Daily Democrat, Volume 2, Number 155, Decatur, Adams County, 12 July 1904 — Page 1

VOLUME II

SUICIDE AT CHATTANOOGA Sad Message Reached the City Last Night

FAMILY SHOCKED Crist Kessler Hangs Himself No Cause Assigned for the Rash Act of Self-Destruc-tion. Word was received here late yesterday afternoon by Nick Detro who is employed at the Fashion stables from Chattanooga Ohio, conveying the sad news that Crist Kessler, Detro’s father in law was found dead at noon Monday caused by hanging. In an interview with Mr. Detro last evening he stated to a representative of this paper that ho was at a loss to know what prompted Mr. Kessler to commit this horrible deed farther stating that he was financially well fixed owning one hundred and twenty acres of land which was unincumbered and which is dotted here and there with oil wells from which he was receiving a nice royalty. Mr. Detro further stated that he has seemed in the best of health here lately and he is unable to offer any theory for the commission of the deed. The telephone message did not give any of the particulars merely stating that Mr Kessler had been found •dead on the premises and that death resulted from hanging. Mr. Detro’s wife is heart broken over the terrible news and can hardly be consoled. They left last evening for Chattanooga where they will remain until after the funeral. Mr. Kessler was well known in this city and his sudden demise and the manner in which it occurred will no doubt prove a great surprise to his many friends.

A late telephone message from Chattanooga gave the following diacription of the finding of the body of Chris Kessler, but as yet no cause can be assigned for the deed. Mr. Kessler ate his breakfast as usual with the family and saemed in the best of spirits and humor and after eating started for the Iwirn to do his usual mornings work, he feed his hogs and then wont to the barn to do his regular work there among the stock and after that time he was never seen alive. About noon the family became worried because he did not come to dinner and his son was sent up town to find him but oune back with the report that he had not been seen by anyone this greatly agitated the family who at once started to search for him when his body was found hanging from a rafter In tho woodhouse, by his son who at once notified the other searchers. A doctor was hastily summoned who on examination found that he was beyond all earthly aid and his verdict was death resulting from hanging with suicidal intent. The peculiar part of the affair was that his body was found hanging behind the wood house door which had boon open

The Daily Democrat.

all day and that he had in all probability desired to hide his ghastly work and as no one had seen him enter the woodhouse the theory advanced is that he had planned the hanging all out before hand and desired J;o keep his whereabouts a secret as long as possible. He undoubtedly had gone direct from the barn to the above described place as he had used a halter strap to hang himself with. Why he committed this horrible act is still a mystery and in all probability will never be solved. NEW CASES — Five Filed With the County Clerk Peter Huffman Made a Target for an Imitation of Justice. Four cases were filed at the county clerks office all being brought to this court on a change of venqe from the Jay circuit court. In all of them two, were brought by the Cincinnati, Bluffton & Chicago Railroad Company, to settle claims for right of way, Frances and Clara Wright being defendants in one case, Samuel and Lenna Slick on another, Thomas and Malinda Fridley in the third and Evan D. Robinson and wife. The amount of damages could not be determined between the parties interested, so this means was taken so as to get an amicable adjustment of the claims of those who are made defendants to these four suits. Another case wirs also filed it being the state of Indiana vs Peter Hoffman who is charged with the unpardonable crime of selling a cigar on Sunday. The case is an appeal from the justices court. It is not often if ever we discuss the merit of any case filed in court, but this one seems to us to be the limit. Mr. Hoffman is a good, honest and honorable citizen and should not be required to be postered with imitation of justice.

TWO ARE HERE Business Will Soon Begin at the Cement Block Factory. John Everett a member of the Decatur Cement and block company says they have received two of their roofing machines this morning and the same were being transferred from the oar to their building and that the balance of the machines, four in number, would follow in a few more days. Monte Evans a member of this company left for Bluffton, whore he will make a contract with certain parties to furnish this company with so much sand a week so as to keep tho manufacture of this roofing material always on the move. The company is getting everything in shape and are now only being held back by the machinery whioh should ar-

DECATUR, INDIANA, TUESDAY EVENING, JULY 12, 1904.

rive soon. The company will emplov ten men at the start aud increase in number as the plant increases.

