Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 93, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 March 1912 — Page 1

Jasper County Democrat.

1.50 Per Year.

Frank King’s Blacksmith Shop Burned.

The Frank King blacksmith shop was practically destroyed by fire at ifive o’clock yesterday morning. The building was owned by L. Strong, who carried no insurance. Mr. King had insurance of some S3OO or $350 on his stock and tools, which he thinks will about half cover his loss. When first discovered the flames were pouring out from under the steel roof,, and as there had been no fire in the shop since the afternoon of the day before, it is unknown how it caught unless from she electric light wires. ■ ■ .'T—. —; ; *jr •• The interior and roof of the blacksmith shop proper is completely ruined, but the woodworking shop on the east w'as not damaged much except a hole burned in the roof. It is probable Mr. Strong will have a good cement block shop erected on the site as soon as the weather permits. 'Mr. King has no place to move his shop at this writing, and may perhaps try to patch up the roof a little and remain where he is temporarily. The floor is all right but the rafters are badly burned and whether the roof can be temporarily repaired is a question. Frank has had bad luck as regards fires. He burned out in the Glazebrook shop a few years ago, the fire occurring at about the same hour in the morning as this one, and he later had his barn destroyed by fire at his home.

Young Man Killed at Mt. Ayr In Runaway.

John Burns, the 26-year-old son , of Mrs. Biddie Burns, a widow lady livng north of Mt. Ayr, was killed in a runaway accident Wednesday evening, while returning home from Mt. Ayr with a team of horse's hitched to the rufming gears of a wagon, which he had taken to town that morning to have repaired. Just inside the corporation the horses became frightened and he lost control of them and was evidently thrown off ■violently upon the frozen ground when near the residence of George Schanlaub, where his body was picked up soon after by persons who had gone in search of him. Two gashes on the forhead, extending through the skull, were found by the coroner upon examination of the body. A large pile of ashes over which the wheels passed was, no doubt, responsible for his having been thrown off. The horses continued for a mile before they were finally stopped. About a year ago Burns’ brother whs killed in an accident similar to the one in which he met death Wednesday. The funeral will be held today at 11 o’clock from the residence 2 % miles north of Mt. Ayr, and burial made in the Lone Star cemetery. He leaves a mother, an older brother and a sister. Burns .was regarded as a steady-going, honest young man and a hard worker, who had gained the respect of the community.

Investigated Ohio Match Factory.

Owing to pressing business affairs, E. L. Hollingsworth was unable to go to North Baltimore, 0., as a member of the investigating committee sent there to look into the Ohio match factory by the Rensselaer Commercial Club. B. Forsythe and W. R. Meguire visited the factory and . returned home Thursday, and Mr. Forsythe is greatly impressed by the idea of a union being effected between the U. S. Match Co. and the Ohio concern,, locating the factory here. Mr. Forsythe is willing to invest in some stock if the fusion of the concerns can be brought about. Mr. Forsythe was- shown a match machine in operation of the Lundgren type, the kind that was to be installed here by the U. S. company, before their financial embarrassment. Mr. Sterling, president of the U. S. Match Co., is the holder of the patents for this make of machine, which- is said to be of superior worth. As regards the Ohio concern, four match machines were run there and connected with the factory is a good sized machine shop in which another machine was being constructed. There were also machines for making the boxes and people of both sex and all ages, were busy boxing and preparing the output for shipment.Mr. Hollingsworth visited Elkhart and saw the machines being built there for use use in the factory hene, as also did Mr. Forsythe. A meeting to discuss the fusion of the two concerns was held Friday evening by the <Connnerclal Club.

COURT HOUSE NEWS IN BRIEF

Interesting Paragraphs from the Various Departments OF JASPER COUNTY CAPITOL • : ' > • . ✓ ■ J The Legal News Epitomized— Together with Other Notes Gathered from the Several County Offices. • • . ' : v,. •. • . ‘ ’• *■ Commissioners’ court, will convene Monday in regular session. Trustee J. W. Selrner of Gillam tp., was a business visitor in the city Thursday. Another mechanic’s lien was filed Wednesday against the match factory. This one is by Warner Bros, and is for $46.49. New'suits "filed: No. 7839. State, ex rel. Davis, vs. John M|east; petition of process to destroy liquors. Notice ordered March 7. Assessor Culp of Milroy recently resigned, and George Foulks, republican, was appointed in his stead. Mr. Culp is a democrat and defeated Mr. Foulks for the office in the 1910 election.

