Daily Democrat, Volume 5, Number 54, Decatur, Adams County, 4 March 1907 — Page 1

r olume V

FOUGHT IN STREET wo Youg Ladies in a free-for-all »UT UP THE REAL ARTICLE Mattie Burkhead and Young Woman From Monroeville Create a Disgusting Scene. A free-for-all fight between two roung ladies, probaby eighteen years >f age, occurred Saturday evening in front of the Mission Hall, ayd while It lasted was fast and furious, and it was with some trouble that the girls Were parted. The result of the fight Baine about while the girls were attending church, when one claimed the other was defaming her character as a lady, which the other denied and dared her to repeat the offense outside the church. The dare was promptly accepted and the girls proceeded to the sidewalk and the charge again repeated. This meant fight and the girls sprang at each other like a couple of cats and they bit, scratched and pulled each other’s hair until they were both in a frightful looking condition. Several men standing around separated the girls with some difficulty and sent them both home. The girls' faces were scratched up and blood was streaming from their wounds, while each was minus several locks of golden hair. During the fight those who saw it say they never heard jsuch language used on the streets and the entire affair was a disgracelul scene. The girls implicated in the fight are Hattie Burkhead and a girl from Monroeville. Affidavits were filed this morning in Squire Smith s court and the young ladies will both have to answer to charges of assault and battery. Girls who do not know how to behave themselves should have enough respect for their parents and I friends to stay at home and thus avoid trouble. — o CAR SERVICE TO BE DOUBLED Electric Line Adds Another Car—Doing Good Business. Beginning this week the service on the Fort Wayne & Springfield traction line between this city and Decatur will be doubled and cars will run every hour and a half. The business has been growing at a rate better I than even the promoters and officials of the line had anticipated and some | time ago it was decided to put on an- | other car. The addition to the serv- | ice was delayed by the non-arrival of i air compressors. They came yesteri day and will be immediately placed on the new car, which is one of the finest I run on any interurban road in Indiana. The road is now in position to meet I all demands of traffic, and these are ■ not light, one car yesterday hating kixtyt-seven passengers into Fort Wayne. The company is also nowready to supply special cars for parties and persons desiring to charter a car at any time will be accommodated by applying to Mr. Frank Kleekamp at his office in the Bank block. Early in the week the officials >f Allen county will be the guests of the company on a special trip to Decatui for pleasure and information. There was a big crowd of Decatur people here Saturday night to attend a lodge function and the last car was held beyond the regular hour of departure td accommodate them—Foi t Wayne Journal-Gazette. —o WIFE DESERTION IS A FELONY A New Bill Adds a Prison Sentence for the Crime Very little has been said ab -.n an J important bill that was signed b.> j Governor Hanly two days ag which is now a law. It is a uni maks it a felony for a man to d' I his wife and family. This means I the penalty for wife desertion itwo to twenty-one years in the i • • I tentiary, and the police depn I of the state should see the law is I idly enforced. Heretofore in the -t.i < ! of Indiana a man could skip ■ d

The Daily Democrat.

leave his wife and children to starve or shift for themselves as best they could while he gallavanted around the country with some other woman or enjoyed life as he pleased. The wife in many instances was compelled to take in washing to support herself and children and when her health no longer permitted such a proceeding, the children were turned over to an orphan's home board to become a state charge. All this is changed now. If a man deserts his wife and flees to another state he can be returned through requisition proceedings to answer the charge the same as if he had committed any other felony. Every man should support his own children if health and conditions will permit and when he seeks to escape the responsibility by deserting them he should be prosecuted as vigorously' as the horse thief, burglar or any other desperate criminal. The new- law will put a crimp in the calculations of a number of fellows who have planned to skip out and leave the family to shift for themselves as soon as the blue birds begin to sing. NO ARRESTS MADE In the Baby Murder Mystery so Far TO HOLD CONTINUED INQUEST Witnesses Will be Examined and Arrests May Follow —Officers Are Still at Work. Up to this hour there have been no arrests made in the murder case following the finding of a baby under a bridge on the Preble road Friday night. However, the officials are still at work and believe they know the people connected with the terrible affair. A continued coroner’s inquest will be held some time tomorrow when some explananations will have to be forthcoming and it is quite probable that the arrest of several parties may follow immediately. The people of this community are very indignant over the affair and will insist that the officers leave nothing undone' to discover the murderers. Certainly anyone who can throttle a new-born babe and throw the body into a creek has a heart of stone and is an unsafe person in any locality. No blacker crime can be imagined and neither time nor expense must be saved in punishing the guilty parties. The various officials still refuse to give out any information and probably will not until an arrest is made. 0 SALVATION ARMY MAN PINCHED Capt. McKay Files Affidavit Against Rival Captain. The Journal-Gazette of Sunday said: At the instance of Capt. Stewart R. McKay, head of the local Booth Salvation Army, Capt. Harry W. J. Smith, of Kalamazoo. Mich., who came here a few days ago to organize a branch of the American Salvation Army, was placed under arrest on a charge of "vagrancy,” the affidavit having been filed by Captain McKay. Detective Lenz took Smith to police headquarters, where Smith was released on his own recognizance for his appearance Monday morning. Smith was charged by McKay with going about "begging” funds. Smith is in the city with his wife and has retained Attorney Frank H. Kleekamp to look after his interests. Be cause of a controversy between the two armies which was started recently at Decatur and Bluffton, the action of yesterday was expected as soon as the American army attempted to start an organization here. o Ti e importance of protecting chilfrotn evil influences is a thing I, . needs no argument. The world irequently shocked at a revelation 1 means that are used to lead . n into wicked lives. People are a ell enough aware that the menace is .- vntly present. The only question can be as to the best means to ; . about their protection.

