Daily Democrat, Volume 2, Number 285, Decatur, Adams County, 12 December 1904 — Page 1

VOLUME II

MACHINERY IS ORDERED Dav Current Promised Within Two Weeks

WORK BEGINS TUESDAY • “ — Deal Completed-Contract Signed and Forwarded Special Session of City Council Held Saturday Night to Conclude the Details. Mayor Coffee made the positive statement this morning that Decatur would he enjoying a day electric current by January first, and possibly by Christmas day. The city council held a special session Saturday evening, when the finan cial committee reported that all ar rangements for the cash had been . made. The council by a unanimous vote, adopted a resolution, authorizing the purchasing committee to sign the contract and order, which was dine, and the same was forwarded, together with the first payment of *1,450. The machinery comes from Lorain, Ohio, and was owned by Henry Johnson, of Buffa 10, with whom the deal was made. The outfit includes a modern dynamo and a ?tO horse po.er engine both as good as new. according to the report of the committee from this city, who examined them. Yesterday a telegram was sent ordering the specifications for the en gine foundation, which should arrive today. Work of construction will then begin tomorrow and will be rushed to completion within two weeks if possible. City Electrician Mylott says that barring accidents the new plant should be running by Christmas day. The day service is assured and business men may order their wiring at once. The day current will pay beyond a question, as there his been a great demand tor this service for a vear past. The mayor and council have done everything in their power to arrange for same and their efforts have finally been crowned with success.

FAREWELL SERMON ■* Rev. Schmitt Called to Illinois Has Served St- Emanuel Church in Union Township for Nineteen Years. After laboring nineteen years in this community, Rev. William Sohmitt, jiastor of St. Emanuel’s Lutheran church in Union township, known as the Blakey church has resigned and has accepted a call as pastor of the church at| A1 ham bra, Madison county, Illinois. He will deliver his farewell sermon on New Year's day and will leave immediately for his new field of labor He is very popular in this county and the best wishes of his church and the community will follow him. The members of St. Emanuel’s will meet at the chut oh Sunday afternoon to vote on the candidates to succeed Rev. Schmitt, and the call to the minister chosen will be forwarded at once. Rev. Schmitt is a polished, educated minister, and a thorough gentleman, and we predict for him a prosperous future at Alhambra

The Daily Democrat.

PICKED UP Marshal Green Makes Four Arrests Yesterday. John Mclntger, Thomas Mack, Henry Mett, Peter Stone and Samuel Mott, all "Weary Willies,'' who were arrested yesterday afternoon by Marshal Green, and Deputy Sheriff Butler on a charge of vagrancy and being public nuisances were arraigned this morning before Mayor Coffee to answer to the above charges each and every one pleading guilty and being assessed five dollars and costs in each case being unable to pay they were returned to the county bastile where they will board out fourteen days. It is the intention of the Marshal to at once put these men to work on the streets and make them earn their board.

LOST DRAFT Tom Miller’s House Robbed A Fifty Dollar Draft Belonging to Miss Maude Comer Was Stolen. Some time during the day last Thursday or Saturday evening thieves entered the home of Tom Miller, the Clover Leaf agent, who lives on Fornax street, and stole a draft amounting to SSO. Mr Miller is absolutely sure that it was within the above named time that he i was robbed, as these were the only hours that there was no one in the house. The draft was missed Sunday morning by Miss Maud Comer who resides with Mr. and Mrs. Miller, and to whom the stolen property belonged. She noticed the fact that her pocketbook was opened and the fifty-dollar draft missing, it being at the time in a bureau drawer, where she had placed it Thursday morning, after receiving it from her home at Marion. All members of the family are at a loss and can offer no clew to the mystery, but all are inclined to think that the robbery was com miffed by some one who was acquainted with the Miller home. All surrounding hanks have been notified to stop payment on the draft, and whoever stole the draft will have some trouble in realizing the money for it. AN APPOINTMENT Dr. Coveroale Secures Place on Local Pension Board. Dr. J. 8. Coverdale has been ap pointed a member of the Pension Board for this county, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Dr. A. G. Holloway. His appointment was made Saturday upon recommendation of Congressman Cromer of this district. Dr. Coverdale is a well known physician, competent and well qualified to attend to the duties of his now office. He will qualify at once and take up his official robe at this month’s mooting of the board.

DECATUR, INDIANA. MONDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 12, 1904.

