Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 June 1906 — Page 1

Jasper County Democrat.

SI.OO Per Year.

STATE RESTS.

Defense In McCoy Case Begun Wednesday. FIFTH WEEK OF TRIAL AT END, And Probably Two Weeks Flore Will Be Consumed in the Famous Bank-Wrecking Case. The State rested its case Wednesday noon in the McCoy trial after about two days’ examination of J. H. Chapman, the trustee of the bankrupts. Following are the more interesting clippings from the daily report of the trial by W. H. Blodgett in the Indianapolis News: The contention of the State is that both the defendants are guilty, but the attorneys admit that the jury can acquit either of the defendants, or both, or can convict both. Alfred McCoy can go free and bis son be sent to prison, or Thomas J. McCoy can be freed and bis father punished. The State contends that it has shown the bank was hopelessly insolvent when James H. Cox made his deposit of 148. The State has shown that there were £250,000 in certificates of deposit, $114,000 in deposits and to pay that enm on demand there was a little more than S4OO in the bank. The testimony produced by the State shows that the estate of Thomas J. McCoy will pay about 5 cents on the dollar. The estate of Alfred McCoy has paid 52| cents, and it is expected to pay 2| cents more, making a total of 55 cents on the dollar. The estate of A. McCoy & Co. has paid 30 cents and it is expected to pay 10 cents more, making 40 cents on the dollar. “tom” m’cgy’s overdrafts. The State introduced as evidence the record of the overdrafts of Alfred and Thomas J. McCoy. To give them by items would be too long, but the following is a sample of the way T. J. McCoy drew money from the bank: December 1.1902 » 73 40 December 2 18 Cl December X 50 25 December 14 93 51 December 5. 164 09 December 8 60 85 December 10 110 25 December 15 2 88 December 16 46 50 December 18..... 1 25 December 22. .... 50 00 December 26 100 00 December 31 3 00 . Total 8777 66 This is an average of more than $25 a day, including Sundays, for the month of December. The total overdraft of T. J. McCoy in the bank of A. McCoy & Co. from 1894 to the time the bank closed was more than $152,000, making an average of about $15,000 a year that he drew from the bank. The evidence introduced by the State showed that T. J. McCoy did a good business with the banking firm of A. McCoy <fc Co, the last month the bank existed. March 30, 1904, his overdrafts in the bank amounted to 1151,714.02, and though he did not have a dollar in the bank, he drew checks as follows: April 1 » 57 35 April 4 81 35 April 5 155 67 April 6 11l 26 April 7 10 58 April 9 8145 April 11 35 28 April 12 1 00 April 13 129 50 April 15 15 00 April 15 156 00 Total 8834 04 This is an average of $52 a day for the sixteen days the bank lived in April: AVERAGE OF $37 DAY. On April 1, 1904, Afred McCoy had an overdraft in the bank of more than $50,000, yet his checks were honored as follows: April 1 $l4B 50 April 2 56 78 April 4 49 50 April 6 16 34 April 7 268 95 Aprils 477 April 18 10 00 April 14 * 5 00 April 15 10 00 April 16 25 00 Or more than{s37 a day for the sixteen days and the overdraft charged against him at that time

