Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 November 1906 — Page 1

Jasper County Democrat.

SI.OO Per Year.

GRAVES' RECORD.

What Anti-Saloon League of Remington Says. VOTERS URGED TO DEFEAT HIM. A Morocco Citizen Also Discusses His “Record” As a Prosecutor, and Asks Some Pertinent Questions. The following statement from Mr. J. M. Ott, President of the Anti-Saloon League of Remington, shows how R. 0. Graves, prosecuting attorney of this judicial circuit and a candidate —on his record —for re-election, has “enforced’ 7 the criminal laws at Remington. Mr. Ott is a republican and a prominent citizen of that town, who is well known nearly all over Jasper county. He was unanimously authorized by the league, at a meeting held for the purpose of discussing Mr. Graves’ actions, to sign the statement following, which is backed up by an affidavit from the League’s local attorney, who was assisting in the inquiry referred to: Editor Democrat: Permit us, through your valuable paper, to inform the temperance people of Jasper and Newton counties of the treatment meeted out to the Anti-Saloon League of Remington, Indiana, by Robert O. Graves, prosecuting attorney of said counties.

Ever since Mr. Graves has held the office the temperance League here has made many and repeated efforts to have him come here and hold courts of inquiry and to prosecute violations of the criminal laws detrimental to good society. We have gone to the trouble and expense of sending committees to wait upon him to try to induce him to come and make proper investigations of the breaches of the law. Not until after nearly two years coaxing and after we had agreed to furnish him legal help did he consent to come at all. Finally in July of this year after sending a committee of two to wait upon him we succeeded in getting him to come and start a court of inquiry. After working a day and a half and examining about one half of the witnesses whose names were furnished him, he then left us and promised to return at a fixed tiuje to complete his work. At this examination we had present a member of our League and an assistant attorney to note the evidence and to determine its sufficiency to convict. He failed to return at the time fixed to continue bis work but after more coaxing we got him to return and file five oases against one of our liquor dealers who plead guilty to such charges and was fined on each. After disposing of the five cases he agreed with us and the court to stay the next day and examine the 30 other witnesses and file the cases made by the first witnesses which evidence was probably suf-

ficient to convict for about ten public drunks; two cases for selling or giving to a minor six years old; a bastardy case; a supposed case of rape and a larceny case beside the evidence against the dealers in liquors. On the morning after disposing of the five cases and before the court convened for the purpose of examining the thirty other witnesses he, without any known excuse, left town and refused to stay and carry out his agreement with the court and the League. Since that time numerous efforts have been made to induce him to' return and file

the cases and finish up the work of examining the other witnesses, but up to the present time he has failed to keep his word or to comply with the wishes of the League. He has wholly failed refused to make investigations and to heed our requests and entreaties and has ignored every call we have made on him 'to look after the duties of his office. We therefore earnestly entreat all temperance workers and law abiding citizens of this district to join with us in the coming election to elect a man to the office

who will, in a measure at least, attend to the duties of the office. Respectfully submitted, Remington Anti-Saloon League. By John M. Ott, President. THE STATE OP INDIANA, ) County of Jasper. ( Jasper Guy, being first duly sworn, upon his oath, says that in July, 1906, he was employed by the Anti-Saloon League of Remington, Indiana, to assist Prosecutor Graves in holding a eourt of inquiry at Remington, and to assist him in the prosecution of any cases made by the evidence obtained at such inquiry. That said Graves held a court of inquiry for a day and a half, and that about thirty a itnesses were examined, which was about one-half the number of witnesses whose names were furnished by said League. That after examining said witnesses said Graves went home to prepare the necessary affidavits to file in the cases warranted by the evidence. That on the afternoon of July 24th said Graves returned and filed five cases against a party for violation of the liquor law. That said party plead guilty to said five charges aad was fined on each. That on the evening of that day the court, said prosecutor and this affiant arranged to continue the court of inquiry on the next day, and were to examine the thirty other witnesses if possible. That on the morning following, affiant met said prosecutor and talked with him for about an hour, making plans for the examination of said witnesses. That while thus planning, a certain person called the prosecutor from affiant’s presence for a few minutes, and when he returned he declared his intention of going home at onee and not continuing the work any further, and no persuasion would induce him to stay and carry out the work contemplated. That said prosecutor left town on first train, and has since failed tb return to complete his work. That affiant has, at the request of the Anti-Saloon League, made several efforts to have said prosecutor return, but so far his efforts in their behalf has been fruitless. That from affiant’s experience as prosecutor, he believes that the evidence taken at the court of inquiry was sufficient to convict a number of persons for violations of the liquor laws and other offenses against the State. JASPER GUY.

Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 9th day of Oct., 1906. Iba W. YiomaN, [seal] Notary Public. My commission expires July 19,1907. A “TESTIMONIAL” FROM MOROCCO. The Kentland Enterprise last week had a very spicy article in behalf of R. O. Graves, candidate for Prosecuting Attorney. The Enterprise says Graves is a candidate for re-election and “stands on his record.” The writer suggests that those interested spend a little time and examine bis record as shown by the court records.

See if the records show that Graves has convicted 10 per cent of the cases bronght; see if in this ten per cent he did not have assistance; see if one-half the cases filed have come to trial. It would be a splendid idea for the voters to examine Graves' record. Look into his moral record and see if he has been a soldier of the Cross as well as a soldier in Cuba, which the Enterprise mentions. As to his preparation, see how long he spent studying law; see how long he has owned any library, even the statutes of the state; investi* gate his ability*from these facts and determine if you want to oast your vote for him as Prosecuting Attorney for another term. Go out through the townships where he is well known and find out for yourself if the Enterprise is correct. Find out who prosecuted the McCoy cases, and who always prosecutes his cases. Let Graves ’stand on bis record.” That is the proper thing to do. If, after investigation, you find his record clean in every particular, as the Enterprise suggests, vote for him. If not, cast your vote for Geo. E. Hershman, candidate from Jasper county. Respectfully Submitted A Citizen of Morocco.

Notice to Voters and Taxpayers. Beware of lying statements made by the republican politicians or published in that rank prevaricator, the Rensselaer Republican, regarding high taxes in Jasper County or any of the Democratic candidates. The Democrat, as ever, stands ready to prove by the official records of the county any statements it has made regarding county taxes, and any "Doubting Thomas" has only to take the records for hi§ proof. You have repeatedly had these false statements made to you on the eve of an election, only to find after the ring was given another lease of power that the taxpayers had been "worked" again. It’s the same old dodge. Don’t trust ’em. Vote for a change in county administration free from graft and a reduction in taxation to a more equitable basis. THE DEMOCRAT.

Rensselaer, Jasper County, Indiana, Saturday, November 3, 1906.

TIME FOR A CHANGE. The people of Jasper county have been long suffering, and when the ootre of ringsters at the county seat, who live off the taxpayers, smite them on one cheek they have smilingly turned the other and eaid: “Do it again.” * And it baa been done again and again to them. For eight years this paper has been telling of the impositions that have been practiced on the taxpayers of Jasper county; has told time and again juet what would happen as soon as the election was over if the same old crowd of ring politicians were returned to office, and it proved just as we stated it would. Last campaign this paper stated that in the event of a re-election of the then “acting” county treasurer, the shortage occasioned by the failure of the McCoy bank would try to be saddled onto the taxpayers. And the effort was made to do that very thing, and it was eventually put on the other depositors of this rotten political bank through a compromise by the same trustee who made the very misleading if not false affidavit in the closing days of the campaign relative to the security the McCoys had for the indebtedness of said treasurer to said bank.

Everyone who read the unbiased reports of W. H. Blodgett of the McCoy trial at Monticello must have been impressed with the truth of all the statements made in this paper regarding the “political banking” of the McCoys, and have seen what dupes the people of the county were to follow their political leadership. A few years ago a petition signed by more than 1,000 taxpayers of Jasper county asked for an expert examination of the county records, but the president of the board of county commissioners held that the contract with tax-ferret Workman covered an investigation of the county records also, and thus staved off an investigation that was needed then and is badly needed now.