SOME NEW LAWS Legislation Expected on Subjects of Marriage and Divorce. i There will undoubtedly be some legislation on the subject of divorce ground out at the next meeting of the legislature, and the social reformers are now preparing their plans and specifications for what they would like to see embodied in the law. One of the prime requirements of the new law will be longer residence in the county where the divorce suit is brought. Six months is required now, and it has been suggested that this should be increased to three years. Further proposed provisions are that all testimony must be corroborated, unsupported eveidence of either of the parties not being regarded as competent. If a divorce is granted, it shall be limited for a period, be fore absolute separation is permitted. Absolute divorce shall only be granted after the expiration of the period of limitation. The new bill will provide that more time shall elapse between the filing of a divorce suit and its hearing. Under the present law, it is argued, the time of hearing depends largely upon the influence of the parties to the suit. The advocates of the divorce reform believe that if the . hearing is delayed there may be; reconciliations between many of I the applicants for separation. | Where the commission of a crime is made sufficient cause for divorce it should be sufficient cause for the punishment of the wrongdoer, according, to the advocates of the new law. At present, if a woman | gets a divorce from her husband for ' assault and battery, there are no j further proceedings against the man lifter the separation. The reformers think that the prosecutors should be compelled to proceed against him for the violaion of the State law. The guilty party should not be permitted to remarry as long as the c tuse f>r which divorce was granted exists. This refers to habitual drunkards. In connection with this divorce law, a reform measure is also to be drawn which will throw similai restriction around marriage. Believing that the requirements are too loose, because almost anyone who has #2.50 can get a license to marry, the commission thinks that those intending to marry should be compelled to publish their intention to apply for a license, for a definite period of ten days or more. In this way, it is thought that secret marriages would be impossible. There is some sentiment in favor of prohibiting the issuing of licenses to paupers, feeble-minded. habitual drunkards, consumptives, and persons having any hereditary disease. FUNERAL HELD Mrs. Sarah Holmes, a Pioneer of this State, Laid to Rest. The funeral of Mrs. Sarah Holmes, who died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. L. S. Kapp, at Bluffton, took place from the residence of her son, L. G. Holmes on cast High street Sitnrd iv morning at ten o'clock. Many friends were present to pay their last tribute to the one whom they had known for many years. Many beautiful fl iral designs were given by friends. The Elks and K. of P. each gave a boquet of roses and carnations. Among those from out of the city who attended the funeral was, William Holmes and wife of Muncie, J. D. Halo, Mrs. Sadie Gregg and Mrs. W. J. Craig, of Decatur There was a short and impressive service conducted by the Rev. C. E. Line after which the remains accompanied by n large procession ! were removed to Gre *n Park cemetery where the interment took place.—Portland Commercial Re * view

A GREAT LINE Fort Wayne News Gives a Write Up Has Awakened lo the Fact That Decatur and Fort Wayne Are to be Connected by Trolley Line.

The Fort Wayne News of Satur- ' day evening contained a several column article of the Fort Wayne & ’ Springfield Traction line, it being ’ the first acknowledgement from 1 that city that the line i.s’actually to ' be constructed. The paper showed 1 a plat of the proposed line and a picture of the power house now under construction here. The article said in part: "There is a general impression about this city that somewhere >.n the south side a new interurban road grade has been finished, but where it leads to, who is building the road and what communities it opens up to direct connection with Fort Wayne are questions unanswered unit! now. The I News is prepared in this issue to j give facts of sterling interest and 1 value to this city, a trip having! I been made to Decatur yesterday by I representatives of the The News. .There have been a number of brief references to the actual work of construction in the News heretofore, but the full story is told for the first time today. The road is j being built by the Fort Wayne & ] I Springfield Railway company. It j was originally intended’ to' reach ' j Springfield, Ohio, hut owing to an | Ohio system reaching out into ter j ritory first, it is now to terminate at Celina. Ohio, where it will make i connections with that growing sys-1 tern of electric traction which ■ reaches south as far as Cincinnati, I and will touch Columbus and Toledo, and a score of important Ohio cities and hundreds of towns and villages. Celina is, therefore, the intended Ohio terminus, but the first link in this system is being built between Fort Wayne and Decatur, twenty miles south. When this branch is completed, the projectors intend to continue south to Portland, where connections east and west will be made with other systems, it is entirely probable that within five years passengers will be entering interurban sleeping oars at Fort Wayne and waking up ,in Cincinnati the next morning. Such a project actually arouses in | terest in the builders of this impor tant system—opening as it does new fields for Fort Wayne markets and such an accessibility to the city for near by towns that hundreds will run in and out during a day because travel will be easy, convenient and cheap. The projectors are W. H. Fledderjohann, of New j Knoxville, Ohio; Edwin Fledderjohann, of Beaverdam, these being ! brothers; B. A Fleddeijohann, j their uncle, of New Knoxville; I John H. Koenig, of St. Mary's Ohio; Charles Dirkson, of Decatur; Willis Armstrong, of St. Mary s and Chris Vogt, of Decatur. The road is expected to ha ve the cars in ojieration by June 1 of next year. The motors for the oars have been built by the Westinghouse company. Passengers will enter the cars at the Fort Wayne court house and may leave them at the Decatur court house, traversing the city of Decatur on Second street, a broad, straight thoroughfare on which the majority of the important business houses are situated. The road will make the people of the two cities better acquainted. '* It is stated on good authority that Charles Hammond is slated for the position of train master of the Clover Leaf for the section lietween Toledo and Frankfort. Mr. Ham mond has served for a number of years as conductor and has many friends in the service.

