Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 July 1907 — Page 1

Jasper County Democrat.

SI.OO RerYear.

I )■ n . ■ O Do You Love This Old Town? A —-■ ' - - 6 ® $ * Il 1 1 1 If you do, of course I 1 f . a n you want to see the town Fl J grow. You want to see ~ the storekeepers prosper, XWOOBr A ® n <l th® banks bulge with ISBSMp'rtpl deposits, and the townsW Kt people wearing glad ■ W clothes, and the farmers '■''' L falling over each other to I come in and buy new hay rakes and patent plows. WnHCaEnn** course you do. Be11 I cause, likewise of course, I |M ■& I when things are that way /Kin l you get your share of the \ JL '* prosperity. But what are you doing to contribute to the general prosperity? Are you patronizing home industries in preference to outside industries? Do you buy your clothes and groceries and gar* den tools and so forth here at home? Well, you admit, you do send away for a good many things you happen to see advertised. Aha! And are they advertised in this paper? No, indeed—in the mail order journals and catalogues. Quite true. And you would just as soon buy them here if they weye advertised by the local merchants, wouldn’t you? Why, yes. Well, now, there’s a neat hint to some of our local storekeepers and dealers who perhaps haven’t discovered why they are losing a lot of home trade which they ought to keep. 0— < > It’s a wise business man that knows his own opportunities.

CAN NOT DET OUT THIS FALL.

nless Pardoned or Paroled, Tom Me* coy Must Serve Eighteen Months More. The Republican, in comment. >g on Tom McCoy’s prison sentice, states that it has a “judicial nnion” for saying that with the imutation of time he will be alwed for good behavior, “he will e entitled to his release long be>re the three years are or aft“aboutlß monthsin all.”Notwithanding this “judicial opinion” he Democrat takes a different ew. Tom’s sentence was for from te to three years. He can be irdoned at any time by the govmor, which is not likely to be 3ne; the Board of Pardons can tlease him on parole at any time ter the end of the minimmir me sentenced—one year —which has just refused to do, and it is iported that the Starke county ember has stated that he would >t consent to a parole, that the ill three years was little enough anishment for stealing a quarter a million dollars. Whether this ember’s position has been cor©tly reported, we of conrse do >t know. Now, asto dimutation of sentence r good behavior: A convict at e state prisons of Indiana, is ended to a dimutation of 1 month ra clean record of good behavior iring the first year of his sentme; 2 months the second year; id three months the third year, a tai of 6 months for three years, lerefore, if Tom is not pardoned paroled, he must serve two are and six months to complete s sentence and would thus be leased about January 1,1909. The “judicial opinion” that boat 18 months in all will let m out,” is certainly a mistake, dess the parole or pardon is anted, and must have been given thout investigation of what the w is.

An armful of old papers for a okel at The Democrat office.

A MIRACULOUS ESCAPE.

I Oq Saturday morning, as Leslie Alter of Union tp., was abjusting the ropes in the hay fork in the barn, it suddenly ran the rope through the pully. darted down twenty-five feet, striking him in the shoulder; but at that instant the knot in the end of the rope caught and saved it from pinning him to the floor, leaving him a sore shoulder but thankful for no worse results.

THE BAND STAND PROPOSITION.

Regarding the agitation by a few people for the building by the city of a band stand in the court house yard. The Democrat believes there is no necessity for such an outlay, and that it would not be used if built. It should be iemembdted that our bands, both past and present, have been supported by regular contributions of the business men, and that it has been the custom for years to give the band concerts from the portable band stand at different points along the business district of Washington street. This stand was recently repaired by the Fourth of July committee at an expense of about |2O and is now in condition to last for several years. It ought to be given a few coats of paint, which would improve its appearance very much and help to preserve it But to discard it altogether and erect an expensive band stand in the court house yard would be bad policy if we wish to keep our band going. Business men, it seems, generally look upon the band concerts from a selfish point of view, and regard them as trade-bringers. If all the concerts were given from the court; house square the business men on West Washington street would refuse to contribute, the band would be the loser to a large amount and would soon give up the concerts and go to pieces. Better let well enough alone in this case.

For Sal^:—O. I. O. pigs, full blood; weight about 140. Phone 521-E. John E. Alter.

y v —— * Rensselaer, Jasper County. Indiana, Saturday, July 27, 1907.

A MAN HUNT.