Workman never made any examination of the county officers, but after bleeding all the widows and oi phans and others who would bleed, “postponed” further investigation indefinitely and has not set foot in Jasper county for two or three yw or more. There are two ex-county treasurers, we are reliably informed, who have said privately that they thought Jasper county was oicing them; but were afraid to ask for an expert accounting for fear it would turn out they were owing the county! Jasper county is one of the few counties in Indiana that has had no examination of its public offices for the past quarter of a century or more, if ever, and when ex-offi-cials make the statements attrib-

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

In 1900, with $152,500 of outstanding court house bonds, a non-partisan county council levied for 1900 a “court house bond tax” of 14 cents, to pay interest and SIO,OOO of maturing bonds, while the total levy for 1900 was only cents on the SIOO valuation. Since then the real and personal assessment of the county has been greatly increased—both in actual property and the increase made by the State Board of Tax Commissioners—-and $15,000 of the court house bonds have been paid off, thus stopping interest on that amount. But, the all republican county council last September, fixed the “court house bond levy” for 1906 at 16 cents to pay interest and SIO,OOO in maturing bonds. Thus the less bonds there are to pay interest on and the more the property assessment of the county increases, the greater levy is “necessary”—under an all republican county council—to pay court house bond interest and principal, and the total levy is 71.19-20 on the SIOO. The mofe you pay the more you owe I What do you think of this, Mr. Taxpayer ? If you want to correct this sort of tax juggling, vote for the democratic candidates on the county ticket next Tuesday.

uted to them as above—and they were generally conceded to be careful officers, too —God knows it is time the people voted for a change to learn just how matters do stand anyway. And no investigation will ever be made so long as a republican county council and republican board of commissioners stand in the way, bear that in mind.

The man who staved off the investigation six or eight years ago—and whom hundreds of the better class of republicans have repeatedly repudiated by their votes —today has a greater grip than ever on the county, for in getting himself appointed county attorney and republican county chairman he is in a position to throttle every attempt by the more well-disposed members of his party to pry into county matters, and wields a greater influence in the “court house ring” than ever before. Remember, when you go to the polls next Tuesday that the public treasury of your county has been “farmed out” during the past two terms, that no one knows anything about the condition of that treasury except the “landlords”—not the taxpayers of the county, but the fellows who have been running the place for the money there was in it —and then vote for a thorough airing of the place by the election of a democratic county council and a democratic board of county commissioners.

GEORGE WILL TAKE NO CHANCES.

Geo. Strickfaden has made no move to open bis proposed wholesale liquor store here since the passage of the SI,OOO license ordinance by the city council, except to write the brewery people and asking their opinion regarding the validity of the ordinance. We are told that they stated to him that a similar case was now pending in the higher courts, and that attorneys were divided as to the legality of such an ordinance. This being the case Mr. Strickfaden has decided to take no chances in the matter unless the breweries would stand behind him, which they do not oare to do, it is sai d. . *

MARION TOWNSHIP TICKET.

Following is the democratic ticket for Marion township. All the candidates are good men and deserve a hearty support from the voters of the township: Advisory board—James Donnelly, A. F. Shesler, William Hoover; Justices of the Peace—John P. Warner, John Healy; Constables —Horatio Ropp, Wm Irvin.

THE COURT HOUSE

Items Picked Up About the County Capitol. Commissioners’ court convenes Monday. Next Monday is the last day for paying the fall installment of taxes. —o— A vote for Joe Nagel and Moses Sigo is a vote for an investigation of the county treasurer’s office. It needs it, too. —o— The various election inspector s must come in to-day and get the ballots and election supplies for their respective precincts. —o — The November term of the Jasper circuit court will convene one week from Monday. Indications are that the docket will be light. —o — The famous Claspel-Slahl gasoline engine case, appealed by the latter to the circuit court here, and taken to Newton county on change of venue, has now been sent to White county. —o — Marriage licenses issued: Oct. 27, Guy Olmstead of Sand Creek, North Dakota, aged 24, occupation rancher, to Maribel Crosscup of Rensselaer, aged 19, occupation housekeeper. First marriage for each.

