Daily Democrat, Volume 2, Number 246, Decatur, Adams County, 26 October 1904 — Page 1

VOLUME II

LEFT HOME Jacob Marsh Bids Family Good-Bye Was Member of Town Board—Formerly Lived Here—Marion Paper Publishes Sensational Article. Bidding his family good bye and telling his wife and son he was going away to stay, Jacob Marsh, u well known citizen of Van Buren, left that town Thursday on an eastbound Clover Leaf train. It is said that Mr. Marsh has left Van Buren because of domestic troubles He is said to have quarreled with his family before leaving. He packed his clothes and took them with him when he left Thursday. The action of Mr. Marsh has caused a small-sized sensation at Van Buren, where he is generally known. For several years he has been a traveling salesman for a dry goods firm of Akron, Ohio. He has resided in Van Buren for many years and has always taken an active part in the upbuilding of the town. At the time of his leaving he was a member of the town board of Van Buren. A meeting of the town board was held last evening. Mr. Marsh has not yet tendered his resignaton from the board, but he is expected to do so within a few days. No vacancy will he declared until he resigns. It is understood that Mr. Marsh plans to make Maron his headquarters in the future. He told a number of triends before leaving Van Buren that he had a quarrel with his wife and that he would not return to that town.— Marion Leader. Mr. Marsh lived here many years and has many relatives and acquaintances city and county.

THE /ETNA This Old Line Life Insurance Company and Its Record. We want to call special attention to the advertisement in another column in relation to the old Aetna Life Insurance Co., of Hartford, Conn. We believe this sterling old company is giving results not furnished by any other institution, in that where profits have been allowed to accumulate, all 20 payment contracts are now becoming paid up in 14 years. These usually favorable results are brought about, as wo understand it, by careful mangement of the business Great cure is made in inverting the funds by the company, as it has more than 130,000,000 loaned upon farm mortgages, about <*>,ooo,ooo of which are loaned to the farmers of Indiana. It has many city, county, township, schools bonds, in fact, there is probably not a good town ship in the state of Indiana in which the Aetna has not either a farm loan, school, city, town bond or county bond of the county. Absolute security of investments is always taken into consideration •John Schurger has represented the old Aetna in this locality for a great many years, but he is now being asisted by L. M- MoEwin, who has had much eperienoe in the life insurance business in larger cities. BOUGHT PROPERTY. H. Fred Bohnke purchased today of Fred Bentz twenty acres of the finest land in Union tonship. Mr. Bohnke is one of Adams county's best farmers, and of late has been dealing extensively in real estate.

The Daily I democrat.

THE LIMIT Richmond Representative Will Ask Severe Penalty for Horse Stealing. Martin W. Veneer, of Rchmond, is to father a bill which will he introduced in the next legislature making the crimes of horse stealing in Indiana punishable with life imprisonment. The measure, said Mr. oncer, will be drawn more especially in the interest cf farmers and liverymen. The plan is to make the bill one for a law, the prototype of the new criminal statute now effective in Ohio and which is modeled after western laws. The Ohio law covers burglary and housebreaking where the offender enters a residence or other building inhabited at night for the purpose of stealing. The penalty of life impiisonment is affixed, because, it is argued a burglar enters with the intention of sacrificing, if necessary, human life, to secure his booty. Already there have been a number of convictions under the new law which is admittedly constitutional. A provision is in the law, however, making it possible for a jury to recommend clemency to an offender which makes lawful the imposition of a heavy fine and ten years’ imprisonment sentence by the presiding judge. It is believed that such a law would tend to intimidate if nothing more, the many horse thieves who have been operating so extensively in Eastern Indiana. ANNUAL REPORT Erie Railway Issues Statement of Past Year's Business.

The annual report of the directors ot the Erie railroad Company has just been issued in book form for the convenience of the bondholders and stockholders. It is a book of fifty-four pages. The company now operates 2,150 miles of its own track and controls, hut does not operate, 164.54 miles, making a total of 2,314.76 miles of track. The earnings of the year showed a decrease of $629.,250. The total ' earnings for the railroad were 113,005,213.30; from other opera tions .$2,195,949.89. The expendiI tures were $32,581,838.04, an increase of $2.66,0579.59 over 1903 The ratio of exjienses to earnings was 72.08 per cent, an increase of 6.7 s per cent. The company has 1,027 cars for its passenger trains, sixty-two more than it had last I year; it has 53,480 freight oars, an increase of 267; and owns 542 boats, an increase of one. During the year 19 new industries were located along the company's tracks, and twenty-six placed so that they could be reached by paying switching charges to other companies. During the year, 20,395,440 tons of freight were transp irtod, a de crease of over a million tons, or j 5.72 per cent. OPERATED ON Mrs. Charles Mumma Will Probably Recover, Say Physicians. Mrs. Charles Mumma, who was taken to Fort Wayne, yesterday afternoon, was operated upon last night by Dr. Miles Porter, assisted by Dr. Bates, of Fort Wayne, and Dr. Thomas of this city. A tumorous growth, weighing twelve pounds, was removed. Mrs. Mumma stood the operation nicely, and the attending physicians believe she will recover, though of course the danger will not be over for sev. eral days. She has been sick about two weeks and it was first belived that she was suffering with appendoitis.

