Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 May 1911 — Page 1

jasper County Democrat

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FIELD EXAMINERS FINISH THE WORK

Of Examining the Various County Offices of Jasper (My TOOK THEM THIRTY-TWO DAYS Report of Their Findings Will Not Be Made Public for Sixty or Ninety Days.—No Hint Given Out of What Report Will Show.—Examination Cost $504. Field examiners John Collett and Wm. F. Handy, who have been making the examination of the various countv offices in Jasper county, finished up their work Thursday and their report is now filed in the office of the State Accounting'Board, where it will be checked up and a copy sent to the county auditor here, which mav be two months hence. Under the present law if any shortages are found the officer or ex-officers against whom the shortage is charged is first notified, and he then has thirty days in which to check over the accounts with the examiners or make explanation of any apparent shortage, and if an agreement is reached as to the amount of the shortage, then same shall be paid to the examiners and bvj them turned into the municipality to which it belongs, etc., etc. The present salary of field examiners is $8 per day, and, as the new act governing such examinations carried an emergency clause, it applies to all work done since March 3, 1911. While the examination here started some months ago, the examiners have not been here all of the time, and Mr. Collett has put in but 36 days and Mr. Handy 27 days, which at S 8 per day each would mean that the total cost of the examination to Jasper county —and it has been a thorough examination we believe—is $504. In view of _£he fact that the county commissioners paid Joe Workman $1,900 a couple of years ago to look through the books in the '‘Doc” Nichols shortage matter, the taxpayers of Jasper county will, we believe, feel that the expense of the examination by the State examiners, which goes back six years and is absolutely unbiased, is very reasonable , indeed. The public will have confidence in the report on .this investigation, something it does not always have in the report of private examiners.

DOLLAR A DAY PENSIONS IN SIGHT.

The Sherwood dollar a day pension bill, modified to give ninety-day men Sls, six months men S2O, nine months men $25 and one year and over soldiers S3O a month, has been approved by the invalid pensions committee by a vote of seven to four. Four votes cast for other bills. The bill has a disability clause and takes care of the disabled or wounded at a dollar a day, even if they did not serve ninety days. General Burdett, chairman of the pension committee, fully approves of the principle of the bill.

WHERE IGNORANCE IS BLISS, ETC.

The Republican again exposes its ignorance in pointing out extravagances of the democratic administration in Indiana by including in the “burdens of the taxpayers” the increase in the number of oil inspectors from 26 to 42, and the bank examiners from four to eight, and raising their salaries. It says “these are but a few of the many things that have been added to the burden of the taxpayer and that is the reason your land is being assessed higher.” This is indeed amusing, as both the oil inspectors and bank • examiners fees, which are paid by the oil companies and bank, examined, equal or exceed the amount paid them in salaries. The taxpayer has nothing what-

THE TWICE-A-WEEK

ever to do with it, and if the Republican doesn’t know this it. had better get informed. There is an old adage which says: “Little boats should keep near shore,” and tfhe Republican editors ought not to get beyond their depth in their zeal in criticising the democrats.

COMMENCEMENT WEEK.

The city schools practically closed this week, next week being taken up with the various commencement functions, beginning with the baccalaureate sermon Sunday evening at the Christian church, by Dr. L. E. Murray, state secretary of that church denomination. Tuesday evening a play will be put on at the opera house; Wednesday evening the Junior reception to Seniors will be held at the armory; Thursday evening the commencement proper will be held at the Christian church, the address to be by S. A. Long of Dayton, Ohio; Friday evening the Alumni banquet, the closing function, will be. given at the armory, the Presbyterian ladies furnishing the spread.

SMALL ATTENDANCE

At the Purtelle Railroad Meeting Thursday Night. Less than a dozen people turned out to the Purtelle railroad meeting at the court house Thursday night, and nothing was divulged by the promotor that would indicate there was anything more behind the scheme now than ever before. He wants Rensselaer to appoint a committee to solicit the right-of-way through Marion tp., and will then try to get Newton tp., to vote a subsidy. His proposal is, as we understand it —and it can be taken for what jt is worth—-is to begin work of grading in Marion tp., as soon as the right-of-way is secured. He proposes to go via Mt. Ayr and thence north to Roselawn because, he says, the Lawlers and Hillis & Tolin, big ranch owners north of Mt. Ayr, will lend some assistance. This will be about two miles further than by way of Parr from Rensselaer, as first talked of. The matter of whether or no Rensselaer would bother itself any more with Purtelle—would appoint a committee to. secure right-of-way-—was left with B M. Worland, president of the Commercial Club,-- who will sound the people in the matter and then notify Purtelle.

