Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 December 1903 — Page 1

Jasper County Democrat.

SI.OO Per Year.

LOCAL AND PERSONAL. Brief Item* of Interest to City and Country Reader*. Frank Chnpp is clerking in tbe Backet Store. Come to Tbe Democrat office for all kinds of job printing. John O’Conner of Einman, was a Rensselaer visitor Tuesday. W. L. Wood of Parr, transacted business in Rensselaer Monday. Mrs. A. M. Harrison of North Dakota, is visiting relatives here. Miss Pearl Brogdon spent Sunday with her parents at FrancisA. L. Jensen and Mr. Mutohler of Wheatfield, were in town last Friday. Two rural mail routes will be established out of Moroooo Jannary Ist. O. A. Yeoman of Virgie, was registered at the Novels House Tuesday. Oscar McClure and family have gone to North Carolina to spend the winter. A daughter was born Deo. 2 to Mr. and Mrs. George Haste of near Sharon. Mr. and Mrs. M. A. McConnehay of Idaville, visited their son Dave, here last week. Dr. Merrill has given up his {iraotice here and has joined bis amily in Englewood. Claude Dunlap returned to Chioago Sunday, after a few days visit with his parents. Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Hoover are visiting Chioago this week and taking in the fat stock show. The Democrat will consist of twelve pages next week, to accommodate holiday advertisers. Miss Della Nauman of Chicago, is the guest of her uncle, C. A. Roberts and wife at this writing. Miss Etta Stooksick of Paxton, 111., spent Thanksgiving with her parents Mr. and Mrs. Fred Stocksick. "Whiskers” Schutman and J. J. Frey of Rose Lawn, were registered at the Nowels House last Sunday. Ed. Boyle, John Jenson, and N. O. Hollinshead were business visitors in this city from Rose Lawn Monday. Sidney Mainwariog was fined $2 and costed $8.85 by Bquire Troxell Wednesday evening for indulging in a plain drunk. New subscribers to The Democrat this week by poetoffices: Mt. Ayr, 1; Montioello, 2; Logansport, 1; Peoria, 111., 1. 1 car load, 710 bushels extra fancy Michigan potatoes, just received, 75 cts per bushel. Chicago Bargain Store.

Mr. and Mrs. Ellis Jones of Remington, and Mrs. Geo. IlifF of Jordan tp., are taking in the Chicago fat stock show this week. The party who took overcoat from Chicago Bargain Store Monday is known and will save trouble by returning the same at onoe. * Mrs Frank Minions and children of Chicago Heights, are visiting the former’s parents, Mr. and and Mrs. John Kohler, west of town. It is interesting to note that several high schools of the country have forbidden football, as a result of petitions circulated by parents. W. H. Beam is nursing a broken rib, received some days ago from being strook in the side by a heavy trunk whioh he was loading on trucks. Thomas Cain, who formerly conducted a restaurant here, is now living in Peoria, 111., where he has a good position as conductor on the street railway. T. F. McDonald of Ohicago, was the guest of Hon and Mrs. E. P. Honan last Sunday. Mr. McDonald is High Secretary of the Catholic Order of Foresters. Editors Clark and Baboock attended the gathering of Indiana editors at French Lick Thursday. Hon. Thomas Taggart, whose guests the editors were, entertained them royally.