Decatur, Indiana, Monday Evening March 4, 1907.

A BIG FIRE LOSS Country Home of Charles Fuelling Burned LOSS SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS Mr. Fuelling and Daughter Had Narrow Escape With Their Lives —Loss a Severe One. The beautiful country home of Charles Fuelling, five miles north of this city in Root township, was totally destroyed, together with all the contents by a fire which broke out at eleven o’clock Saturday evening. The house was one of the best country homes in Adams county and was richly furnished the entire loss being conservatively estimated at S7OOO. The family had been enjoying a visit with relatives at Dow’agia, Mich., Mr. Fuelling and youngest daughter returning home Saturday evening, while Mrs. Fuelling and eldest daughter remained at Dowagiac. At the time of the fire, Mr. Fuelling had retired only half an hour when he was awakened by the smoke which filled his room. His daughter slept in the same room, while a hired hand, the only other occupant of the house, slept in another part. Mr. Fuelling grabbed his clothes and awakened his daughter, who escaped in her night dress and ran to the Home of a neighbor. The alarm was quickly given and many hastened to the scene but were unable to save anything from the house. The hired man escaped with just enough clothes to cover him, and the family are thankful to have escaped without injury. The fire started just beneath the room occupied by Mr. Fuelling and daughter, supposedly from the furnace. The furniture in the home was new and of high grade, having been purchased for their new home just after its completion about three years ago. All of Mr. Fuelling’s private papers were destroyed and the loss is a heavy one. He carried SISOO insurance on the house in the Preble Township Mutual, but we are unable to state whether or not he had any insurance on the contents. However, the net loss will probably be SSOOO. The men who gathered saved the surrounding buildings and the slate roof, which held down the flames, prevented the fire spreading to the big barn, as the wind blew in that direction. The loss included a valuable piano ■and many other articles of costly furniture. Mr. Fuelling could not state any future plans until his wife, who is expected this evening, arrives. However, the home will probably be rebuilt. A number of Decatur people returning from Fort Wayne on the traction line, witnessed the big fire. SUNDAY WEDDING SOLEMNIZED Mi’s Bessie Steele Becomes Bride of Mr. Homer Andrews. A pretty country wedding occurred at noon Sunday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. James Steele in Kirkland township, when Miss Bessie Steele and Mr. Homer Andrews were united in marriage. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Jones of Monroe in the presence of the immediate relatives of the contracting parties and was simple but impressive. Immediately after the ceremony a wedding dinner was served and the remainder of the day was most enjoyably spent. Miss Steele is a pretty young lady and is a leader among her associates in Kirkland township. She is well known in this city and has a host of friends who wish her much joy and happiness. The groom is a son of Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Andrews and is popular among his associates. He is a hustling young farmer and stands high in the estimation of all. They expect to make their future home in Union township on a farm. The Democrat extends congratulations. o ENDLESS PRAYER CONTINUES Postoffice Authorities are Trying to Check it. In spite of Bishop Lawrence’s disavowal of authorship, the endless