was $50,599.66. The overdraft of Alfred and T. J. McCoy at the same time was $4,330.82. MR. CHAPMAN’S TESTIMONY. Mr. Chapman detailed how he had searched the bank, the private boxes, etc., for notes given by Delos Thompson, by T. J. McCoy and Delps Thompson, W. A. Rinehart, the Rensselaer Stock Farm Company—all of these amounted to over $40,000, and could not be found. These notes would have been a valuable asset for the creditors. The testimony of Mr. Chapman revealed a remarkable loose manner of conducting a bank. The last daily statement, the witness said, stated that the cash on hand amounted to more than $5,000, but that statement was not correct, as far as actual money was concerned. The witness said that among the items credited on the book as cash was a tax receipt for $1,225.32. Some of the items extended back to 1903. There were notes of C. C. Starr for $lO and J. W. Childers for $lO which the witness said were worthless; several checks signed by A. McCoy & Co.;a receipted coal bill for $137.49, a note signed “Brown” for $91.50, a S2O bill, a receipt of E. L. Hollingsworth for $458.46; one of Charles G. Spitler’s checks for sls. Mr. Chapman was permitted to say that the “cash” he found in the bank realized from SBOO to sl,000 instead of more than $5,000. The records in the case show that Mrs. Alfred McCoy received something over SIB,OOO and Mrs. T. J. McCoy a little more than SII,OOO, and that there is still a small amount due from the different estates. Jasper county will pay E. B. Sellers SI,OOO for his services in prosecuting the McCoys. But the law gives Prosecutor Thomas, ot this county, $5 in case of a conviction, and if he is large-hearted he will divide this fee with Prosecutor Graves, of Morocco and Deputy Prosecutor Leopold, of Rensselaer. Mr. Sellers has already spent a part of his promised SI,OOO in expenses for the State. While Mr. Sellers has taken the lead in the prosecution, a large amount of work has been done by the others and the intention is to ask the county council of Jasper county to make an appropriation for them commensurate with their services. DEFENSE BEGINS. Mr. Haywood made the opening statement for the defense, and of course extolled the virtues of the defendants and denounced as “contemptible villains” those depositors who lost their hard-earned money in the McCoy “sheepskin bank,” and who had been called upon by the State to testify as to the amount of their losses and the value of the landed assets of these political bankers. The first witness called by the defense was Wm. Hill, of Madison, the present owner or 1870 acres of the Jordan tp. lands. Mr. Hill testified that the land was worth S7O to $75 per acre, while Leroy Templeton, of Indianapolis, the former well known Populist leader of Indiana, and who stated that he was an intimate friend of “Old Mac” for a great many years, said Jhe land was worth SBS per acre. The witnesses for the State testified that it was worth S6O per acre, and it is likely that Mr. Hill will hunt about for some time before he finds a buyer at SBS an acre. John A. Williams, who has lived on the McCoy lands for several years, testified that the Jordan tp. land was worth SBO per acre, which is still some S44,(XX) less than what the McCoy’s claimed it was worth in their schedule of assets. M. J. Ahlgrim of Shelby, who used to take care of “Tom s” gasoline launch, said the timber on “Jerry’s” Island was worth SI,OOO. R. B. Nicholson who lived on the Gillam tp., land, said it was worth S7O per acre, which is about S2O per acre more than the McCoys ever said it was worth. J. M. McDonald of Knox, formerly associated with the McCoys under the firm name of McCoy &“ McDonald, said the Gillarq land was worth S6O per acre and the Jordan land $75 per acre. T. H. Robinson of this city, who was on the McCoys’ bond, said the Gillam land was worth S6O per acre and the Barkley land was worth SSO per acre. J. F. Irwin, another bondsman, said the Jordan land was worth SBO eir acre, and tne Fair Oaks or nion tp., land $25 per acre,

Rensselaer, Jasper County, Indiana, Saturday, June 9, 1906.

A number of other withesses for the defense have been examined up to this writing, and it is thought that all of the evidence will be in next week. It is not known just bow much time will be taken up in the argument, bnt it promises to be quite lengthy, and it will likely be ten days or two weeks before the case is given to the jury.

LITTLE BOY IS MAIMED BY THE CARS.

The eight-year-old son of Forg Moore, the section boss, got his right foot mashed so badly Thursday forenoon, by the local frieght while it was taking the bide track east of the depot, that it was necessary to amputatate it above the ankle. Several boys of about the same age were with him at the time and had been catching onto the cars, but the injured lad says he was only trying to cross the track when caught.

RENSSELAER BANK TO LIQUIDATE.

