Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 September 1905 — Page 1

Jasper County Democrat.

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JOE FAGOT KILLED

Remington flan Meets Death Under Auto. RUNS OFF GRADE AT BIG SLOUGH, And Machine Buries Him in the Mud. Accident Happened Saturday Night. Joseph Fagot, aged 41 years, a prominent and wealthy real estate dealer of Remington, was killed at the Big Slough bridge, 3 miles south of Rensselaer, at about 10 o’clock Saturday night, by his' automobile running off the grade, turning over in the ditch and burying the unfortunate man face downward in the mud of the ditch, smothering him, Mr. Fagot had brought over from Remington that evening W. B. Donahue, a real estate man from Lisbon, No. Dak., and arrived here about 7:30 or 8 o’clock in the evening. His two eldest boys, aged about 11 and 13 years, respectively, accompanied him. After arriving here, while not what would be considered a drinking man, the headquarters appeared to be at one of the saloons on South Van Rensselaer street, and several trips were also made to an alleged sporting house in the east part of town, which would indicate that Mr. Fagot bad been drinking a little. He was known in Remington ak a fast driver, and drove his machine at such a reckless speed about town while here as to cause many remarks, and the night watch spoke to him about the matter. At the crossing near the Makeever House, he came near running over two ladies, while returning from a trip to the east part of town. Just before leaving here he is alleged to have taken one or two glasses more of beer, and, while he was not drunk, it is probable that the beer he had drank made him more reckless than usual, even, and he is alleged to have pulled out of town at about ten o’clock at night at a high speed. It seems that in crossing the bridge where the accident occured that he had kept zigzagging across and then turned to the east on dropping off the bridge. The machine was going at such a high speed that it shot off the grade on the east side, toppled over and threw the man and boys into the mud and water below. The boys, who were riding in the rear seat were covered with mud and water but were uninjured, while Mr. Fagot was pinioned under the front wheel and fender in the mud and was smothered. The boys scrambled out and shut off the motor, which was still running, and not being able to do anything to rescue their father, ran back towards town for assistance. Reaching the Henry Kolhoff’s place some f of a mile from the scene, they saw a light, went in and gave the alarm. Mr. Kolhoff telephoned to Rensselaer for assistance and a party went out in automobiles, including Coroner Wright, Drs. English and Gwin, and others. Before their arrival, however, Ray and Earl Adams were driving by and, attracted by the smell of gasoline, stopped to investigate. They lighted some matches and saw the auto in the ditch and Mr. Fagot in under it They drove to Levi Clouse’s place, some distance south, and also telephoned in to the coroner, in fact it is stated that their message was the first that reached him. The machine was lying on its side and the unfortunate man was held down by the front wheel and fender, and it was quite difficult to remove the body, which was lying lengthwise under the auto, from the few inches of water and mud, so firmly was it pressed down in the latter. It was finally removed, however, and brought to Wright’s undertaking rooms in this city where it remained until Sunday morning when it was taken to his late home in Remington. was a cat and a bruise on ths ear and jaw back of the ear, caused by the sharp edge of the step or mud guard, and a slight bruise on the hip, and it was evident that he was smothered by the mud, the mouth, nose and ears be-

ing filled therewith. His watch was still running and it was 11:05 when the body was taken out, or about forty-five or fifty minutes after the accident occurred. The machine was a new one that he bad owned less than a month. It was slightly injured but was brought to town and repaired and has been run about the streets by Jack Montgomery at different times this week. The embank* ment it went down was probably Bto 9 feet below the road level, and the mud and water that it went into are caused by a bayou extending back from the ditch a few rods. The two boys were taken care of at Henry Kolhoff’s until the next morning, when their grandfather and grandmother from Remington came and took -them home. Mr. Fagot moved to Remington some four or five years ago, coming originally from Woodford county, 111., and bought the John Berger residence on Ohio street. He was quite well fixed financially and has been engaged in the real estate business for several years. He leaves a wife and five children, the eldest about twelve years of age. The funeral was held at Remington Catholic church Wednesday at 9 a. m., being in charge of the Catholic Order of Foresters, of which he was a prominent member, carrying >2,000 insurance in said order, and burial made in the Catholic cemetery west of that town. Mr. Fagot was highly respected in Remington and had a large circle o£ friends there who deeply sympathize with the widow and family in their deep sorrow.

