Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 February 1908 — Page 1

Jasper County Democrat.

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PARKER ARRESTED

On Three Grand Jury Indictments. EMBEZZLEMENT IS THE CHAR6E. Bond of SSOO Olven In Each Count and Case# Will do Over to April Term of Court. The veil of mystery that surrounded the three indiotmenta returned by the grand jury last week was lifted Thursday when warrants were placed in the sheriff’s hands for the arrest of Robert Parker, the failed Remington banker. Bis attorney, Mr. Foltz was notified and he told the sheriff that it was unnecessary .for him to go over to Remington; that he would notify Mr. Parker and have him come over. This was done by ’phone, and at 2:50 p. m., Thursday Mr. Parker accompanied by his son-in-law, Hartley R. Church, appeared at the court house and went at once to Judge Hanley’s private rooms, a bailiff oame and whispered to Mr. Foltz, who was questioning a witness on a ditch case. He indicated to the court that he wished to be excused a few moments; the court rested a little while the deputy prosecutor was ’poned for, the bonds which were Bigned by Mr. Church on power of attorney from the other two bondsmen, were approved, and all was over.

Coart resumed with only the loss of perbays ten minutes, Mr. Parker left without even entering the court room and the few people there never got a glimpse of him or generally knew what was going on, so quietly was the whole thing disposed of. No publicity at all.

The indictments whioh are three in number, charge embezzlement in receiving deposits when his bank was insolvent, and the reason that the warrants were not issued sooner was—as stated by The Democrat last week as the probable cause, if the indictments, as surmisqfl, were against him— to allow the trustee to get all the assistance he could from Mr. Parker before issuing them. He was in Hammond Tuesday with the trustee and was examined before Referee Bowers on matters pertaining to the failure, only returning home Wednesday night One the indictments charges the embezzlement of $79 deposited by James E. Hogan on Dec. 17, two days before the bank closed its doors.

Another charges the embezzlement of S9O deposited by Thomas Callaghan on Dec. 6. The third indiotment charges embezzlement of $75 deposited by James Callaghan, Dec. 7. James Callaghan is a son of the Thomas Callaghan, mentioned in the second indiotment.

The bonds were fixed at SSOO in each case and were signed by Mr. Parker’s eon-in-law, Hartley R. Church, Cbae. T. Dye, the Remington lumber dealer, and excounty commissioner O. P, Taber, of Remington. It ie not expeoted that the defendant will insist on being tried at onoe, and the state will not insist on the oases being tried at this term of court.

The penalty on conviction for embezzlement, under the amendment, Acts of 1907, at page 14, is a fine of double the amount embezzled and imprisonment in the state prison not less than two nor more than fourteen years, disfranchisement, etc. The failure or "epension of a bank within 30 iys after receiving a deposit be prima faoie evidence of \ ant to defraud on the part of \ )h banker. V- * •

\ he trustee’s attorney resides at KWtland, and the Kentland Enuse publishes the following in relation to the bank examination which information it no doubt got from the attorney: ,f The trustee has practically completed the work of listing the assets and liabililies of the bank, and the showing could hardly be much worse. Mr. Parker kept three sets of books, for some reason, and untangling the same was much like working a Chinese *zzle. In round numbers the bilities of the bank are $300,000.

The total assets not including, about about 15,000 in notes held as collateral by other parties has been appraised, at $38,511,50, $24,885 of this is in real estate. One feature that looks rather suspicious was unearthed in sorting over which was notes aggregating $12,000, signed by Mr. Parker’s bpok keeper, and whioh are pronounced worthless. The bank vaults were filled with all sorts of wildcat securities, oil stock and mining . stook, enough to swamp any bank. Under the law Mrs. Parker, is entitled to one-third the real estate, whioh would give her about SB,OOO. In lieu of her claim we are informed that Mrs. Parker has consented to accept $1,500”

WHEN TO BUY MINING STOCK.

A gentleman from near Remington who states that a great deal of worthless mining stook has been unloaded in that place the past few years and that nearly a wagon load of this stock was found among the “assets” of the Parker bank, hands us the following clipping with a request that we publish it for the benefit of other Remingtonians who may think of investing: ; A subscriber has asked us for advice on the subje ct of buying mining stock. If there is anything we are long on, it is advice, and we ebeerfully comply. Mining stock should be bought in the dark of the moon, from a total stranger. If possible pay him in lead money. Mining stock is useful in several things. The long, narrow certificates are good for laying upon pantry shelves. The short fat one can be used in the bottoms of drawers. The handsomely engraved certificates on hand made paper can be rolled up and used for killing flies. You should, of course, buy your stock carefully and choose the size which will home in handiest.

