Daily Democrat, Volume 2, Number 186, Decatur, Adams County, 17 August 1904 — Page 1

VOLUME II

CHARLEY HOUSER KILLED Nine-Vear-Old Bov Crushed Bv Heuvv Wagon

ACCIDENT AT BLUFFTON Son of Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Houser Little Fellow Almost Instantly Killed in Runaway Accident. Bluffton, Ind., August 17.-Charles Houser, nine-yeur-old-son, of Mr. and Mrs. Jesse JHouser, was almost instanty killed [last evening about six o’clock. The Houser family moved here from Decatur a short time ago, and Jesse is employed by the Mercer (Lumber com pany. Last evening he was driving one of their big wagons loaded with lumber, on top of which was a box in which were two pigs. On top of this box sat the boy, Charles. In some unaccountable manner the wagon ran up against the horses and they started to run away. The wagon swerved from one side of the street to the other and Jesse | was thrown off. The boy clung to his seat until the team reached the corner of Oak and Wiley avenue, where they turned. The boy fell off and the heavy wagon ran across I his breast, crushing his body, just i over the heart. The little fellow jimp 3d up,J but almost imediiately fell over again , unconscious. He was carried into a nearby residence, i Physioans were summoned, but little Charley died within twenty minutes, and before aid could be administered. The father was unhurt by his fall. The lad's parents are distracted over the fate of their little son. The lad's grandfather, George W. Houser, arrived from Decatur at noon today. FARMS SOLD Exchanges of Real Estate in Southern Adams County. John J. Sohenbeck, living three miles southwest of Berne, has sold his farm of 149 acres to John A. Vance, of West of Bluffton, for the consideration of $8,980. Vance has rented the farm to Noah Yoder and as soon as Mr. Sohenbeck vacates, will take charge of it. Mr. bohenbeck has bought the John Maurer place, one mile south of 'town, and will move on it after the public sale of his personal property, which he has advertised .for Thursday, Au- i gust 25. The Maurer place consists of fifteen acres and the price < paid for it was |1 «50. Mr. Maurer I intends to move with his family to I North Dakota by the middle of » next month. —Borne News.

The Daily Democrat.

KRAUSS CASE Still the Topic of Interest at Hartford City. There is much speculation as to whether Mrs. VV. R. Krauss will go on the witness stand when her trial is held. So far as known she has not a witness to assist her in clearing up the damaging evidence that has been collected by the state's attorney against her. For this reason it is almost certain that she will take the stand in her own defense. It is understood that the state s attu/nev has more damaging evidence against tne accused that the public has not yet learned. The testimony of Mrs Shewalter had been in his possession for some time, but found its way into the newspapers for the first time Monday. It is understood that Mrs. Shewalter was not alone on the veranda when she heard Mrs. Krauss say to the boy on his return, “Here I am.” While it has been denied that Crystal was served peculiar tasting peas while entertaining some of her young girl friends and when she complained of their peculiar taste her stepmother threw them out still it will be proven at the trial that such an occurrence did take place. Many iof the women and girl witnesses , who have knowledge of the case tell it, afterwards deny| it. for fear 1 that they will tie called upon to i testify, deliberated considerable ; before making up their minds to idivulge what they knew of the case.—Hartford City Gazette. PAID HIS FINE I W. E. Bowman Admits Charges Made by Woodward. William E. Bowman, who was arrested yesterday by Constable Blackburn, on a charge of provoke ’ and assault and battery, the affidaJ vit being signed by Charles Woodj ward, appeared last evening before ! Spuire Smith and plead guilty. He was accordingly firel one dollar and costs in all eleven dolars. The trouble originated over an account Woodard claimed Bowman owed him and during the heated argument Bowman struck Woodward and the arrest followed. Bowman promptly [paid his fine and was discharged. A PRETTY WINDOW Photographer Moser has a Display of Beautiful Pictures. Photographer J. E. Moser has a dispay in his gallery window this week that we venture to say can be surpassed by no artist in Indiana. The selection of photos are excellent and are the largest made by any house, requiring a special apparatus. The finishing is of the high grade, for which Mr. Moser is famous, and a look in the window will oanvinoe anyone we are telling the truth. Mr. Moser is receiving orders for similar work from various nearby cities, and will no doubt turn out a large amount of this class of work this fall. A center piece in the window is a life size bust portrait of the late Judge Studabaker

DEUATUK, INDIANA, WEDNESDAY EVENING, AUGUST 17, 1904.

