Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 91, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 February 1910 — Page 1

Jasper County Democrat.

|LOO Per Year.

HOW BRIDGE BUILDING IS DONE IN JASPER COUNTY

Case of State vs. Bader Disclosed Tremendous Graft In Milroy Tp. Bridge.

DEFENDER! IS FOUND GUILTY i As Charged and Must Go To The Penitentiary, FROM TWO TO FOURTEEM YEARS,

If Verdict Is Upheld, Which it is Likely to Be—Practically No Attempt Made to Disprove the Graft Charges.

JURY’S VEDLCT. We the Jury find the defendant guilty as charged and that his age is 51 years.— Walter Harrington, Foreman.

The case of the State of Indiana vs. C. L. Bader, general manager of the Winamac Bridge Co., of Winamac, Ind., came to an end yesterday morning, when the jury returned the above verdict. Pending motions by the defense the court postponed sentence for a time, while defendant was reminded to the custody of the sheriff. Argument will be heard to-day on these motions. The jury was out from 4 p. m., Thursday, until 5:55 yesterday morning, when a sealed verdict was returned and read by the court on convening at 9 a. m., yesterday. The consensus of opinion of those who heard all of the testimony in the case was that a jury never had a plainer case of graft to deal with than this, and that any other verdict than that reached would have been a gross miscarriage of justice.

The defendant heretofore borne an excellent reputation, it would seem, in hts home town, and as he is crippled in one arm, having had one hand amputated, near the wrist, and everyone seemed to have much sympathy for him, but felt that if he was the tool of others the evidence was so clear that he himself was guilty also, that no other verdict could be reached. Mr. Baden is a democrat, or was at least before embarking in the bridge business, and at One time represented Pulaski and White counties in the state legislature. The circumstances surrounding this case were published in The Democrat last July, but for the information of the reader we republish them : Last March the contract was -let to the Winamac Bridge Cfc, for a 70 foot steel bridge oyer the Howe ditch in Milroy ftp. There were other ' bidders, the Lafayette Bridge Co., the AtCca Bridge Co., and the Kendallville Bridge do., Wallace Marshall of the Lafayette Co., w|as here in person, and, as was his custom at fcuch lettings, toor down the bids of the different companies as read off. His notes show that the bid of the Winamac Co., was $1,240, or S2OO less than his own, the next lowest bidder. This, however, the commissioners and auditor say is a mistake of Mr. Marshall, as the bid of the Winamac Co., iwas $1,400, as the records state, y Marshall claimed that he could not understand how his company could be underbid right along in this county, and he had come here in person at this letting and made a bid Ait cost or a little less on this bridge. He thought there something wrong, and when the material was on the ground had gone there in person and measured the different pieces of steel, com-

pared the measurements with the plans and specifications, and the thing was a mystery no longer—practically every piece of the structural steel work had been scaled down one-third! As all structural steel is sold by the pound the scaling down meant a saving of one-third in the cost of the raw material. / Winamac Co., were patcF $l,lOO at the June meeting of the commissioners and filed a claim of S3OO, the balance, at the July meeting. Mr. Marshall got up and openly protested against the allowance of this claim at that meeting and made the charges of fraud as above stated were shown by his measurements. The matter was taken up by the ’ commissioners who sent County Surveyor Osborne out to examine the bridge. On his report the claim was cut SIOO and allowed at S2OO at the Sept, meeting of the board, but the contractors were allowed $25 for additional “backing” put in. The grand jury in September took the matter up and Tnvestigated it and among the witnesses examined were Mr. Marshall, who was equipped with figures to show that the bridge was not built according to plans and specifications by long odds. On the evidence adduced by the different witnesses an indictrfient was returned againts Bader, charging him as general' manager of the Winamac,Bridge Co., with presenting a .false and fraudulent claim against the county.

