Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 April 1915 — Page 1

Jasper County Democrat.

$1.50 Per Year.

A BIG HOLIDAY.

Sparks World’s Famous Shows— Circus, Hippodrome! and Menaggerie—To Be Here Thursday, May 13. All day Wednesday the busiest man in town was Mr. J. C. Tracy, advance agent of Spaiks World’s Famous Shows. He was like a will-o-the-wisp, now here, now there, making contracts and arranging for the coming of the great circus. The grounds known as the Kannal circus lot were leased from Dr. H. J. Kannal and he was several times heard to make complaint that the grounds were hardly large enough to accommodate the show The Sparks’ shows as they will appear here this year, rank among the leading circuses of the country. It is claimed to have a solid train of twenty monster railway cars, almost four hundred people and over two hundred animals, both foreign and domestic. The show employs over fifty people in the department of publicity alone and from now on until show day the country for twenty miles around will be given a thorough billing and if the weather is at all favorable May 13, Rensselaer . will have to entertain an immense throng on that day.—Advertisement.

BLOW TORCH EXPLODES

Burning High School Teacher and Student About Face and Hands. While pumping up a lighted gaso, line ,blow-torch in the high school laboratory Thursday forenoon, the bottom blew out of the torch and Mr. Coe, biology teacher, who was pumping up the torch, was considerably burned about the ‘hands and face, and Leon Smith, a student, who was standing several feet away, was also burned quite badly about the face and hands, especially the former, the force of the blaze being directed toward him when the torch blew up. No serious results are expected to follow, and both teacher and student will be all right in a few days.

Waymire-Brusnahan.

Mr. Omer Waymire, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Way mire of Rensselaer, and Miss Clara Brusnahan, eldest daughter of Mr. a'nd Mrs. S. A. Brusnahan of Union tp., were united in marriage at 10 o’clock Wednesday forenoon at the home of the officiating clergyman, Rev. Father Daniels of St. Augustine’s ‘Catholic church. Miss Grace Waymire, sister of the groom' and Chas. Brusnahan, brother of the bride, attended them. After the marriage a splendid wedding dinner was served at the home of the bride’s parents to relatives of the contracting parties and neighbors. Those from out of town were Ed Cull and family of Chicago Heights, and Ray Brusnahan and wife of Crown Point. The young couple begin housekeeping at once on the Waymire farm in Barkley tp. Both the contracting parties are well and favorably known in Rensselaer and vicinity. Mr. Waymire is a prominent young farmer and his bride is a popular young lady and has taught for several years in the Jasper county schools, one year in the Rensselaer schools. The Democrat joins their many friends in extending hearty congratulations.

Horse Upsets Buggy and Spills Occupants.

Michael Ringeisen and daughter, Mrs. Wilkins, were hurt Wednesday when a horse Mr. Ringeisen was driving became frightened at some lumber at the side of the road near the Miss Mattie Benjamin place, on South street, and turned about in the road, upsetting the buggy and throwing the occupants out. Dr. English was called and attended their injuries. Mr. Ringeisen was cut about the face and head and a small piece of the flesh cut out above one eye and he was also otherwise. bruised about the hands and face. Mrs. Wilkins got one Up cut and was otherwise bruised. The horse ran a short distance when it stopped of its own accord.

Notice to Taxpayers. I wish to urge all to come in as early as possible to pay their taxes. So far has been a marked delay. It will be impossible to take care of all the last few days and the longer you put it oft the longer your delay. The penalty will be added after Monday, May 3d.—A. A‘. FELL, County Treasurer.

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 the Several County Offices. Attorney Jasper Guy and James H. Gilbert were over from Remington yesterday. Mrs. Martha Dickinson was down from Fair Oaks on tax-paying business Thursday. The grand jury visited the county farm yesterday afternoon, and expected to finally adjourn last evening. Mrs. Eugenia Peer,> the widow, has been appointed administratrix of the estate of her late husband, Davia M. Peer, deceased. Don’t forget that Monday, May 3, is the last day for paying the first installment of the 1914 taxes to avoid all going delinquent and having penalty added. Jasper county’s allotment of the acts of the last general assembly were received yesterday, and the new laws will probably be put into effect next week. When receipts from all the circuit court clerks for their county’s allotment have been received at Indianapolis, the governor will issue his proclamation declaring the laws in effect.

