Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 April 1910 — Page 1

Jasper County Democrat

91.50 Per Year.

MORE CONTEMPT PROCEEDINGS.

Attorneys Williams and Hathaway Cited to “Show Cause” j —■■■—■ ' ■ 1 * IN THE BADER GRAFT CASE. Affidavit and Information Filed Saturday and Rule Made, Returnable Next Saturday.— Charge Is Wrongfully Advising Sheriff Shirer. Another chapter in the Bader bridge graft case was-Sprung Saturday when Prosecuting Attorney Longwell filed an affidavit and information against George A. Williams and M. M. Hathaway, citing them to appear in court and show cause why they should not be punished for contempt of court in wrongfully advising Sheriff Shirer in the taking of said Bader to the penitentiary. .1 ■ - It will be remembered that the sheriff in his answer to the contempt proceedings brought against him for failure to take the prisoner to Michigan City at once after sentence was passed and the' necessary papers were placed in his hands, said that the above attorneys for Mr. Bader had told him that he had five days in which to convey said prisoner to the prison, and that relying on said statement he had let Mr. Bader remain in Winamac to fix up his business affairs before going on with him to Michigafi City. The affidavits and information are practically the same as that in the Shirer case, which was published almost entire in The Democrat, hence we only publish herewith the principal changes, as follows. We publish that against Mr. Williams, and the other is the same except that Hathaway’s name appears instead :

“That said George Williams as attorney at law, knowingly and ,corruptly advised and counseled the said Lewis Shirer that said Bader had business matters in the town of Winamac, Ind., which he, the said Bader, desired to look after and close up before being taken to said prison,, and that he, the said Lewis Shirer, should take the said Badfer to Winamac to settle up said business, that said George Williams wilfully; knowingly and corruptly advised said Lewis Shirer that he had five days within which to take said Bader to prison and advised and counseled the course of action of said Lewis Shirer, hereinbefore set out in this affidavit, which course of action on the part of said Lewis Shirer was in contempt of this Court and the judgment and order of the Court in the premises. * * * And by reason of the premises said. George Williams is in contempt of thisi Court and of the judgment and order of this court. “Wherefcne affiant prays the Court that a rule rrom this Court he served against said George Williams and that he be required to show cause, in said Court, why he should not be attached and punished for contempt as alleged in the^remises. The writs are made returnable next Saturday, when the attorneys will appear before Judge Hanley with their pleas. Mr. Hathaway resides at Winamac and is a member of the Winamac Bridge Co., which did the grafting.

DUG UP RUSTY SHOTGUN

r» Well Diggers In Gifford District Unearth An Old BreechLoader. While putting down a well at Ed Oliver’s near Newland a few days ago, J, W. Ward and Frank Phillips run onto the barrels of a doublei-barreled breech-loading shotgun buried about four feet under ground. The wood stock was completely gone and perhaps eight or ten inches of the smaller end of the barrels were eaten away by rust. Whether the luckless hunter lost the weapon while hunting on the march several years ago and went down in the mupk with the gun is of course unknown, as the soil that ate the steef barrels

of the gun so badly would likely have also destroyed any vestige of’ a man if buried there at the same time. The weapon could not have been buried there such a great number of years, as breech loaders, of this .pattern -at least, have not been in existence, probably more than thirty-five or forty years, but there is some substance in the muck ground that eats up wood and steel comparitively quick, and the part found bears the earmarks of a century or more’s burial such as would be the result in ordinary soil. The gun is at The Democrat office for a few days where it may be seen by the curious.

STILL WE HAVE FEEZING WEATHER.

If there was ariy lingering doubt remaining as to whether the heavy frosts of late had very badly injured the fruit crop, that doubt is now dispelled. The cold weather and snow of last week, which on Saturday reached a point where a crust was frozen on the ground and the leaves on the soft maple trees were frozen and are shriveling up, and the ground was covered with a mantle of snow Saturday night, has done a-plenty to the fruit, has injured wheat greatly and damaged oats more or less. Oats may recover for most part, but as for fruit, that is done for almost' completely for this year. It seems that if we don’t get March weather during March we will get it later, and this year March was what April ought to have been, while our March weather is coming the latter part of April when crops and everything is advanced farther than almost ever before known for this season of the year.