On this indictment he was arrested and gave bond for his appearance in court. At the November term, it was stated, his Winamac attorney, Mont Hathaway, would be unable to be in attendance by reason of then being engaged in other cases there, and the case was continued to the February term. Trial of the Cause. The case was taken up for trial Wednesday about noon. The defense moved to quash the indictment as returned by the grand jury because it did not charge “intent,” and the motion was sustained. Prosecutor Longwell then filed an affidavit, which was held good and the trial proceeded. While it was understood, that Mont Hathaway of Winamac would be Mr. Bader’s principal attorney, Mr. Hathaway was not here and Geo. A. Williams was the sole attorney for the defense. Prosecutor Longwell unaided conducted the prosecution. 'The jury was composed of the, following, those marked with a star not being of the regular panel, but called in to fill up the jury; Emmet-Eldredge, Alonzo Daniels, George Marr, Walter Harrington, Ed Catt*, Wilbur D. Bond, Harrison Wasson*, H. L. Williams, H. W. Kiplinger*, Geo. T. Dean, George Borntrager, Roscoe Garrjott. What the Evidence Was. The State’s witnesses were Auditor, Leatherman and the county commissioners. Wallace Marshall of the Lafayette Bridge Co., was the star witness for the state. Mr. Marshall testified that he was at the head of the above company.; that he was* a dvil engineer, manufacturer and contractor and had been so engaged exclusively for the past 25 years. He testified that he had gone out to the location df the bridge after the material was placed on the ground, but before! it was erected. and had measured the different parts,; that he had also gone out to the bridge again Tuesday afternoon—the day before pie trial—with the specifi-

THE TWICE-A-WEEK

RENSSELAER, JASPER COUNTY, INDIANA, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1910.

and carefully measured i every piece of the work and' compared it with the plans and specifications. He had written Out the size and weight of each piece in the bridge as constructed and also the size and weight of the same piece in the 'plans and specifications. His testimony was very minute and convincing, and without going intb technical details of each pjece as given by him in the testimony, he stated that the total reduction in weight of the bridge as constructed was 13,885 pounds, or about 35 per cent, less than called for in the plans amd specifications. The value of structural steel laid down at the shops in this section was at that time $1.50 per 100 pounds, and the cost of labor in manufacturing it into a bridge was 75 cents per 100 pounds, and that the value m the 13,885 pounds of steel which the bridge was short, was $312, including cost of manufacture. In other words, by scaling down the bridge 13,885 pounds in weight, the bridge company had saved $312 in material and labor. He also testified that while the specifications said the parts must be riveted together that they were bolted, and that the saving the bridge company had made z in rivets and extra paint on material not put ih was at least SIOO more. In the planking there was 288 feet less oak lumber used than called for in the specifications, thus making another saving of several dollars to the bridge company. The strength and carrying capacity of the bridge, he testified, was reduced about 50 per cent, by reason of all these reductions in weight of the different pieces. He estimated the carrying capacity at 1,000 pounds per lineal foot as constructed, while if built up to plans and specifications it would have been 2,000 pounds. The average of country bridges was about 1,600 generally, he stated, thereby inferring that the specifications as prepared in this case were 1-4 heavier than necessary, but an honest bidder must bid on the construction as there specified. The plans and specifications had been made by the Winamac Bridge Co. The grand total of the saving made by the 'company by the scaling down was S4OO at least. Mr. Marshall’s testimony was not shaken in the least by crossexamination, but 1 was strengthened if anything. He impressed one with being a man who thoroughly understood his business

Continued on Last Page.

ALL HONOR TO PROSECU TOR LONGWELL.

The Democrat wants to commend Prosecutor Longwell for his successful efforts, in the face of many difficulties, in prosecuting the Milroy tp., bridge graft. The charges of Mr. Marshall have been pooh-hoohed and attempts made to treat them as a joke, and we will venture ‘the assertion that the prosecutor got no encouragement in the prosecution from the quarters where he should have had earnest support. At least this was the general condition tha£ he was*up against. He handled the case alone and unaided, and did remarkably well. Tt is to be regretted that the rcfom was not packed with tax-

payers during the progress of tiis trial—they would certainly .have got their eyes opened a little anyway. Again, in behalf of the honest taxpayers of Jasper county, we want to, thank .Mr. Longwell, and we believe him to be an honest and conscientious public officer, one’ who will try to do his duty in the face of any obstacles that may be thrown in his way. Also, had it not been for Wallace Marshall of the Lafayette Bridge Co., the people would have been no wiser, and would, no doubt, continued to be the victims Of this specie of robbery. Mr. Marshall says that he will make a good profit legitimately on a bridge if he can, but if he takes a contract he complies with the specifications.

Some excellent Limberger Cheese, 50c the 2 pound brick. -HOME GROCERY.

THE COURT HOUSE

Items Picked Up About the County Capitol.

