Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 72, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 December 1914 — Page 1

Jasper County Democrat.

11.50 Per Year.

Public Sales. The Democrat has printed bills for the following public sales: Saturday, Dec. 12, John SchanThursday, Dec. 17, M. H. and F. O. Garriott and C. D. Lakin, trustee of the Lakin heirs, 9 miles north and 2% miles west of Rensselaer. Big stock sale; 92 head of cattle, horses, hay, etc. Tuesday, Dec. 29, Albertus M. Yeoman, administrator of the estate of the late Isaac N. Makeever, at the late residence of said decedent in Newton tp. General sale of horses, cattle, hogs, farm implements, household goods, etc. .Wednesday, Dec. 30, Jacob L. Hacen, 1 mile north of Kniman. General sale of horses, cattle, hogs, chickens, farm implements, etc.

STORE GOES KERPLUNK.

“Chicago Bargain House" in Hands of a Receiver—No Statement Yet of Condition. Considerable surprise was occasioned here Saturday night when a representative of the Central Trust Company of Chicago, came down on the milk train and closed up the store in the Makeever bank block, which has done business here under the name of the Chicago Bargain House. The store has been doing business here for about a year and was owned by Isadore Koffman ot Chicago, whose brother, Sol Koffman, has been in charge. Koffman owned one or two other stores in Chicago, and it was his failure up there that carried down the Rensselaer store. The store here has been doing a good business right along, and whether or not it was realy necessary for Koffman to go into the bankruptcy courts The Democrat is unable to state. No statement of the affairs of Koffman has been made public at this writing, and the receivers said Monday that they did not know the condition as it had just come to them Saturday. The procedings are in the federal court in Chicago. Young Koffman, who was in charge of the business here, never carried an account with any of the Rensselaer banks, and all the cash taken in was either taken by him to Chicago er sent there. He boarded at the Dunlap & Haskell boarding house, and left Rensselaer Saturday night, carrying, two suit cases containing his belongings and also took all the receipts of the week’s sales, it is understood. He left a few unpaid bills here, perhaps amounting to a couple of hundred dollars. The store was to soon undergo some extensive alterations and failure came as a genuine surprise to everyone. Quite a number of clerks, mostly ladies, were employed in the store, and they, of course, are now thrown out of a job. Just what will be done with the stock of goods has not been announced, but the man sent here to take charge, thinks they will be boxed tup and sent to Chicago. It really looks as though a studied effort had been made to beat everybody. The Democrat is caught for |69; the Republican for SSO, and none of the clerks were paid their last week's salaries, while the wholesalers are caught right and left, it Is said. It is not probable that the creditors will receive very much, although the clerks will probably get their pay in full, but will have to wait some time for it.

Real Zero Weather Has Arrived.

Perhaps two or three inches of snow fell Saturday night and Sunday, and Sunday evening a decided drop in temperature began, reaching 5 degrees below zero during the night, according to the government thermometer at st. Joseph college. Monday was clear and pleasant except for a sharp northwest wind. There was but little rise in temperature during the day. Monday night the mercury again dropped to 10 below zero and continued cold yesterday. This is the first zero weather in December for five years.

Notice to City Water Veers. Careless waste of water, such as permitting fixtures running to keep from freezing, etc., must be stopped. Our wells are unable to furnish enough water, consequently we do not have the proper fire protection. We will be compelled to prosecute anyone violating this ordinance. CITY OF RENSSELAER, By C. s. Chamberlain. Suit cases, traveling "bags, dressing cases, pocket sets, collar bags, matting case and bags for Xmas.— C. EARL DUVALL.