A CONVENTION Dr. H. Von Sweringen is the Nominee The G. 0. P. of the Adams-Allen District Name a Candidate for Senator. Special to The Dally Democrat FORT WAYNE IND., July 12— The republicans of the Adams-Al-len county joint senatorial district met In convention here this afternoon and nominated Dr. H. Von Sworingen for senator A great outpouring of the faithful were j present, twelve being the number , when the first prayer was offered, i this number swelling to fifteen at the close. John M. Fiisinger was the only Adams county representative present. NEAR DEATH Mayor Jones of Toledo, is Dying He Has Not Recovered Consciousness Since Sunday. Mayor Jones of Toledo Ohio, is I still alive, but his death is axpected momentarilly. As a last resort tho attending physician performed the operation inserting a hollow needle in the spinal column to draw off a liquid believed to be pressing against the base of the brain. It was hoped that this would restore consciousness and the mayor could then make another desperate battle against impending death. There was no result and the doctors re. linquished all hope. Only a faint flicker of life is perceptible and a few hours at the most must see the end. Prayers were offered in all the churches Sunday. BEYOND HOPE I The Condition of Jacob Yager Still Serious. The condition of Ex. county Commisisouor Jacob Yager who is laying at his home on Mercer Avenue in a very critical condition, suffering from a complication of bowel troubles is reported today by his physician J. M. Miller as being no better and in a very serious condition. His relatives have been summoned and a number of them are here. Dr. Miller stated that he did not see how ho oonld stand the strain much longer and unless the crisis came in the next two days he could offer no hope to the family.

MEET TOMORROW Commissioners to Have a Session Will Sign the Bonds for Eight Macadam Road Extensions. The board of commissioners have been summoned to meet in session Wednesday for the purpose of signing the bonds which will produce the wherewith to construct the East Washington number two macadam road, the Geneva, Ceylon & Wabash township number one Pleasant Valley & Oak Grove number one and two, Decatur & Monroe two and three, Decatur & Bluff ton number two East Washington three. These bonds were expected here for signing at the regular sjs - sion last week but the lithographer delayed them until this time. The work of signing them is no small task as each bond lias forty copies attached. The next day all the macadam road superintendents have been summoned to appear for instructions upon some matters of interest. The superintendents called in are Daniel Beberick, John P. Bakar. R. B. Kerr, J. N. Fristoe Barnay Meyers, James Waggner Jonah Corson, John VanGunton, William Artier, Georgo H. Martz, and John W. McKcen. The macadam road building in Adams county is quite heavy at present and will likely continue for another vear at least. SLOW WORK Drilling on the Erwin Oil Well Making Slow Progress. Wilson Shepherd who is drilling the test oil well on the farm of Judge R. K Erwin stated to a rep- | resentative of this paper that work I on the well was progressing at pres- • ent very slowly on account of huvI ing struck slate at a depth of five | hundred feet which impedes with the progress of the drillers to a certain extent. lieing a very hard sub--1 stance to drill through. Mr. Shepherd states that only twenty five feet was made yesterday and that they only expect to go a like distance today. All indications now point that the well will be drdled to a depth of not less than thirteen hundred feet before any indication of oil is found. Mr. Shepherd is working hard on this well and is doing all in his power to get the well completed and as fast as possible.

ENTERTAINED Miss Marie Allison as a Hostess. Miss Marie Allison entertained about twenty five of her young lady friends last evening at her home on north k Second street in honor of Misses Mary Deam and Nina Feezer of Bluffton and Miss Ruth Simison of Berne and from all reports of the same a most enjoyable time was had by al present. The evening was spent in playing progressive pean its and progressive roil letters,Ja prize being offered for the lucky and nnluoky ones, which wi re carried away by Miss Agnes Meibers and Miss Ada Murray respectively. Daring the evening’s enjoyment, Miss Marie served her guests with a three course luncheon and at a lute hour all adjourned for their respective homes voting Miss Allison us a fine entertainer.

A CANDIDAS E. Burt Lenhart Seeks K. of P. Honors. Decatur will furnish a candidate for grand outer guard of the grand lodge Knights of Pythias who meet in semi-annual session at Indianapolis in October. E. Burt Lenhart who has long held important commissions m the deliberation of this secret society will strive to be named an officer in the grand lodge. This is a worthy ambition from a worthy member and his friends in this section of Indiana would like to see him thus honored. He is an admirable Knight and would add ability and honor to the order he so faithfully represents.

