Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 June 1900 — Page 1

Jasper County Democrat.

SI.OO Per Year.

Rensselaer Will Celebrate!!! Atspecial meeting of the Commercial Club held Thursday evening it was definitely decided to celebrate the 4th of July in a style and manner befitting the occasion. Several hundred dollars has been raised for the purpose of securing attractions, the Remington Band has been hired and one or two others will be secured to furnish music in connection with our own band. An elaborate fireworks display in the evening will also be one of the features. The program has not as yet been fully agreed upon, but from the character of the men having the celebration in charge the public may look for a rousing celebration here this year.

Bruce Hardy started for ColoDr. Washburn is now aide to attend to office practice. Joe Sharp is building an addition to his photograph gallery. A daughter was born to Mrs. and Mr. Peter Giver, Monday. Simon and Mrs. Fendig came down from Wheatfield Wednesday. Mrs. N. J. Reed and babv are visiting her parents at Michigan City. Miss Lucy Nowels of Lamar, Colo., is visiting Rensselaer relatives. The republican national convention will be pulled off at Philadelphia next week. 2-year-old White Face bull so sale, at O. K. Ritchey’s, 4 miles south of Rensselaer. Anything you want will be sold at 30 per cent, off at the Daylight from now until the Fourth.

W. O. Hiatt of Anderson, has been hired by the school board as high school principal for the ensuing year. New pensions: Jacob Akerman, Remington, increase, $10; Sarah E. Archer, Reynolds, original widow, SB. Next Tuesday the people of Newton county will vote on the proposition of removing the county seat to Morocco. Our entire line of Clothing, Gent’s furnishings, boots and shoes will be marked 30 per cent, off from now until the Fourth. Sheiff Reed, C E. Mills and J. H. 8. Ellis attended the funeral of Sheriff Wick wire at Goodland last Friday. They report a very large turnout. The heavy rains recently drowned out a great deal of corn in the south part of this township, and much of the acreage had to be replanted. The Citizens Band has been engaged to furnish music one day at Fountain Park during the Assembly. There few better bauds in the state. The Indiana Oil and Asphaltum Co., has secured a number of oil leases in section 6 and vicinity, Hanging Grove tp., and section 7 and vicinity, Milroy tp. Dr. Dessler, the optician, is now nicely located in the rooms recently occupied by Horton’s dental parlors. He has the rooms nicely; furnished, and*all looks as neat as a pin. D. B. Nowels tendered his resignation hs vice-president of the Jasper Public Library last Saturday evening and the directors selected C. D. Nowels as his successor. • Fourteen new subscribers were added to The Democrat’s list this week, as follows: Francisville, 1; Foresman, 1; Valina, 1; Sharon, 1; Lee, 1; Rensselaer, 3; Tefft, 1; Englew’ood, (III.) I; Chicago, 1; Manchester, (Tenn.,) 1; Gifford, 1; Bryant, 1.

DR. MOORE, Specialist, PRIVATE DISEASES, \ M ' HEMORHORDS, . \ - ■ Office First Stairs West of Post Office. - , RENSSELAER, IND.

Pull off your coat and work for the 4th of July celebration. A 10-pound son was born to Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Hersh man last Sunday. Col. R. P. DeHart of Lafayette, will be the orator of the day here July 4th. The Chicago Bargain Store unloaded a car load of - fruit jars Wednesday. It is money in your pocket to purchase your clothing at the Daylight, 30 per cent. off. Mrs. C. D. Nowels and daughter, Miss Floy, are visiting relatives in Carroll county. 30 per cent, off on a $lO suit means a saving of $3, which will be more than your expenses on the Fourth. J. S. Barnes of Remington, was in the city Tuesday night, enroute home from a business trip to Peoria and Chicago. D. B. Nowels departed for Lamar, C 010.,, Tuesday. His son Auburn, accompanied him as far Chicago, where he will remain for some time.

