Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 September 1909 — Page 1

Jasper County Democrat.

•IJM> Per Year.

PROF. W. O. HIATT COMMITS SUICIDE

Former Principal of Rensselaer ■ Schools Kills Himself. SUPT. OF FRANKFORT SCHOOLS A Position to Which He Had Lately Been Promoted, and Worry About His Ability to Fill the Place Is Supposed to Have Unbalanced His Mind—Deed Committed Thursday Morning, and Carbolic Acid the Means Chosen. News was received here Thursday evening of the suicide at Frankfort Thursday morning of Prof. W. O. Hiatt, who some five years ago and sos a few years prior thereto was principal of the Rensselaer high school. A dispatch from Frankfort to an Indianapolis paper gives the following account of the sad affair: Frankfort, Ind., September 2 Professor W. O. Hiatt, superintendent of the Frankfort schools, a position to which he was elected less than a month ago, killed himself at the First ward school building this morning by taking carbolic acid. He was found in the basement by the janitor of the building. He left home about 2 o’clock without indicating to his wife that he intended to kill himself. He had been a teacher in the local schools for the last four years, and when Superintendent Monroe resigned he was chosen as his successor. He was born in Hamilton county. Worry over the position he held and the fact that the school was to begin Monday is thought to have prompted him to take his life. He evidently lacked faith in his own ability to fill the position. For some time teachers in the public schools, and the members of the city school board, had noticed that Professor Hiatt appeared to be greatly worried over matters pertaining to the schools, and the nearer the time came for opening of the schools the more he worried. The buying of school supplies was the source of great worry to him, and he frequently asked members of the school board if they were satisfied with his work and if he was doing all right. On Monday Professor Hiatt telephoned to Professor Frank Long and asked him to come to his office in the Carnagie library and then told him to remain there until he told him to leave. Professor Long was there for more than two hours, but nothing particular was said by either man. The first examinations to be held at the opening of the schools seemed to prey on the mind of Professor Hiatt also. Yesterday he called one of the professors and told him he was distressed over a half gallon of paint he had bought. When he left his office last night Hiatt told his private secretary, MrsRussell, that in case anything happened to him and he was not there in the morning she would find the bids for some coal for the schools on his desk. The carbolic acid which Professor Hiatt swallowed was purchased by him two weeks ago at the Hammond drug store, so the act must have been under contemplation for some time. He left his home about 2 o’clock this morning. His wife awakened at that hour and missed him. She was not uneasy, however, as he frequently got up in the night, being unable to sleep. When she arose at 5 o’clock he had not returned, and when she had breakfast ready she went to the First w r ard school building near by to look for him but failed to find him. It was two hours later -before his body was discovered by the janitor. Professor Hiatt had been connected with the Frankfort schools for five years, coming here from Rensselaer, going to that place from Anderson, where he had taught for two years. He was a graduate of Indiana university, and in the local school took an active Interest in football,' being coach and manager of the high school team. A widow and one child survive. He was a member of the Methodist church. . t

MAN KILLED AT STREET FAIR

Henry Moore Caught in Baloon Rope and Yanked Up In the AirFalla 50 Feet to GroundMonon'News: A most shocking accident occurred here Tuesday afternoon at 5:30 when a premature balloon ascension hurled Henry. Moore to Instant death.. Several hundred people who had assembled to see the balloon go up were eye witnesses to the tragic event and gazed upon the man’s lifeless body. Among these were his wife and daughter who were in the expectant throng. Others with the unfortunate man were watching on the Inside of the balloon while it was being inflated while men and boys