THE TEACHERS INSTITUTE.

The teachers institute,- which has been in session all week, adjourned yesterday. The program as published last week was carried out. Prof. Brown, head of the Valparaiso University, was pres, ent Wednesday, and gave a good talk to the teachers. Wednesday afternoon the male teachers crossed bats with the clerks, at Riverside Park, and the latter were done up by a score of 8 to 1. The county contest at the opera house Wednesday evening was largely attended, and the contestants acquitted themselves in a splendid manner. Homer Fisher, son of Frank W. Fisher, of Kankakee tp., was awarded the gold medal, the first prize, and Grace Price, of Union tp., the second prize, a silver medal. Their subjects were: “My-First Experience as a Farmer,” and “The Farmer’s Home,” respectively. There was no hesitation in awarding the first prize, as the Fisher lad’s subject and delivery was far above any of the others, and was most meritorious indeed, but on second place the committee was more in doubt. Mr. Fisher tells us that he will start his boy in at the Valparaiso University Monday, where his elder brother Lee, is also attending school. The work of the instructors of ths institute is highly spoken of. Some 140 teachers were in attendance, as shown by the roll.

WILLIAM THORNTON KILLED.

Former Ronoseloor Man Killed In Light Plent at Danville. William Thornton, formerly of this place, died from injuries received from the bursting of a sixteen-inch steam pipe at the Danville, (Ill.,) electric light plant, Monday at 9 o’clock p. m. The accident happened Sunday afternoon, and aa a result two men are now dead and three others in a critical condition. The victims were stokers and cinder-pit workers, and were repairing the pipe when the nipple blew off. The force of the escaping steam imbedded large cinders in the flesh of the victims, while the flesh of Richards, one of those killed, was literally cooked.

DAVE WILL TRY FARMING.

/D. M. Worland has sold his livery barn in Alexandria, Minn., which he recently traded for, and has purchased the Ham Sayler farm of 120 acres. 3 miles west of town, and Will will build a new bouse and move ther**on. The price paid was *6,000. Mr. Sayler recently traded this farm for a farm in Minnesota, near Glenwood, and will move there next week.

Rensselaer, Jasper County, Indiana, Saturday, September 2, 1905.