Monticello Journal: Possibly the first negro ever drawn on a jury venire in White county was excused yesterday from jury duty when Charles E. Jones of Princeton tp., appeared before Judge Wason and asked to be excused on account of sickness in hie- family. Marriage licenses issued: Feb. 2&, Alva Lloyd Hall, son of John L. Hall of Gifford, aged 20, occupation farmer, to Bertha Marie Mitche», daughter of Edward Mitchell, also of Gifford, aged 23, occupation housekeeper. Married by Squire Irwin. This couple will have an anniversary but once in four years. Wolf scaTps have been coming in quite rapidly the past week for the bounty paid by the county. Tuesday two were brought in from near Demotte, one by Richard Peterson, who killed an extra large wolf on the Otis ranch, and the other by Bert Hannaway, also of near Demotte. The bounty is $lO each on old wolf scalp a. E. B. Sellers of Monticello was over Thursday as special judge in the Newton tp. stone road cases Judge Sellers rather took the bit in his teeth and decided in favor of the roads, but ‘the remonstrators, who contend that the whole proceedings are' illegal, have asked for an appeal to the higher courts where they hope ’to get a fair deal, they say.

The Democrat again calls the at-* tention of the county commissioners to their duty in looking after •the forfeited bonds of swindler Purtelle. One of these bonds, at least, is good, and the commissioners should direct the auditor to notify the bonding companies that Jasper county will expect them to ’settle. It is algo the duty of the commissioners to investigate the possibility of recovering on the bonds of the Winamac Bridge : Co., the amounts the county was swindled out of on the bridge contracts of that company. It ought not be necessary for the taxpayers to be compelled to use a prod to make the commissioners ‘ see their duty in these matters.

The Ketman ditch contract which was petitioned for in 1906, was let at Winamac Wednesday for $164,000 to Engle Bros, of Monterey. There is 3,000,000 cubic yards of earth to be excavated, ‘ making the ditch the largest in the state, the maip line and its tributaries will redch over 100 miles. The ditch in a few places will be 30 feet in depth and have a width of 150 feet, affecting several counties, including Jasper. Construction will begin as soon as the weather is suitable. * - There were nine bidders on the work, ranging from $164,00Q to over

THE TWICE-A-WEEK

RENSSELAER, JASPER COUNTY, INDIANA. SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 1912.

$200,000. It is required to be completed by May 1, 1914. A stock company was organized by a number of landowners in Cass, Rich Grove, White Post and other communities along the route of improvement and plans were laid to build the ditch at a saving. The successful bid however was below {hat figured by the stock company, represented by the Lew Kroft bid of $182,500. The state cases against William Augspurger of Newton tp., and Mrs. Eva Greenlee of Barkley tp., were dismissed on motion of the prosecutor Feb.- 13. These oases were overlooked, we believe, in our former reports of court proceedings l . Following is a report of the proceedings since ohr last issue: No. 7805. Nehemiah Littlefield vs. Silas H. Moore and Frank P. Morton; defendant Moore files affidavit for change of venue from the county. Change granted and five days given to complete change. No. 7817. Harvey Davisson vs. Lee H. Wylie; defendant defaulted, judgment for $857.13. No. 789. David Blitstein vs. Charles Walters; defendant appears and files demurrer to complaint and cause feet for trial March 6. No. 117- Petition- for ditch by Joseph A. Akers, et al.; commissioner of construction reports contract let to John Hack & Son. Commissioner allowed claim of $48.05, and A. Halleck, attorney, SIOO. No. 100. J. C. Borntrager ditch; B. B. Berry of Fowler selected as special judge /to try said cause and same is set for trial Thursday, Mch. 9, and will probably be taken up then, and adjournment taken to be threshed out during vacation. No. 7714. Lewin vs. Hoover, sheriff; plaintiff dismisses action. No. 7 791.- State, ex rel.. Brusnahan, vs. Lakin; evidence heard and jury verdict for defendant, who is discharged. No. 7826. State, ex rel. Meguire vs. Harry Eger; cause dismissed, judgment vs. relator for costs.