County Commissioner Pettet was billed to cry Amiel Shrader’s sale in Walker tp., Wednesday, but was summoned as a witness in the State vs. Bader case, in his official capacity as commissioner. And still "John wants another term of it. —o—Marriage licenses issued: Feb. 23, James Virgil Hamilton of Indianapolis, sop of J. W. Hamilton of Monticello, aged 25, occupation clerk, to Hazel Warner of Rensselaer, daughter of Norman Hale Warner, aged 24, occupation housekeeper. First mrriage for each. Feb. 23, Ralph Lowman, son of Alfred Lowman of near Rensselaer, aged 18, occupation farmer, to Leslie Harrington, daughter of Walter Harrington of Union tp., aged 18, occupation housekeeper. First marriage for each. _— o — view of the disclosures •anade ip the trial of the general manager of the Winamac Bridge Co., it would seem that tax-pay-ers of Jasper county should arouse from their lethargy long enough to take steps to have a competent engineer examine every bridge built in Jasper county in the past half-dozen years, and find out- if they have been swindled on every one like they were on this Milroy tp., bridge. Scores of new brjdges have been built here during the past few years, and this matter should not stop with the conviction-of poor onearmed Clarence Bader. Will the taxpayers arouse themselves to see how far the steal has gone and who has reaped the thousands of dollars that they have possibly been defrauding of?

MOVE TO MICHIGAN.

Conrad Hildebrand loaded his car of goods Wednesday and left with his family Thursday for their new home near New Buffalo, Mich., where he bought a farm some time ago. The many friends of the family here wish them success and happiness.

STORE RE-OPENS.

Mr. Forsythe Must Futher Reduce Stock to Sell Same. B. Forsythe has re-opened his store in the I. O. O. F. block and will endeavor to further reduce the stock before selling same, as he still has too large a stock to find a buyer. He hopes to so reduce same in a few weeks that he may readily sell and retire from business.

MORE ZERO WEATHER.

Eight Below Wednesday Morning and At Zero Thursday. We are certainly getting lots of good old winter time this year, and some of the ice formed from the first snow, early in December, still remains on the ground in miany places. Another cold wave struck us hard Tuesday night and the inercury in the government thermometer at St. Joseph’s college registered 8 degrees below Wednesday morning, and was down to zero again* Thursday morning, while a cold, raw wind has prevailed all week.

FIRE AT REMINGTON.

Wm. Puckett’s Barn Burned, Together With Team of Horses. The barn of Wm. Puckett of Remington was destroyed by fire at about 6 o’clock Tuesday morning and a good team of horses and his Rawley medicine wagon and a large stock of medicines, extracts, etc., were consumed. Mr. Puckett had gone to the barn a few moments before and fed his team and' had returned to the house, and shortly after he saw smoke pouring from the building. He ran out and attempted to get the horses out, but they Refused to move. He then ran to fire house and rang the fire-bell,

but before the fire Company could get on the scene the building and contents were doomed. A. Beasley’s barn, immediately east also caught fire and was damaged to the extent of $175. The loss to Mr. Puckett is about sl,000 with only $350 insurance. The origin of the fire is a mystery, as Mr. Puckett was not smoking when he was at the barn and carried no light of any kind there.

HAMILTON-WARNED.

One of the prettiest weddings of the season was that of Mr. Virgil Hamilton of- Indianapolis and Miss Hazel Warner, which took place at the home of the bride’s parents, Mr. and M’rs. N. H. Warner, at 11:45 a. m., Thursday, in the presence of about 100 friends and relatives of the contracting parties, several of the guests being from out of town. The ceremony was performed by Rev. J. C. Parrett of the Presbyterian church. Miss Edith Prest of Hammond was bridesmaid, and Mr. McAllister of Indianapolis was best man. A luncheon was served following the ceremony. Just 53 years ago to a day the bride’s grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Norman Warner were married, and they were both present of course at this ceremony. Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton left on the two o’clock train the same afternoon for Indianapolis, where the groom is employed as a clerk in the New York Store, and where they will make their future home. Both are deservedly popular people and have a host of friends who wish them long years of happiness.

JOSEPH YEOMAN DEAD.

Aged Pioneer Passes Away Suddenly Thursday Afternoon. Joseph Yeoman, an aged and respected pioneer citizen of Jasper county, dropped dead at his home in the northwest part of town at 1 p. m., Thursday, aged 83 years. He had been in poor health for the past six years, and had not been out of the house since the big snow fall of Dec. 6, although he was up and about all the time. Thursday noon he said he was not feeling extra well, having some pains in his chest and stomach, and said he would not eat any dinner, but finally was prevailed on to sit down to the table. He did not eat anything, however, and soon got up and went into his bedroom. The rest of the folks finished their dinner and their son-in-law, John Rush, and Mrs. Yeoman’s brother, R. M. Moore, went out to unload a load of wood. Soon after Mr. Yeoman came out of his bedroom and started to sit down in a chair, but instead fell to the floor.