prayer chain ascribed to him is still

circulating through the malls, and William T. Fletcher, postofiice inspector for this district, is waging war on it. One of the prayers was recently held up by a clerk in northern Indiana on account of insufficient postage, and it was placed in Mr. Fletcher’s hands. The letter was signed, and the woman whose name was at the bottom of it was called to the postoffice and reprimanded. The thing has been going on for about four years, and in spite of the publicity it has received, numerous credulous persons have feared not to comply with the demands of the letters. The prayers usually threaten an outpouring of Divine vengeance on those who ignore them. The inspectors are watching the mails everywhere, and when a prayer is found bearing some one’s name the offender is called in and reprimanded. The authorities are trying to find the persons who they believe are sending the letters away in large numbers for the fun of disturbing innocent persons. COURT HOUSE NEWS The LinKer-Runyon Suit Heard Today ATTRACTS MANY OF IMMODEST Case Will be Concluded Today—New Case Filed —Ireland Damage Case Was Dismissed. The case of the state on relation of Martha E. Linker vs. John Runyon, a paternity suit, began in circuit court this morning. It is one of those cases in which old gray-haired men, bald-headed fathers and others take great interest. Just why no one seems to know, but there seems to be an attraction about a young and unfortunate woman who must tell the story of her ruin. Prosecutor Heller and J. C. Moran are prosecuting and D. E. Smith is defending. The case will probably go to the jury this morning. Merryman & Sutton are attorneys for Fred J. Gerber, who has filed suit againt Albrecht Reber and Fred and Mary Gfeller, suit on note and mortgage, demand SI2OO. Viola M. Gilbert et al., vs. Ruby V. Sheets et al., partition of real estate, commissioners file report of partition and allowed their fees. George B. M. Maurer et al., vs. Saloma Adams et al., quiet title and partition of real estate, bond of commissioner Jacob Butcher, filed and approved. The bond calls for S4OOO. Time for the drainage commissioners to make their report, set for today, was extended to April 4th. Pearl Barnell vs. Aaron Ireland, damage $2,000, motion to dismiss for want of prosecution sustained. Judgment against plaintiff for costs. Mary C. Ehinger, guardan for Florence V. Ehinger and four others, filed her current report. Leo Kohne. administrator of the Henry Kohne estate, filed his final report, which was allowed and the administrator discharged.. L. C. DeVoss has filed application to be appointed a notary public. o CLASSIFICATION OF EMPLOYES The conference report on the postoffice appropriation bill provides for classification of clerks and carriers in the first and second class postoffices by uniform grades of six, eight, nine, ten, eleven and twelve hundred dollars. Arbitrary promotions in second class offices to ten hundred dollars, and in first class offices to eleven hundred dollars, conditioned upon one year’s service in one grade and a proper efficiency record. Rural carriers’ salaries are made nine hundred dollars. The maximum compel! U! to- substitute rnral carrier -, the same I as drawn by principal railway mail clerks, is increased. t

A BIG KNOCK OUT Congressman Cromer is Given a Crimp THE BEVERIDGE MACHINE WINS Mr. Cromer Refused the Muncie Postmastership or Power to Appoint Them. Washington, March 4. —George W. Cromer, whose term as congressman from the Eighth Indiana district, expired Sunday, was eliminated from the exciting race for the postmastership of Muncie, President Roosevelt declaring with emphasis that he will not appoint the retiring representative. He told this to Speaker Cannon, Representative Watson and Senator Hemenway, who called at the White House to speak a word for Cromer. The president is something of a civil service reformer and his objection to Cromer is based largely on the representation that the congressman in his palmy days as master of the Republican situation in the Eighth district, organized his postmasters into an effective fighting machine and made them "cough up” when the hat was passed around for campaign contributions. After the president had stated emphatically that under no circumstances will he appoint Cromer as postmaster of Muncie, he added that he will allow Cromer to recommend the postmaster. This created an anomalous situation and it probably is the first time in the history of the government where a man who is turned down for office is conceded the right to name the appointee. Acting on this tip, Mr. Cromer recommended Frank Leslie Wachtel, a merchant of Muncie, tor postmaster. While this recommendation was being made the president sent to the senate the name of Harry Hardie for postmaster of Anderson. Hardie is city controler of Anderson and a particular friend of both Cromer and Robert P. Grimes, the retiring postmaster. Hardie was recommended by Cromer. Following the spectacular conferences and agreements, Senator Beveridge made a flying trip to the White House and succeeded in getting so close to the president’s ear that the recommendations of Cromer have been withdrawn and the appointments held up indefinitely. Senator Beveridge unfolded a conspiracy that was on between Cromer and the first assitant postmaster general, and which meant a political machine of power and influence. As a result Cromer will be shorn of the appointive power to name these postmasters, and an agreement was entered into that henceforth all appointments in the Eighth district will have to have the 0. K. of both Indiana senators. It was a complete knockout for Cromer, and one, too,.that he did not deserve upon the eve of his retirement as representative of this congressiona district. o THE MORTGAGE EXEMPTION LAW Requirements for Those Wishing to Take Advantage. The following statement of the ia>v are requirements of those wishing mortgage exemptions and it will be of value to every one who has a mortgage on his property’ and is an accurate statement of facts: Any person being the owner of real estate liable for taxation within the state of Indiana, and being indebted in any sum. secured by mortgage upon real estate, may have the amount of such mortgage indebtedness, not exceeding seven hundred dollars, existing and unpaid upon the first day of March of any year, deducted from the assessed valuation of mortgaged premises for that year, and the amount of such valuations remaining after such deductions shall have been made shall form the basis for assessment and taxation for said real estate for said year; Provided, That no deduction shall be allowed greater than one-half of such assessed value of said real Any person c. : avail himself or herself, of the provision of i this act shall, between the first day