COURT HOUSE NEWS IN BRIEF

Interesting Paragraphs From the Various Departments OF JASPER COUNTY CAPITOL The Legal News Epitomized—Together With Other Notes Gathered From Ths Several County Offices. County Commissioner-elect H. W. Marble was down from Wheatfield Friday. i Former County Clerk Wallace Atkins of Monticello, was a business visitor in Rensselaer yesterday. County Clerk Perkins is sojourning at the springs at Martinville, for a couple of weeks for the benefit of his health. The Van Rensselaer Club will give a smoker at tb.eir quarters in the K .of P. building Friday evening, in honor of H. R. Kurrie, Sam Fendig and Court Reporter Wagner, three new members of the club. Sheriff Hoover now has three regular boarders at the jail, a young Greek from near Morocco having been brought over last week to await the January term of the Newton county circuit court. He was mixed up in some kind of a fight in the Greek settlement near Morocco. Sol Guth of Washington, 111., was here last week on business. He has recently sold the former Jasper Kenton farm of 320 acres near Surrey, to his brother, Chris Guth, also of Washington, at $155 per acre, or about S7O per acre more than he paid for it some five years ago. The present tenant, James Reed, will remain on the farm, having rented it for three years more. Former sheriff John O'Connor has arranged with officers of the Navy League of the United States for an i illustrated lecture to be given here >on Wednesday, Jan. 27. The lecture ' and stereoptican slides will be given at St. Joseph college in the afternoon and in Ellis opera house in Rensselaer at night, and will no doubt be very interesting. Further announcement will be made later. Marriage licenses issued: Dec. 14, Jake Hoffman of Demotte, aged 24 August 1 last, occupation farmer, to Agnes Terpstra, also of Dbmotte, aged 22 August 8 last, occupation housekeeper. First marriage for each. Dec. 14, Floyd Homer Spain of Marion tp., aged 24 Sept. 10 last, occupation farmer, to Myrtle Emeline Amsler, daughter of Bert R. Amsler, also of Marion tp., aged 18 April 15 last, occupation housekeeper. First marriage for each. Dec. 15, Fred Thomas of Gifford, aged 25 Dec. 15, 1914, occupation farmer, to Mamie Lowry, daughter of John Lowry, also of Gifford, aged 16 Nov. 27 last, occupation housekeeper. First marriage tor each. Mother of female files written consent to issuance of license.

New Street Lights Please Everyone.

The new street lights were all turned on Saturday night for the first time, although most of them, all that were in place, were turned on Friday night. There are three more lights to be put up, one on the northwest corner of Front and Washington streets, which could not be put in place until the wood pole supporting the old arc light was removed, and two at the east end of Washington street bridge. Posts for the two latter were ordered with the others, but two of the posts came broken and therefore these two lights are left until these posts can be replaced. This will make three more in all. There is some talk of putting in two more lights on the west side of the river, at the west end of the Washington street bridge, and this should be done by an means. ' w Everyone seems to be very mm ch pleased with the lights, and not a kick is heard from any quarter. They give us about 1,000 feet or more of the best lighted street perfhaps in the state, and The Democrat believes

THE TWICE-A-WEEK

RENSSELAER, JASPER COUNTY, INDIANA, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER . 16, 1914.

that it is one of the best invest ments the city has ever made, at .least from an advertising, beautifying and general utility point ,of view. It has been suggested that the county commissioners be asked to install 'these lights around the other three sides of the court house square. It would take about twelve lights, placing them at the same distance apart as the ones we have already installed, and the expense would probably be in the neighborhood of SSO per light. After they w T ere installed the city would furnish the necessary “juice,” we are informed, free gratis. It has been suggested by several citizens that instead of putting up two street lights, either at the east or west ends of the Washington street bridge, that it would be a much better idea to place the lights on the bridge itself, one at each of the four corners, where the round urns now are. This w'ould light up both the bridge and street for some distance each way and would give a very pretty effect. We believe the light committee and city council should give this proposition due consideration.

SOMETHING FOR THE “KIDDIES”

Father and Mother, Too. Y'es, and Big Brother and Sister. Good news “kiddies” the First National Bank has joined the Landis Christmas Saving Club. It means that you now can be “grown-up” and. have a bank book all your own where you can put your pennies away and then just before next Christmas you will have quite a sum ready for you just to buy things with. But then after saving so hard perhaps you won’t want it all and will take juflt a part, and then you'll have a little “nest egg” for when you’re really “grown-up.” On December 21 the First National Bank will start its Christmas Saving Club. You can become a member of this club by the payment of one penny, two pennies or a nickel, owing to—which class you join. Then say you have joined the penny class, you will pay the next week two pen nies, the next three pennies and so on for 50 weeks, the last week’s payment amounting to 50 cents. You will then get a check, just two weeks before Christmas, for $12.75. In the two cent class you pay two cents the first week, three cents the next, four cents the next and so on, and you will get a cheek in this class for $25.50. In the five cent class you pay five cents the first week, 10 cents the next, 15 cents the next and so on, and you will get a check for $63.75. Or you may reverse the payments in any of the above classes by paying the largest amount the first week and gradually lowering the payments down to the first payment of the class you join. This way you will get a little larger sum as you will receive more interest money. Payments must be made promptly every week or in advance for as many weeks as may be convenient. Everybody is welcome to join and the First National Bank will be glad to have you call and learn all about it.

The city council met in regular session Monday night with all members present. But little business was transacted except the allowance of the regular grist of bills. The petition of George Heuson for a street light at Elza and Vine streets was referred to the light committee. In the sewer assessments on Angelica street, the assessment of George and Mabie Reed was reduced S2O and report referred back to city engineer for correcting preliminary assessments by adding to each assessment their portion of the above S2O, and by deducting $1 from abutting property on south sicle of the street and adding to property on north side. A. R. Hopkins asked to be taken into district and petition was granted and his lot, lot 6, block 13, ed $lO.