Commissioners’ court convenes Monday. The city schools were dismissed for the football game Monday. Miss Maude Atkins of Monticello, visited Miss Ruth Harris this week. A daughter was born to Mr, and Mrs. Blaine Wood, north of town, last Saturday. Next week is tbe time to plant your holiday advertising to secure a good crop of results. An eight pound daughter was born to Rev. and Mrs. J. A. Cochran last Sunday morning. Mr, and Mrs. Forsythe of the Chioago Bargain Store, were in Chicago Tuesday, buying new goods. Chicago wants both of the two big National conventions next year, and will pay $50,000 eaoh for them. Mr. and Mrs. John Sohroer of Barkley tp., left Saturday for a few weeks visit with relatives in Zanesville, Ohio. Mrs. Mary Lane who has been visiting her brother, A 1 Peters, south of town, returned to her home in Chicago last Friday,. Grand holiday opening and an advanoe clearing sale Dec. 9 to Jan. 1. Chicago Bargain Store. Drs. Johnson & Eresler have disolved partnership, the latter moving to quarters in the E. of P. block. The ladies of Evening Star Chapter No. 41, O. E. S., will hold a "Rummage Sale” Friday and Saturday, Dec. 4 and 5, in the new E. of P. building. Miss Ethel Perkins returned to Goodland Sunday evening to resume her duties as teacher in the town schools after a few days visit with her parents here. Louis WiMberg is moving this week into one of J. T. Randle’s new houses on Cullen street. W. C. Babcock will move into the property vacated by Mr. Wildberg on North Division street. Geo. Healey has sold his newsgiper outfit and business at rookston, the Gazette, to Francis Smith, Bnd J. A. Morrison, who leased the paper some two months ago, will go to Tolona. 111. The Democrat would commend the editorial on football from the Chicago Examiner, published on another page, to the careful reading of the parents, school boards and teaohers of Jasper county, A very pleasant social dance was enjoyed by Rensselaer society people at the armory last Friday evening. The music was furnished by a Chicago Orchestra, while Goff & Son were the caterers. Isaac Porter and family and his mother, Mrs. Nancy Porter, departed for their future home, Fresno, Cali., last Monday. Mr. Porter will follow fruit growing and market gardening. He has a brother living at Fresno. Taylor McCoy, who has been a student at Andover college, Mass., for the past few months, arrived home last night. He will not return there again this year, but will enter the public schools here next Monday.—Republican. Marsh Warner has bought out D. M. Worland’s carriage business and will move his implement business into the room oooupied by the latter. Tanner's restaurant will go into the room vacated by Mr. Warner, it is understood. Mrs. Anna Hathaway, aged 80 years, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. J. T. Murray, southeast of town, last Sunday morning. The remains were taken to her former home. Piqua, Ohio, where another daughter resides, for interment. Mr. William E. Guss of this oity, at present employed in the shoe department of Montgomery Ward & Co's, store in Chicago, and Miss Ferae Starr, eldest daughter of C. C. Starr, Rensselaer’s veteran grooeryman, were united in marriage at the home of tbe officiating clergyman. Rev. J. A. Cochran, at 6 p. m., Saturday evening, and left on the 6:85 p. m., train for Chicago, where they will make their home we understand.

Rensselaer, Jasper County, Indiana, Saturday, December 5, 1903.

AT FRENCH LICK.

Tom Taggart Plays Host to Indiana Quill Driven. Indiana editors with their wives, to the number of about two hundred, enjoyed a rare treat this week, the guests of Hon. Thomas Taggart, at French Liok, of which, like the garndeur of Solomon's temple, the half has never been told of this nature-favored resort. Comparatively few people realize th4t there is so beautiful a spot in lur diana as French Lick, and the new Springs’ Hotel of which Mr. Taggart is president, is a dream of beauty and elegance, representing an outlay of perhaps over $500,000! The elegance of its appointments and its unsurpassed cuisine must be seen and tested to be appreciated. No more delightful spot to spend a few weeks’ outing oan be found anywhere in the United States, and the fame of this resort is destined to become world-wide. Notwithstanding the elegance and sumptousness of the entertainment to tbe average country editor, Mr. Taggart made all feu at home, and we venture to say: that no one there ever spent a more delightful sojourn. The entertainment Wednesday evening consisted of a "badger fight” in the gymnasium and a musical and vaudeville entertainment, .cake walk, dancing, etc., in the handsome and spacious hotel lobby. Thursday morning the guests were taken for a carriage ride over tha hills to Mt. Aire, ascended tha observatory where a splendid view of the surrounding country oan bs had, and returned to the Springs via West Baden. Thursday afternoon a business meeting was held where matters of interest to newspaper men in general were discussed, and “Tha Indiana Press Association” was formed. John B. Stoll of South Bend, was made president of the new association; H. A. Strohm of Eentland, secretary, and Major J. R. Simpson of Paoli, treasurer. The association is non-political and is organized for legitimate business purposes only. Before adjournment the following resolutions were adopted:

