Daily Democrat, Volume 2, Number 297, Decatur, Adams County, 26 December 1904 — Page 1

VOLUME II

FRED RICHARDS IS FREE

Was Paroled From Prison Christmas Eve

IS IN DECATUR Arrived Yesterday to Make Home With Daughter Man Convic'ed of the Murder of Amos Backestoe Twenty Years AgoParoled by Gov. Durbin Fred Richards, sentenced to life imprisonment for the supposed killing of Ainos Bokestoe, arrived here early Sunday morning and remained with his daughter, Mrs. Ellwood Blazer, on South Fifth street until noon today when he went to Monroe to visit- his brother, a few days. He will make his hene with his daughter. He is feeling fairly well and gets about by using a cane. He was interviewed by a representative of the Daily Democrat and said: “1 am glad to get l>ack and I hold no grudge against any one. I believe I owe my release to Henry Colerick and Congressman Robison. I am innocent of the crime -charged against me and have served nearly twenty years for another ma n s crime. My term began March 5, 1885. I worked in the chair factory eight years was a trusty two yeais and for nine years have been head nurse in the hospital. I never had a discredit mark during my term. ” Fred Richards is free. After twenty years in the Micliiagn City penitentiary he was paroled Christmas eve by Governor Durbin A dispatch sent from Indianapolis said: ‘Four life convicts in the state prison at Michigan City walked out of the institution tonight. Ona was pardoned and three paroled. Warden Reid’s instructions were to release them in time for them to reach their former homes Christ mas morning. The mon released were George Fritts, sentenced from Randolph county in 1901 for murder, who was pardoned; Samuel H. Price, sentenced from Lawrence county in 1893 for murder; John Cline, sentenced from Pike county in 1898 for murder, and Frederick Richards, sentenced from Allen county in 1884 for murder.’’ Th’ story of Richards is well known to most of our readers. T wenty years ago Amos Bockestoe, a well known farmer living near litre, was murdered. His homo was broken into during the night by two burglars who ransacked the honse. Bookestoe heard them and raised up in bed; as he did so he was shot through the head, killing him instantly. Richards and a mun num ed Charley Worst were charged with the crime. Richards was tried nt Fort Wayne ami narrowly esoaptul the death penalty. Worst

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was tried here, found guilty, and sentenced for life. He was ■ iroled a few years ago and died soon . "ter of consumption. The men we ’ found guilty on the evidence of u ten-year-old boy who lived with Richards. The lawyers both for the state and defense have always been doubtful as to the guilt of either man. Worst proclaimed his innocence on his death bed, and we believe he suffered unjustly. Immediately after the crime public indignation ran high, and after Richards had been placed in jail a mob was formed to lynch him. He was taken from the jail to tho old fair grounds, a rope placed about his neck, but he declared his innocence so strongly that cooler heads finally controlled the mob and the prisonei was then taken to Fort Wavne where he was Kept until a ken to prison. He was tried twice, the first jury sentencing him to death. John T. France, then prose outing attorney of this district, Henry Colerick, o f Fort Wayne, represented the state, and Rich ards was defended by Judge Morris and Robert Stratton. The trial was before Judge Sinclair, but when a new trial was allowedja change ofven ue was taken and Judge O’Rcurke heard the case, the second trial resulting in a life sentence. Many jieople believe Richards innocent and few believe he really did the shooting, even if he was connected with the affair in any way. Henry Colerick, who assisted in the prosecution said when told of the pardon: “Although 1 helped to prosecute him. I have felt that there is a doubt in the case and sometimes I have thought Fred Richards was imprisoned for another man’s crime. Consequently. I am glad to hear that he has been paroled.” Fred is now 64 years old and broken inhealth. His parole did not cornea as result of efforts of his friends, hut more upon the recommendation of the prison authorities it is said. As an employe in the hospital for many years, the old man showed the greatest devotion to his duty, and the story of his conduct aroused the interest of the members of the Board of Pardons and of Governor Durbin. Charles Worst, who was convicted with Richards, was pardoned by Governor Mount in 1897. Unless they violate their paroles the men will never be retained to pi is in. The boy whose evidence convicted Richards and Werst was named Di vis Smith. He was also arrested, but after turning state’s evidence he was premised lieniency. He was given a short trial here before E. G. Coverdale and acquitted. The murder is now believed to have bee n committed by two strangers who were seen in the neighborhood GOT HILARIOUS And Samutl Brown Paid for His Christmas Celebration. Night Policeman Reynolds arrested a young man last evening named Samuel Brown on a charge of disorderly conduct and celebrating Christmas in too boisterous a manm r. He was lodged in jail until this morning when ho was brought before Mayor Ci-ff o. His urgi-'oent-, however, was so inoonaisfi at that Mayor Coffee decided that ho was entitled to a small fine HO that hereafter he wot: . I know how to behave, and accordingly timid him #1 and Costs, amounting in all to |9.30. Ho stayed the dock et and was igver, his lilierty.

DECATUR, INDIANA, MONDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 29, 1904.