THE COURT HOUSE

Items Picked Up About The County Capitol. Commissioners’ court convenes Monday and the county council meets Tuesday. There were no unloaned school funds on hand August Ist except what has been applied for. —lol— various township advisory boards will meet next Tuesday to pass on the estimates and tax levies of there respective townships for the year 1906. —o — Four marriage licenses and five junk dealers license were issued last month. Five marriage licenses were issued for the preceding month, and four were issued during August, 1904. —o— The September term of the Jasper circuit court will convene one week from Monday. A grand jury will be called, we understand, and a number of matters will go before it for investigation. —-o — Pending removal the public library will be closed until Tuesday, Sept. 5, when it will be reopened in the new library building, and until further notice the hours will be from 10 a. m., to 5 p. m. Later it will be open evenings and and on Sunday. —o — New suits filed: No. 6909. N. P. Valerins vs. Edwin Fairchild; action in attachment; Demand $950. No. 6910. J. C. Gwin & Co., vs. Hugh Brosnan; action on account. Demand SSOO. No. 6911. F. D. Callan vs. James C. McColly and William Warne; foreclosure of mortgage. Demand SBO. No. 6912. Wolfe Bros. Shoe Co., vs. Edwin Fairchild; suit in attachment. Demand $101.70. In his argument in the Newton county court bouse case Tuesday, Judge Hammond made several telling points, stating that under the present. law Morocco could never hope to get the county seat by reason of being within the four mile limit, that special acts would be unconstitutional, etc.; that in his opinion it would remain permanently at Kentland; and if the Morocco people who were fighting the continuation of the county seat at Kentland wanted to live in a county seat town they should move to "Kentland or come to Rensselaer, for they would be pretty old and gray before they ever made their town a county seat. It is suggested, in order to have no hitch in the sale of the Iroquois ditch next time, that blank forms of contract be prepared in advance to the approval of the Board of Commissioners, and bonds in penalty and amount be prepared to the approval of the Auditor; that the engineer conduct the sale and no one be allowed to bid unless they put up a bidders’ bond and cash to make their bid effective; also, that the sale he advertised for a time, when the Board of Commissioners are in session so that contract and bond may be approved at once. This would avoid any delinquency but might make the work sell higher because of the terms imposed on the bidders. Under the auspices of The Jasper County Bar, a “stag party” was given at the Armory last Friday night in honor of HonJesse E. Wilson, who left for Washington this week to take up his duties as Aassistant Secretary of the Interior. Some eighty invited guests vpre present and a good time is reported. A couple of professional male entertainers from Chicago were secured for the occasion. An elaborate “Dutch lunch” was served. Among those from out of town in attendance were Attorney Beard, Mr. Spencer and Louis Leopold of Wolcott, W. F. Brucker of Monticello, Frank Maloy and Walter White of Lowell and/ Omar Ritchey of Anderson. Judge Hanley was toastmaster.

THE REMOMSTRANCE SITUATION.

Last night at 12 o’clock was the latest date for the remonstrators against the granting of liquor licenses in Rensselaer, on applications coming up next Monday, to file such remonstrance. The Democrat is not informed as to the exact situation of the remonstrance, but it is generally understood that the remonstrators will lack about a dozen names of the required number, and will not file at this time. The applicants filed four withdrawls of signers Thursday night, the latestest date for filing withdrawls, as follows: GEORGE PLATT JOSEPH HALLIGAN W.C.PIIRCE JOHN M. GRAY ~~ The Democrat goes to press too early to state authentically whether the remonstrance would be filed or not, but is safe to presume that it was not, because of lack of sufficient number of names to the instrument, caused by the legislature changing the law and requiring a majority of the votes cast for the highest officer on tire ticket instead of for the head of the ticket, and the further reason that there were many empty houses in the ward when this renonstrance was circulated.

NAT SCOTT HARRIED.

Nathaniel Scott, the senior member of the firm of Scott Bros., harness makers of this city, and Miss Nora Barnum of Franklin, Ind., were married at that place Wednesday. They will begin housekeeping here at once, taking up their residence in the Mrs. Kolb residence property on South Van Rensselaer street. J\Nat’s many friends extend hearty x congratulations.

PARTIAL INJUNCTION ONLY.

A Newton County Court House Case Heard Here In Chambers By Judge Hanley Tuesday. Another round in the Newton county court house case was heard here Tuesday afternoon by Judge Hanley in chambers, and the county commissioners of Newton county were temporarilly enjoined from making any contracts or expending any money for the completion of the half-completed court house at Kentland which was tied up by the recent supreme court decision. This time it was the State of Indiana who was the aggrieved party, according to the complaint of the prosecuting attorney and verified by Andrew J. Ellis, a Morocco citizen whose name has been used considerably in the numerous cases brought by the Moroccoites to prevent the building of a court house at Kentland. Attorney Rogers of Morocco, who is attorney for the “antis,” is also deputy prosecuter, it seems, and with Attorneys Moore of Indianapolis, Babcock of Good land and Pierson of Morocco, were here to see that Indiana didn’t get “hornswoggled” in the deal. There were also present the county commissioners and the four remaining members of the Newton county council, who were sought to be enjoined, and several citizens of Kentland and Morocco. The “antis” this time wanted the incomplete building carted off bag and baggage from the public square, the commissioners enjoined now and forever from going ahead and completing said partly completed court house, and the county council enjoined from making the appropriations asked for by the commissioners in their annual requisitions which comes up’ before the council next Tuesday. Judge Hammond of Lafayette and F. A Comparet of Kentland, appeared for the county and the other attorneys mentioned appeared for the .“antis.” After hearing the argument of counsel the court refused to interfere with the actions of the county council, but granted a temporary restraining order restraining the commissioners from doing anything in the matter until the case can be heard on its merits, which will probably be at the October term of court in Newton county. An incident of the hearing not down on the bills was that of Attorney Rogers, who directed most of his remarks to the opposing counsel instead of the court, in referring to a statement made by Judge Hammond in the opening argument, saying that such statement was “a base lie.” Judge