KICKED IN FACE Nine-Year-Old Son of Louis Stram Painfully Injured. Today’s Berne News said: Friday afternoon while Levi, the nine year old son of Louis Strain, of French township, was chasing a horse aruond the straw stack to drive it to the water tank he received a severe kick below his left eye, which broke the bone and nearly knocked the eye out of the socket. The injured lad was hastily brought to town and the services of three physicians secured to dress his face. At present the wouudedjboy is getting along nicely, although at first it was feared that the blow would cost his eyesight. LIBRARY PLAN Plymouth Exchange want to Establish Branch Here. Mr. L. Matthews, of Chicago, is in the city, interesting our citizesn in establishing a branch of the Plymouth libraries ibookreaders exchange here. Many who appreoerite the ■ vi ntages of a” un-to-date book service, supervised bv a com- : pany of eighteen years’ experience, will undoubtedly take advantage of the opportunity to have Decatur connected with the system, and many of our citizens have already handed in their names. We understand the cost of the library will amount to about five cents per week, including the popular new books supplied every six months, topical readings selected by the members and an entirely new library direct from the head office in Chicago as soon as the club gets through with the old one. GAME DATED Rosenthals will Play at Chattanooga, Ohio, Next Sunday. Manager Hively last evening closed a contract with the Chattanooga base ball team, whereby the Rosenthals will play at that place on next Sunday, August 21. The team will have to drive through, and expect to from here at eight o'clock on [Sunday morning. The Chattanooga team is still smarting over the defeat administered them here a few weeks ago, and fully expect to regain lost honors. The Rosenthals however are just as fully determined to defeat these boys again, and fully expect to show them the way to “head in" on next Sunday. A goodly number of “rooters” will accompany the team and endeavor to hold up the Decatur end of the string. A GREAT TIME Crowd Returned Home from Northarn Fishing Trip. The Deoatui and Bluffton crowd. who have been fishing near Viola, on the Canadian line two weeks, arrived home this morning and report a great time. They avergaed 100 pounds of fish each per day, the catch including two large muskelunge. The party included R. B. Allison and wife, R. K. Allison, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Deam, Bluffton, Judge R. K. Erwin and Lawrence Waring. Major Allison and wife stopped at Oden for a few days, but the major will arrive homo Friday morning. MAKING REPAIRS. Contractor Davis is busily on. gaged in tearing out the old brick sidewalk around the Boston Store, and getting things in shape to put down a cement sidewalk the entire north and east sides of the building. This, when completed, will add materially to the appearance of that corner.

TEAM STOLEN J. A. Bowers Looser SSOO Pair Taken from His Farm East of Town Last Night—sloo Reward Offered. A horse stealing epidemic seems to have struck this section of country again. List night a team of horses were stolen from the barn on John S. Bowers farm, three miles east of town. The team was a valuable one, having recently been purchased by Mr. Bowers, who paid S4OO for them, and would not have sold them for SSOO. The description is as follows: A three-year-old light bay, was being doctored tor sweaney. A four-year-old dark bay, with star in forehead and puff on hind leg, collar mark 'onio., siivuid ~ Th- theft was j discovered early this mornfng by i Adolph Huffman who lives on the farm, and was at once reported to . Sheriff Butler. From the tracks it is believed that the horses were I taken east probably into Paulding 1 county, Ohio, Mr. Bowers offers a reward of fifty dollars for the return of the horses and fifty dollars for conviction of the theif. OLD CITIZEN Jacob Dull, a Wren Pioneer, Died at Age of Eighty seven. Jacob Dull, who resided two and one-half miles north of Willshire, died yesterday morning at 2:15 o’clock. He was eighty-seven years old the first day of May last, and was born in Licking county. Mr Dull had been in feeble health for several years and hovered between life and death for several months. He came to Van Wert county when he was eighteen years of age, and for a period of sixty-nine years he lived on the farm on which he was living at the time of his death. His aged companion and wife survives him, «s do four sons and one daughter, 8. R , A. W. and U. S. Dull, of Wren 8. L. Dull, of Gladwin, Mich., and Mrs. Belle Spahr, of Wren. The funeral will be held Wednesday afternoon, at two o’clock* at the LT. B. church, in Wren. The services being conducted by the Rev. Alice Sipe of Portland, Ind. Mr. Dull was a Christian gentleman and one who held the confidence, respect and esteemof all who knew him.—Van Wert Times. BURIED ALIVE George Zimmerman Loser in a Peeular Manner. A peculiar accident occurred Saturday at George Ziimmerman's farm just east of town, and as a result he is loser about forty dollars’ worth of live stock. A crowd of men were at work threshing, when a big fine looking, fancy-bred steer wandered up to the straw stuck. Just at this instant the stack toppled over, burying the steer beneath the straw. No one saw the uooideit, but at feed time the steer was missed and n search instituted proved unavailing, and George supposed the animal had had been stolen. Yesterday the Peterson boys were putting up straw on the farm, when Frank complained of an awful stench. He began a search, which soon revealed the decomposed body of the steer.