POTATOES ARE A DRUG

On the Market and Can Be Had Almost for Hauling Away. Not for several years have potatoes been as cheap they are now. An enormous crop was raised last year and hundreds of thousands of—bushels will never be consumed. A great many thousands of bushels in Jasper county, which is by no means usually much of a potato section and seldom produces enough to supply the local demand, will go to waste: Ed Oliver, of near Newlaftd, alone has 2,500 bushels that, he cannot sell, and there are several others in the north half of the county that have from a few hundred to a thousand or more bushels still on hand, we are told. In the great potato producing sections of the country tubers are selling at 10 cents a bushel, where they ’ can be sold at all. Usually in the spring of the year they are from 75c to SI.OO a bushel, and in Jasper county we generally have to pay from SI.OO to $1.25 for seed potatoes.

GOODLAND WILL HAVE OILED STREETS.

The town of Goodland is preparing to.oil the business streets of that place, and a tank of oil is now waiting on the sidetrack for the weather to become favoi able fntd the streets to be prepared for receiving the oil.' Oil is said to be much better and a great deal cheaper than water for laying the dust, besides it preserves the streets. A couple cl lstreets in the residence portion of Rensselaer, south River and .south Cullen, were oil last year by tlu property owners thereof, and the results were very satisfactory indeed, considering the fact that this was the first time the experiment was tried in Rensselaer and the oil was • put on by people who had never had any experience in this line of work before. The Democrat is very much in favor of trying oil on the business streets of Rensselaer, ?and we hope the matter will be taken up and something be done along this line. The cost of oiling once each season is about one-fourth what we pay for sprinkling, and is much more effective. If, a» claimed, the oil is a great help preserving the streets, the city should stand a good share of the cost of doing the work rather than putting it all on the bjui ; ness men. "IS T Read The Democrat for news

THE TWICEIA-WEEK

RENSSELAER, JASPER COUNTY, INDIANA, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 1910.

THE COURT HOUSE

Items Picked Up About the County Capitol. 'k ■■ ' ' ■■■ Next Wednesday, May 4, is Horse Sale day. .. A ■ O’ -"* Judge Darroch and Clerk Hess of Kentland were over yesterday on the Kline vs. Kline case. Johnson county, already dry by remonstrance, voted “dry” Monday by a majority of 2,205. Monday next is the last day for paying the spring installment of taxes to avoid penalty for delinquency. —o Ex-Congressman Frank B. Posey of Evansville has been secured to deliver the address here July 4, on the occasion of the dedication of the Milroy monument. The Republican says The Democrat is a “real grafter.” We think we can easily prove an alibi, for, were the charge true, the Republican would be defending us instead of pursuing the attitude it does. Perhaps, though,' it is only “convicted” grafters that the Republican rushes to the defense of. New suits filed: No. 7603. Henry J. Kessner Lumber Co., vs, John Dexter, et al; action to foreclose mechanic’s lien. Demand No. 7604. Jurilla J. Gidley vs. John Strunk, e't al; action to quiet title. No. 7605. Erhardt Weurthner, Jr., vs. Mary C. Weurthner, et al; action in partition. ——O—• A deputy game warden named Earle has been making life a burden for hunters along the kankakee, in looking after violators of the game laws, and last Friday James Yeagley of Demotte was fined and costed $lO9 in Squire Irwin’s court in Rensselaer for having shipped some quail, snipe and ducks to Chicago. Frank Mosier, Jr., also of Demotte was fined and costed $36.50 for having sold Yeagley quail.

Marriage licenses issued: April 25, Elmer Urton Holland, son of W. E. Holland of Remington, aged 20, occupation barber, to Goldie York, daughter oi William York, of Remington, aged 20, occupation housekeeper. First marriage for each. |f Jasper county, son of John Sommers, aged 21, occupation farmer, to Mary Martha Halsema,. daughter of Lambert L. JHalsema of Lafayette, aged 19, occupation housekeeper, First marriage for each. The Democrat man is not perfect and never has claimed to be. He has done things that were he to live his life over again he would not do. Who- hasn’t? But he has lived for 25 years within 20 miles of Rensselaer twelve years of this time in Rensselaer. The men with whom he has had business dealings during this time know whether he has been a rascal or not. But he is not a hypocrite. He doesn’t go to church Sunday mornings and occupy a place in the "amen corner” and then sit in a poker game at nighL He is what he is and no more.

Following are the proceedings of the circuit court since our last report. The jury has been excused until next Monday: Harvey J. Dexter ditch; James McClanahan, Elmira Stockton and Cordelia Williams file separate remonstrance. R. E. Davis ditch; Chicago & Eastern 111. Ry., and Fred Tresemer file remonstrances. Charles Meadel ditch; P. C. C. & St. L. Ry., files remonstrance. Ann Cain, vs. Mark V. Murphy, et al. and Thomas l C. Cain, adm., vs. Ann Cain, et al; judgment quieting title and lot 7, block 7, Western add. ordered sold to pay debts, to be sold without notice, 1-3 cash, 1-3 in nine months and 1-3 in eighteen months. Court finds Ann Cain owner of onehalf. Murphy heirs the balance.