BECATUK, INDIANA, WEDNESDAY EVENING, OCTOBEB 26, IDOL

KIDNAPPED Earl Adams Attended Preble Meeting Democratic Pole Raising Was a Big Success—Goood Crowd was Present.

The celebration at Preble last night was a complete success. The crowd was large, the spirit enthusiastic, the speeches good and the pole raising occurred without a hitch. If you don’t believe these statements ask Hon. Earl B. Adams, republican nominee for prosecuting attorney of this district. Earl was passing along the street just as the boys were preparing to start to the meeting from this city. He said something about ’’having an opinion of anyone who would attend such an affair,” when he was promptly "kidnapped,” hustled into one of the cabs and taken along. He begged in piteous tones for his | release, even promising to vote for his opponent, J. C. Moran, and agreeing to walk back to town, a distance of several miles, if they would release him, but his captors were unrelenting. After a few minutes at Preble, however, he became reconciled and even helped to cheer the speakers, so we are reliably informed. Three hack loads of people from Decatur attended the meeting. The speakers for the occasion were John C. Moran and D E. Smith and the issues were well presented. The Decatur Glee club sang several selections and made their usual hit. The hickory pole was a “dandy,” being sixtyfive feet high and supporting a Parker and Davis banner that reached across the street.- The event was a sure enough a success. OF INTEREST Court News From Allen County—Circuit and Justice. From the court items in today’s Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette we glean the following news of interest: Judge Erwin of Decatur, assumed jurisdiction yesterday in the case of Albert Ring vs J. W. Bell, on change of venue from Judge O'Rourke. The bond of Fred House, held for involuntary mangslaughter in connection with the death of Jacob Gresley, of Monroeville, was yesterday fixed by Justice Skelton at 17,000. Justice Skelton in looking over his paper yesterday found that a warrant was issued on .July 27 for the arrest of M. E. Haffn< r. who ■ shot his wife and himself on Saturday. The warrant called for the arrest of "William H.” Haffner and it was given to the sheriff to serve. At that time Haffner was at his mother’s home at Bucyrus Ohio. The affidavit was tiled by John J. Ertje and charged attempt to beat a hoard bill of ♦*.». The warrant was never served. IS IMPROVED Victim of Daniel TulW Able to leave the Hospital. Earl Peckham, the Monroeville boy who was shot on a Pennsylvania train some weeks ago by Daniel Tuigg, was able to leave Hope hospital in Fort Wayne, last night, for his home. Tuigg, his assailant, will be taken to Warsaw within a few days for trial on the charge 6f assault with intent to kill.

SCHOOL WORK A Few Items From the State Superintendent’s Office. ' The most is that which will in£the most concrete way adjust the child to the life he is to live.” This quotation is taken from the state course of study, just issued by the State Department of Public Instruction. It is a fact that school jwork is often too foreign to life. It completely overlooks the everyday experiences of the child which ought to be utilizad in the process of education. The work in language, arithmetic, geography and all the rest should very largely be based on the daily exparienoes of the child. So trained , life’ problems will not surprise him. All the subjects taught must be a means of intrepretiug life. The school should be like a busy workshop, where the hum of industry is the standard of order, and where each pupil respects the rights of every other pupil. The school should teach the nobility of honest toil. But the greatest thing the school could do for the boys and girls and for the community would be to build into them the habit of doing good work. The world is full of slip-shod mechanics and professional men who slight their work. The j children need to be taught that any ! task worth doing is worth doing i well; that success lies in the here and now and not in the far off; in ’ the little duties of today instead of | the big things one is going to do I tomorrow.

IN SESSION Literary Women of Indiana Meet Fifteenth Annual Convention Beint Held it Fort Wayne—Decatur Delegates Present. The fifteenth annual convention of the [literary clubs of Indiana, known as the Indiana Union of L iterary clubs, is here. The club women, bright, intelligent, well dressed and, in many cases, handsome women. are also here—one hundred at yesterday's afternoon's enrollment. The visiting chib men are not so numerous, but of those who have come it cun not be said they are eclipsed in any way by their associates in club work. Judging from the peaceful atmosphere that enveloped both afternoon and evening sessions of the opening day, there will be none of the friction or work at cross purjioses that has distinguished similar conventions recently held in a sister state, and even nearer home, interest in the work of the union seems to be deep seated, and judging from the alert manner and careful attention to the addresses of last evening, the club women and the club men of Indiana are attending the convention for definite purposes. One of these was expressed by Mrs. F. L. Saylor, cl Elwood, who in her response to the address of welcome, said that though tin* courtesies of the Fort Wayne clubs had begun many’ weeks ago the members of the I. U. L. (’. had come here seeking inspiration, encouragement, enthusiasm, and asking for the sympathy of the city's literary and musical clubs.— Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette. Representatives from the various Decatur reading clubs are attending the meetings, Mrs. D. D. Heller the Shakespeare club and Mrs. W. A. Lower the Historical club.