Several enterprising companies are now putting out stock which comes in assorted sizes and can b 6 used for doilies, paper spills, shaving paper and table cloths. There is a general complaint because the ink on many of the certificates is injurious to health. If some company will put out a line of mining stock on perfectly blank and and sterilized paper, it will make a great hit.

Low-grade mining stock should be bought just before house cleaning. It can then be laid under the carpet during the summer. Late in the fall it can be taken up and used for bedding the horse. —The Confidential Banker.

BIGGEST SNOW STORM OF THE SEASON.

What was probably the heaviest snowfall for a number of years fell here last Friday night and Tuesday afternoon and night. The fall Friday night was probably about eight inches deep, and was damp enough so that it did not drift. Tuesday afternoon and night was more on the blizzard order; while about the same number of inches fell as on Friday night before, it piled up in huge drifts until most of the country roads were impassable and between hedge fences and where other conditions were favorable for holding it in place it is said, to have drifted four to six feet deep. None of the rural mail carriers started out Saturday at all, and while all made the trip Monday and Tuesday they were blookaded again Wednesday, only one, Carrier Daugherty on Route 1, making his entire rounds, and he got his team down in the drifts a few times and bad a strenuous experience in getting over his route. The other three carriers started, but gave up after a few miles out and turned back.

Carrier .Murray on Route 4 got out Thursday on the Rang * Line road to where he turns off it to the east and west road, and finding the road drifted full without even a dog track, he turned around and came back to town. Carrier Daugherty did not venture far either, but carriers on Routes 2 and 3 got over about two-thirds of their route. All started out yesterday and expected to get clear around.

Two oar loads of Pittsburg perfect electric weld poulry and farm fence in stock at the Chioago Bargain Store. BALL. There will be a dance at Warner's Hall Tneaday evening, February 35. Last of the season. Tickets 90c.

Rensselaer, Jasper County. Indiana, Saturday, February 22, 1908.

TO INSTALL A LINOTYPE.

The Democrat Contracts For a New “Model 5” Hachine.

The Democrat has contracted for a Standard Linotype of the latest make of the Merganthaler Linotype Co., at a cost of about $3,500, and expects to have same on its floor aud in operation by April 1. or as soon as the machine can be shipped to us from the factory in Brooklyn N. Y.

The installation of this machine will do away with all hand composition on The Democrat and place us in a position to do almost any olass of work that comes along of work that comes along expeditiously and in a more satisfactory manner, in every way. This machine is of the same kind and capacity precisely as those used in the big city offices and the fact that no other office in Jasper or our adjoining counties Newton, Benton, Carroll, Warren, Starke or White counties has a Standard Linotye speaks louder than words can express of what this means to The Democrat’s mechanical equipment. Benton and Pulaski' counties have one

COUNTY CONVENTION MARCH 21.

Date Set By Central Committee At Its Meeting Saturday. At the meeting of the Democratic County Central Committee Saturday it was decided to hold the county convention on Saturday, March 21, to nominate a county ticket, and select delegates to the state and district conventions. The primaries will be held the Saturday previous, March 14. There Is to be elected this year in our county a treasurer, recorder, surveyor, two commissioners—one each from the first andsecond districts —and some members of the county council, the exact number of which we are not advised at this writing.

NEW TIME CARD IN EFFECT.

A new time card went into effect on the Monon last Sunday, making slight changes in time of trains at Rensselaer. Under the new schedule No. 33, how passes here at 2:01 p. m., instead of 2:04, connecting at Monon as before with train No. 9 for West Baden and French Lick Springs; No. 39, known as the “Milk Train,” now goes at 5:40 p. m., instead of 5:44; No. 31, whioh goes south at 4:49 now oonnectiion at Monon with train No. 11 (a new train) arriving at Lafayette at 6a. m. The afternoon north bound train, No. 6, now goes at 3:18 instead of 3:31.

