; bases on balls, off Grady 6 oft Farrel 2; wild pitches, Grady 1 ; Farrel 2 hit by pitched fen 11, Touhey, Time of game 1:40. Urnpre Knopp, scorer Woodward,. Attendance 300.

REFORMS TOWN R. 0. Johnson Performs Wonders Interesting Story of How lie Tamed the Lawless Men of a Western Town. A special dispatch from Brisbee, 1 Arizonia. tells how Ross Johnson a former Decatur boy now Police Judge of Douglas, has reformed the lawless element of that city as follows: R. 0. Johnson, a broad-shouldered former college man, who is still under 30, has caused Douglas, the famous border town, to be the most talked-of place in the whole territory. Johnson is Justice of the Peace of Douglas. He has caused a gasp of astonishment in all quarters by so guiding the destines of the town that a murder, robbery or saloon hold up has not been reported from there in two weeks. All because he believes that a man should not carry a concealed weapon. With this gospel and the nerve to back up his belief, Judge Johnson is making Douglas feel as though it were having a glad dream. Two weeks ago the judge decided that the population was being shot away fast enough. Being not only justice of the peace but mavor, common council and the whole official life of the unincorporated town Judge Johnson set his square jaw and remarked in that easy Western style, “No gentleman shall carry a gun in this town lest he be tempted to perforate his fellow man or pack off the hard earned coin of some booze foundry or faro garnet With this Christian sentiment in his mind the judge caused the deputy constables to know that the six shooter, except as a bedroom ornament, must disappear. There was ferocious swearing in Douglas when the order was promulgated. “Bulls eye Ben” rode in from the ranges one Saturday afternoon with a brace of six shooters at his belt. “Let me at this Daniel,” said the terror, fiercely, “I will make him to resemble that culinarv implement known as the sieve.”

The next day Ben counted into the palm of Judge Johnson §SO. Then the judge instructed his offi cers to search the saloons and the gambling houses and find six shooters First the Cattle Exchange saloon was raided. Six guns were yielded up, and their owners werefined§so apiece the next day by the judge. “The root of all evil in Douglas is the six-shooter,” said the Judge from the bench. “And there is another attendant evil the desire to shoot them. “Go forth,” he said to the officers, “and find me more six-shooters.” Then the officers raided the White House, the Big Adobe and other notorious resorts in Douglas and enough nix shooters were confiscated to slock an arsenal. The Judge fined each man arrested SIOO. The lawless element was disgusted, but helpless. “He is a cheap edition of Dogberry,” remarked one “bad man.” “Huh, you let that kid take yer gun awav from you I” exclaimed one gentleman, who dropped in from over the border. His hip pocket was bulging. Then there came strolling down the street with easy stride an athletic sixfooter. “There’s the kid," said a bystander. “Ha, he’s my meat,” said the “bad man,” and began to flourish his gun in the face of the Judge just as he was passing the group. The J udge is able to dispense justice with both hands. He knocked the l>oaster down with one hand and picked him up for a second knock down with the other. “The public peace must l>e preserved.” remarked the Judge to this no longer "bad man” when he came up for sentence, “and