NEW LAWS Township Trustees to Ask Legislature for Changes. At the meeting of the Indiana Trustees' association at Indianapolis Wednesday, the following resolution was adopted: "Resolved, That the township trustees of Indiana assembled, request the state board of education to prepare a course of study for the town and high schools and that the board of education give commissions to such schools as meet the requirements. And further, that the trustees re quest the general assembly to provide for the appointment of an inspector for the township and town schools of the state.” The object of tho resoluti >n is to have the township schools commissioned with a three or four years’ course, which, when completed properly’ will entitle the student to a certificate of graduation equal to that given by the city schools. IS PROSPERING Divid Foster to Manage a Big Interurban Lir. Davis Foster, who is at present looted in Bonesteel, South Dakota, iin the law business, arrived Saturday evening, and is the guest of his sister, Mrs. R. K. Allison. Davis left this city’ last July and finally located in Bonesteel, where he has opened up a'law office and real estate business, which he states he is flourishing and on the boom. Davis i while here is mixing business and pleasure together, and is endeavoring to interest eastern capital in a big interurban railway which is to lie constructed from Omaha, Nebraska, to Freemont, Nebraska, a distance of 36 miles. He stated that this company had a large amount of western capital being there, anil that all they now desired was some eastern capitalist who has had some experience in engineering a concern of this description through and financing the same to completion. It is the intention to commence work on this road in the spring and rush the same through. Davis has with him a general profile of the road which will run through thickly settled country. If the plan carries out, and there is no doubt but that it will, Mr. Foster will be appointed general manager of flie same and will be one of its stockholders. Davis will be in this city for a week or ten days. CLOVER LEAF NOTES Some Facts of Interest for Thoie Interested, Traffic arrangements between the Cl >ver Leaf and the Indianapolis & Northwestern Traction company, appear to be giving satisfactory results The trolly lin n is turning over considerable business to the Clover Leaf at Frankfort. The first of the week a report was our rent that the new winter time card [ on the Clover Leaf would go into effect tomorrow. No notice of any change has been received at the local station. The Clover Leaf has received twenty new cabooses, all of them being of the dinky variety, and all will be used on the west end, and the box car cabooses will be taken off the rod. The Clover Leaf is out with an attractive and original design in the wav of a holiday ,poster. The Clover Leaf paid out <17,500 in wages at Charleston this month LECTURE TO-NIGHT. All non-Catholies are invited to the free lectures to he given by Rev. Valentino, C. I’., ut St. Mary's church. The non-Catholics need not lie accompanied by a Catholi n neither to have received a special invitation. Lectures begin at 7:45 p. m., standard time. Rev. H. Theo, Wilken.

A GREAT DAY Christmas Was Appropriately Observed Celebrated in the Various Churches — Many tiappv Home Parties. Chrismas day has pissed into ■ history again, and the records will | show that- the sacred holiday of 1904 was one of the happiest ever known in Decatur. Every ohurjh in the city celebrated the event in appropriate ways. In nearly all, entertainments with Christinas treesand Santa Claus were given Saturday evening, and the occasion was the source of great delight for the children. Yesterday the services j were most sacred, the sermons coni vneing and the attendance large. Through the windows of many beautiful homes could be seen Xmas trees beautifully lighted and trimmed and laden with appropriate and nandsome presents for every one from the baby to grandparents. Many family dinners are reported, | ana it would require many columns .to give an account of each. Suffice it to say that each was an occasion that will be brightly remembered Iby young and old, in the years |to come. The postoffioe and banks | are observing the holiday today. NEW BULLETIN State Charity Boord Issues Notes Concerning County Jails. The state board of chartities has just completed a bulletin which will be full of interest to sheriffs and county commissioners throughout the state'‘lt will be a hand book on the best ideas on the management of jails,” says Secretary Butler, “containing details of the most approved methods of construction, illustrations of the best types of jails and concise particulars as to the laws of Indiana in reference to the management of jails and handling of criminals." Mr. Butler is pleased with the feeling prevailing among the county commissioners of the state recently met at Indian apolis. “Many of them have completely changed their views on this jail matter, ” he said, “and nearly all the new commissioners elected are apparently fully alive to the necessity of jail reform.” The bulletin will be forwarded to all sheriffs and county commissioners, as well as to many of the judges. DENIES IT Burt Mangold Still in the Matrimonial Market. The report that has been circulating about our city for the past several days to the effect that Burt! Mangold, a Decatur boy, who is i t tending school at Indianapolis, was married, is unfounded, and not ' true. This statement was made by Burt to a representative of this paper last evening. Burt says ho is unable to account for this report, which was as much of a surprise to him as to tho score of people who have been offering him congratulations, to which ho is not entitled Burt says that ho is not in any manner engaged < r tied up, and desires to so epxross himself to all the poo pie of this city, and stated that when he was married every one would be in a p isition t > learn J»ho true state of affairs without jump ing at conclusions.