THERE’S THIRTEEN MILES

Of the Proposed Stone Road In Jordan Tp., Instead of Eleven Miles. In The Democrat’s mention of the proposed highway improvement in Jordan tp., in Wednesday’s paper an error occurred in not describing all of the improvement. There is 13 miles of it instead of 11 miles,, the two miles not mentioned in our comment being east two miles, from the intersection of Sections 17, 18, 19, 20, which will make it three miles directly east from the Xewton countv stone road with which it connects at the west side at the comers of sections 1$ and 19. The seven mile stretch east and west is one mile north of the Carpenter tp., line and runs to within one mile of the Milroy tp., link and v one mile of the Newton county line. There is then a stretch of three miles north and south, one mile south to the Carpenter tp. line and two miles north to the northeast corner of section 20, where there is another east and west stretch of three miles one mile west to the Xew'ton county line and two miles east to the intersection of sections 15, 16, 21, 22. The following diagram will give a more clear idea of the improvement, jerhaps:

RENSSELAER, JASPER COUNTY, INDIANA. SATURDAY, MAY 20, 1911.

THE COURT HOUSE

Items Picked Up About the County Capitol Attorney W. H. Parkison returned Wednesday afternoon from a professional trip to Williamsport. Quite a number of crow scalps and eggs have been “filed” with the county auditor for bounty action by the commissioners at their June meeting. Union township commencement will be held at Parr, Thursday, June 15, afternoon. Milroy commencement at Gilroy church, Saturday evening, June 24. Notwithstanding the fact that Reynolds voted “wet” in the recent local option election held there, the anti-saloon people are likely to defeat a saloon being established there by a remonstrance against the traffic, which is not barred by the result of the election. Marriage licenses issued: May 17, Andrew Morton Mitchell of Remington, aged 21, occupation farmer, to Iva Bell Harris, daughter of Mrs. Lida P. Harris, also of Remington, aged 15, (born Aug. 10, 1895). Mother of female consenting to marriage. Married by Squire Irwin. The Halstead-Stahl case from Newton ' county was reversed in the appellate court Tuesday as to judgment in foreclosure. Personal judgment affirmed if remiture of $25 is made within sixty days; otherwise judgment reversed. The court held: (1) A complaint showing the right to a personal judgment is good on demurrer, though it is a suit to enforce a mechanic’s lien. (2) Under the formermechanic’s lien law, a contractor was not entitled to assert a lien.

COLLEGEVILLE ITEMS.

Rev. Clement Schuette, C. PP. S., is at present in St. Elizabeth's hospital, Lafayette, ' suffering from a severe attack of tvphoid fever. A very large number of visitors was with us during the last week: Gilbert La Mair, Paterson, X. J.; Misses Viola and Margarite Bradley, Elwood; Carroll, Misses May and Kennedy, Templeton; Michael Smith, Huntington; W. C. Murphy, Crawfordsville; Leo, Ivan and Miss Nellie Freeland, Freeland Park: Emmet McGuire. Joseph Woodstock. Paris Blackman, Misses Lucy and Eva Murray, Fowler; Alice Hupe, Lafavette; M rs. Williams, South Bend; Geo. Kussmaul, Hamfnond; Stanley Laibe. Miss Irine Comnoe, Mr. and Mrs. T. F. Murphy, Peter Rotering, Chicago. Rev. Sylvester Hartman. C. PP. S. left last Wednesday for a three months trip in Europe. He will visit his old home in Bavaria, tour Italy, ramble in scenic Switzerland, study industrial conditions in Germany, take a brief look at France and Spain, visit England and Ireland before his return in September. While abroad he will add his little mite to give to those people correct notions about American conditions, and he will return prepared to tell us of European affairs in grand comparisons with our fwn, all of which tends to make for a better understanding between the nations and for the larger brotherhood -of mankind.

The Minstrel Show last Sunday night was a. grand series of unadulterated successes. All the participants acted their parts acceptably from the solemn Interlocutor down the lines, both sides to the end coons whd at times were a little overstrained in their frivolities. The chorus of the first part was, no doubt, the best selection. It was a medley of sixteen songs and musical compositions taken from many nations and embodying many varied sentiments from the very comic to the sedately sad. The music was well played, and the singing also, abstracting from an over-hurry at times, was very creditable. L. Dufrane and C-

Staib as soloists called forth the greatest applause. The three orations, rather monologs, in the second part were comic-humorous mosiacs and captivating. W. Reinock. the fresh college lad, discoursed of foot ball and saw everything through red glasses. R. Carmody, the Irish ‘Test king” scattered genuine blarney to the diverging cardinal points; C. O’Leary, as the wholesouled, undisturbedable Yankee, gave a disquisition on Vaudeville, every word of which was tinged with the color of the fields and the woods; there was no mistake in the work of any of these three. The farce in the third part was weak, but the impersonators made the best of it. The precisely rendered Finale, “Good Night,” by the chorus sent home a perfectly satisfied audience, and only one wish ascended from the smiling lips of every one to the, pale stars that the R. J. S. C. may favor the students with many more of these laughterburdened hours.