Mr. and Mrs.- J. H. 8. Ellis celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary Tuesday, or, rather, thejr friends celebrated the event for them by giving them a surprise party in the evening. A number of Mrs. C. A. Roberts’ friends gathered at her hospitable home last Friday evening and reminded her that she had reached the 45th mile-stone in life’s journey. A very pleasant time is reported. Rev. S. V. McKee of Waveland, Ind., a former pastor of the Presbyterian church at Remington, was the guest of J. R Vannatta last Friday evening. He was on his way to visit his son and attend commencement at Lake Forest, 111. Military exercises were observed in the usual manner at St. Joseph’s College, Thursday afternoon. The Rensselaer Catholic Forester’s, headed by the Citizens Band, marched to the College grounds, where a large crowd of people gathered to enjoy the program. If Banker Joe Hammond attends strictly to business he will be able to spare sufficient time from his counter to file enough bills against that truant officer’s appropriation to make it look awfully sick ere the year is up. There’s nothing like working a good thing. J. M. Helmick of Wheatfield, was in the city on business Tuesday. Mr. Helmick said that two promising oil wells had been struck on Horace Marble’s land in Sec. 22, and that some capitalists who visited the field a few days ago were well pleased with the prospects and will back up their judgment with cash.

The viewers’ report in the three miles of proposed gravel road in Gillam tp.. will, we understand, be favorable thereto. A good quality of gravel has been found on the “knobs” about 2 miles north of the west end of the proposed road, and the longest haul will be about 5 miles. The road will cost more, however, than the petitioners were figuring upon, we learn. The “tourist editor” of the Wheatfield Telephone, he of the vermilion-hued proboscis, thinks The Democrat will not have much tax to pay on the Gifford railroad project should the same carry. Perhaps uot, only $8 or MO, but we believe about the only tax paid by the worthy editor of the Telephone is that collected by Uncle Sam’s “agents,” on spirituous liquors. Mrs. John Duvall and Miss Lessie Bates ate some “mushrooms” at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell, late of Chicago, who are spending the summer here, last Friday, end as a result became deathly sick, and only prompt medical aid saved them. The “mushrooms” were gathered by the Mitchells near town. They ate of them in connection with other food and escaped any bad results.

Rensselaer, Jasper County, Indiana, Saturday, June i 6, 1900.

Simon Leopold and daughter were over from Kentland to spend Sunday with the old folks. Why don’t you make your expenses for the Fourth by saving 30 per cent, on all purchases at the Daylight? Under the readjustment of postoffice salaries in Indiana, Rensselaer will be $1,700; Remington, $1,400; Goodland, $1,500; Monon, $1,200. The petition for railroad election in Jordan tn., containing 44 names, was filed Tuesday and acted upon, we understand, at once by a special session of the commissioners—or a part of the board. The election is to be held at the same time as the other elections, July 17. The petitioners require a depot to be located within J mile of the center of 24-28-7.

It is reported that Barkley tp., railroad petitioners were promised free passes over the road to induce them to sign the petition, while one prominent man who was “forninst” the road was “seen” and promised any building lot he might select along the route through Gifford’s lands if he would get out and work for it, and that he is now in favor of voting the tax.

Judge Thompson rendered his decision in the Sheffer damage case last Saturday, giving judgement to the railroad company on the interrogatories. He held in substance that the deceased did not use proper caution in approaching the crossing where he was killed, that he should have dismounted and approached the crossing on foot, and that his death was the result of his own carelessness. The Blotsky damage case was continued to the next term.

The railroad elections in the various townships to vote a subsidy for Gifford’s grapevine route will not be unanimous for it by any means. In Barkley and Jordan townships, it is said the proposition will be defeated, but in Marion and Carpenter it is thought enough town people will vote for the project to carry the election in those townships. There are a number who signed the petitions who will vote against the tax, we are informed, by people in a position to know*.

We neglected in our report of state convention some matters of local interest. The delegates selected from this congressional district to the national convention, were Daniel W. Simms of Lafayette, and Martin T. Krueger of Michigan City; alternates, L. T. Kent of Brookston, and Cleremont Rider of Newton county. National elector, Patrick Keefe of Kentland; contingent elector, Ira W. Yeoman of Remington. C. D. Nowels of this city was on the credentials committee.