Court finds that lands are susceptible of partition without damage to owners, and Warren Robinson, A. T. Harris and R. A. Parkison appointed commissioners to make partition. Moses C. Myers vs. Ike Kerstein, et al; judgment of foreclosure, $887.75. Patrick Hallagan vs. Frank Cochran; judgment and foreclosure, $303.70.

HOW THE DEMOCRAT HAS GRAFTED.

The Republican concludes a' lengthy tirade against The Democrat man and says “the records at the court house show that Babcock was a real grafter.” This, while a grave charge, is very indefinite, and the Republican should point out where this record can be found. It should also publish it. If the records prove this to be true the public has a right to know it. We challenge the Republican to publish the proof. We have been called almost everything and anything but an honest man by the Republican, and no doubt it will even charge that we are the kidnapper of Charley Ross and the man who murdered millionaire Snell before it is done. However, there are financial reasons for, the Republican’s many malicious statements about The Democrat man, and they are matters of public record, too. We, want the taxpayers to investigate the truth of the statements we are going to;make and see how much they have been “grafted” by The Democrat. Take, for example, the county, stationery contract, the class bid upon by the local printers. In 1899, when the present law went into effect, the contract went to our opponents at $395.20. We maae no bid, feeling that we would stafid no show with the board. (See Commissioners’ Record 11, page 340). This price was so outrageously high that the next y«s.r. we decided to put Itt-ya hid (see same record, page 524) at a fair price. Our bid was $126, but it was let to our competitor at $102.80, or $292.40 less than the year before, while there was not ten dollars difference in the amount of stationery required in the requisitions. We did not offer to do the work for nothing but we did propose to do it at as reasonable prices we charged private individuals. We have bid frequently since that time, and have only secured the contract twice, but we have kept the price down to a-reason-able figure, to the great benefit of the taxpayers. Some years ago the bonds issued for ditch, road and other purposes in this county were printed by our and for a set of ten bonds they charged and were paid S4O, or four dollars for each bond. The price was four times what it was worth, and finally, a few years ago we asked the auditor for permission to submit him a price for this work. He consented ana also got bids from others. Our price was lowest for the same identical style of bond that was being used, and since that time The Democrat has printed practically every set of bonds issued for improvements in Jasper county, and to-day, instead of paying S4O for ten bonds the county pays but $7,50, and 25 cents on each additional bond, a saving on ten bonds of $32.50, and $3.75 on each individual bond over ten!

We printed bonds for the Marion and Carpenter stone roads, the Iroquois ditch; —each of which was about 150 or more in number —and for a great many smaller improvements. Perhaps the total number would reach nearly a thousand altogether, and we have received therefor less than $250, while at the price charged before The Democrat stepped in with its “graft” they would have cost the taxpayers about $4,000! These prices are a matter of record and the circumstances recited will be verified by Auditor Leathermafi. Do you wonder at the attacks of the Republican on The Democrat and its editor? Can you figure out, Mr. Taxpayer, just where you have lost anything by The Democrat’s “grafting?” Or was it our competitors who lost, hence their howl?

WILL RE 30 GRADUATES THIS YEAR

In the Rensselaer High School Class. FOURTEENJOYS, 16 GIRLS. Commencement Week, Beginning Sunday, May 22, Will Be A Busy One for Graduates and School Faculty—Hon. C. B. Landis Will Deliver Commencement Address. This yeaf*s class of graduates will number 30, fourteen boys and sixteen girls. Commencement Week will begin with the Baccalaureate Sermon Sunday evening, May 22, at the Christian church, and from then on, except for Monday evening, there will be something doing all the time until the Alumni banquet Friday night at the Armory, which concludes' the performance. Who will preach the baccalaureate sermon has not yet been decided upon, but the other matters have been arranged, as follows: Tuesday, Class Day; play at the opera house. Wednesday night, Commencement exercises at the Christian church, address by Hon. C. B. Landis of Delphi. Thursday night, Junior Reception at the Armory. Friday night, Alumni Banauet, at the Armory. -f>Folowing are the names of the thirty graduates: Kenneth Allman, Georgo Casey, Faye Clarke, Vera Haas, Alice Coen, Jessie Hanson, Mary Harper, Addle Harris, Muriel Harris, Harvey Hemphill, Sarah Holmes, Lloyd Hopkins, Gertrude Jackson, Edna King, John Knox, Selmh Leopold, Lois McCarthy, Nellie Meyers, Dean Merlca, Harry Moorhouse, jii Forest Morlan, Mary Pierce, ' Merle Porter, Gladys Reeve, - • Nellie Ryan, Raymond Stucker, William Molitor, Hugh Kirk, Chede Jordan^ Madle Drake, ,j