Gradually Winding Up Its Affairs and Will Retire.—New Trust and Savings Bank To Be Formed. The Rensselaer Bank, generallycalled the “Harris bank” is gradually closing up its affairs and will retire from the banking business. The proprietors will devote their attention to their large farming and stock growing interests. A move is now on foot, the details of which we are not at liberty to publish at this time, to organize a trust and savings company here with a local capital behind it, to take the place of the Harris bank, and it is probable that it will occupy the present quarters of said bank. The object of this proposed trust company is to do a savings and banking business, administer upon estates, furnish bonds, and do a general trust company business. Similar institutions have been organized at Monticello and other places and fill a place that an ordinary bank can not fill.

DREDGES MAKING GOOD PROGRESS

Will Soon Reach the Burk Bridge. Davison Lateral Almost Completed. The Sternburg dredge that started in at the Monon railroad north of Parr, on the main Iroquois ditch, will probably reach the Burk’s bridge, 4| miles north of Rensselaer, this week, and in two weeks more will probably reach the Pullins bridge, where the mammoth new dredge will take up the work and carry it on down through Rensselaer. This big new dredge is attracting lots of notice among the town and country folk, and Sunday a large number of visitors were out to see the big frame or body of the dredge, which is composed of heavy timbers and crossed both ways through the body at short distances with the same size timbers, all bolted together with large bolts, making a very heavy and strong frame. It was expected, we understand, to launch the big dredge this week and then the work of installing the heavy machinery will begin. It is expected to have it ready to begin digging about July 1. Connected with this dredge are a new bunk boat and a boarding house boat; also a coal scow large enough to hold nearly a carload of coal. The small dredge on the Davisson lateral is now down to the Parr road, and in a week or two more will have its work completed. This big drainage scheme it would seem should work wonders with the territory through which it passes, furnishing outlet for smaller ditches and tile drains innumerable. Of course this season has been a very dry one and no trouble has yet been experienced by the farmers of Union with high waters, but it would seem that when the whole ditch is completed only an extraordinary heavy rain would do damage in 4hat section. A nice stylish coat and pants will keep you cool, and you will find them in all the fine flannels and serges at a low price, at Duvall & Lundy’s. Notice show window. Special sale, white and colored silk parasols and umbrellas, Friday, Saturday and Monday, June Bth, 9th and 11th. Chicago Bargain Store.

THE COURT HOUSE

Items Picked Up About the County Capitol. The county board of education met in regular session Monday. Not much of importance came up at this meeting. The contract for pupils’ manuscripts was awarded to The Democrat, it being the lowest bidder. —o—- . The threshing outfit of Hefferlin <fc Newcomb was sold by Sheriff O’Connor on mortgage foreclosure Saturday, and was bid in by the Huber Manufacturing Co., at S4OO. There was $1,380 against the outfit. Q And now they have have put up lace curtains at the windows of the waiting room for the farmers’ wives in the court house and added a few boxes of face powder. A French maid will be added soon, Janitor Morlan says. And the taxpayers foot the bill. —o— The Iroquois ditch bonds were not sold Wednesday owing to there being no satisfactory bid. The bonds bear only 5 per cent, interest and, being taxable, buyers do not want to pay par for them. To avoid this two bids at par were filed, but each provided for “attorney fees,” one of $1,490 and the other of $2,575. —o — Work on the Jordan township stone road is progressing nicely and the indications are that a good road will be built. The big sand hill just this side of the dredge ditch has been cut down practically level and the sand hauled into fills on the north. A stone crusher is now at work on the rock at the Garrison ditch and some 100 feet of rock was placed on the road last week. Those who have examined the stone state 4hat it is of excellent quality for the purpose and will make a fine road, - —o — A will of more than ordinary interest expired Saturday, June 2, as the youngest heir, Jessie Makeever Grant, was 21 years of age. This is the will of the late Madison Makeever which was probated in 1885, and which stipulated that all the property, amounting to about 1400 acres of land in Newton tp., was to be left intact until- the youngest child. then a baby a few months* old, came of age. At the expiration of that time the land was 'to be divided among the twelve heirs. All are now living except Rosa Makeever, who died in 1895. —o — New suits filed: No. 7047. The Connecticut Life Insurance Co., vs. Seth B. Moffitt, et al; suit to foreclose mortgage; demand $5,000. No. 7048. The Connecticut Life Insurance Co., vs. Greenip I. Thomas et al; suit to foreclose mortgage; Demand $4,000. No. 7049. Milroy English and Gertrude Hewitt vs. Scandinavian Canadian Land Co., of Chicago; suit to quiet title. This action grew out of the trade of lands by plaintiffs in Barkley tp„ for certain lands in Canada, (a half-section) which the complaint alleges the defendants have no title to nor have they transferred same to plaintiffs according to contract entered into in October last, but have wholly failed, refused and declined to carry out the conditions of said contract. No. 7050. Luther M. Fairbanks vs. H. B. Taber, E. T. Boyle and John Brady; suit on note, demand $l4O. Transcript from the Newton circuit court. —o— Here is something that is of interest to all persons engaged in the sale of intoxicating liquors in this state as well as to the general public: The acts of 1905, page 196, defining the legal holidays in Indiana, sets out that the following days shall be legal holidays in this state: Sunday, January 1, or New Year’s day, July 4, December 25, February 22 P May 30, the first Monday in September (Labor day), any day appointed or recommended by the President of the governor of Indiana, and the day ot any general, local or muncipal