It was not our purpose just at this time to devote any particular attention to the democratic candidates for county office, and our excuse for mentioning W. H. Beam, the candidate for sheriff, at this time is because we are informed that the opposition is using the argument that “he has a good position and don’t need the office. They forget that his opponent has had a “good thing” for about ten years at the poor farm, and that the cost the taxpayers lots of money, even though he may not have saved any great amount of it.

The notorious Iroquois ditch case, to collect about $3,500 alleged to be due the county from the petitioners for costs advanced, was closed Thursday afternoon and Judge Palmer will announce his decision sometime within the next sixty days. The matter is one that should have been adjusted years ago, but by dilatory tactics it has been allowed to run along without action by the county. The latter some two years ago entered into contract with Hanley & Hunt to collect the costs in this and the Wakarusa ditch case for S7OO. The whole thing is but another piece of bad management on the part of our county officials, and one that will cost the people dearly before it is ended, as it is sure to go to the supreme court.

The greatest cut-price sale of the season at the Daylight Clothing Store, 30 per cent off from now until the Fourth. W. J. Irwin of Pennsylvania, will speak at court house, Wednesday, June 20, at Bp, m. Archibald’s quartette of Morocco will sing. *

The feed mill on Delos Thompson’s ranch near Pleasant Ridge was destroyed by fire early last Sunday morning. The feed grinder, gasoline engine, 12,000 pounds of oil cake meal, several tons of ground corn, quite a quantity of ear corn, one or two wagons and somesther property was consumed. The total loss was not far from SI,BOO with no insurance. The origin of the fire is a mystery. The Ninth Annual Convention of Christian Endeavorers for this District met in this city, at the Presbyterian church on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. There were about 75 delegates present during this very interesting and instructive session. The lecture on Tuesday evening, by Prof. Jenkins, of Indianapolis University, was highly appreciated as was the lecture on Wednesday eve., by Rev. Hunter, also of Indianapolis. On Tuesday evening, at the home of the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. I. A. Leavel, northeast of town, occured the marriage of their daughter Maggie M , to Mr. Earl D. Sayler, formerly of this place but now superintendent of an electric light plant at Gilman, 111. The ceremony was performed by Elder A. L. Ward of the Christian church. The young couple will reside at Gilman. The Democrat joins their many friends in extending best wishes.

The Annual Sunday School convention for Barkley tp., will be held in the grove at North Lawn, to-morrow, June 17. Both forenoon and afternoon sessions will be fceld. The forenoon session will bedevoted to the “Study of Sunday School Lessons,” led by Charles Faris of Gillam tp., also pajjers, recitations and songs by the various schools of the townships. The afternoon will be devoted to discussion of subjects of interest to the Sunday schools, followed by election of officers for the ensuing year. A cordial invitation is extended to all.

Mr. Joseph Putts died at his home, 2| miles southwest of Rensselaer, Sunday afternoon, aged about 73 years. He was a native of Poland, from whence he and family moved about thirty years ago. Since living in America he has always been a resident of Jasper county. His sickness was of long duration having been stricken with paralysis two years ago. He leaves four children, two sons and two daughters, his wife having died some lo years ago. His funeral was held from the Catholic church, Tuesday at 9 a. m. Burial made in Mount Calvary cemetery.

The funeral of Miss Jessie L.Bartoo was held from the Christian Church last Sunday and was largely attended. A number of relatives from Remington, deceased’s former home, were present. Miss Bartoowas born near Niles, Mich., May 19, 1863. . Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. L. F. Bartoo, later moved to Plainfield, 111., and in 1869 moved to Remington. In 1882 Miss Jessie came to Rensselaer where she resided up to the time of her death, with the exception of about a year spent in Colorado. For about ten years she was engaged in conducting a photograph gallery in this city and enjoined a liberal patronage. Failing health compelled her to give up the business here in June of last year, and she then went to Colorado, the last resort of those afflicted with that dread disease consumption. The change of climate, however, came too late and a few, weeks ago she was brought back to Rensselaer, a wreck of her former self. On Thursday of last week her condi-| tion showed a decided change for the worse, and at an early hour Friday morning she breathed her! last. Au aged mother, two brothers and two sisters survive her.

ANOTHER LAWSUIT.