Drunken flan Attempts Criminal Assault. FINALLY ARRESTED AND JAILED. Wm. McCoy, a Farm Hand, Attempts to Assault a Rensselaer WomanHad Been Drunk for Two Weeks. Considerable excitement was occasioned in the little settlement just outside the city limits, on the north gravel road, Tuesday afternoon, by an alleged attempt to criminally assault Miss Martha Ellen Goble, aged 39, who lives with her father F. M. Goble, an old soldier, and keeps house for him. The story of the attempted assault as told at the preliminary bearing of the accused before Squire Irwin Wednesday afternoon, is practically as follows: About 2 o’clock Tuesday afternoon a big, rough-looking man appeared at the back door of the Goble home and asked a few unimportant questions of Miss Goble, who was alone at the time. He followed her into the house and “acted queerly;” finally threw himself down on a bed in one of the rooms, then got up and walked about; finally caught hold of the woman —who seems partially paralyzed and nearly blind—and dragged her struggling to the bed where he fell back on the bed, aids© pulling the woman with him. She threatened' to scream if he did not loose her, she swore, when he put his band over her mouth and she could make no outcry. The man bad been seen to go to Goble’s by Mrs. John Potts and Mrs. Harry Swartzel, near neighbors, and bis suspicious appearance caused them to watch his actions, most of which as detailed above they saw. When be dragged the woman to the bed they rushed out and screamed and be released the woman and ran out the back door and disappeared in a cornfield, leaving a small bundle of clothing behind. .

The officers were notified and a search was made for the fellow, but although the telephone was used.in all directions and the country scoured, no trace of him could be found. The description given by the women and a memorandum in the pockets of the clothing left behind in bis hurried flight, satisfied the officers that he was a farm hand named William McCoy, who bad been working of late for -Wesley Faylor in Union tp., and who had been about town off and on for the past two weeks in a semi-in-toxicated condition, and the only thing to do to get the right man was to find McCoy.

Wednesday morning Jesse Nichols, the poor farm superintendent, was in town and heard the sheriff say something about the matter, and asked about it. He then told the sheriff that he had seen McCoy while coming to town a short time before; that he was going west and walking quite briskly. The sheriff at once jumped into Jesse’s buggy and the two started after the fugitive, overhauling him near Surrey, walking along the railroad, Sheriff O’Connor impressed the section bands, who were working near by, into service and captured the man, who offered no resistance; said he only went to the house to get a drink of water and did nothing to the woman. He was brought back to town and fully identified by all the women who had' seen him, and lodged in jail. - When arraigned before Squire Irwin the fellow stated thpt he had been drunk for about two weeks; that he had been to Lafayette drunk for some days, etc., and was just about in the spakeseeing stage; said be was at the Goble house but did not know what he had done there, and was in no condition to go ahead with the hearing. He had no attorney, and after the court had told him that he could call one if he desired and Marshal Parks had had a few whispered. words with deputy prosecutor Leopold and then with McCoy, Parks went out and shortly returned with Abe Halleck, Mr. Leopold’s law partner, who acted as attorney for the accused. The

women who witnessed most of the affair were examined briefly, but were not cross-questioned by the defense, and on. this testimony MoCoy was bound over to the .September term of court under SSOO bonds, in default of which he was sent to jail, where he is likely to remain until tried. The affidavit made by Miss Goble charges assault and battery with intent to commit rape, and. the penalty on conviction of such a charge is 2 to 14 years imprisonment and a fine not exceeding $2,000. The woman suffered po injury except to her nervous system. McCoy is a big, two-fistad fellow, about 40 years of age apparently, smooth-faced, and will probably weigh 180 to 200 pounds.

KNIMAN SALOONIST IN TROUBLE.