stood around pn the outside holding it as, the inflation developed the gas bag. The main guy rope had been cut and efforts were being made by the men to adjust the parachute preparatory to flight, when a sudden gust of wind blew the balloon on its side, the cold air rushed in at the bottom and it shot upward at an agle of 45 degrees with the velocity of a sky-r wket. Moore’s right leg became entangled in a rope attached to the bottom of the balloon and he was carried up a short distance and then hurled to the ground, a distance of probably 50 feet, his body falling near the main track of the Monon road. Many witnesses say he struck the wires, while others say he passed over them. He was breathing when Dr. Ray Clayton and Dr. Reagan examined him a moment after he fell'. The senior Dr. Clayton was also there about the same time, but life was extinct soon after the fall. The right side of his head and shoulder had received the force of the fall and his neck was broken. The remains were taken to his residence on Walnut street, while the crowd mournfully dispersed, deeply regretting the sad Incident which had marred the first day of the Home-Coming. Deceased was 55 years old and had been a resident of the town many years. He is survived by his wife and four children, two of the latter being married daughters. The community is showing its sympathy with the bereaved family in a substantial way. J. B- Shultz began circulating a subscription paper Tuesday might to secure friends to relieve the immediate necessities of a home deprived of its breadwinner. Residents of Monon who have not already signed will find the list at Critten’s barber shop and should not fail to record their names on it.

FRANK P. MEYER MARRIED.

yJThe not unexpected news of the marriage of Frank P. Meyer, a former Rensselaer boy who has now been located in Danville for some years in the shoe business, reached here this week. The bride was Miss Frances Brady of Danville, and has visited Frank’s relatives here on several occasions with the latter. The ceremony was performed in St. Peter’s Catholic church, Danville, and the young couple -left for an extended eastern trip. They expect to visit Rensselaer on their return.

SEEKS CHANGE OF PASTORATE.

The Rev. Arthur H. DeLong, pastor of Grace Methodist Episcopal church of South Bend and a former pastor of the Remington and Fowler Methodist churches, has requested a change of pastorate when the appointments are made at the coming session of the northwestern Indiana conference that will soon convene at Crawfordsville. The Rev. Mr. DeLong went to South Bend a year ago from Indianapolis. For three years previous to his South Bend appointment he had been field secretary for the deaconess hospital, Indianapolis.

WHY NOT HAVE INCLUDED RENSSELAER?

Articles of incorporation have been filed in the office of the secretary of state for the Tippecanoe & Monticello Interurban Railway Company, capitalized at SIOO,OOO, with the purpose of constructing an electric railway connecting Fowler and Logansport and intervening points as follows; Lafayette, Battleground, Ash Grove, Delphi, Brookston, Chalmers, Wheeler, Reynolds, Monticello, Norway, Idaville, Burnettsville, Buffalo, Sitka, Headlee. Pulasklville, Winamac, Lake Cicott, Cureveton and Trimmer. The incorporators are William B. Felker and James E. Turner, of Detroit, and T. W. O’Connor and W. R. White, of Monticello.

STILL OBJECT TO PAYING.

Railroad Company Asks for Rehearing In the Reed Damage Case. The Panhandle railroad company is still fighting the payment of the Reed judgment wherein W. J. Reed as administrator o( the estate of his father and guardian of the latter’s grand-daughters, the two Casey girls, secured a judgment against the railroad company for damages for the killing of Mr. Reed at the company’s Ohio "street crossing in Remington several years ago. The case has been in the courts four or five years, and was bnce tried here and once in Monticello, a judgment being rendered In favor of plaintiff in each trial. The first judgment was reversed In the supreme court on some technicality, but the latter was recently sustained there, and on this latter decision the, railroad company this week filed a petition for a rehearing. It is not at all probable that a rehearing will be granted.

Peanut Butter, finest quality. 18c pound at STARR’S.

THE TWICE-A-WEEK

RENSSELAER, JASPER COUNTY, INDIANA, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1909. .