Nelson Morris, the Chicago fliilionalre, Sues Jasper County to Enjcin the Collection of Keener Township Gravel Road Tax.—Eight Big Lawsuits Now on Hands as a Result of Incompetent County Officials.

Readers of The Democrat are familiar with the Keener tp., gravel road muddle, much of which has been published solely in this paper during the past two years. Many of them also know how the “Official Apologist” jumped onto The Democrat editor during the campaign two years ago, for publishing such “lies,” when we first gave a little inside history of the matter as it appeared at that time. Other ring defenders also denounced us as “misrepresenting” the facts in the case, if not indulging in still harder terms when referring to us in this matter. Like every other statement made by us concerning county affairs, time has proven the truth of our assertions, and if anything more were needed to add additional proof in the matter it will be found in a case filed in the circuit court last Saturday by Nelson Morris, the Chicago packer, one of. the largest land-owners of Keener tp., to"“enjoin the collection of any more taxes on this notorious “16 miles” of road. The Treasurer, Auditor and board of commissioners are made defendants in the suit. Willis E. Thorne, Mr. Morris’

Chicago Attorney, and Hanley & Hunt of this city filed the suit. The complaint is a lengthy document and begins by reciting that the plaintiff is the owner of various tracts of land in said township, etc. The contract for the construction of the road is copied in full. We herewith submit one paragraph of said contract: “The contractor shall receive eighty (80) per cent of said contract price on completed sections of the work, based on the estimate and report of the engineer, which shall he made on or before the first of each mouth. Twenty per cent to be retained upon each of said roads until the Mme is fully completed and finally accepted by the Board of Commissioners.” . The general complaint then follows, and that our readers may ! more fully understand the matter we copy the same almost entire. It is as follows: I "That for the purpose of raising money to j pay for such construction the Board of Commissioners of the County of Jasper issued bonds of the said county for the sum of thirty-one thousand five hundred (Sil 500) dollars: that Jesse C. Gwin was the county treasurer of Jasper county on the 15th day of May, 1897, and did on that day sell the said bonds for the sum of thirty-one thousand seven hundred (131,700) dollars; and that the said county treasurer kept the proceeds from such sale as separate and distinct funds to pay for the construction of said roads rej spectively. and did pay to said contractor for the Demotte and Otis gravel roads the sum of thirty thousand five hundred thirteen and 10-100 ($30,513.10) dollars. upon the warrant of the order as directed by the said Board of County Commissioners. The pluintitf further shows to the court that payments were ordert .. for more than eighty per cent of the engineers' estimate of the work done by the said contractor, or any one in his behalf, and for more than eighty per cent of the work done; and that the whole amount of said contracts, except the sum of one thousand, oue hundred eighty six and 90-100 (ll.l»6.90)* dollars, was ordered paid by the said Board of Commissioners of the County of Jasper, and was paid by the county treasurer upon the order of the said Board of Commissioners be- . fore the said roads were received us completed by the Board of Commissioners and before said roads, or either of them were completed, in violation of law, contrary to the form of the statute in such eases made and provided and in wilful fraud of the rights of this plaintiff, and the said Board of Commissioners ordered said imymenta to be made, and said payments were made wilfully, for the purposes of injuring, defrauding and oppressing this plaintiff. That said roads were in the aggregate sixteen miles long, and that twelve (12) miles thereof have been completed, leaving four (4) miles uncompleted; that the average contract price for uud cost of the completion of said remaining four (4) miles of roads is the sum of $2,542.75; that there is a deficit in said fund of uot leasthan eleven thousand ($11,900) dollars; that there is not sufficient money in said fund for the construction of said roads i to complete the same, and the said Board of i Commissioners of the County of Jasper have : abandoned the making of said improvement | or completing the same. That the said Board of Commissioners of the County of Jas|»er on the day of Sep--1 temlter, 1899, nt the time the said Board made the general tax levy for the said year, the I said Board levied a tux ti|>on the property in ' the Township of Keener of one dollar upon the hundred dollars valuation in order to meet the principal and Interest of said bonds ' which become due on the 15th day of NoveniI her. 1900. and that such tax was placed upon the tax duplicate by the order of said Board