VThe McCoy interest in the McCby and Tuteur half section of land in Gillam tp., has been sold to G. A. Yerion of Illinois at S4O per acre. This closes out all the real estate owned by the McCoys except a couple of lots of little value in Rensselaer. The case of the trustee of the McCoy bank vs. W. B. Austin for conversion of some notes that passed around between the McCoys, Mr. Fry, the failed Roselawn banker, et al, was tried in the Newton circuit court this week and decided in favor of Mr. Austin. —o — The Prohibition party has out a county ticket again this year, making three tickets on the county ballot. The names of the candidates are: Clerk, King Davis. Treasurer, A. G. W. Farmer. Coroner, Claude Reeves. Surveyor, Geo. W. Faris. Assessor, John W. Norman. Commissioners, James Yeoman,> Howard Burr. They have no candidates for county councilmen. New suits filed ?~No. 7087. Jf>hn W. Ward vs. James A. May and Joseph Nissius, suit on contract

Vol. IX. No. 31

for putting in tile drain on the Nissius outlet of the Nissins ditch. Demand S2OO. No. 7088. Sarah L. Standish •vs. Charles Standish; action for divorce, alleging abandonment and failure to provide. The parties were married June 13, 1904, and separated Oct. 25,1904. The plaintiff’s former name was Sullivan, and resides in Rensselaer, and defendant is alleged to reside at Brook. —o — Christie Vick went over to Illinois Thursday on a “man hunt.” He returned yesterday on the 10:55 a. m. train with his man, one of the notorious Brohards of Fair Oaks —Alva Brohard—who is wanted on complaint of Geo. W. Parish, a farmer living west of Mt. Ayr, on charges of being responsible for the delicate condition of his 13-year-old daughter, Cecil Parish. Brohard was husking corn near Reddick, Hl., when arrested, we understand. He was lodged in jail here, and if the charge is proven he stands a good chance of going to prison for a term of years, the age of “consent” in Indiana being 14 years.

— o — Doty, wife and six children, of Mt. Ayr, arrived in Rensselaer last Saturday from Virginia, where they have been living on a farm near where ex-county clerk J. F. Major resides, and which Mr. Doty recently sold. The house on this farm was recently destroyed by fire, they losing all their household goods, and they decided to come back to Indiana>/They stated that the old mansion on Mr. Major’s 500 acre plantation also burned a few dayspriorto their departure for Indiana and that the Major’s lost most of their household goods. Rankin Halstead of Newton township, owns several hundred acres of land near Mr. Major, and he informs us that he has received a letter from the latter since the fire in which Mr. Major is undecided as to whether he will rebuild at present or not. He had no insurance and his loss is considerable, but he has no intention of returning to Indiana, as has been reported. Mrs. Major wants him to sell the big farm and buy a smaller one, but he is not very favorably inclined to do so at present.

BAD ACCIDENT TO LITTLE BOY.

YThe four-year-old son of Wm. Bierly, who lives on the W. P. Baker farm north of town, met with a terrible accident Wednesday afternoon, by falling from a buggy in which his father had started to drive away and getting his left foot caught in the spokes of the wheel. Before the horse could be stopped the leg was wrapped around the axle and broken in three places, twice below the knee and once near the hip, while the flesh just below the knee was torn off clear around the leg except about two inches. It is feared the hip may be injured also. Dr. English dressed the wounds and the little fellow is doing as well as can be expected at this writing.

AND STILL ANOTHER ONE.

A 16-year-old girl, by the name of Ida McKinney, of near Kniman, died some days ago following childbirth, and is reported to have stated on her death-bed that a Benton county man of family was responsible for her disgrace, and that her downfall was accomplished in that county. A warrant is said to have been sent to the sheriff of Benton county for the man’s arrest. The remains of the unfortunate girl were taken to Rockfield, Carroll county, where the girl’s mother formerly lived, for burial. Only a few weeks ago a twin sister of the dead girl was married to Albert Armstrong, of Brook, the marriage being hastened by proceedings brought against the young man in Justice’s court here. The family, we understand, came to this county from about Oxford a year or two ago. The girls were 16 years old July 5 last, and the father’s name is Andrew J, McKinney.

PUBLIC SALES. The Democrat has printed bills for the following pubßc sales: Monday, Nov. 12, I. L. Lockhart, at Lee, White county; big stock sale, 22 head of horses, 190 head of cattle. 19 head of hogs. Wednesday, Nov. 14, Geo. Davisson & Son, 9 miles north and 1 mile east of Rensselaer. General sale, horses, cattle, farm implements, household goods, ettx