The men folks were at once called in and they raised him up, but he only gasped once or twice. Deceased was the eldest son of Stephen and Hannah (Smith) Yeoman, being one of a family of ten children. He. was bom in Fayette county, Ohio, Sept. 2, 1826, and came with his father’s family to Jasper county and located near Rensselaer in June, 1844. He has lived Here continuously since, and leaves an aged wife to whom he was married in 1852, and four children, Robert J., and Reuben of Newton tp., Mjs. John Rush and Miss Mattie Yeoman. He was one of Jasper county’s early pioneers, and a most respected citizen. The funeral will be held today at 2 p. m., from the Frist Baptist church, Rev. O. E. Miller conducting the services. Interment in Weston cemetery.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Next Monday evening Rev. J. Herron Miller of Winamac, will be here and commence a series of special meetings in the Presbyterian church. Mr. Miller is an eloquent speaker and a clear thinker. The public is most cordially incited to hear him. The subject of the Sunday morning sermon will be "The Hardened Heart.” In the evening the pastor will use the stereopticon to illustrate a sermon on "The Early Ministry of Jesus.” All are welcome.

Vol. XU. No. »1.

COLLEGEVILLE ITEMS.

A goodly number of visitors were entertained at the college on last Sunday and also on Tuesday. On Monday the Italian moulders began the work of forming the scagliola qn the large pillars. * Mbnticello succeeded in defeating the varsity at their own game on their own floor last Saturday by the score of 24 to 16, thus putting the college five out of the race for ariy sort of a state championship. The game was exceptionally fast, almost furious. The totals ran nearly tied till in the last few minutes of play the visitors bunched three baskets, setting a final rallying gait that the local quintet could not equal. Washington’s birthday was a free day. It was also the fifth anniversary of the dedication of the gymnasium, and to celebrate the event properly the varsity overwhelmingly defeated the Rensselaer high school to the tune of 48 to 7. The fast as the not infrequent fouls would testify. The college quintet worked like a reaper in a well stocked field of yellow grain; the scores came as fast as the sheaves would fall from a binder., The city boys played good ball, but their score manufacturing machine was not properly geared. The C. L. S. entertainment on Monday evening was up to expectations. The opening chorus “Nepolitan Song,” was well rendered and appreciatively received. O. Peters followed with a recitation “The Hero of the Hills,” and the life and animation that he evinced showed careful preparation and captured the audience. “Idella and the White Plague,” a tale, rendered by J. Nageleisen, flowed irf a humorous vein, and caused many cheerful ripples of laughter. It was a long story but the speaker’s efforts were well sustained. The elocutionary rendition was far bettej than the lessen conveyed. Leon Dufrane declaimed “Immortality,” and his interpretation of the poem was in the sober, solemn vein that always brought great consolation and hope to the greatest of our presidents, when the burden of the civil strife was bloodiest, and the cares of state for his country’s salvation weighed heaviest upon his over-burdened shoulders. Prof. A. Staeger’s violin solo “Hungarian Dance,” loudly demanded an encore. It was the sweetest that has been heard in the college auditorium since the days of Mr. Winter. A lively debate followed: Resolved that “The United States would be justified in interfering in the, affairs of Mexico to establish an equitable government there.” C. Burkhart upheld the affirmative. He spoke well, but his composition failed to strike home convincingly. J. Mclntyre defended the negative and by his mastqrly oration, both as to composition and delivery, won the decision. A choice selection by the orchestra ended the evening’s enjoyment. It was named the “Queen of Autumn” and was most queenly played; only an implusive encore satisfied the audience.

CHRISTIAN CHURCH SER VICES.

The subject of the Sunday morning sermon is “The Builder and His Specifitatiorfs.” In the evening, “The Proof of Our Religion.” All are welcome.

A CEDAR LAKE SUICIDE.

Hammond, Ind., Feb. 22.—« Frank Barman, a wealthy farmer living dear Cellar Lake, six miles south of Hammond, committed suicide Tuesday by hanging himself to a tree near his home. Some time ago his brother, Peter Barman, a wealthy farmer, also hanged himself to a tree. It is thought the suicide preyed on the elder brother’s mind and prompted him to take his life.

White Star and Acme flours are winning new customers every day. Why? Because tftey are the best flours made. $1.40 and $1.50 a sack.

ROWLES & PARKER.