SHORT SESSION The Commissioners Held a Brief Session. The commissionres were in session a short time this morning, and gave the stationery contract to W. B. Burford, he being the only bidder. Supplies for the county asylum will be furnished for the next three months by the Schafer Hardware company, Char les Voglewede, Niblick & company and J. D. Hale. Bonds were issued on the Booth and Holthouse ditches, and a telephone was ordered for the auditor's office. The latter has become a necessity from the fact, that so many people have business there by telephone, and under the present arrangements that official is compelled to make duck tracks to the clerks' office. A FAIR To Take Place at M. E. Church Parlors Tne Queen Esther Band Will Give a Church Fair Thursday and Fridav.

Thursday evening of this week | the Queen Esther band of the Methi odist church expect to open up their I annual fair in the Sunday school I I room, in a blaze of glory. This i society have made extraordinary 1 • j efforts this year to have this fair to ' eclipse all former events, and they I think they have been successful. 1 ! A fine program has been made out, ■ j and one that will entertain anyone. • Numerous articles will be on dis- ’ j play, tlie sale of which will ooin- ’ I mence on Thursday evening, from 3 1 which this society expects to realize B a fair sum, which goes for a good ! cause. On Thursday evening a fine] ■ supper will be served for the small I 1 sum of twenty-five cents, including • the following menu: Chicken and Gravy I Mashed Potatoes r ' Macaroni and Cheese Escallop l -d Oysters Coffee - j Bread and Butter I' Pickles ■ I Peaches and Cuke Supper is to be served only between the hours of five and seven v o'clock, and on Friday evening the ’ society will serve a waffle supper. The Sunday school room has been H beautifully arranged decorated for the occasion, and the booths are now under construction, in which e the wares will be displayed. This v event will no doubt attract a big crowd, us it will afford everyone s some opportunity to buy Christmas i. presents. Your donation will go : for the benefit of sweet charity. j A WRECK e n The Grand Rapids and Clover Leaf Come B Tojelher. A wreck on the Clover Leaf and 3 Grand Rapids railroads occurred r this morning about two o'clock a‘ f the transfer house, used by the Grand Rapids running into a Clover 3 Leaf train that was holding the g crossing. The Grand Rapids' engi--1 near claimed that he did not see the 9 tbit cat that blocked the track and thought the way was open. The Clover Loaf had lieen holding the y crossing longer than usual time, r owing to the fact that the engine e would not work, so that they could n neither pull up or back away. The damage, however, was slight, only if two cars being wrecked and pas y senger traffic stopped for nearly four hours

NUMBER 285

COLLINS’ TRIAL Sensational Case Began This Morning Defendant is Charged With Causing Death of Miss Smitley—Empannelling jury Consumes Time. Luther Collins is on trial in the Adams circuit court, the case having begun before Judge John M Smith, of Portland, at nine o’clock this morning. The case is the most sensational and important criminal i ease heard here since the famous Osborn murder case just one year ' ago. Collins is charged with having caused the death of his sister inlaw Malissa Smitley, a well known young lady of Jefferson township, and the daughter of John Smitley. Miss Smitley died mysteriously Februuary Ist last, after an illness of a few days. The affair became public when Coroner C. H. Schneck returned his verdict, which set forth the fact that the young lady had died as the result of a criminal operation, and charged Collins with 1 the crime. The April term grand jury investigated the affair and returned an indictment against Collins. He was immediately arrested and after u few days in jail was released on #I,OOO bail. Since that

time he has had considerable trouble with bis bond and has filed same four different times, his bondsmen asking for release. The indictment is in five counts, the first alleging that Collins willfully and feloniously prescribed and administered drugs to Miss Smitley with intent to procure a criminal result and causing the death of the victim. The second count alleges that instruments were used. The three other counts are. similar. The case promises to tie a hard fought contest and will continue probably during the greater part of this I week. Prosecutor .John C. Moran land D. E. Smith represent the state j and L. C. Devoss and C. J. Lutz the defendant. If Collins is found guilty the punishment will lea penitentiary sentence *f from two to fourteen years. Collins is a handsome man of thirty-two years of ago. Fir a year or more he has been operating a hotel at Chattanooga, Ohio. About thirty wit nesses have been subpoenaed to testily in the case. The empanelling of a jury ,e ptired several hours, and it was 2:15 this after noon when the following men were sworn to try the case: Louis Worthman, Sam Butler, John Helm, Cornelius Kiting, Joseph . Graber, Shelby Vance. Isaac Booher, J. R. Cline, William i Young, James Hoagland. Emanuel Lehman and Fred Thieme. Fifteen i minutes’ recess was then granted i while attorneys for the defendant , prepared a motion to stiperate the witnesses. HAND AMPUTATED Samuel Debolt Condition Still Serious—A Corn Shredder Accident. Samuel Debolt, who lost a hand in a corn shredder while working ' on the John Sheets’ farm, is still in a serious condition. The hand was amputated at the wrist by Dr. Morgan, of Dixon Mr Debolt is a well known citizen ot Union i township, and his friends hope he will soon recover, as tne misfortune will be a severe one as it is. i It is said that Governor Durbin is making inquiry into the John W , Terrell case at Bluffton, which n f taken as an indication that the sub ject of it pardon is to have somt y considerstion at the hands ot th* chief executive.