A. F. Shesler Goes Mrs. Wm. Warren One Better.

A. F. Shesler writes The Democrat from Wayside, Neb., and says: “I received my paper today and in reading it tonight saw an item about Mrs. Wm. Warren’s birthday anniversary coming on Feb. 29. I think I’ye got her beaten one point, as I and my twin brother, T. W. Shesler—whom you know- —-was born Feb. 29, 1864. If there’s anyone can beat this let them report and I will set up the oysters. “By the way, what’s the matter with you people back in Indiana, having so much snow and winter? We are having fine weather out although there is some snow on the ground. But it was warm and pleasant last week when you were having your big storm. We are ail well as usual.”

Sparling Farm Sold for $175 Per Acre.

The Sparling farm of 237% acres, lying just southwest of town, was sold Wednesday to Michael Kanne for $175 per acre,, or a total of $41,562.50. The falm has been in the Sparling family Since 1855, when it was purchased from the government by the grandfather of S. E. Sparling, who sold it to Mr. Kanne. The farm is well improved, fenced in 21 fields with hog tight fencing, and has one of the best barns on it in the counity, it costing over $3,000. Mr. Sparling has followed dairying and had the farm well stocked, but was carrying a pretty heavy load of debt, he having bought out his brother Bert’s interest in the farm about a year ago, and it is understood that the farm was encumbered for $26,000. Mr. Kanne, the new owner, came here from Illinois a few years ago and bought the James D. Babcock farm, which adjoins the Spraling farm, paying sllO per acre, we believe, for the 215 acres, which was considered a big price at the time, but is not in it with present prices. Mr. Sparling will have about $lB,000 for his equity in the farm, we understand, besides the personal property, which he will sell shortly at public sale, and which should bring several thousand dollars.

Use Hylo lamps in bath rooms and for all night lamps. Use 15-watt Tungsten lamps for halls and bedrooms. Use the Dimolight attachment for turning down any kind of light; fit's any socket and can be used on any globe. For sale by Ray Delmar, phone 151.

Save Electricity.

Public Sales. The Democrat has printed bills for the following public sales: Saturday, March 9, at 2 p. m., Albert Duggins at the Leek Hitch barn, Rensselaer, sale of horses, cattle, hogs and household goods. Tuesday, March 12, S. L. Seass, on the Van Gundy farm in Milroy tp., 8 miles southeast of Rensselaer. General' sale of horses, cattle, hogs, farm tools, etc. Friday, March 15, E. W. Stahl, 3 miles north of Mt. Ayr. General sal© of horses, cattle, thickens, farm tools, household goods, etc.

Bernie Maloy Has Libel Suit.

Dr. Bernard Maloy, formerly of Rensselaer, who has been located at Steger, 111., for several years, where he has become involved in a fight with the head of the Steger Piano Co., and has joined issues with the Musical Courier, a New York publication in which the Stegers have been given some hard jolts, some of the articles, i{ is alleged, having been written by Dr. Maloy, has foeCh arrested with T. B. Thompson, western manager of the Musical Courier, charged with criminal libel, and they will be tried in Cook cohnty, 111., on the charges.

A New Serial Coming.

The last installment of The Democrat’s serial, “The Man Higher Up,” will appear In our next Saturday issue. “Burning Daylight,” a gripping story, the scene of which is laid in show-clad Alaska, by Jaqk London, of millions and a maid, in which the author, famous for his good stories, is. considered' to have surpassed even his own fond hopes. The story deals with a character fashioned out of the frozen north; how he comes out of the Klondyke with wealth won from the obdurate earth; is vanquished and stripped clean of his millions in \Vall street, regains them, and, returning to the laud from whence he came, is conquered this time by love to renounce his riches, is told in the way that has made the popularity of this famous author world-wide. Don’t fail to read the opening chapters, which will soon appear.

High School Notes.