HAS RESIGNED Miss Zerkle Leaves Employ of Traction Co. Miss Steiniemann, of Minster, Has Arrived and Will Serve as Stenographer. Miss Justina Steiniemann, of Minster, Ohio, has arrived in our city and is at present busily engaged in getting familiar with the work at the interurban office, at which place she has accepted a position, owing to the fact that MisCarrie Zerkle has tendered her re signation, wihoh takes effect upon Tuesday, .November Ist. Miss Zerkle has been in the employ of the Fort Wayne & Springfield Interurban company for nearly a year at this place, acting in the capacity of stenographer ami doing general office work., and when she leaves next week she will return to her home at New Paris, Ohio, where she will reside with her parents. All during her stay here Miss Zvrkle has made numerous friends who are sorry to see her leave. Miss Steiniemann who takes her place is well qualified for the position, being a graduate of one of the leading business colleges of Ohio, and being an expert in her line, and she will no doubt make numerous fiiends here.

THE HOG SALE J. 0. Arranging For His Annual Auction. John D. Nidlinger is advertising his big sale of Duroc-Jersey hogs to be held in this city, Tuesday, November Ist, extensively, and a large number of buyers are expectledto be present. The announcement appears in all the western stock journals, the Swine Breeder, Indianapolis, containing a two page advertisement, with three lame pictures of prize winers. Mr. Nidlinger has an inter-state reputation, | his stock having won prizes at all i the big fairs of the country. Fifty : head of hogs will he sold at the sale ' here, going to the high bidders and | everyone of them will he a prize winner. Read the advertisement in another column. ATHLETIC CLASS Prof. Pitts Gave First Lesson Last —Boy: are Pleased. Prof. Pitts opened his Athletic school in the hall over Gus RosonI thal’s clothing store last night, and I about twenty-five members began < the work. The first lesson included instructions in bag punching, boxing, Indian club and dumb bell exercises. The boys are all well pleased with the work and arc already talking of a gymnasium. The class meets Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. FUNERAL SERVICES - Garret Pioneer Business Man, Buried Todav. The funeral services of Garrett Berling, one of the oldest buisness men of Decatur, was held this morning at the St. Marvs Catholic church, conducted by Rev. H. Theo. Wilken. Several business houses wore closed during the hour of services, and many people attended the sad rites. Interment was made in beautiful St. Joseph's cemetery.

NUMBER 21G

A PIONEER Henry Schaffter, of Near Vera Cruz, Dies at Bluffton. Henry Sohuffter died at Bluffton yesterday, of the infirmites of age. He was born in Switzerland May 12, 1818, and was eighty-six years and five months of age at the time of his death. His father was John Shaffer, an expert Swiss watch maker, and who enlisted to fight under Lafayette against the British in the Revolutionary war, but was sent by his country to Spain where he served in the war there. Henry served an apprenticeship as a machinist. in Switzerland and Germany and then came to this country where he settled on a farm near Vera Cruz, where he made a fortune sufficient to enable him to retire and since 1902 he has lived with his daughter at Bluffton. Ha was united in marriage to Marianne Boivin in 1847 and they were the parents of twelve children, grandparents of twenty-one and great grandparents of nine. Six children Ami, John and Charles Schaffter, Mary Gracy, of Missouri; Susan Girardin. of Oregon; and Louise Suhuffter, of Bluffton, survive their father. The funeral will be held in the Reformed church at Vera Cruz Thursday and interment will take place there. COURT NEWS Mrs. Oscar Shaw Granted Divorce Two Cases Dismissed—Mrs. Osborn’s Final Settlement as Executrix Allowed. In the circuit court a divorce was granted the plaintiff in the case of Loretta Shaw vs Oscar Shaw. I Judgment was rendered against the defendant for costs, excepting wit. 5 nesses. Smith and Devoss, which were taxed to plaintiff. , —O'Clara Slump vs Valentine Shirnp, default as to defendant. Rule against prosecutor to answer. The complaint is one for divorce, ——■Q—• Kerr F [Albertson vs W. S. | Hughes, answer filed in five para.. [ graphs Rule to reply, Sylvunus Wood vs William Wood., ruff and others, default s to all defendants, title quieted in plaintiff as against all defendants John Schurger appointed to make deed. —o— Sarah Francis Decker vs Fort Wayne Traction company, damages 15,000, from Allen County, cause dismissed as per written argeement filed. Costs paid. — In the Louis A. Henning assignment case a petition was filed for the examination of Clara A. Henning and Edna Henning, and they will appear in court November 21st. —o—■ State exrel C. & E. Ry Co. vs David Warling etal, from Wells county, dismissed by written agreement, each party paying its own costs. —o— Daniel Sprunger. guardian for i Gilbert and Hilda Stuckey, (lied i his current report which was allowed. , — o— Laura Osborn was discharged as 1 executrix to the estate of her father, ) John Busenbark, her final settlement being allowed. fr