BIRTH ANNOUNCBTIENTS. Feb. 14, to Mr; and Mrs. Wm. Goodnight of Newland, a eon. Born, Feb. 16, to Mr. and Mrs, L. W. Benbow of Parr, a son. Feb. 17, to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Luers, south of town, a daughter. Feb. 20, to Mr. and Mrs. Asa Leach/a daughter.„ An armful of old papers for a nickel at The Democrat office.

each of the older model of these machine—the Leader at Fowler and the Democrat at Winamac. By its addition The Democrat, with its Babcock cylinder newspaper press, two jobbers, folder, large paper cutter, Boston Staple Binder, and its excellent selection of job type and other equipments, becomes one of the best filled offices in northwestern Indiana for newspaper and general job printing. We print herewith a cut of the new machine and when we get it in and in operation we will tell you more about it and we want i The Democrat’s friends to call in i and see it in operation. Its in- ! ventiou was one of the wonders iof the nineteenth century and marked on epach iu the newspaper and printing business. The great cost of the machine has prevented their general introduction in the smaller cities and towns, and only a few of the more progressional ! newspapers haye added them to 1 their mechanical equipment.

STATE TAX COMMISSIONER HERE.

dives An Interesting Talk to Town* ship Assessors and Others. State Tax Commissioner John C. Wingate gave an interesting talk Tuesday afternoon in the county assessor’s office to several of the township assessors and county officers and a few of the common herd. The meeting was public and would no doubt have been quite largely attended had the weather been more auspioious. Mr. Wingate touched on various phases of the tax question, such as tax listing and the collection of taxes, which was all right in theory at least and it would be be better were the advioe given and recommended generally acted upon throughout the state. In 1906, he stated, the valuation of real and personal property in Indiana was double what it was in 1890, Yet there had been no reduction in tax levies and in some cases they had been increased notwithstanding the doubling of value of the taxable property over the state, “The people were asking when the levies were going to be reduced?” he said, “and they had u right to ask such questions.” The oause of the continuation of the old levies or increased levies, he stated, was in some measure dne to the great additions that had been made to our state charitable institutions, to gravel roads, paved streets, conorete sidewalks, etc., which were legitimate expenditures and were endorsed by the people. He might have added that scores of new and useless offioes had been created to help eat np the funds collected by these levies, but did not. So far as paved streets, sidewalks, etc., are concerned, they are paid generally by special assessments and have nothing to do with the regular levies. Incompetent and lax assessors

4 and county treasurers was another theme touched upon. To be good assessor, he said, required more ability than was required to fill most any county offioe. He should understand the tax law and should be a good judge of values and see that all property was listed. County treasurers who failed to make an effort to collect all the taxes levied were in a large measure responsible for high taxes, as the uncollected tax must be charged back to those who do pay—like the merchant doing a credit business who must add his losses to those who pay their accounts in order to have anything left. As an example he cited that only very recently there was in round numbers $16,500 delinquent taxes standing on the tax duplicates of Jasper oounty. Up to date, as a result of Treasurer Allman’s vigorousefforts

to collect this, $11,600 of the amount had been c.oilected and stood as an asset instead of a deficit, as formerly. He complimented Mr. Allman very highly on this showing, which was one of the best he bad found anywhere in the state. The total of such delinquent taxes in the state, most of which oould be collected if an effort was made to do so, was nearly $3,000,000. The poor man received much more for the money he paid in taxes, he argued, than the rich man, and he should consider it a 'patriotic duty to pay his small share of carrying on the sohools and other necessary institutions and of state and local government. The poor man with a family of children got just as much benefit from the public schools as the rich man with a family of children, while he might not pay but a small part in taxes of the cost of educating one child. County assessors should also be vigilant, he said, and not let property escape taxation if possible to list it. He instructed County Assessor Lewis to look into the matter of deposits in the failed banks in this locality and if money was hidden in banks that had not been listed ,for taxation, to see that it was so placed on the duplicate, and for as many years back as it could be traced.

The Indiana tax law was highly complimented, and it was not more laws that were needed on taxation but more officers who would enforce the law. Delinquent taxes must be turned over to the prosecuting attorney after a certain time, and it was then the prosecutor’s duty to prosecute the delinquents, and for each prosecution the prosecutor’s fee was $lO which the delinquent must pay together with other costs. The dog tax question was also touched upon, of course, and he stated that under a recent supreme court decision a dog that became of taxing age—three months old —after the close of the regular tax listing period, must be paid for for that year. Also, that if a dog changes owners each day in the year, each successive owner must go to the township trustee and pay the tax on said dog, under the decision. This, of course, is the law, but it is mighty poor law, it seems to us, for if the first owner has paid the tax that ought to settle the matter for that year, the same as on any other personal property. Mr. Wingate is an interesting talker and no doubt his visit here will result in considerable good.