Co. Supt. Lamson visited the High School last week. Charles Porter returned to school Wednesday" after a several weeks absence. ’ Parts have Teen assigned for a play entitled “The Private Secretary” to be - given by the High School some time in March for the benefit of the High School annual. Two instructors who were here to attend the Farmers’ Institute, which was postponed on account of bad weather, gave the members of the High School short talks _ just before noon last Friday. The R. H. S. basket ball team will play the Lafayette H. S. team here Friday night, March 1. As this is the last game of the season it will be necessary to have a large crowd in order to finance the games. Mr. Brady gave the, High School a very instructiye address Wednesday morning in which he briefly outlined to the students the changes he would make and the course he would, pursue if he were enteriiig school again. At the last meeting of the literary society held Friday afternoon, \he students i and the members of the faculty were Chosen delegates for the mock republican national convention to be held at the next meeting. About one-flhh of the number in the delegation of the real convention will be represented. Such a convention will afford an actual illustration of how the precedent is nominated and will be instructive in the work of civicß. At a like convention given by the Lincoln League at Indiana University last week the enthusiasm and interest of the spectators and delegates were great during the entire convention.

Kanne Bus Notice. Hereafter our bus headquarters wifi be at Tone Kanne’s residence, phone 214. Calls may also be made for ua at Leak’s hitch barn, phone 342 or at the Renaßel&er Oarage, phone 365. We make all trains, answer all calls for city trade and solicit a Share of your patronage. Respectfully, KANNE BROS. An armful of old papers for a nickel at the Democrat office.

GENERAL AND STATE NEWS

Telegraphic Reports from Many Parts of the Country SHORT BITS OF THE UNUSUAL ■' ’ • « Happenings in Distant and Nearby Cities and Towns—Matters of Minor Mention from Many Places. Death of One of the Oldest Employes of the MOllOll Bond. New Albany, Ind., Feb. 28". Lorenzo D. Brown, age seventy-five, an engineer on the Motion railway since 1862, died this morning of heait disease. He entered the service of the company in .1852 and was one of its oldest employes. He leaves two sons, Henry and John Brown, former Monon engineers.

SUDDEN END OF TAX CASE.

Executor of Baldwin Estate Dismisses Action as Judge Heads Opinion. Logansport, Ind., Feb. 26.—Attorneys for plaintiff in the case of William T. Wilson, executor of the estate of Daniel P. Baldwin against Cass county in an action to enjoin 'the bounty from collecting $40,000 l in alleged sequestered taxes, interrupted Judge Joseph Claybaugh of Frankfort as he was reading the decision In the Cass circuit court today and dismissed the action. They saw the decision was to be rendered against the estate. The case took about three weeks to try, and during the trial the whole., life and history of Mr. Baldwin was exposed. His connection with the Baldwin-Dague banks at Ambia, Fowler and Goodland; \yhieh were closed several years ago by the state bank examiner, were reviewed, and attorneys for the county said he was a confirmed fax dodger. The j county will now start an action I against the estate to recover the I unpaid taxes which are on the duplicate.

BIG SENSATION IN WHITE CO.

Alleged Forged Notes Totaling $14,000 Turn Up Involving Ora Eldridge of Monticello. Attorney Wm. Guthrie returned Saturday from a western trip which waa full of interest to a good many residents of this vicinity who are holding the notes of Ore Eldridge for various amounts. Mr. Eldridge j left here one 3 week ago Saturday acjeompanied by his attorney, Capt. Guthrie, for the purpose of getting the co-operation of his wife, who has been sojourning at Albuquerque, N. Mex„ for her health, in a plan to relieve him and his creditors from an ugly situation. It is understood that the mission was successful ahd that whatever missteps I Mr. Eldridge may have taken, it is not his intention to cause anybody any . loss. A few days before he departed lon this mission it developed that ( ®U the banks in Monticello were carrying more or less spurious pa- 1 per which had been deposited with 1 them by Mr. Eldridge as collateral 1 security for loans. He is a son-in-law of the late Theodore Scott, and with his farm of 169 acres and his large ~new residence on 1 south Main street, together with 1 several thousand dollars worth of imported horses and other livestock,' Ihe has been considered quite substantiai. The notes he left at the banks as collateral contained as signers the names of Theodore Scott, deceased, John M. Shafer, deceased, W. R. Beeman, John Neel, E. G. Reiff, T. W. O’Connor and B. F. Slenker. All these men were* known to have had business relations with Eldridge, and the signatures being perfect imitations of the genuine, the notes were accepted by the banks without question. Several weeks ago, in conversation with Mr. Beeman, Secretary Turner of the Trust Company incidentally discovered that Beeman was not aware of the existence of a certain note bearing his name and then held as collateral by the bank. Similar] discoveries followed later at the