Hammond asked Judge Hanley if he allowed such remarks, and said if “the.gentleman was outside the court room I would make him take it back.” Judge Hanley reprimanded the youngster for the remark, and Moore, his associate counsel, tried to smooth the troubled waters by saying that he thought the remark had been misunderstood, that he understood Rogers to say “a base libel.” The word used, however, according to general opinion, was lie, and had Judge Hammond been a little closer it was the belief of those in the court room that he might have forgotten the dignity of the court and banded the young man one anyway. Rogers did not apologize even after being reprimanded.

CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

Street Commissioners and Board of Health Appointed Under New Law. The regular meeting of the common council of the City of Rensselaer was held Monday evening with all members present except Councilman Spitler. Following is a report of proceedings of the meeting: The street committee was authorized to purchase one or two carloads of crushed stone for repair of streets. The report of Fire Chief was accepted and the firemen who attended the Ralph Marshall fire were allowed $1.50 each for their services at such fire. The matter of a new cement sidewalk on Angelica street, near the library, was continued, all but about one-half block being now built. The matter of water meters for the use of pigeon houses, was referred to the water committee to fix rates. An ordinance governing water and light rates was passed to first reading. It reduces the meter rate for lights from 12| cents per thousand watts to 10 cents. An ordinance fixing the tax levy for 1905 was introduced and referred to the finance committee. The rates are practically the same as last year, but of course it is subject to change. It will come up for passage at the second meeting this month. An ordinance defining the duties of the nightwatch was introduced and passed to first reading. The mayor appointed Drs. Gwin, Miller and Merrill, as members of the City Board of Health, who will select from among themselves a secretary. J. W. Childers was appointed street commissioner by the Mayor, and the city attorney was instructed to draw an ordinance defining the duties and fixing salary of said commissioner. The following claims were reported favorably and ordered paid: COBPOBATION FUND. Lyman Zea. salary, nightwatch t 22 50 F. M. Abbott, same, marshal 22 50 J. C. Gwin, hauling hose cart 1 50 J. L. Adams, same, and stakes 2 00 Jerome Harmon, same, ladder trucks. 150 HOAD FUND. Frank Sheid, work on sewer 6 75 Ed Catt, burying dog 50 Chas. Seelman, work on street 3 15 B. Cockerel, same ' 6 75 Roy Thomas, same 2 25 J. P. Simons, same 75 John McClanahan, same 90 W. S. Parks, same 7 00 Geo. Smith, same 3 00 B. R. Hopkins, flushing sewer 2 00 Chris Sack, work on street 75 KLBCTBIC LIGHT FUND. C. S. Chamberiain. salary to Aug. 15.... 50 00 Lem Huston, same 30 00 C. L.Thornton, same 30 00 J. H,Chapman, freight 162 27 Wm. McConnehay, work on line 6 00 Tom Hoyes, same 14 63 Earl Saylor, same 18 00 Roy Grayson,same, 450 Foltz A Spitler, making copies boiler speclticatlons 5 00 WATBK FUND. Conrad Hildebrand, salary to Aug. 15.. 30 00 PARK FUND. S. P. Thompson. Interest on loan. 54 00

BIRTHDAY PARTY.