COUNTY COMMITTEE REORGANIZED

N. Littlefield Made Chairman, Ben* hart Fendlg, Secretary and L. Strong Treasurer. Following the election of precinct councilman on Saturday Feb. 8, then met at the east room of the court house and elected a county chairman, secretary and treasurer last Saturday. Owing to the condition of the roads the attendance was not not full, but those present made up for the small attendance by their enthusiasm. Mr. N. Littlefield was selected Chairman, Benhart Fendig, Secretary, and L. Strong, Treasurer. An executive oommitte was also selected and is composed of five members. These gentlemen will act in an advisory capaoity to the central committee. After the executive meeting was over, a little enterchange of opinion as to the work to be done, the prospects this year, and the organization of the party was endulged in. Everyone present showed by his talk that he believed the party prospects were never better than they are this year.

Vol. X. No. 47

THE COURT HOUSE

Items Picked Up About the County Capitol. pMtB. Mary D. Eger has been Appointed administratrix of the estate of her husband, the late William H. Eger. >vR. A, Mannon, the Wheatfield of the Jasper oounty republican machine, has announced himself as a candidate for county surveyor, the reward that it is alleged was held out to him by the machine for doing its bidding. Miss Vera Parker who has been deputy in the clerk's office for the past year and a half, will give up her position, probably not until the end of the present term of court, however and Miss Hazel Warner takes her place. Miss Parker has another position in view, which she will probably accept. lioenses issued: Feb. 17, Leonard James Keister of Jordan tp.. aged 22, occupation farmer, to Marie Lottie Steel of Chicago Heights, aged 20, occupation honsekeeper. First marriage each.*- —— ————- Feb. 19, James I. Peck of Remington, aged 30, occupation drug clerk, to Catharine Margaret Meehan of Rensselaer, aged 25, occupation housekeeper. First marriage for each. —o — New suits filed: No. 7173, Hanibal Landon vs. Jacob Acherman; application to have defendant declared of unsound mind and have guardian appointed. No 7274. Lewis J. Lane vs. St. L. &S--W. R. R. Co., the C. & E, I. R. R. Co., and P. C. C. & St. L. R. R, Co.; action for damages to live stock.

No. 7275. Margaret Wagner vs. John Ultn; suit on guaranty. No. 7276. John D. Kelley et al, vs. Henry C. Lepprant et al; action to quiet title. No. 7277. Samuel E. Sparling et al ditch; appeal from Commissioners’ court. —o— Bruce Caster of Gillam tp., was declared insane in the circuit court Saturday and application made to take him to Longcliif. Pending this, however, his family was to look after him. As the asylum is chock full and there was no immediate prospect of its being ready to receive him, and the unfortunate man having grown so much worse that they could no longer look afte r him, they so notified Sheriff O’Connor Thursday, and the latter sent after him yesterday and he will be confined in jail here until such time as the asylum is ready to receive him, Mr. Caster is perhaps 60 years of age and has been in the asylum a couple of times heretofore.

Joe O’Connor went to Lafayette Sunday and arrested Frank Biddle, wanted for deserting his wife last July at Remington. Biddle attempted to escape from Joe after the arrest and gave him a chase through a swamp, but he finally overhauled him again with the aid of bis revolver, which he pulled on the fugitive, and then he put the “bracelets”on him and brought him here and put him in jail where he now is. A loaded revolver was found on his person when searched. Biddle has a wife to whom it is asserted he has been four times married and three times divorced. There are also four children, and it is said the family were left in destitute circumstances. Biddle went to Lafayette in search of work, it is stated, but failed to let his family know anything of him after leaving.

JORDAN TP. CONVENTION

Notice is hereby given to the democratic voters of Jordan township and to all others who desire to affiliate with them, to. meet on Saturday, March 14,1908, at Egypt school house, district No. 1, at 2 o’clock p. m., for the purpose of nominating a township tioket and to select delegates to the democratic, county convention which will be held in Rensselaer on Saturday, March 21,1908. F. M. Wblsh, Chm. W. D. Br ingle, Seo.