Vol. 111. No. io

of Commissioners of Jasper County, and its collection undertaken in the same manner as other taxes. The plaintiff, Nelson Morris, further shows to the court that the several pieces of property owned by him in said Township of Keener have been taxed for said Otis and DeMotte gravel roads for the year 1899, as follows, to-wit; (here follows separate descriptions, and make a total of $754.55.) •• ♦ That the said taxes now appears upon the tax duplicate of the County of Jasper for the year of 1899 and is a lein upon the property of this plaintiff, and that the said taxes and tax levy are illegal and void. That the said Robert A. Parkison as treasurer of Jasper County has made demand upon plaintiff for said illegal taxes, and threatens to levy upon, distrain and sell the property of this plaintiff unless the said illegal taxes are paid. The plaintiff further avers that the levy ot said gravel road tax as aforesaid by the Board of Commissioners of the County of Jasper is illegal and void and that the defendant William C. Babcock as Auditor of said County without authority of law placed upon the tax duplicate and directed the defendant Robert A. Parkison as Treasurer of said County, to collect from plaintiff, upon said property, the sum of $754255 as gravel road taxes for the year 1899 for the payment of said gravel roads as aforesaid, which sum is in excess of the taxes legally chargeable on plaintiff's said lands above described and upon his said personal property. That the enforcement of the collection thereof would be contrary to the statute and be a great and irreparable injury to this plaintiff. From the above facts as herein set forth the plaintiff says that he fears that the said Treasurerof the County of Jasper, unless restrained by the order of this Honorable Court, will levy upon, distrain and sell the said property of this plaintiff for the non. payment of said-illegal tax, and, for as much as this plaintiff is without remedy iii a court of law . plaintiff prays that Robert A. Parkison. as Treasurer of Jasper County. William C, Babcock, as Auditor of Jasper County, Abraham Halleek, Simeon A. Dowell and Frederick Way mire, the Board of Commissioners of the County of Jasper, who are made defendants hereto, may be summoned to answer to this complaint, and that the defendant, Robert A. Parkison. be restrained by order of this court from collecting or attempting to collect said illegal tax: that the said tax and levy therefor may be de dared null and void and of no force and effect whatsoever: that the Board of Cojnmissioners be restrained from making any further levy upon the property of this plaintiff far gravel road purposes in said Keener Township; that the Auditor of said county be restrained from placing upon the tax duplicate any furrffer taxes in said township for gravel road purposes and that your Honor will grant such other and further relief in the promises as equity may require and your Honor shall deem just." ♦ The balance in the treasury on Jan. 1, 1900. as shown by the auditor's report, was only $566.11. instead of $1,186.90 as given in the above complaint.—Editor.

W. H. Beam For Sheriff.

Mr. Beam’s reason for taking the democratic nomination for sheriff was that he might have more out-of-door exercise, if elected. He has been employed by the Monon for a number of years and is one of their most trusted and valued servants. But the confinement of office work all the time is becoming too severe upon him and he has had several serious attacks of illness during the past two years. He thinks, with his friends, that the position to which he aspires would give him an opportuity to get about over the country and be of great benefit to his health. While this was the principal cause for his accepting the nomination, no “sympathy campaign” will be made. Mr. Beam is not a chronic office seeker, but is well known and has hosts of friends all over the county, and the taxpayers know that these will be no skullduggery connected with any office fillet) by “Billy” Beam. For this reason—that he possesses true worth and integrity—he will be elected by a rousing majority in November. Painless Extracting with pure gas or by application of Zono to the gums Highest class dental operations by an experienced expert at onehalf our former prices. Out-of-town patrons supplied ’ with artificial teeth in one visit. Dr. Horton, dentist, Op. court house.

Township Commencement Exercises.

Saturday, 8 p. m., June 16, Hanging Grove township, at Parker school. Tuesday, Bp. m., June 19, Kftnkakee township, at M. E. church Dunnville. Wednesday, 8 p. m., June 20, Walker township Wheatfield town, at Wheatfield. Friday, 2 p m.. June 22, Marion and Carpenter tow'nsbipe, Fountain Park. Saturday, 8 p. m., June 23, Barkley and Union townships, at Barkley M. E. church. Saturday, 8 p. m., June 30, Gillam, at Independence.