Little Miss Cecelia Kennel gave a birthday party Wednesday from 2 to 5 in honor of her cousin, Margaret Shide of Remington, at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Kennel, in the east part of town. The little folks had a delightful time. Those present were: Margaret Shide Lucile Knox Cecelia Kellner Gladys Day Hazel M. Jones Edna Robinson Luella Robinson Ada Robinson Bell Harmon Regini Merica Maud Day Horne Ryan Nellie Ryan. Ruth Witshire Madeline Kellner May Smith John Kellner Raymond McKay J oesie Thomas. Cecelia Kennel

Vol. VIII. No. 23

STILL LEADING.

Remington K. of P. Lodge Continues at Head. ANOTHER CANDIDATE THIS WEEK. Many Votes Cast In The Democrat’s Popularity Contest.—The Prize a $300.00 Chase Piano. Quite a number of the contestants in The Democrat’s Popularity Contest have largely increased their vote this week and one new candidate has entered the field. While the Remington K. of P. lodge continues in the lead and has increased its vote considerably this week, others have passed the 100 mark and a little effort on the part of those lower in the list would easily result in their reaching up with or passing the leading contestants. The vote at the hour of going to press stood as follows: Remington K. of P. Lodge 160 Mt. Hope Church, Jordan tp 140 Rensselaer Chriitian Church 110 Gifford United Brethren Church .... 80 St. John’s Court, C.0.F., Remington.... 80 Milroy Baptist Church 70 Rensselaer Court,C.O. F 70 Parr Baptist Church 70 Wheatfield K. of P. Lodge 40 Barkley M.E. Church 40 McCoysbnrg Sundav 5ch001................ 40 Gillam Christian S. S 30 Barkley Christian Church 20 Kniman M. E. Church 20 Remington Christian Church 20 Gillam M. E. Church 10 Virgie Sunday School 20 It is not too late by any means for new contestants to enter the field, as each new subscriber is entitled to 20 votes and each old subscriber to 10 votes on each dollar paid on old subscription. —ls the name of your Church, Sunday School or Lodge is not yet entered in the contest; see some of its friends interested and get up a few new subscribers and forge to the front. Remember that ten new subscribers means 200 votes, which would place it to the front, and as nothing succeeds like success this would give you a prestige that would bring other votes from subscribers having no particular choice. Do not think that holding back votes will benefit you, for the earlier you get the name of your Church, Sunday School, Lodge or Club announced and the more votes you can show in the published statement each week the better it will be for you, for there are a number of people who come in tn renew their subscription each week who have no particular choice, and strange as it may appear, they cast the votes they areentitled to for one of the contesttants well up to the head of the list. If you are not already a subscriber of The Democrat it behooves you to get in line and become one, and then help the organization of your choice to secure this valuable instrument. All votes are being carefully filed away and will be counted at the end of the contest by a disinterested committee of three who will award the piano to the contestant securing the greatest number of votes. In case of a tie vote the piano will go to the two tieing contestants, and they can settle the tie between themselves. Remember that each new subscriber gets 20 votes, and 10 votes go with each dollar paid on old subscription.

COLT SHOW.

Desiring to promote the breeding of good stock, I will give to growers of the best colts on exhibition at Fisher’s feed barn in Rensselaer at 2:30 p. m.. Saturday, Sept. 16, 1905, sired by my horses, Kentucky Morgan and Richwood Squirrel, and jack, James Madison, cash prizes of $lO for first and $5 for second in each horse’s get, or a total of $45. Remember the date, Saturday, Sept. 16, and come out and see some good colts.

Compositors Wants d—Nonunion men to take the place of strikers, transportation furnished, permanent positions and highest wages. Address: Rand-McNally & Co., Chicago.

O. J. Kenton.