election or primary. Up to the enactment of this law several of the days above set forth were not legal within the meaning requiring saloons to remain closed, but the appellate court has just recently decided that all of the days mentioned in said act are legal holidays and that saloons shall remain closed the shmeas on Sunday, and the penalty for violation of the law is the same as set out in the criminal code of 1905, section 579.

POST MASTERS’ SALARIES.

In the annual readjustment of postmaters’ salaries the following changes in this vicinity have been ordered: Francesville, SI,OOO to $1,100; Goodland, $1,600 to $1,500; Hammond, $2,800 to $3,100; Hobart, $1,200 to $1,300; Lowell, sl,400 to $1,500; Monon, $l,lOO to $1,200; Morocco, SI,OOO to $1,300; North Judson, $l,lOO to $1,200; Oxford, $1,200 to $1,300. Goodland seems to be the only postoffice in this locality that shows a reduction in salary. And Goodland is a “wet” town, too.

BUT THEY DIDN’T GO.

Although Tuesday was the date for the Alberta, Canada, land investors’ to start on their Pullman car trip to view the wonderous country that U. B. Kellogg et al had orally described to them, none of the Rensselaer investors made any start nor was there any fine Pullman car set off here for their use. The report that “Strick” started on the trip Monday was a mistake. He merely went to Chicago to investigate a saloon proposition in the Windy City, that is a tangible reality and promised better returns than does now the Canadian land scheme.

KELLOGG HELD FOR TRIAL.

Will Not Give Bond For Fear of ReArrest. Bloomington, Ind., June 6. Ulysses B. Kellogg, the Brookston man accused of swindling forty residents of this city in a Canadian land scheme, was arraigned before Judge Wilson to-day, where be entered a plea of not guilty to the charge of embezzlement. Robert G. Miller, his attorney, filed a demurrer. which was overruled. The trial is set for next Wednesday. The court continued the bond at $2,000, whicn Kellogg did not try to give, and was remanded back to jail. It was explained that similar charges were pending against him elsewhere, and if he should file bond here he would be immediately rearrested. At the meeting of the committee charged with the duty of prosecuting Kellogg, it was decided to push the original case, and the committee claims to have positive testimony that Kellogg alone is the Northwestern Land Company, which he claims to represent. The prosecutor will not lack for legal assistance in presenting- the case, and it is said that several witnesses will be here to testify that Kellogg has heretofore engaged in questionable practices. Kellogg seems to be in the best of spirits, as if confident of acquittal.

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS.