Marriage licenses Issued: April 13, Omer Waymire, son of Fred Waymire of Rensselaer, aged 25 Nov. 4 last, occupation farmer, to Clara Brusnahan, daughter of Stephen A. Brusnahan of Parr, aged 26 July 8 last, occupation school teachet. First marriage for each. April 15, George W. Walters of Francesville, aged 25 July 15 last, occupation farmer, to Laura Ellen Anderson of McCoysburg, aged 21 Feb. 14 last, occupation housekeeper. First marriage for each. Married by Rev. J. C. Parrett, in the clerk’s office.

In the case of the Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railway Co. vs. Chappel, taken up from the Jasper circuit court, a re-hearing was denied by the supreme court Tuesday. This case came from Remington, and was for loss of building owned by George A. Chappel and which w r as burned from sparks from a locomotive on the Panhandle road, Chappel recovered judgment for $360. The railroad company appealed, but judgment was affirmed. It then asked for a rehearing which was denied Tuesday.

The real estate assessments in Rensselaer are being boosted considerably this year, in the down town district especially of Rensselaer, and are being reduced somewhat in the more undersirable outlying districts. The net increase in the totals of the city will be 10 or 12 per cent. Personal assessments are being raised also, it is said, that is, property being taken at a higher figure than formerly, and taxes as a result will likely be considerably more next yeai’ than this, even though there be no increase in rate.

New suits filed: No. 8411. D. D. Brown vs. Ed Oliver; suit on coh tract and vendor's lien. Demand $2300. No. 8412. Same vs. same; suit on account.* Demand SSOO. No. 8413. Elizabeth Cullen vs. Estate of Samuel Maguire; disallowed claim. No. 8414. James H. Gilbert vs. Charles Bonner, receiver of the Auto Sales Co.; disallowed claim. No; 8415. W. H. Dowell vs. Elmer Standish; suit on note. Demand SIOO. No. 8416. D. S. Makeever vs*, Estate of William P. Baker; disallowed claim of $54 for service of horse. No. 8417. Joseph Kendall vs. Estate of Harvey Crain; disallowed

THE TWICE-A-WEEK

RENSSELAER, JASPER COUNTY, INDIANA, SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 1915-

claim for SB4 for nursing deceased fqr a period of six No. 8418. James H. Chapman vs. Nancy Knight; petition for appointment of guardian for defendant, who is alleged to be 85 years of age, infirm and incapable of. managing her estate or business affairs. No. 8419. F. A. Turfler vs. Steve Lukacs; action to recover judgment for S2BO on a check given to plaintiff on April 14, 1915, drawn on <the First National Bank of Rensselaer, and which plaintiff presented for payment on April 15, 1915, but the bank refused fb pay same on orders from defendant. Wherefore plaintiff asks for judgment for said amount, S2BO. No. 8420. (George Balesch vs. J. W. Blacker; suit on account for labor. Demand $426.28. No. 8421. Martha Balesch vs. same; same kind of action. Demand $426.28. No. 8422. George Dan vs. same; same kind of action. Demand $440.24.

GRAND JURY STILL IN SESSION.

No Indictments Returned As Yet, But a Large Number Are Looked For. The Jasper county grand jury, composed of William Kresel of Marion; George B. Long of Barkley; Ambrose Blaisdel of Hanging Grove; William Florence of Union, and J. P. Simons and B. F. Alter of Rensselaer, convened Monday and has been in session all week. A large number of witnesses have been before the body, including many from the north part of the county, and it is inferred that quite a number of indictments, will be returned, although at this writing no bills have been turned over to the clerk.

No More Subsidy Elections Here for Some Time to Come.