THE COURT HOUSE

Items' Picked Up About the County Capitol. The White circuit court convenes Monday. Judge Hanley was in Lafayette yesterday to the fair races. Commissioners’ court and the County Board of Education each meet Monday. —o— Most of the township trustees were in Thursday attending the county institute. —o— Supt. Lamson will hold a special examination for teachers at the school bulding to-day. —o — The September term of the Jasper circut court will convene one week from Monday, on Sept. 13. —o- ■ Only four marriage licenses were issued last month, against six for the month previous and eight for August, 1908The county council and also the various township advisory boards will meet Tuesday to pass on the expenditure estimates for next year and to fix the tax levies for this year. —o — John Burdette, aged 21, and Tessie Huston, aged 16, hailing from McLean county, 111., were refused a marriage license by Clerk Warner Wednesday because of the youth of the bride. —o—. Marriage licenses issued: Sept. 1, Abraham Woosley of Jasper county, aged 21, occupation farmer, to Cora Becker of White county, aged 24, occupation housekeeper. First marriage for each. KSqure Irwin officiated Wednesday |fternoon in writing in the marriage ■ of Mr. Abraham Woosley and Miss j Cora Becker, a young couple from the Hanging Grove neighborhood. ; The ceremony was performed in the I Clerk’s office. J. C. Dickerson, a former supt. of schools at Remington, Goodland and i Kentland, was in attendance at the . county institute this week. He is ’ now a resident of this county, owning and residing upon a farm in I Kankakee township. He will teach ! in the Tefft schools this year—o—- ' New suits filed: No. 7490. Thom■as Davis, et al. vs. John Shroer, et al; ditch case appealed from comI missioners’ court No. 7491. Bessie P. Shesler vs. William R. Shesler; rfetion for divorce. The plaintiff’s maiden name was Bessie Makeever, and at the time of her marriage to Mr. Shesler, Jan. 28. 1908, she was the widow of Korah Parker. The complaint is I very brief, alleging that they sepaI rated March 30, 1909, and that on account of temperment and on aci count of plaintiff’s health and on ; failure of defendant to reasonably ; provide for her, and cruel and inI human treatment, the bonds of mat- . rimony are asked to be disolved, and l that the name of Bessie G. Parker !be restored to her- Plaintiff has i been in Oklahoma for several months. The defendant resides in I Marion tp.

IDA CHILCOTE O’MEARA MARRIED.

I K Mr. and Mrs. G. L- Sperry of i Alton, 111., who have been spending i a week with J. R. Sigler- of Mt. Ayr, i went to Chicago Thursday where i they will visit before returning home. Mrs. Sperry was formerly Miss Ida Chilcote O’ Meara, of Rensselaer, and the couple were only re- . cently married. : The Peoria, 111., Star of August 25 has the following account of the marriage: Yesterday at Bloomington was solemnized the marriage of George Lyman Sperry, a wealthy and prominent farmer of Allentown, and Mrs. Ida O’Meara, one of the teachers in the Pekin city schools .Rev. J. W. Street of Mackinaw performed the ceremony. Mr. Sperry is well known throughout Central Illinois and his bride Is one of the most successful teachers In the Pekin schools. She Is a lady of refinement and culture and during her several years’ residence In this city has made a host of sincere friends, who will extend congratulations. Her withdrawal from the teaching corps will leave a vacancy that will be hard to fill, as she was beloved by pupils and respected by patrons for her ability and sterling worth. Mr. and Mrs. Sperry, will be at home to their friends in their new home near Allentown where the best wishes of innumerable friends will follow them.

WELL, DID YOU EVER?

Newton County Enterprise: Rensselaer will eventually learn that she has no business trotting her foot over the boundary line of Newton county. She is not in the class with this county at all. Kentland whipped her checker players to a frazzle; Goodland, Brook and Kentland larruped her playground baseball sports and Sunday Brook plucked her last feather of glory by skinning her crack ball team. We like you Rensselaer, but you don’t know the game.

NORTH POLE DISCOVERED.

Dr. Cook, a New Yorker who has been on an exploring expedition to the north pole, cables home that he discovered the pole April 21 and nailed the American flag and a Schlitz beer sign to its mast. He is now on his way home with a few sections of the pole in his Inside pocket to satisfy the doubting Thomases. While this discovery will furnish food for the long-haired, spindle shanked scientists for many moons, it is not expected to have any appreciable effect In reducing the price of beefsteak to the ordinary man.