“In hearty appreciation of the many acts of courtesy bestowed upon the representives of the Indiana press, individually and collectively during their pleasurable sojourn in nature’s beauty spot and Indiana’s worldrenowned health resort, we beg to express herewith and hereby our unstinted acknowledgment of obligation and sincere thanks to the Monon Railroad, to tha eitisens and authorities of French Lick, to the management of the French Lick Springs Hotel, to Mr. J. B. Whitehead for his labors in arranging the details of this meeting, and last, but not least, to that prinee of entertainers and splendid gentleman, Thomas Taggart, for their untiring efforts to provide for our comfort and pleasure. “The newspaper fraternity of Indiana, without reference to party affiliations, beg to tender their congratulations to the persona and corporations named upon their splendid success in transforming this favored spot of Indiana into one of the most attractive resorts in the world, and affording unsurpassed opportunities for healthful and beneficial reereation to mankind.” The following memorial on the late Samuel E. Mores, of Indianapolis, was adopted on motion of the oommittee on resolutions: “The members of the Indiana Press Association take this occasion to give expression to their profound grief at the untimely death of Samuel E. Moras, for years editor of the Indianapolis Scatlnel. A man of royal mental endowment and spotless character, trained In journalism and impressed with the dignity of the profession to whieh his life waa devoted, hia death was a serious loss not only to journalism, but also to tha State of Indiana. Those nearest and dearest to him tha sympathies of this associations arc tendered la their great bereavement.” Thureday night a banquet was held at which J. B. Stoll of South Bend, presided. Formal toasts were: “Our Mutual Interests,” W. S. Montgomery of Greenfield; “Our Capital City,” Mayor John W. Holtz man of Indianapolis; "Future Excursions,” John B. Whitehead of Indianapolis; "French Liok,” Major John R. Simpson of Paoli. Following the dinner there was an informal mnsioale, danoing, etc., in the hotel lobby. A few of the editors bid their hospitable host good-bye and departed for home Thursday night, but most of them staid over until Saturday.

FOR RENT. Office rooms over Moody & Roth meat market, opposite oourt house. Also one new frame house of 8 rooms, cistern, city water, electrio lights, one block east of court house. For particulars enquire of John Makeever. 1 counter ladies’ fine shoes, 50 cts per pair. 1 counter children’s shoes, sises 5 to 12, at 25 cts per pair. Chicago Bargain Stork.

ABOUT THE COURT HOUSE.

ItMM of Interest (lathered In the Offices and Corridors of the County Cspltol. There were no unloaned school funds on hand Deo. Ist that had not been spoken for. —o— Ten marriage licenses were issued last month, against 13 for the month previous and 14 for November, 1902. —o — New suits filed: No. 6584. Thomas J. Mallatt vs. Thomas J. Stowers et al; action on note and mortgage. Demand S2OO. —o — Two liquor license applications came up at the December term of commissioners’ oonrt, Geo. Striokladen of Rensselaer and Geo. Brett of Dunnville. No remonstrance will be filed in either oase, we understand. At the meeting of the Jasper Oounty Teachers’ Association here last week it was decided to discontinue the annual meetings of the Association and to merge same into the Connty Teachers’ Institute, which hereafter will be held the week proceeding Christmas, instead of in August. Anent Abe’s tax-ferret deal, a grand total of $1.93 was collected from Gillam township. Gillam’s share of the $5,000 paid the taxferrets from tbe county revenue was aproximately S4OO. A rather steep price for collecting a dollar and ninety-three cents, of which amount Gillam received possibly •eventy-five cents. Marriage licenses issued; Nov. 23, Marrimon Tudor to Rena Newcome. Nov. 28, William C. Guss to Ferae Starr. Nov. 30, Sylvester Richards to Lowell Osby. —o — Little has been doing in the circuit court this week, and to-day the term ends. French Hollinshead vs. Morgan Hollinshead; jury find for defendant. Case of Dora Brown vs. Charles Burkland, action for slander, was continued and plaintiff ordered to appear at office of John W. Walker in the court house in Rensselaer on Dec. 14, 1903, and submit to an examination as party plaintiff herein.