FORM MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

The Rensselaer doctors held a meeting Thursday and organized a Jasper county medical society, with Dr. H. Landon of Remington as president: E. C. English. vice-president; M. D. Gwin, secretary and A. R. Kresler, treasurer, the three latter being of Rensselaer. There were no doctors in attendance from the outside towns. . A committee consisting of Drs. Kresler, Washburn and Hemphill was appointed to sound the public pulse regarding the establishment of a hospital in Rensselaer, it not being thought that such an institution could be started without financial aid. This committee is to report at a later meeting of the association.

CONSCIENTIOUS CITIZEN.

Aged Father of W. R. Brown of Rensselaer Pays Taxes On $200,000. Last Thursday, Township Assessor G. W. Ritter and A. Haywood, who is assisting Mr. Ritter in the work of taking the assessment in Camargo township, called at the home of John Brown, who lives seven and one-half miles southeast of here, says the Villa Grove News. Mr. Brown is 89 years of age and quite feeble, but he greeted the assessors cheerfully and soon they got down to the business of lisUng the venerable gentleman’s. property for taxation. First he gave in 740 acres of land which he declared was worth *2OO per acre, or *148.000. Then came his personal property, such as horses, cattle, hogs and other live stock, hay, grain and farming implements, etc., which added *B,OOO or *IO,OOO to his list of taxables.

Then he gave the assessors a surprise by announcing that he had on deposit in the various banks of Douglas county the suns o's $43,000 in cash, which brought the total value of his holdings in the county up to $200,000. Mr. Brown remarked that his health was failing rapidly and that he had not long to remain on earth and Chose to keep the money on deposit in the banks instead of investing it so it would be easier to divide among his three sons and two daughters, who are the only heirs to his big estate. Last year when Mr. Hayward assessed him. Mr. Brown overlooked one deposit of $5,000 and when he remembered it he was so worried that he could not sleep that night and early next , morning he called Mr. Hayward up by telephone and had the correction made. Mr. Brown is one of the early pioneers of the county, having moved to the Camargo neighborhood almost seventy-five years ago. There were many Indianas in that part of the county In those days and he remembers them distinctly. There is on his farm an old log barn, built in pioneer days, probably threequarters of a century ago. It has been surrounded on all sides by frame buildings which completely protect it from the weather, even its roof being sheltered from the rain, snow and sleet by another roof which towers above it. The doors of the old barn are hung on hinges constructed of wooden pins driven into the logs. The building is visited by hundreds of people Annuallywho travel many miles to gaze upon the old land-mark of pioneer days—Tuscola (Ill.) ReviewJudge Brown is the father of „\Y. R. Brown of Rensselaer, and his action in calling the attention of the taxing officers to the omission of one item of $5,000 from his assessment sheet is a most Unusual thing, though worthy of emulation by other wealthy tax*payers.

TRINITY M. E. CHURCH.-

Subject Sunday morning is in Ephesian, third chapter, verses 1-13. This is i the fifth sermon in this study. Epworth League 6:30 p. m. Preaching Monday evening, May 22, by Dr. A. T. Briggs, followed by quarterly conference.

State and General News

AUTOMATIC LIGHTS ON MOTOR CARS. Anderson, Ind., May 19.—The Reynolds Gas Regulator Company of this city 'has a contract with the Prest-O-Lite Companv of Indianapolis to make for it five hundred small regulators for automobile gas tanks! By means of the regulators and a system of coils, dry batteries and push button attached to the dashboard, the driver of an automobile will be able to light the lamps of the car without leaving his seat.

SAYS GOOD-BY; IS KILLED

Whiting Man Falls to Death as He Leaves His Friends. Hammond, Ind., My 16. “Well, I guess I’ll be getting home now,” said Joseph Loyd, last night as he bade good-by to a party of friends on the porch of the Kovacik home. He slipped against the bannister as he turned around and fell twenty-five feet to the ground below. His head struck the cement sidewalk and he. is dead of his injuries.

CHASES GOAT AND DIES.

Boy, Realizing Condition, Begs to Be Taken Home. Martinsville, Ind., May 16. “Take me'home; I’m going to die before I get there,” said Paul Pritchard, age eleven, to companions with whom he had been chasing a goat. He sank, apparently exhausted, and was taken to a physician’s office. After he asked to be taken home his companions started with him, and he died on the way. He was the son of Mr, and Mrs. F. M. Pritchard;

FALLS UNDER TRAIN.