THE JASPER COUNTY CONTINGENT

In the Dakotas AU Happy and Prospering Greatly In Their New Home. Joseph Willitts and William Rishling returned Thursday from a two weeks prospecting trip to the Dakotas. They were most favorably impressed with that section of the country, and Mr. Willitts has rented a half section of land near Mitchell, So. Dak., just across the road from Wm. Kenton’s, which is now occupied by Jesse Saylor, also formerly of near Rensselaer, and will move there about March 1. They visited the Kenton’s, the Zards, Sam Parker, Charlie Robinsoh and other former residents of Jasper, now’ residing near Mitchell, and report them to all be well pleased with their new home and having good crops again this year, as usual. William Kenton and his two sons who are still at home own a section of land and have 6,000 bushels of wheat this year, now worth there 85 cents per bushel. Jasper Kenton, who resides in in Mitchell, also owns a section of land which he rents out. Mason Kenton recently sold his 400 acres at an advance of SI,BOO over the price paid a year ago, and has bought a 160 acre farm a little better in quality. He got the crop off the 400 acres this year, which is worth at least $4,000 more. Charlie Zard owns 240 acres and his brother Fritz 320 acres. The latter paid $55 per acre six years ago, and last week he refused SBO per acre. Sam Parker, formerly of Hanging Grove tp., has 400 acres for which he paid $45 last year. He refused S6O only a few days ago. Mason Kenton was threshing his wheat, and on the few acres already threshed the average was 22 bushels per acre. J. A. Knowlton, formerly of Marion tp.. had the best wheat Mr. Willitts saw while there, and the shocks were actually so thick on the ground that it did not look like there was room for more. He had 100 acres in wheat. The early planted corn about the Kentons’ neighborhood and Mitchell was all out of the way of frost and the husks were dry. Mr. Willitts also visited up in North Dakota in the vicinity of Oaks, and crops were rather better there than about Mitchell, a hot wind having cut them somewhat at the latter place. Both Mr. Willitts and Mr. Rishling were very favorably impressed with the country about Oaks also.

CHRISTIAN CHURCH SERVICES.

Regular services will be resumed at the Christian church Sunday, preaching morning and evening by the pastor. Young peoples’ meeting at 6:30. The public invited.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The subject of the morning sermon at the Presbyterian church will be: “Nearness to the Master.” In the evening the pastor will speak about “How to Work for Christ.” This being the first Sabbath after vacation, all members are urged to be present, and all others are cordially invited • \

The plow a man can pull. Sold by Maines & Hamilton. Acme Flour is the best, every sack guaranteed, if you don’t like it bring it back, we’ll refund your money. ROWLES & PARKER. First Oysters of the Season, New York Counts, at Fate’s restaurant. Our new millinery department is now open under the management of Misses Scheurich and Ulrey, expert hat makers and trimmers. ROWLES ft PARKER.

FROST DOES MUCH DAMAGE

To Com and Buckwheat In Jasper County. MOSTLY IN NORTH PORTION Where Corn and Buckwheat Are Caught By Jack’s Early Visits Tuesday and Wednesday Nights— Damage On Muck Ground Will Reach Many Thousands of Dollars, and Buckwheat and Pickles are all Killed. 1 A damaging frost fell Tuesday and Wednesday nights on the low ground in this section of the state, doing an immense amount of damage to corn, buckwheat and pickles. The damage, of course, is confined principally to the lower ground and the muck lands, where the best prospect for corn in many years was .had up to the time of these frosts.'ll East of town, over about Lee and south thereof and practically all of the north part of the county and the muck lands in the Gifford distrlc were hit, and reports brought in from those districts are to the effect that practically all the buckwheat—of which there was quite a large acreage in the north part of the county —and the pickles are killed. Corn in places has been badly damaged no doubt, and the total loss to farmers in this section will reach a great many thousands of dolars. There is but little corn out of the way of the frost as yet, perhaps none, as even the best and furthest advanced would be chaffy If a hard frost should hit it now. Most of the corn on low grounds where the frost was most in evidence needed a month yet to mature.

NOT MUCH THERE TO BE HURT.

William DeMoss of three miles south of Lee was in the city on business Wednesday. There was a light frost in his vicinity Tuesday night, but not severe enough to do much damage if any at all. In fact, a big frost could not do much harm, as there is not much left by the wet weather to damage, the big rains of some weeks ago almost annihilating the corn and cutting the oats yield to practically nothing at all. Out of 4 5 acres of corn that Mr. DeMoss had that was looking fine early in the season, he has three acres left to tell the story of what might have been, all the rest having been completely killed out when a little more than knee high by the big rains

WHAT THE MECHANICIAN DOES.