Sold Booze July Fourth And Must Now Pay the Penalty. A court of inquiry was held here Tuesday before Squire Irwin to investigate the alleged sales of liSuor at Wm. Ballinger’s saloon at 'niman on the glorious Fourth of July- As a result four cases of violation of the liquor laws were found against Ballinger and he must now face the music with a strong probability of losing bis license, but which would have expired on Sept. 12 anyhow. But in case of conviction he is liable to a fine of from $lO to SSO in each case to which may be added 10 to 60 days in jail, and on the second conviction the court must declare .the license forfeited. According to the testimony that out at the inquiry and theTeports of the matter, Ballinger’s back room to bis saloon was the scene of most disgusting and drunken orgies July 4th. Mrs. Thomas Davis, wife of a farmer of near Kniman, seems to have caused the attention of the authorities being called to the matter by going into the place and dragging out her hueband who, it is reported, was lying on the floor in a drunken stupor. In getting her husband out of the place she is said to have got her clothing thoroughly soaked with* beer and was herself a sorry looking sight. A constable later went to the door and demanded admittance, threatening to break down the door unless admitted.' He is said to have found the place full of men and doing a big business. He closed it but later on it is said to have been reopened and continued dispensing booze up to a late hour of the night. Ballinger was arrested and brought here Thursday and arraigned before Squire Irwin. A change of venue was taken and the casessent to Squire Thornton’s court where one of them was tried and defendant found guilty by the court and fined $lO and costs. He has filed bond and will appeal to the circuit court. The other cases come up to-day. Davis, whose wife seems to be pushing the prosecution, went on Ballinger’s bond.

HORSE KILLED BY LIGHTNING.

Oppie Wolf drove out to George Borntrager’s, 3 miles south of town, Wednesday forenoon to look at some stock for his employer, Jake Eiglesbach. He had got out of the rig and hitched the team to the rear of a wagon standing near the barn and gotten some twenty feet away when a bolt of lightning came down and struck a tree near the team, glanced off and killed one of the bay team of ponies outright and So badly stunned the other that it is not over it yet and may never fully recover. The stroke also split the wagon pole of the wagon to which the team was tied from end to end. Oppie was somewhat stunned by the stroke as was Mr. Borntrager, who was standing in the barn with his baby in his arms. The storm was apparently all over when this deadly stroke came. Jake had been offered $l5O for the horse that was killed only a few days before. The team was insured and be will probably get about SIOO insurance.

for sale cheap. Sharpies Cream Separator, used but very little, in fact it is as good as it ever was. We took this separator in as part payment on a U. 8. separator. We will take any make of separator in trade on the U. 8. Don’t get discouraged with the milk business because yonr separator don’t do good work, but trade it to Worland & Marlatt for the U. 8. and be happy.

THE COURT HUUSE

Items Picked Up About the County Capitol. But four marriage licenses have been issued this month. —o — Township trustee Sage of Jordan was in tne city on business Tuesday. —o — Kniman and Tefft are the only towns in the county not already covered by now dry or to be dry at expiration of present licenses, and it is likely they, too, will climb on the water wagon in time to shut off any further extension of the business in those places. Township trustees should bear in mind that their annual estimates of expenditures and tax levies must be made next week. The Democrat has printed estimate blanks for sale at ten cents per dozen if any trustee should not be Supplied with a sufficient number for posting. And now it has been decided not to re-commence the Reming-ton-Carpenter stone roads until after the August meeting of the county commissioners, because of some matters the contractors desire to put before the board, it is said. This will mean that work will not begin before August sth or 6th.

Auditor Leatherman went to Indianapolis Wednesday to appear before the state tax board and endeavor to keep it from raising Jasper county’s real estate valuation. He was accompanied by County Assessor Lewis. They returned home the same evening, but of course do not know what action will be taken by the board. —o — And now the interstate commerce commission has declared the two cent fare law void so far as the interstate passenger traffic is concerned. That is, for example, only two cents per mile can be charged from Rensselaer to points in Indiana, but if a ticket is purchased through to Chicago or points outside this state, the old rate can be charged, notwithstanding the other state or states also have a two cent law. Bosh! The Brook Reporter says that realestate assessments in Jasper county are now only about half what they are in Newton, and for years have been less than half the valuation of Newton county lands. We deny the imputation, brother* The average valuation in Jasper county is now $16.78 per acre, or, with improvements, $18.93. If the average assessment of Newton county land is $33.56, exclusive of improvements, then the Reporter is about correct, but we have understood that the average is about $27 in Newton. We think everybody will admit that Newton has a much larger per cent of good land than Jasper, and the average should be higher there than here. —o— Auditor Leatherman’s completed abstract of taxable property in Jasper county shows the total valuation of the county to be sll,lßO- - (assuming that the railroads and other corporation assessments remain the same as last year) and 2,238 polls. Rensselaer’s assessment is $1,181,185. Last year the total assessment of the county was $10,972,713, a gain for this year of $208,109. Rensselaer last year was $1,248,723, a falling off this year of $67,538 The mortgage exemptions to be deducted from these figures are, for the county this year $420,885, last year $422,160’ For Rensselaer this year $32,845, < last year $34,305. After all the deductions are made the net increase for the county is $209,384. Of course these figures may be changed by the State tax board. —oi— The Mattie M. Rinehart or, as it is generally known, the McCoy lands in Hanging Grove tp., aggregating some 1,700 acres, were sold at Sheriff’s sale last Friday afternoon to satisfy a part of the numerous mortgagee against them. There was something like $90,000 in all against the lands and they