farmers’ institute Program Arranged for Berne Session January 7th. j The several vice presidents or program committee c f the Adams County Farmers’ institute met in the front room of the People’s State bank Thursday afternoon to prepare a program for the next session of the institute which will take place at the school house here in town on Saturday, January 7. 1905. The following members were present: H. O. Grove, George H. Martz, I. N. Teeter, George W. Brewster, Martin L. Smith, D. C. Sprunger, Joseph E Baily and W. W. Clymer. They’arranged the following program: Forenoon season, 9 a in. Music— Instrumental, W. IE. Teeter. Invocation—Rov. J. W. I Kliewer. Vocal Music—A Farm I Song. Clover—Successful Methods of Clover Culture, M. A. Hart, of Pleasant Mills, Ind. General discussion. Cheese Making, D. C. Sprunger. Discussion. Music—Vocal, (). P. Marsh and daughters. # Dialogue, pupils of District No. 2, Wabash township. Afternoon session, I p. in. Music—Orchestra, Prof. Ryan and others. Teaching Agriculture in Rural Schools, C.E . Brenner. Discussion. Recitation, Frances Myers. Live Stock Session—The Care and Management of Hogs for the Greatest Profit, Hart. General discus- I sion. Music. W. E Teeter. Recitation, Lizzie Beitler. How to Man-1 age the Farm to Realize the Greatest Profit, Mr. Geo. H. Martz will op a n the discussion. Music, Orchestra.—Berne News. COURT NEWS Insurance Case Heard—Verdict Returned for Plaintiff. Daniel W. Myers and otheis vs Joseph M. Rice and others, suit to foreclose street assessment lien, demand SSOO. Appearance by Hooper & Lenhart for defendants. Change of judge was granted, Judge Erwin being disqualified, by resaon of having been a former attorney in the case. Hon. Eiward O'Rourke appointed to hear cause. —o— Christian Amaoher, expirte, petition for ditch, set for trail January 9th. —o— Ohio Farmeis’ Insurance Co., vs James Wagnei, suit on account was tried by jury. The evidence was all in within two hours. After ‘fifteen minutes' argument on each side the jury returned a verdict for |8.75. —o— Judge O’Rourke was here this afternoon, acting as special judge in i the case of Myers et ai vs Rice et al. Missionary Society The Missionary society of the Presbyterian church will meet at the homo of Mrs. F. M. Sohirmeyer Tuesday afternoon at two o'clock. The following good program will be given, and a large attendance of the ladies is desired. P.ijter—Missionary Life in Syria, Mrs. Dore Erwin. Instrumental Duet, Jean Lutz and Blanche Carroll. Recife- i tion 1 Dut Christmas on de Ola i Plantation,” Agnes Schrock. Instrumental solo, Irene Sohirmeyer Reception committee, Mesdames < Sihirmayer, Fristoe and Miss Chris- i ten. | .AIL QUARANTENED. Miss Anna Tester, daughter of < Jacob Tester,ls very sick with diph : thoria She has been making her < home with Sheriff's Butler’s fam- i ily, and is there now. As a cense < quence the residence part of the i jail is quarantined. Her condition was quite serious Saturday even- i ing, but she is reported considers i bly improved today and practically out of danger.

NUMBER 297

FATAL WRECK Clover Leaf Freights Collide Three Trainmen Dead as Result of Wreck Last Night at Ramsey, Illinois. A big wreck occurred last eve’7ing on the Clover Leaf railroad near Ramsey, TIL, caused by two heavly loaded freight trains colliding while running a high rate of speed. The report when the two trains crashed together could be heard for miles and the box cars and engines were a mass of broken steel and timbers The engineers on both trains met death, both stay, insr by their engines and were burned and mangled beyond recognition. The conductor of one of the trains was riaing in the engine ana also met instant death. The two firemen luckily ecsaped with only a few bruises. The wreck was caused by badly construed orders, ' tor which some one must answer. I All passenger and freight traffic was delayed for several hours, and the damage will reach up into the taousands of dollars. NEW RATES Several Decalur Buildings Reduced for Improvements. — The insurance board has issued new rate slips for a numbar of risks in Decatur where the price of insurance has been reduced on account of Improvements made. Those who profit by the new rates are the owners and occupants of the Morrison and Studabaker block on South Second street extending from the building occupied by L och & Dirkson soutn to the building occupied by A. E Rose; the Allison big store block, E. L Carroll and Niblick Grain company elevators. A new rate was made for the Decatur Cement Block Roc ting company's plant. New rates have also been made at Geneva. BIG ENGINES One of the Prize Winners at World's Fair Now on the Erie. The largest type of engine now n use in this pirtion of the country are the 1500's now hauling freight trains on the Erie. But one more enormous than these is No. 161 , the largo oompound engine with eight drive wheels. It is a piece cf mechanism as near complete as any now constructed. The engine was among the modern locomotives exhibited at he Louisiana Purchase exposition at St. Louis this summer. It was brought to the local shops Tuesday morning anti set up by the employes here. Today it was steamed for the first .time with the purpose of putting it to work About 1:15 this afternoon she left the yards with Erie train No. 76, composed of forty-throe loaded curs, she was in charge of Engineer Charles Thompson, Fireman Kelly and Conductor George Lovillo. The engine is said to have Let n hard to steam, but her capacity is 4,fi1l M's and is said to bo capable of making excellent tune. Her np pearanre indicates that she is nhlo to make a quick run if necessary. —Huntington News Democrat