Young Man Killed at Attica Leaves Family in Indianapolis. Attica, Ind., May 18.—Bert Wilson, age thirty, of Springfield, 111., was killed yesterday morning when he attempted to get off a through freight train. The head was severed and the body badly mangled, but the face was only slightly disfigured. He was a veteran of the Span-ish-American war. A widow and two children live in Indianapolis.

HUNTING FOR EVIDENCE.

Prosecutor Busy in Caldwell & Drake Dynamiting Case. Columbus, ‘ Ind., May 19. Ralph If. Spaugh, prosecuting attorney for this judicial circuit, has returned from Chicago, Cleveland and Cincinnati, where he has been working on evidence against the men who are thought to have dynamited the Caldwell & Drake iron works office here. Spaugh declines to say what he learned on his trip. Chief of Police Cooper, who a conference with the prosecutor after the latter’s return, said the information might lead to some arrests here, later on. Spaugh declined to say whether or not be conferred with detective William J. Burns while away.

REMOVED STAMPS.

From Letters and Mail Carrier Was Sent to Prison for a Year. Indianapolis, Ind., Afty 17. John H. Belcher, rural mail carrier, South Bend, pleaded guilty before Federal Judge Anderson today to the charge of removing stamps from letters and was sentenced to prison for one year. Frederick Milhurn of Indianapolis pleaded guilty to the charge Of attempting to pass counterfeit dollars, but sentence was -not imposed. He says he found the coin in a can in the river here. B. W. Price, a furniture dealer, of Lafayette was fined $25 for sending threatening postcards to a man Who owed him $1.75. Dr. I. A. Defcheon of Crawfordsyille was fined S2OO for misbranding a medicine be manufactures. The Western Grain and Produce Company of Hammond was fined S2OO for misbranding stock food.

VoL XIV. No. 13.

TAKES OVER MINES.

Monon Coal Company Files Artides With One Million Capital. Indianapolis, Ind., My 16. Harry R. Kurrie of Chicago, general counsel for the Monon Railroad Company, filed articles of incorporation with the secretary of state yesterday for the Marion Coal Company, capitalized at sl,000,000. The concern, which will have headquarters at Terre Haute, has been organized to take over the John R. Wish coal properties, which Walsh was compelled to give over when he was convicted in the federal court on a charge of misapplication of funds in connection with his bank at Chicago. I he directors of the company, besides Mr. Kurrie, are A. M. Ogle, Jr., William L. Taylor, Romney L. Willson and Russell Willson.

A MAD STEER KILLED.

A few weeks ago a dog was seen to pass through a pasture south of South Island, in whic*h were a herd of cattle belonging to John Fedde. The dog acted queerly, snapping at anything that came in his way. Sunday diaries Cornetta, Ferry Haskell and some others were passing along the railroad, when they heard the bellowing of a steer. They watched the animal for some time and noticed he was attacking everything that came in his way and that he Was frothing 'heavily at the mouth, and showing every sign of the rabies. When they attracted his attention, he made for them but could not reach tfhem because of the heavy wire fence. They decided that it was best to kill the animal, which was done. It will be lucky if no more of the <herd were bitten by the rabid dog.— Lowell Tribune.

BURGLAR KILLS HIMSELF.

Hobo Sent Up from White County Cuts Prison Term Short. John Smith, aged 39, one of the burglars who robbed the Marsh Bros, store at Burnettsville and was sent up for It Dec. 23rd, 1907, killed himself Saturday by plunging from the fifth floor of the cell house at the State Prison to the stone floor forty feet below. He had escaped the notice of the guards long enough to mount the four foot railing of the balcony while walking along the range and from the top he made his fatal leap head foremost. His skull was crushed, and he was dead when th e prison physician reached him. He w”as serving an indeterminate sentence of ten to twenty years, and the time evidently grew too heavy on him. He was one of the hoboes who were afterward implicated in the killing of the sheriff of Pulaski county. His companion in the Marsh burglary and also in the murder of Wm. F. Webb. They were tried jointly and sent up together. _

REOPEN STREIGHT CASE.

Attorneys Prepare Motion for New Trial of Will Contest. Shelbyville, Ind., May 17. Attorneys Michael Ryan, Henry Warrum and Ira Holmes of Indianapolis, who represented the defendants in the case of Sophia D. Hughes and others against William X. Thompson and 1 homas L. Thompson, executors of the will of Lpvina Streight, and others, w ere hr the city yesterday, taking the preliminary steps to filing their motion for a new trial. The case was tried here at the last term of the Shelby circuit court, and after the Jury had been out twenty-two hours it brought in a verdict which broke the will of Mrs. Lovina Streight, who had property valued at $130,000 at the time of her death. According to the terms of her will, $4,500 w-as left to two of her relatives and the remainder went for the establishing pf a hprne for old and dependent people. The matter will be taken up at the next term of court, which begins one week from next Mondy.