as the welfare of the majority must be respected the town of Douglas will retain your six-shooter.” He has kept all the revolvers and will turn over several hundred dollar’s worth when he makes his next quar terly report. The Judge is enabled to make his law operative by reason of the fact that there are numerous one time “bad men” who are rounding up the six-shooters. The officers get fees in accordance with the fines imposed and it is needless to say they are zealous. Judge Johnson was a law student in Decatur, Indiana, when he got an appointment as a deputy custom collector under ex-Collector Hoy. Then he was appointed justice of the peace. The Judge was much annoyed on taking charge of the town—which is in reality, what he has done—to find that the Coroner was the busiest official in the place. Some of the Judge’s detractors maintain that he was envious of the Coroner’s prosperity. The Judge however is very reasonable in his position He insists that he is anxious for the prosperity of Douglas, but holds that a town where bullets may be flying at any minute is not especially at tractive to prospective investors. “My business” says the Judge, “depends upon the increase of population, not the decrease. 1 like Douglas; it’s a pretty town and the people are good hearted, but if the citizens are to leave us by the way of the Coroner’s inquest as they have been doing I will have to pack up my Blackstone and penal code and find another location. One of Judge Johnson's strongest backers is Captain Reinig. of the Arizona Rangers. The captain was one of Roosevelt’s Rough Riders and loves the strenous life. Hence he slaps the Judge ayprovingly on the back every time he comes to town. JURY DISAGREED Were Dismissed Saturday Evening —— Big Damage Case Will Have to be Retried.—Court Adjourns for Summer. The jury in the |SOOO damage case of William Mayer vs William | Glendening agree and were i discharged at five o’clock Saturday | evening by Judge Erwin after he hud leen informed that there was no chance of a verdict. The first ballot we are informed stood six to six and though about fifty ballots were taken during the thirty hours deliberation, there was practically no change in the vote. A few times the vote stood seven to five each way but invaribly went back to the old tie vote. The men evidently had their convictionsand were determined to stay with them. With the dismissal of the jury court adjourned for the term. A special session will be held next Monday but this will be only for a day it is believed Judge Erwin is at Lawrenceburg this week acting as a special Judge. A NEW CHURCH Mount Pleasant to Have a New Church Building. July Fourth will be a big day for the congregation at the Mt. Pleasant M. E. church, it being set ajiart to lay the corner stone for a new church.building which is now under erection. The now edifice will boa very commodious and pleasant house of worship, fully supplying the needs of the membership. The program of services for the day lias not been announced, but it will be such as to harmon ize with the rejoicing of now church building. On June 19 then will be children’s day exorcises.

NUMBER 131

TO HANG HIM Eight Jurymen Wanted Dunn Executed Compromise Soon Reached and Old Man Goes to Prison for Life. The jury in the Dunn murder case at Fort Wayne returned a verdict of guilty Saturday afternoon after two hour deliberation and fined the punishment at life imprisonment. This morning's Journal Gazette said: There were eight jurymen in the Dunn murder trial who voted to hang Charles W. Dunn on the first ballot. The rapidity with which the jury formulated its verdict is sufficient evidence of the fact that all of the members of it had their minds well made up when they returned from the court room. There were three members of the jury who had said under oath that they had conscientious scruples against affixing the death penalty in any case. The state did not ask for the extreme punishment, and it will be remembered that Judge Hench accepted the jury immediately after one of the jurors had announced unasked that he did not approve of capital punishment. When the jury retired Saturday and made up its verdict the jurors, as usual, took a pledge among themselves to keep the proceeding secret. Then, as usual, the story leaked out. Os the nine men who believed in capital punishment all but one voted that way. When it was apparent that the other four would never consent to this action, the jury effected a compromise on imprisonment for life. THEY LIKE US Van Buren Boys Pleased With Decatur Hospitality. The Warren Van Buren Grays crossed bats with the Decatur Sluggers, Sunday; at Decatur. The game was a pitcher's battle from the 4th inning, taking ten innings to decide the contest. Those desiring a good time and a fine place of enjoyment can make no mistake in going to Decatur. Decatur has the finest driving park in the state and with its flowers gardens, beautiful buildings and artificial lake, it is all that the heart could desire. While we have heard many harsh things said about Decatur wo must say we were never used better. We expect to go again in the near future and all who missed going surely would regret it, if they only knew what they missed. —Van Buren News, Eagle. A BAD FALL Glayds Graham Fell From Hammock and Broke Shoulder Blade. Gladys Graham, little nine year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L .A. Graham fell out of a hammock at noon today and broke her collar bone on the left side Gladys and a brother were playing in the hammock on the porch when she fell OuQind alt hough the distance to the floor was but two feet she fell in such away that the fracture was caused. Dr. J. M. Miller wascalled and attended the little girl who is getting along nicely only she will 1 have to remain pretty quiet for about four weeks.