THE COMMON COUNCIL

The common council met in regular session Monday evening with all members present except Councilmen Kresler and Catt. - ; Dr. F. A. Hemphill was appointed a member of the city board of health, taking the place of Dr. A. who resigned a few weeks ago and moved back to Crown Point. Ordinance regulating the sale of fireworks was. passed to second reading. An ordinance to protect the public health was introduced anthalso passed to second read-, ing. • ' The city Attorney was directed to investigate the facts relative to alleged contract between Geo. E. Marshall, P. E. Babcock and Leslie Clark, whereby it was agreed by said parties not to bid for the city printing, whereby the party doing the work was to pay each of the other parties 30 per cent of the money received for city printing. The city attorney was also directed to report as to the. law applicable therto for the purpose of recovering such surfis as may be due the city by reason of , said contract. (This sort of an agreement was charge in one of the an-, swers set up by Healey, Clark, et al, in the lawsuit here last week. So far as, the writer is .concerned he is perfectly willing

Continued on Second Page.

FACTS vs. FICTION.

What the Home Telephone Co., Officers Did and What They Did Not Do. The agreement to dismiss all suits on each side between The Democrat and the Republican was reached at about 10:45 o’clock Friday forenoon, only a short time before The Democrat went to press, and only a brief mention was made in Saturday’s Democrat as a result. The facts in the case as told to us by our attorneys, were simply this: Judge Vinton and T. B. Cunningham, one of our attorneys in the case, returned together from Kentland Friday morning. On the way over Judge Vinton told Cunningham that\ the parties to these cases should get together and compromise them and dismiss all around, and when he arrived here he told Geo. A. Williams, one of the attorneys for the other side, the same thing. Williams then called his client* out of the court room and a consultation between them was had, after which we were asked what we would do. This was about nine o’clock. There was considerable discussion between attorneys and principals, in which Judge Vinton took an part, and finally it was verbally agreed to dismiss on both sides, we to pay the costs in our- case and the other side to pay the costs in theirs. The Republican was to publish a retraction of its charges of crookedness on the part of the directors of the Home Telephone Co., in its opposition to the granting of a franchise for said company in Rensselaer last December. At that time the Republican charged that the stock in the old telephone company had been offered to the new company at 70 and 75 cents on the dollar, and that “slyly the directors of the new company conceived the idea that they might work up an organization that would buy the plant on an 80 per cent basis and thus make for the directors five and ten per cent for the, sale.” Now one director couldn’t form any such organization as charged above, and as a matter oi fact no stock was ever offered at any time by the Jasper County Tclephpne Co., at any price except this same 80 per cent, that it was proposed to sell it for to .he stockholders of the new company, if the latter bought the former out, a statement which is verified by the written proposition from said company’s president and by D. B. Nowels, now of Lamar, Colo., who is a large stockholder in the J. C. T. Co., and who himself was here about that time and spoke to'the directors. of the Home Co., at -a meeting called that lie might present their proposition to them. Mr. Thompson, president-of the J. C. T. Co., also says orally that the written proposition of 80 per cent was the only one ever made to the new company. In this agreement arrived at Saturday we supposed the mailer was ended, and the Republican di.l retract in a way this charge, but bitterly and without justification attacked the editor of The Democrat, at whom its venom has long been directed, and we elsewhere show why the Republican is so bitter in its enmity to the writer. No one regrets these personal things more than we, and the files of the two papers will clearly show that we have only replied in self-defense all the way through.

We have not sufficient space at* this time to say as much as we would like about the Home Telepljone Co., of which the wri-, ter was made a director, and also the secretary against his open protest before the directors at the time of * the organization and election of officers of said company, a fact which every one of the directors will substantiate. In February, 1909, when the old company asked for a new franchise at an advance of 25 and 50 per cent in rates, The Democrat opposed said franchise, and it would oppose.one of the same kind now. The public was' not asking for any change in system which could not be made at the old rates, and the increase in

Continued on Third Page. . ••• .! . t**

Vol. XIII. No. 6.