''/May 31, to Mr. and Mrs. Sherman Thornton, near Surrey, a daughter June 2, to Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Hammerton, in town, a daughter. -J June 4, to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Nagle, west of town, a daughter. June 7, to Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Hodges, in town, a son. Renicker’s extra fancy strawberries every day, Chicago Bargain Stoke. Wanted —lo clothing salesmen. Apply to the Phillips Mercantile Co., at the Wildberg clothing store. Clearance sale of spring jackets and suits about | price. Chicago Bargain Store. When looking for clothing, men’s or young men’s, you will find our prices lower than any sale prices. Duvall & Lundy. Don’t forget the Murray Co’s new grocery. Everything clean and new. Buy yourself a nice cool summer shirt, with or without a collar, attached or detached cuffs, in all colors, from 50c to $2.50, at Duvall & Lundy’s. See Baughman & Williams for farm and city loans.

Vol. IX. No. 10

LET FOR $79,165.

Stone Road Contract Goes To W. F. Smith. $8,500 LESS THAN THE ESTIMATE. Seven Bids Filed, Others Near the Estimate. Commissioners’ Court Proceedings. The contract for the Rensselaer and Marion system of stone roads of about 34 miles was let Tuesday to W. F. Smith, or (Delos Thompson) of this city for $79,165, which is $8,511.84 less than the estimate. There were six bids filed. It was supposed that seven bids had been tiled, but on opening them it was found that one of the envelopes contained nothing but a printed copy of the specifications. This “bid” was that of Stewart & Son, the Hanging Grove stone road contractors, and the old man, who had been pretty well “tanked up” for a couple of days, said he put it in to make “Stiyeberg” bid down. The bids were as follows: W. F. Smith, Rensselaer $79,165 Granville Moody, “ 86,000 Dobbins & Lux, Wolcott 87,100 Sternberg & son, (dredge men)... 87,245 D. H. Fatout, Indianapolis 87,500 I. M, Moynahan, Monon 87 500 In letting the contract at this price the people are generally well pleased, and it should now be seen that the work is done strictly according to specifications and that the people get what they pay for. Work on the contract will no doubt be commenced as soon as possible.

Contract let to Attica Bridge Co., for new bridge in Union tp., at $1,660. Fees collected for the quarter ending May 31 were reported as follows: Recorder, $750.30; Clerk, $288.85; Sheriff, $217.52; Auditor, $89.90. The report of the poor farm superintendent shows receipts of $578.84 for the quarter, and expenses of $737.19, making a net deficit of $168.35. There are 15 inmates now in the poor asylum. Jacob Hensler was appointed superintendent of the Jordan stone road construction. S. A. Brusnahan was appointed superintendent of construction of the Amos Davisson et al ditch. Trustee of Union tp., was authorized to move and re-erect not to exceed three bridges and present the bill for same, less $75 for each bridge. Petition of Harvey Davisson for two new bridges in Union tp. notice ordered for letting on Ist day July term. Petition of Albert Bouk et al to change voting place in Walker tp.; remonstrance filed by Charles F. Warner et al; petition by John E. Meyers et al for a division of said flownship by talgng off the north end of Gillam and the west portion of Barkley and create another township. Matter continued to next term. Bonds ordered issued in Marion, Jordan and Carpenter stone road matter, in Jordan tp., and in Marion and Rensselaer stone road. There was allowed $3,711 47 on account of the Iroquois ditch, sl,191.34 on the Moffitt ditch, $598.82 on the Garrison ditch, $2,11487 on the Evers ditch, and $1,504.14 on Hanging Grove gravel road. Contracts were let for poor farm supplies as follows: Moody & Roth, meat, sl4 25; John Eger, groceries, $102.51; Porter A Kresler, dry goods, sl2 48. Jacob Hensler, petition for highway, R. B. Harris, Warren Robinson and Richard Grow appointed viewers, to meet June 15. Wanted —ls salesladies. Apply to Phillips Mercantile Co., at the Wildberg clothing store. Millet Seed for sale at residence of Joseph Koota, 34 miles west and | mile north of Surrey. Special sale parasols, Friday, Saturday and Monday, June 8, 9 and 11. Chicago Bargain Store. Wanted.— To take care of a good horse for the use of it, Phone 524 D. Will H. Flagg.