Mrs. Levi Herr of McCoysburg, who has been in poor health for some time, died Monday night. At this writing no arrangements for the funeral had been made.

Notice to Modern Woodmen. There will be a meeting of Rensselaer Camp, No. 4412, Wednesday evening, Dec. 16. All members requested to be present. Election of officers for coming year. mbnts.—JOHN MERRITT, Clerk.

City Council Proceedings.

Mrs. Levi Herr Dead.

TEAM OF HORSES DROWN.

Plunge Over Embankment North of Lamson Bridge Into Dredge Ditch. John M. Knapp, the liveryman, met with quite a heavy loss Saturday shortly after the noon hour, when one of the teams of horses with which he was hauling material for the new bridge over the Iroquois river ditch near the Lamson bridge, west of town, fell off the new grade north of the river into the Curtis Creek lateral dredge ditch and were drowned. Mr. Knapp had sent two 4-horse teams out with material for the bridge, and the men had unloaded the material and started back north with their teams and wagons. The lead team of the- wagon driven by George Denny had been unhitched from the wagon team and was being led by Denny, who was also driving the latter team. He had dropped the lines of the wagon team for a moment to catch up the hitch strap ot the team he was leading, which haa dropped or been pulled from his hands, the wagon team walking a little too fast for the lead team to keep up. Before he could catch up with the wagon team again, they had reached the high and dangerous new grade that has been thrown up from the new lateral ditch leading north from the river, where the dredge had thrown the dirt all on the west side to make a fill and thereby cut out the old turn around west to get by this slough or bayou in the river.

The new grade now makes the road straight from Peter Paulus* place on south, is perhaps 12 to 15 feet high and quite narrow on top. It is a dangerous place at best, as a slight deviation from the straight line would throw a rig or an automobile off to the west in the low stumpy ground or to the east into the ditch where the water is 12 or F 5 feet deep. The team had started on a slow trot on reaching this grade, when suddenly the “off” horse stumbled, pulling the “near” horse around to the east and the whole outfit plunged down the embankment into the water.

Mr Knapp and his guest, Mr. Hoyt of Pennsylvania, were driving out to the bridge in a buggy, and he was but a short distance north of thb grade when the accident occurred. He ran to the place where the team disappeared and all that could be seen was a hole in the ice and a few bubbles coming up. The team was valued at about $250, one of the horses, Mr. Knapp says, being the best one he had, while the other was not of very much value. The wagon and chains will be recovered, of course, but the harness may be damaged some in pulling the animals out of the water. Mr. Knapp intends to take the derrick that he has used in unloading the heavy pieces of steel from the cars out to the scene and lift the animals and wagon out of the water. The cold was so Intense Monday that nothing was done toward this, but as soon as possible the outfit will be pulled out. From all accounts there should be constructed some railing or guaru along each slide of this grade to protect travelers. A slight error in guiding an automobile over it would probably end with fatal results to the occupants, and it would seem that some sort of protection should be erected along the sides to safeguard the public.

The loss is quite a severe one to Mr. Knapp and one that he can ill afford to sustain.

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GENERAL ANU 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. Farmer Killed by Train. Delphi, Ind., Dec. 12. —Jacob Bowman, 80 years old, a prominent farmer of Carroll county, \v4s killed by a fast Wabash train at Rockfield, east of this city, this afternoon. He was walking across the track and did not hear the train’s approach His body was not mangled, but was thrown 100 feet. He lived five minutes. He leaves a widow and seven children.

Reynolds Depot Robbed.

The Reynolds station was robbed last night at 6:59 when the station men were busy outside with the freight and express of the Monon train which passes through Reynolds at that time. Seventy-five dollars were taken from the cash drawer In the few moments that the agent and operator were outside, and the thieves vanished so quickly that no clew to their identity could be obtained.—Saturday's Monticello Journal.

Express Agent Arrested.

Crawfordsvile, Ind., Dec. 11.—. Clayton C. Parks, 20 years old, who has been in charge of the Crawfordsville office of the American Express Company since last June, is under arrest here charged with the embezzlement of S7OO of the company's funds. The charge followed an inspection of Parks’ books by John H. Howard,- traveling agent of the company. Parks’ household goods were attached Thursday by a ideal tailor.

Bridge Company Loses.

Indianapolis, December 11. —After a lapse of seventeen years a suit instituted by the Louisville Bridge Company against the old Monon Railroad for $207,310.01 has been decided by the Master in Chancery of the federal court. The bridge company loses the suit. Since the action was filed the railroad company named as the defendant has ceased to exist. The court in which the suit was filed has been abolished and many of the men interested in the original litigation have died.