A dirty, grimy individual climbed out of one of the racing cars at the automobile contests after having ridden for hours at the rate of a mile a minute. He picked up a newspaper and sat down to read it. Presently he folded it up and rose with the remark: “They never mention the mechanician, do they?” The public hears much of the drivers, with nerves of steel, etc., but it is only on rare occasions that the doings of the mechanician are recorded. A few were heard from last week but it was only because their names were on the death roll. Their risks are just as great as those of the driver, their duties just as strenuous and their pay one-tenth as large. The mechanician is the man who sits beside the driver of the racing car, keeps an eye on the gasoline

TELEPHONE MEETING SATURDAY. A meeting of the Directors of the new “Home Telephone Co.” will be held SATURDAY, SEPT. 4, at 11 a. m. at the courthouse to organize by electing a President, Vice-President, Secretary and ■* Treasurer. A Stockholders’ meeting will be held at the same place at 1 p. m., to adopt a Constitution and By-Laws. Every director is urged to be present at this meeting, and as many of the ' stockholders as can do so conveniently * should also be present and bring along a neighbor who will take a share or two of stock.

and water, supplies, manipulates the oil pump, advises his driver of the positions of rivals, watches the track, notes the wear on the tires, makes such changes as are needed while the car is running, and does a hundred and two other things that count. He is the fellow that leans far to the inside to reduce the resistance from the wind and to make his weight figure in maintaining the car’s equilibrium while he uses hands and feet, eyes and ears. The mechanician risks his life sixty times to the minute in the big races, and must have just as much nerve and daring as the driver. The driver with almost superhuman skill and endurance holds the wheel that guides the machine and the mechanician keeps the car in condition to respond to the wheel. Their positions relatively resemble those of engineer and fireman on a steam engine. The driver gets the glory, but the mechanician keeps the car alive- The auto racing people make it a point to advertise the fabulous salaries paid to their dare-devil drivers, but rarely mention those paid to the mechanicians. One mechanician in th,e recent speedway race meeting worked in eleven races, Including all three of the long-distance races. Twice he finished first and once he was second. But to do this the overworked machine had to be almost held together with human muscle. There were tires to changes and oil, gasoline and water supplies to be secured. In one race the bolts on the gasoline tank had loosened to such an extent that it was necessary for the mechanician to lean over and hold the tank on with his left hand for sixty miles while the ground shot by at the rate of hundred feet to the second. He lived through it all to receive as his reward the sum of s3o.—lndianapolis News.

HOLDEN’S TEAM WINS.

In the series of eight seven-up game which were finished Thursday night, John Holden’s team won by four games. There were 320 games played during the series. In Thursday night’s game, Moses Leopold’s team won 19 games while John Holden’s won 21, thus the latter won the series-

Pickling vinegar, pure apple vinegar, fancy mixed spices for pickling. V C. C. STARR & CO. We can please you in our new millineray department now open under the management of Miss Schurich, herself an experienced hat-mak-er. assisted by Miss Ulrey, an expert trimmer. ROWLES & PARKER. C. C. Starr & Co’s, home roasted Coffee at 20c pound—is the best in the market at the price. Try it. We are quiet people, but our bargains are noisy. THE FORSYTHE STORE. The Home Grocery will henceforth handle their Royal flour under the mill brand "A and K’s Best.” They have a car in transit, to come this week. Unloading sale as before. Price $1.39 per sack for the sale only. Get your new fall hat at our new millinery department. ROWLES & PARKER Don’t miss the flour sale this week at the Home Grocery. Book now for all you can use at $1.39 per sack. Write or telephone your order for flour, for unloading day sale $1.39 per sack, at the Home Grocery. COAL. COAL. Don’t wait, but come and get a ton of Big Jack lump coal—the cleanest and best prepared. The cheapest coal on the market; the great seller. Only $3.25 per ton, at JAMES’ COAL YARD, Goodland, InA.

Vol. XII. No. 41.