FAIR OAKS GETS RURAL MAIL ROUTE.

Beginning January Ist a rural mail route service will be established out of Fair Oaks; length of route 24 miles, population served 410. The route will run northwest four miles, we understand, thence south to near Mt. Ayr, thence east, and thence north to Fair Oaks.

Jonathans, Eings, Northern Spys, Wagoner $3.00 bbl. or $1.20 per bushel. Chicago Bargain Store.

FREIGHT BRAKEMAN KILLED.

Fred Harness, a freight brakeman on the Monon, waa killed while making a switch connection at Monon last Friday evening He had thrown the switoh for the engine and stepped back to let it go by. In doing so he stepped in the path of another engine that happened to be backing and was struck by the corner of the tender. The top of hia head was torn off add falling under the wheels he was badly mangled. Deceased was a member of both the E. of P., and Masonic fraternity, add a popular yonng man. He leaves a wife and two children.

DENVER MILLER MARRIED.

Marion News Tribane, Nov. 25: "Tha marriage of Denver E. Miller and Nettie Brown took place last evening at tbe Christian Tabernacle parsonage, tbe Rev. E. L. Frasier performing the oeremony. Both young people have many friends to wish them well. Mr. Miller is a trusted employee of the Lee Hall store, and bis bride who was formerly a resident of Greencastle, has many acquaintances here. They were attended by Frank Richards and Elyda Hill ” Denver’s many friends in Rensselaer and vicinity extend congratulations.

Christmas Trees.

500 evergreens, 3 to 12 feet high; roping and wreaths cheap Address C. L. Parks, Surrey, I*d.

SPENCER WILL CASE.

Issues Made Up and Case Set for Feb. 13. --History of the Case. Judge Joseph M. Rabb of Williamsport, oooupied the benoh iu oar court Monday and Tuesday, hearing motions and argument of the attorneys in the famous Dr. William Spencer will case, brought here from White county on a change of venue. Charles C. Spencer and Capt. Guthrie of Monticello, and Judge Winfield of Logansport, represented the plaintiff. Dr. Frank Spencer and E. B. Sellers, W. E. Uhl and B. F. Carr of Montioello, DeWitt Justic of Loganspott, Ferguson & Wilson and Foltz, Spitler & Eurrie of Rensselaer, represent the defendants, namely, Mrs. Gertrude Meeker and Mrs. May Carson and their husbands. The plaintiff’s complaint is very long and goes at length into specific charges of conspiracy and fraud on the part of the defendants in procuring Dr. Spencer to execute the will which reads as follows: , “Montioello, May 2nd, 1898. I, William Spencer, being of sound mind and disposing mind and memory, do make this as my last will and testament. Ist—l give to my daughter. Mrs May Carson, all my property both personal and real of whatsoever kind to be hers and her heirs forever. Jnd—l give to my only other sUM. Mrs. Gertrude Meeker, in addition to what she has already obtained from me, an additional sum of ten dollars. Wm. Spsmcsb. Witnesses: A. P. Reynolds, B. F. Ritchie.” The plaintiff charges that Dr. Spencer had two wills, one made in March, 1892, drafted by E. B. Sellers, and the above will now in contest, which he drafted with hia own hand; that in 1895 his son-in-law, S. A. Carson, drafted a deed conveying all the property of the testator to Mrs. Carson, his wife, and got him to sign it, and this deed was keep off record until testator’s death; that the defendants conspired to cheat and defrand the plaintiff, who was adopted by the testator, out of his Share, by getting the testator to exeente the above wills and deed, and to that end he charged and argned to the court that the defendants were suppressing the first will andwhile admitting its possession refused to allow plaintiff to inspect it as well as other papers signed by the testator. Judge Rabb entered an order requiring the defendants to file the March will—the one being concealed by the defendants—with the clerk of the court by Saturday of this week, and also entered an order requiring the defendants to answer certain questions concerning the estate and conspiracy, which they had refused on examination before a notary to answer. Tbe case is set for trial on February 15. and it promises to be an interesting one from the facts charged, and the array of counsel and the prominence of the parties and the amount at stake. Tbe Indianapolis Journal of Tuesday published the following account of the case:

pspanioy I CICAR^I I Worth More ' 1 I I and toe - can V£s I I g p y o hundred I I JUSTIFIES I |our guarantee! °* U. W. UVJ. r 1 dc 'Ol.t FOK **NSSELAER * INDIAN 1

Vol. VI. No. 35

Bsumelaer. Ind,, Nov. 30.—The issues in the Dr. William Spencer will oase were made up today in tbe Circuit Court before Judge Joseph M. Rabb of Williamsport. Dr. Frank Spencer, now taking his second year postgraduate work in the Medical College at Ann Arbor, Mioh., is contesting the will of Dr, William Spencer, who died about two year* ago at his home in Montioello, where he owned property valued at 1100,000. The complaint charges that in 1880 Dr. Wm. Spencer married plaintiff’s mother who was at that time the widow of Dr. Spencer's brother, and that as an inducement to the marriage the testator promised and agreed to adopt the plaintiff and give him one-third of bis estate, representing that he was a weakly child, and needed his care as a physician, and unless he got it he would die; that on the faith of this and many other promises the wife married the testator, and gave him about $6,000 with which to build their home: that a few weeks after the marriage the testator duly adopted the plaintiff, but from that moment the testator's other children, two daughters. Mrs. Carson and Mrs. Meeker, prominent in Monticello social circles, began to poison the mind of Dr. Spencer against his new wife and adopted son and nephew, to the extent that he entertained various delusions as to his oonduot and duty towaid bis family; that about 1887 hia weakness of mind and body, resulting from various causes charged, became manifest and caused a change in his attitude toward and treatment of his family, growing worse until 189$, when it became so unbearable that his wife was compelled to procure a divorce on a complaint of oruel and Inhuman treatment, which was sustained by the White circuit court; that during this trial the testater executed a will, and two months later personally drafted the will now being contested, which gives all his property to Mrs. Carson, wife of the cashier of the Monticello National Bank, and 110 to hit other daughter, Mrs. Meeker, whose husband owns the prinoipal drug store, and lumber and coal business In that town; the will does not even mention the plaintiff, and the plaintiff says in his complaint that in pursuance of the conspiracy of the defendants to cheat him out of his Interests, they procured by undue influence and fraud the two wills to be executed, and also In 188 S a deed to be exeouted by the testator conveying all his property to Mrs. Carson, which deed was kept off of record until after tbe testator’s death, when the same was recorded, together with another deed from Mrs. Carson to Mrs. Meeker for her half of the property, which had been previously agreed upon as her share by the two defendants; that owing to the testator’s unsoundness of mind the defendants dominated him and procured the execution of these instruments, as well as obtaining from him many thousand dollars in money and property. This suit has been pending for more that a year. The plaintiff has filed about a dosen depositions and examinations, including the deposition of the only surviving subscribing witness to tbe will, who testifies that the testator was of unsound mind at the time of the execution of the will. To the same point are the depositions of the uncle of the testator, clerks 1a hia store and others closely associated with him. The plaintiff examined the defendants and their husbands, as to their knowledge of and connection with the will and deed, and for failure to answer most of the questions the plaintiff today asked the court for an order compelling the defendants to answer these questions. The case probably will be tried at the next term of this court, and from indications and reports will take about a mouth.

FIVE PER CENT MONEY On well improved farm lands in this and adjoining counties. We can loan on two to ten years time, with privelege of partial payments of SIOO or more at any interets paying time. Money ready as soon as abstract is approved, Ler.st red tape. No publicity. Baughman & Williams, Attys. and Loan Agents, Rensselaer, Ind. An armload of old papers for s nickel at The Democrat office.