Hammond Postoffice Plum Goes to John L. Rohde.

John L. Rohde, president of the Board of Public Works of Hammond, has been recommended by Congressman Peterson lor the Hammond postmastership. His only opponent was Editor s. E. Swaim of the Hammond News, bait the latter evidently did not bear “Boss” Murphy’s stamp and was turned down. The Indiana democratic machine hates newspapers—except along about election time—like the devil does holy water, and •‘Boss” Murphy is the Tenth district spoke in the Taggart-Fair-banks-Roberts machine, hence no newspaper man in this district is given any consideration whatever. The machine dislikes publicity, of course, hence its bitter hatred of the honest and incorrupt newspaper. But perhaps "Boss” Murphy will not always be the big stick up here, and the machine of which he and Peterson are a part will be sent to the democratic scrap pile for keeps one of these days, and that day is not far distant either. The Hammond postofflce pays $3,400 per year salary. Mr. Rohde, who lands the plum, has held office a ■greater part of the time for the past 16 years, it is said, is well qualified for the place, and will make a good postmaster. But Bro. Swaim, who hat fought the battles of his party for twenty years or more, is no doubt, the better qualified of the two.

HAMMOND SEES BIG GUNS.

Shipment for Vancouver Passes Over Grand Trunk. Hammond, Ind., December 12. Muzzles of monster cannon pointed toward* the-un fortified-city of Ham-

Vol. XVII, No. 72

WAR NEWS IN BRIEF

The German line between St. Mihiel anil Pont-a-Mousson has been pierced by the allies, the French getting across tfie German line of communications, according to an official report. The allies’ offensive movement in France and Belgium is gathering impetus. The British have taken Passchendale from the Germans and have made progress in other parts of Flanders. The Germans aTe directing their .attention to the central point of 1 pres, where the French report several attacks of a violent nature by the German infantry have been repulsed. At both ends of the long front, to the northeast of Ypres and against the railway station at Aspach, in Alsace, the failure of attempts by the Germans to advance is officially announced from Paris. In the east, the Russian General staff makes the definite declaration: **ln the Mlawa region we have brought our offensive to a successful conclusion on the whole of the front.” The occupation of a German position near Przasnysz and the retreat of the Germans toward the Fast Prussian frontier is also announced. In west Galicia the Austrians claim to have defeated the Russians at Idmanovo and to have crossed tfie Carpathians. Montenegrin troops have occupied Vishegrad, to the southeast of Sarajevo. Considerable doubt ha® been raised regarding the fate of the German cruiser Dresden, one of the German squadron in the South Atlantic defeated by the British warships recently. Germany is reported to have advised Turkey to make amends to Italy for the forcible removal of the British Consul at Ifodeida, Arabia, from the Italian Consulate, where he had taken refuge. Italy has reiterated her demand for satisfaction and for the immediate release of the consul.

mond yesterday when a train load of big guns went through this city over the Grand Trunk railway. The guns were more than thirty feet long and were bound for Vancouver, where they will be p«ut aboard ship for a destination unknown. Each gondola of the train was the property of the Lehigh Valley rail-? way and carried one gain each. The guns were manufactured in Penn sylvanla.

Jordan Tp. Man Robbed in Chicago.

“Say, will you cash a check for me,” asked Peter E. Nafziger of Goodland, Ind., as he approached Policeman Malone of the Maxwell street station and drew a checkbook and a fountain pen from his pocket. Instead of cashing the check the policeman took him to the station, where he is being held. Nafziger tola the police he came to Chicago to see his wife, a patient in the Presbyterian hospital, but stopped in several saloons and when he left found he had spent or lost sls, whfle his watch wae missing.—Yesterday’s Chicago Herald. Mr. Nafziger is a well known Jordan tp. farmer, and is not a bunko man, as the above article would infer. His wife is in the Presbyterian hospital in Chicago, and if he asked to have a check casned he had the cash In the bank to take care of it. <

For Sale —Barred Plymouth Rocks. I will offer for sale the stock of the Reliable Poultry Yards, including a choice lot of cockerels, yearling hens and pullets. These birds are noted everywhere for size and quality, are fit to show in any competition or bead any yards. Will sell birds single, mated, pens or any way to suit the customer. MRS. MARY BICKEL, Phone 11-K. Remington, Ind. CHRISTMAS TURKEYS WANTED. We are now in the market for Christmas turkeys for our New York trade. Also dressed turkeys. Get our prices.—FANCY PRODUCE MARKET, C. E. PRIOR, phoqe 39.. Good Ice Weather. About four inches of ice was reported on the Kresler ice pond yesterday morning. 4 .