SOME FIGURES Statistics Show that Indiana has a Divorce for Seven Marriages. One divorce to seven marriages is the approximate ratio of Indiana duing the last year, as shown by figures in the office of the State Statistician B. F. Johnson. Owen county heads the list for unpleasant connubial relations with one divorce for every two marriages. Franklin county shows the most settled state of domestic affairs with one divorce to thirty-one manages cetificates. In the majority of oases proceedings were instituted on account of abandonment and cruel treatment more than 200. of the 3,762 in the state being granted for these causes. Drunkenness was the alleged cause of 344 seperations, and twenty-nine were due to criminal conviction. Husbands were the applicants in two of the cases filed on account of drunkenness. Another startling piece of information which is disclosed by the report is that Clark county no longer heads the list for many marriages. This county for u long time was the mecca for eloping couples, according to the increase shown, Clarke county now holds the banner in this line LAST SLEEP Joe Jefferson of Rip Van Winkle Fame Is Dying. Buzzard’s Bay, August 17.—Joseph Jefferson, the veteran and beloved actor, the dean of the s tage, is dying. His family and friends were summoned to his liedside today. He has made a valiant fight for life. He has been conscious and cheerful and has directed the minstration of those about his bed. But the end is near, and the age of the genial paient tells against him. His mind is clear pain has left him. The aged patient greeted his old friend, Dr. Kiney. with a bright smile, and said: “Well Rip is nearly ready for his long sleep without earthly waking.” Grover; Cleveland, for years the chum of Joe Jefferson, has been called and came by special train. Mr. Cleveland sent by wire a cheering message, which brought the faintest flicker of a smile to the face of th. dying actor when it was read to him. GRANT FRANCHISE Geneva fraction Company Get Privileges at Marion. Marion, Ind., August 17.—At the council m eting last nght the Geneva Traction company was given a forty-nine year franohisj to enter Marion from the east, and a motion to put the company under $2,500 bond to carry out the provisions of the contract was voted down. The company was not put under bond. No time for operations and no time for running cars are to lie found stated in the franchise given to the General Traction company. ' This company proposes to enter Marion from the east as soon as it ' is possible to complete the neoes- 1 sarv construction. At a former 1 meeting of the council the franchise 1 of the Geneva company was voted 1 down, and it was given out that ’ Marion would not lie ask. 1 k; con- * aider further the proposed line ' from Ohio. But a change name ’ over the spirit of things . and the ' council was unanimous last night ’ in allowing the now comp my the ’ privileges asked. The Company’s ! franchise embodies the ideas of t the c>u noil. The now line proposes ’ to build from the east throegh 1 Haitlord City, Upland and Gas City into Marion. The promoters I speak confidently of the futnro of the proposed road. The Aleneva line will give Marion an eastern outlet, and is much to be desired on this account, according to the general belief.

NUM BEK

COUNCIL SESSION I Last Meeting of Old Administration Routine Business Attended to—Bills Allowed—Sewers and Sidewalks Ordered. The regular session of the city council was held last evening. Mayor Coffee presiding, and every member present. This was the last . regular meeting of the p resent city administration. At the next session J the first Tuesday in September Mayor Coffee. Treasurer Arohibokl will have begun on their new term, while Jack McFeeley as clerk and Ed Green as marshal will have assumed their duties. At last evening's session Clerk Hower opened the services by reading the minutes of July 19. August 2 and 6, which were approved. The city engineer was ordered to establish sidewalk grades on First street. The request for a water hydrant at the J. W. Place factory was referred to the water works committee. The city engineer was ordered to prepare plans for a sidewalk on Second street from Monroe street to Patterson’s mill. The sewer committee reported favorably on the petition of D. 11. Weikle and other for a sewer, and the city engineer was ordered to prepare plans and specificatioflß for same. The petition of J. C- Ho "’er ttn d others was rejected bec ,,iUse it was not in accordance with the sidewalk ordinance. The electric light committee report-* ed that they had settled with the C. & E. railroad company for $l5O for all previous light services, the company agreeing to pay full assessment for lights from July 1, 1904. The following bills were allowed: Mike Gaffer $900; A. M. Baxter $1 ; W. H. Nachtrieb, goods. $3.75; C-& E., freight. $61.57; Clover Leaf, freight. $59.50; John Thomas, labor, $96.86; City Trucking Co. labor. $9.51 8. J. Lehman, goods, $1.75; John Coffee, pay roll. $48.45; \V. Burkhead. labor. $3.15; Frank Bell, labor. $14.52; T. R. Moore, gasoline. $2.40; Holthouse, Callow & Co., goods. $9.80; C. & E. railroad, freight. $118.18; W. E. Fulk, salary, $75; James Coverdale, salary. s2l; A P. Beatty, salary, $31.70. INDIANA DAY September I, to be Hoosier's Day at St. Louis. Governor Durbin has narn d September Ist to be celebrated as Indiana day at the world’s fair, and the management and state commissioners are planning for a gala event. Indiana’s rank in the display of exhibits is among the first, and it is with pride that those in charge are looking forward and perfecting their plans that Indiana day may be rightfuly regarded as one of the notable occasions in the annals of the fair. A processional march from the Administration building to the Indiana state building will be a spectacular feature. Governor Durbin, accompanied by his staff, in uniform and mounted, will lead. The state commissioners and members of the fair management will follow in carriages, after which will uome the Hoosier enthusiasts. Three bands, the Indianapolis band the, Soldiers’ Home bard, and the Boys’ band of Marion, have been engaged for the occasion. A reception will be tendered the guests at the state building, for which extensive preparations have been necessary. Other notables will be present, among whom are Senators Fairbanks and Beveri Ige, both of whom will appear on the program.