Vol. X. No. 17

were bid off by the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Co., holders of the first mortgage, at the amount of judgment and costs, $50,925.73, there being no other bidders. They also have to satisfy a mechanic’s lein of Lee Jessup’s of $164.17. The McCoysburg town site of some 27 acres was sold separately, and was bid off by N. W. Bowen, another mortgage creditor, at $2,500. There are five other judgment creditors who have an opportunity in their proper order to pay off the judgments ahead of them and take the land, but it is hardly likely that they will do so. They aggregate about $32,000 and costs and are, in order: Gollieb Bierling, $7,074; Horace Russell, $4,124; E. L. Hollingsworth, $1,179; E. W. Bowen, $5,651; A. T. Bowen & Co., $14,247.95.

THE CITY COUNCIL.

The Common Council of the City of Rensselaer met in regular session Monday night with all members present. Following is a report of the proceedings: The city engineer filed his report of the completion of the Cullen and Forest street sewer, and same was accepted and city attorney instructed to proceed in next step in assessment of property for construction of said sewer. Matter of D. M. Worland’s request to tap Van Rensselaer street sewer near public library was referred to sewer committee. City attorney instructed to prepare resolution for sidewalk on east side of Van Rensselaer street from Susan street north to and connecting with sidewalk at light plant. Supt. of light plant instructed to install arc light at corner of Berry Paris property on Forest street. City marshal instructed to enforce ordinance regarding trimming of trees. City attorney instructed to prepare resolution for sidewalk in front of Peter May’s and R. B. Harris’ lots on Pine street.

Marshal instructed to change catch-basins on Forest street and Cullen street under supervision of Mayor, also to put in sidewalk approach on Vine and Forest streets. Ordered that water tank near Gwin’s lumber yard be located about 25 feet north of Vine street, on Forest street. Members present of fire department allowed $1 each for services at John Timmons fire, and Joe Jackson allowed $3 —$1.50 in each run—for hauling hose wagon to Sylvester Gray fire and John Timmons fire. The following claims were allowed: COBPOBATION FUND. E. M. Thomas, night watch .(25 00 W. S. Parks, marshal.... .. *■ 30 00 Chai. Morlan, clerk 25 00 Warner Bros., md5e...... ..... 2 96 Anderson Coupling & Supply Co., mdse 158 H. L. Gamble, city engineer 26 70 C. Arthur Tuteur, ast. same ..... 75 Omar Osborne, same 1 50 BOAD FUND. O. S. Baker, mowing 75 John Albertson, shoveling coal 90 Mort Murray, work on street 13 75 C. A. Roberts, mdse 1 50 Warner Bros., wag0n...... 50 40 Chjster Zea, labor 25 00 ■LBCTHIC LIGHT FUND. C. S. Chamberlain, salary 50 00 Dave Haste, same 30 00 Mell Abbott, same 30 00 Illinois Electric Co., supplies.... 4 47 Standard Oil Co.. Oil 10 64 Shirley Hill Coal Co., e0a1.... 80 06 General Electric Co., supplies. 22 32 Landy Magee, work on line 13 75 Moses Leopold, freight 91 00 WATEB FUND. Ed Hopkins,salary 30 00 Ed Randle, work on main 4 00 Platt Iron Works Co., repairs 32 00

UNION VESPER SERVICES. Presiding Elder Wood willbe here Sunday and will preach at the vesper services on the public square. Services begin at 6:30 p. m. BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS. July 19, to Mr. and Mrs. Victor Moore of Barkley tp., a son. July 20, to Mr. and Mrs. Eli Uritser, in town, a son. July 20, to Mr. and Mrs. Silas Tombs of Barkley tp., a girl. July 21, to*Mr. and Mrs. John Ward of Newland, a son. July 25, to Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Keasenger of Milroy tp., a son. z July 25, to Mr. and Mrs. Geo. p. Parkison of Pleasant Ridge, a son. Only five more of those large mounted maps of Jasper county left. If you want one for 11.50, call quick. Thk Dbmocrat.