BEEN FAITHFUL Chris Strebe Rewarded by Grand Rapids Appointed General Inspector ano Overseer of Water Tanks. Chris Strebe whe for a number of years past has been employed by the Grand Rapids railroad as their local pump station man at the water tank just north of our city and who has been a faithfull and conscientions worker in behalf of the company has at last been rewarded for his faithful work and the performance of his duties and on yesterday received notice from headquarters that he wonld hereafter be the general overseer of the company's water tanks and stations all along its line and genera] inspector of the same. This appointment came as a surprise to Chris who had never put in an application for such a place and never knew the company contemplated making such an appointment, and the appointment is a happy surprise to I him. His place here will be taken by a man named Cross. We oer tainly congratulate Chris on his good luck. ENTERTAINED Mr. and Mrs. William Ehrman Entertain. Mr. and Mis. Wm. Ehrman entertained a large number of guests at their home one mile west and one mile south of Peterson. Messrs. Geo. Curry, Geo. Ehrman, E. Howard, Walter Steele, A Shady, Hermon Johnson, Frank Hurst, Chas. Bower, Frank Bright, John Zimi merman, Earle Martin, Chas Sh<>af, Milton Hoffman, Frank Gault, James Minke, Ed Shady, Albert Borno, Erwin Elzy, Earl Staub, and Misses Metta Ernst. Dink Bowers, Sophie and Laura Bracht, Anna Ehrman Lizzie Gault, Jennie Straub Lnoy Biown, (Francis Hurst, Rose, Katie, Lena, Sadie and Pauline Limenstall were the gneste present. The evening was spent in games and music at twelve o'oloo k refreshments wore served. Every one seemed to be enjoying themselves. After the refreshments a few games were played and the guests returned to their respective homes. Memorial. Eva S. Etnerine infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Etnerine was born June the 24 1903 died July 9 1904. Little Eva was a bright and beuutful child, beautiful bud here on earth to bloom in Heaven. It is with sad hearts we say good bye to moot again on yonder shore.

NUMBER 155

RETURN TRIP Milliard Elzey in Hock for Grand Larceny Stole a Watch Valued at the Magnificent Sum of Four Dollars. Willard Elzey a notorious character who has on two different occasions served terms in the penitentary for serious crimes, is now in a good way to land there once more, being bound over to the Adams circuit court on last evening by Squire Smith on a charge of grand larceny, having stolen a watch valued at four dollars from a poor old man named Meyer Kahn who lives a short distance north east of our city. Tho alleged transaction is supposed to have taken place on last Saturday evening in the alley in the rear of William Harting saloon where Kahn states that Elzey on a pretense of buying the watch took it from his pocket and was examining when some one called Kahn attention and he turned his back to and spoke only a few momen's to a friend of his and on returning Elzey had dissapeaied and could not lie found and had taken the watch with him. Kahn traced Elzey to a number of places but could not find him and finally reported his loss to Marshal Cordua who together with Jules Spies, who is a member of the Cleveland detective and police force, went to the county line west of town this afternoon and arrested Elzey on the above charge. His bond was fixed at SIOO to appear in September at the Adams circuit court for trial and was taken to jail on his failure to furnish bond. ARE PROGRESSING Arrangements by Company B. Are Good. A member of Company “B" informed us this morning that all arrangements for the reunion that will be held here on August 11th was progressing in fine shape and from all present appearances a big time and a large crowd would be in attendance. The committee on arrangements are every day receiving letters from members of this famous company stating that they would be present and Eelp swell the attendance. From the present outlook the music will be furnished by the Huntington City Bund as the leader of that organization was the leader of the 160th regiment Band and has a national reputation for his musical ability and leadership. The boys are making great prepartitions and if the weather man will only permit a hot old time will bo in order. ARRIVED TODAY J. E. Ellsworth Here for a Two Weeks Visit. J. E. Ellsworth of Fort Scott, Kansas is here on a two weeks visit among old friend s He recently sold his city property and before returning home will likely conclude a sale of his farm just east of the city. This will dispose of all his Adams county realty and then he will become a sure enough citizen at his new Kansas home. He likes the country 7,thcro as well as the people and climate and has many words of praise for the advantages that are offered there.