It is a safe proposition to say that there will be no more railroad subsidy elections held in Rensselaer and Marion tp., for many months at least, on account of the subsidy voted the Indiana Northwestern Traction Co., still holding good, and it is very doubtful whether a subsidy could be carried here again. There is apparently no question but that an election cannot be legally be held here, but for the “moral effect,” it would have in the townships where such elections have been called, the attorneys for the present subsidy hunters wanted the matter continued by our county commissioners instead of having the petition summarilly dismissed, which it will be at the May session. The voters of those other townships, however, may rest assured that there will be no subsidy election held here before 1916—even should it be decided that it could legally be held then—and that such a change in sentiment toward the subsidy proposition has taken place here that it is extremely doubtful if it could be carried again.

Farm Hand Found Dead in Bed.

Charles Fish, a single man, aged about 50 years, who has worked for the Pullins’ in Barkley tp., for a number of years and was this year working for Emmet Pullins, was found dead in bed at the latter’s home in Barkley yesterday morning. Fish had went to bed in his usual health the night before, and when he did not get up in the morning when called, and a member of the family went to the room to see what the trouble was, he was found dead in bed, death having occurred some time during the night. Deceased was a brother of Mrs. Vvilligjn Clingham of Roselawn. His father and mother died several years ago. At this writing arrangements for the funeral had not ‘ been jha.de.

Mrs. William Meyer’s Sister Dead in Pennsylvania.

Mrs. William received notice Wednesday of the death of her sister, Mrs. Frank Duers, at Pittsburg, Pa. Mrs. Luers leaves a husband and five sons and one daughter, all of w>om are at home, and was the only sister of Mrs. Meyer living in America. She had been in poor health for some time. Owing to the fact that Mrs. Meyer herself has not been very well since returning from spending the winter with her daughter, Mrs. William Donnelly, in Houston, Texas; she will not attend the> funeral. Mr. Luers is a brother of Henry Luers of south of Rensselaer.

GENERAL AND STATE NEWS

Telegraphic Reports From Many Paris of the Country. SHORT BITS OF THE UHUSUAL I Happenings in the Nearby Cities and Towns—Matters of Minor Mention From Many Places. Damage Suit Filed. Danville, 111., April 13.—As a result of the recent stock selling activities of M. O. Lee, of Hoopeston, and M. W. Cozart, both men being promotors of the Tishimingo Tie and Stone Company, the former has been made defendant in a damage suit for $2,500, brought by J. A. Clarke, a business man of Hoopeston, who alleges that he lost money in the concern through illegitimate deposits of real estate mortgages. As soon as Cozart was convicted in the federal court at Aberdeen, Miss., the suit was filed.

Spoken Of For High Honors.

U. S. District Attorney Frank C. Dailey, who prosecuted the Terre Haute election fraud cases with such marked skill and ability, is looming up very strong in the minds of many active Indiana' democrats as a candidate for the nomination for governor next year. Mr. Dailey has performed a great service to his state in the prosecution of this gang of election thieves, and he has done it so well that men are bound to recognize his ability as a lawyer and his devotion to duty as an officer of the law. If Frank C. Dailey enters the race for the gubernatorial nomination he will have the support of hundreds of admirers throughout the state.—Starke County Democrat.

CONFLICTING STATEMENTS.

Railroad Promoter Condemns Sub- - sidy Proposition. O. L. Brown, chief promotor of the so-called Lafayette ft Northwestern (paper) Railroad Co., may now say that ;he never told anyone that his company would not ask for subsidies and that he never authorized anyone else to make such statements, but scores of as reliable people as we have in Jasper county will make oath to the contrary. They will also testify, if asked, that Mr. Brown not only made such remarks time and again and denounced the subsidy proposition in almost every conceivable manner, even going so far as to state that he did not believe that a subsidy could be collected by law; that it was taking money from the pockets of the taxpayers and giving it to a private corporation, and if contested in the courts he was positive the law would be declared unconstitutional. Mr. Brown claims to be a lawyer, and his opinion in this matter was no doubt based on a careful investigation of the law. He and his colleague, Mr. Peoples, gave an interview to the Logansport Journal , about February 20, 1914, regarding their proposal to build a railroad through this vicinity, following precisely the same route or line as at present proposed from Rensselaer to Kankakee, in which the Journal quotes Mr. Peoples as saying:

“Peoples was informed that Logansport people had"frequently been called upon to discuss paper railroads and such discussion always -ended in bonus talk. iHe said: ’Well, in times past that plan worked well often, but things have changed in the traction business. A bonus is a bad proposition for two reasons. If the rdad is a good thing and can be built front righty of way to time table at the right figure, a bonus is unnecessary.. If there is no real field for the road the bonus is a bad thing for the community giving it. If this proposed line on which we are working materializes, I ASSURE YOU THAT THERE WILL BE NO SUCH THING AS A BONUS FIGURE IN IT.”,’ Now, after all the evidence to the contrary, Mr. Brown has the unlimited nerve, according to the Rensselaer Republican, to call The Democrat man a liar, in effect, when the latter stated that he (Brown) had made the statement time and again that his road would not ask for subsidies.” The statement has also been made

by friends of the subsidy proposition that Brown would put up bonds to cover the cost of the elections asked for in Jasper county, as has been done by him or by the petitioners in the three townships in White county in which elections have been called, but HE HAS NOT DONE SO. In view of all this, will the people of Newton tp., or the other townships in neighboring counties where elections have been called, place any confidence in anything that Mr. Brown may say? Isn’t it about time for the people to sit down on these promotors who are putting them to the trouble and expense of holding subsidy elections so frequently? It is probable that some of these days some real, practical railroad men, with plenty of capital behind them, will want to build a railroad through this section of country, and will do so without calling upon the taxpayers for subsidies. When that time comes, do the people of Rensselaer or Newton township—or even the other townships in which subsidies are being asked , for In neighboring counties—want to be tied up in such shape that no other road can build within a certain number of miles of a “blue-print” line of mere promotors? Mr. Brown himself used this same argument against the proposed Indiana Northwestern Traction Co., which, so far as the public knows, had as much behind it at least as Mr. Brown’s company has. If the argument was good against the Indiana Northwestern Traction Co.—good enough, it seems, for Mr. Brown to use at that time —why is It not good argument now to use against his company? It is no doubt true that 90 per cent of our people would like to see an electric line go through here, and they care nothing about who builds It. They do object, however, to being “played horse” with, by every bunch of promotors that springs up. And as Mr. Peoples stated to the Logansport Journal, a bonus (subsidy) is a bad proposition. “If there Is a field for the road, a bonus is unnecessary; if there is no real field for the railroad a bonus is a bad thing for the community giving it.”

H. Blaine Peacock to Graduate in Law Next Month.

Erastus Peacock of Remington, has been here for the past week or ten days visiting friends and assisting John M. Knapp in getting packed up to move back to New York state. While here he received a letter from his son, H. Blaine Peacock, who is taking a law course in the John B. Stetson University, at DeLand, Fla., containing among other things a report of the Prohibition Oratorical contest at the university on April 5, in which Blaine was one of the contestants and received a perfect score on memory and gestures, but was defeated on delivery, he making 85 per cent while his opponent made 87. The winner takes part in the state contest on April 16 at Rollins College. Blaine is taking a three-year course at the Stetson University and is completing it in two years, having made very high grades right along. He will graduate the letter part of next month, and Mr. Peacock expects to return to Florida in time for the graduation exercises. It is Blaine’s intention to enter some good law office in Florida for a year before engaging in busL ness for himself. His old Rensselaer friends will be pleased to learn of his success in

COURT NEWS

On account of Herman De Vries and Herbert Faris, members of the regular panel of the grand jury, being sick, J. P. Simons and B. F. Alter 6f Rensselaer, were put on in their stead.