Vol. XIV.

ether banks. At the State Bank W. R. Beaman and John Neel were .notified of their notes falling due. They came in and denied the'ir signatures. Mr. Eldridge happened into the bank while they were there and was shown the notes in their presence. He finally admitted that l h e signatures were spurious but denied that he had executed the forgery, which he still maintains and which is probably the truth. The total amount of spurious notes outstanding is said to be about $14,000. Besides this are several Joans from “private parties on his individual notes, and other 1 forms of indebtedness running his entire liabilities up to perhaps $50,000. His own property,' together with his wife’s aggregates in the neighborhood of $75,000, so that if present plans are carried out all debts will be liquadated and a snug competence saved from the wreck. Attorney Guthrie returned with a power of attorney, authorized to ’nettle all claims, selling such property as may be necessary to that end. A meeting of the creditors was held Monday night, at which the prospect seemed favorable for a satisfactory settlement with everybody. From Mr. Eldridge’s own statements to friends it is believed that he was led into* speculation by a Chicago broker and that the old story was repeated, one investment ‘calling for another, until crazed with desperation or with the hope of gain he traveled thq well worn path to its familiar end. The fact that Eldrldgo did not return with his attorney Is taken to indicate that he fears an indictment. None has been returned yet so far as known, but the fact that t|ie grand jury has adjourned to meet again the last week of the present term Is regarded as significant.—Mbntlcello Herald.

Collegeville Items.

Preparations for the organization of the varsity' base bair tesim are now in progress. Every afternoon the main floor of the gymnasium there are a number _of twlrlers un.Umbering their muscles. ■ Prospects look bright for one of those oldtime winning aggregations. A strong schedule, which will bring some of the best college material In this and neighboring states to Ronsselaer, is also in the making. St. Joseph’s 13; St. Cyril's 21. To overcome a blizzard, live on a snail-paced train without a dinner and win a basket ball game from a well-housed team Is what the varsity undertook last week where they journeyed to Chicago to pl-.y tho return game with St. Cyril's College. The home team won by the score of 21 to 13. But that does not tell how small the floor was, how fast the game proyid to he, nor how hard the varsity played to overcome the many stringent odds. Every sub on the team was in the game. The loss of Moran from the team with a badly torn -ankle was worse than the loss of the game itself. i( The big guard cannot again play this season. St. Joseph’s 43; St. Stanislaus 24. On Febr 25, the husky five of St. Stanislaus College, Chicago, es-’ sayed to make their first appearance in Rensselaer on the college gymnasium floor. The visitors were far heavier than the locale, but on the big floor their weight did not help them against the speed boys who always held the - ball in Borne odd corner of the hall. The victory was decisive as the score shows. But the home team paid dearly for this victory for Captain McArdle, the most consistent worker on the team, will be out of the game with a broken finger the rest of this season. There is but one more game to be played, that with- the strong Indianapolis Independents, on the home floor next Saturday or Sunday afternoon. In Spite of the loss of the two best players the subs will go into the game determined to keep the home record clear of defeats, which would be a rmw record for a St. Joseph’s basket ball team. ,

Bicycle and Motorcycle Repairing. I have opened up a Ijicycle and motorcycle repair shop in the old Goddard building three doors south of the Rensselaer Garage, on Front street, and solicit your patronage. Will keep tires and other supplies ,on hand.—JAMES C. CLARK. ts Lecture Course Dates. | March 22—Beulah Buck Co. .(Ladies Quartet). /

No. 93.