of March and the first day of May of each year, file with the auditor of the county wherein such real estate is situated a sworn statement of the amount of such mortgage indebtedness existing and unpaid on the first day of March of each year showing the mortgage indebtedness on said first day of May. Said affidavit must be sworn to by the person securing the deduction personally. A husband cannot make affidavit for his wife, nor she for him. Under no circumstances can one person legally secure more than S7OO deduction under this law, no matter how many’ mortgages he may have given or assumed. Neither can he deduct his mortgage indebtedness from the assessed valuation from his real estate and then use that portion of his mortgage indebtedness so deducted as a deduction from his personal credits. If a husband and wife own real estate together as tenants by entireties they must join in the affidavits and are entitled jointly to not more than S7OO deduction. That is, each cannot secure the benefit of S7OO. But if the husband and wife own real estate separately, they are each entitled to the deduction provided for in the law, as are all other taxpayers owning real estate in their own name. Firms or partnership (limited or otherwise) and corporations are not entitled to any deduction upon their mortgage indebtedness under t his law. Under no circumstances can a deduction from real estate exceed onehalf the appraised value of such property for taxation. This means the appraised value as shown on the tax duplicate for the year for which the deduction is prayed. ■ ■ o BIDS WERE OPENED Four Macadam Read Contracts Made HOFFMAN & SON BAG THREE Considerable Other Business Will be Taken up at This Term of the Board. Bidding was lively on macadam road contracts in commissioner's court. Bids were opened at ten o'clock. Brushwood College No. 2. Beetle & Rowe $6560.80 J. Heller 6740.00 L. O. Bears 6399.00 Wheat & Sisk 8496.40 C. Eicher 6505.25 Yoder & Gottschalk 8400.84 David Myers 7465.00 F. Hoffman & Son 8349.00 L. O. Bears was low bidder. Reiter & Buhlman. C. H. Getting $8589.00 L. O. Bears 8496.60 Michael Miller 8646.00 Yoder & Gottschalk 8793.00 Sam Doak 8594.00 Hoffman & Son 8124.75 Hoffman & Son were low bidders. Root & Preble No. 1. Joseph Bears & C 054350.00 Sam Doak 4410.00 Hoffman & Son ...., 3780.00 Hoffman & Son w-ere low bidders. Root & Preble No. 2. Sam Doak $5264.00 Hoffman & Son 4467.00 Hoffman & Son were low bidders. The above contracts were bid down to low profit point, and means some cheap road construction for this year. The viewers' report was filed and approved upon the vacation of a road in Union township, and the auditor was ordered to notify the trustee of such vacancy. Bids were also opened for supplies at the county asylum, but at an early this afternoon all the bids had not been opened and no awards made. Many macadam road petitioners were flocking around the commissioners’ room, and are presenting arguments for many more roads. o CENTARIAN LIES AT LEBANON Lebanon. Ind., March 4. —Milen Carrigan, aged 102. oldest resident of Boon county, died here today. He I leaves a wife to whom he was marI ried seventy-five years ago and seven 1 aged children.

Number 54