County Treasurer A. A. Fell on Thursday disposed of the $130,591.30., 5 per cent bonds in the Marble-Powers ditch, for the construction of and straightening and deepening of the Kankakee river and affecting lands in Jasper, Por ter, Lake and Newton counties, to the Fletcher-American National Bank of Indianapolis, and to MiLer

(Continued on Page Eight.)

Vol. XVIII, No. 3

SHIP TORPEDOED; HOLLAND AROUSED

Steamer Katwijk With Cargo From U. S. Destroyed. CREW OF 23 IS SAVED Vessel at Anchor Near Home Port When Submarine Fires Torpedoes—British Ship Is Sunk —•Eleven Perish." ’ London, April 16. —Tremendous excitement has been aroused In Holland, according to dispatches received here, by the destruction of the Dutch government steamer Katwijk by a German submarine. The Katwijk was torpedoed at anchor off Noordhlnder lightship, Holland. She was of 2,046, tons, bound for Rotterdam from Baltimore with corn and cotton. Her cargo was government owned. The sinking of the Katwijk, coming on the heels of the seizure of the four Dutch trawlers, the St. Nicholas, Eentwee, Rynland and another as yet unidentified, by a German torpedo boat, which took them to Cuxhaven, has aroused the Dutch government to take hasty steps to demand immediate and complete reparation. Left Baltimore March 27. The Katwijk sailed from Baltimore on March 27. She had been chartered from her owners, Erhardt-Dekkers of Rotterdam, for this purpose by the queen’s government. She was anchored about seven miles off Noordhlnder lightship when struck. Her crew of 23 was rescued by the lightship. A German submarine has been hovering in the vicinity of Noordhlnder for several days, other vessels having been attacked there. An Exchange dispatch from Rotterdam says that the sinking of the Katwijk has caused the deepest resentment throughout Holland. Even German sympathizers have expressed disgust at the actions of German submarines in disregarding neutral flags. Dutch Flag Flying. When torpedoed the steamer was flying the Dutch flag at her masthead. The torpedo tore a huge hole in the vessel and set the ship afire. The crew tried desperately to save the vessel. A second torpedo put an end to their efforts. The men took to the boats and then for the first time observed the perisedpe of a submarine. Earlier in the day reports reached London of the sinking of the British steamer Ptarmigan by a German submarine In the same vicinity as the attack of the Katwijk. She sank within a few minutes, taking eleven of her crew of twenty-two down with her. Eleven were rescued by the lightship. The Ptarmigan had a tannage of 475 net. The admiralty announced that two British merchant ships, including the Harpalyce, were torpedoed by German submarines during the week ending April 14. The Harpalyce was sunk. The other vessel was towed to port. A dispatch from Christiania states that 300 mines have been washed ashore on the Norwegian coast and destroyed.

CHICAGO CARPENTERS STRIKE

Sixteen Thousand Lay Down Tools; 100,000 Men May Join in Labor Fight. Chicago, April 16. —Sixteen thousand carpenters have been declared on strike here. This move on the part of the union carpenters is taken as an Indication of the beginning of a determined fight between contactors and 100,000 building trades workmen. A number of carpenters will remain at work for Independent contractors, but they, too, may be drawn into the fight because of strikes of other trades. The carpenters are asking an increase from 65 to 70 cents an hour. General paralysis of the largest part of Chicago’s building Industry during a long strike seems inevitable.

REDUCTION OF BAIL REFUSED

Motion of Mayor Roberts and Eleven Other Terre Haute Election Conspirators Denied at Chicago. Chicago, April 6.—Judge C. C. Kohlsaat, in the United States court of appeals, denied the motion of attorneys for Mayor Donn M.. Roberts and eleven other Terre Haute election conspirators, for a reduction of the bonds fixed by Federal Judge Albert Anderson at Indianapolis. Judge Anderson fixed the bail of the convicted conspirators at SIO,OOO for each year of prison sentence, pending their appeal of the case to the federal court of appeals.

A Car Just Received.

If you want to see a fine lot of quality buggies, call on C. A. ROBERTS, Front street, Rensselaer.