Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 July 1915 — Page 1

Jasper County Democrat.

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SUICIDE WEDNESDAY AT LAURA.

Alonzo Wallace. Section Foreman and Storekeeper Ends Lite With Shotgun. Another suicide in Jasper county, ■the first for this year, occurred about 5 o’clock Wednesday evening, when Alonzo Wallace, a storekeeper at Laura and section foreman on the 1 C. &-AV. V. road, ended his lire by j shooting himself in the neck with a I shotgun. Wallace was 62 years of; age and was alone in his store at the j time, his wife and daughter, Mar- j garet, being at Kouts visiting a son, Owen Wallace. It is reported that he had threatened at other times to ( take his life. Oris Cunningham of! Laura, was in the store a short time | before the rash act was committed ; and talked with Wallace. Some timej later he had occasion to go to the! store again and, not finding Wallace, ■ made a search for him, finding him i in the quarters occupied by the fam- 1 ily over the.store, lying in a pool of blood and the shotgun lyirjg nearby, i He had fired the load into his neck and made a ghastly wound that probably caused almost instant death. Coroner Johnson was called from; Rensselaer and made an investigation, satisfying himself that it was a case of suicide. Wallace leaves a wife and five children, four of whom are grown. They are: Mrs. M. 0. Callahan of Wheat-! on, Ill,; Owen A. Wallace of Kouts, and Misses Lottie, Josie.and Margaret Wallace, the latter being the. only' one of the children stilt remain- ! ing at home.

Continued Rains Becoming a More and More Serious Matter.

With more or less rain nearly every day and nearly an all night’s down-pour Wednesday night, the prospect of saving much of any of the ' wheat and oats in good condition for market hasN. apparently gone glimmering. Some wheat thrashing has been done in different sections of the county but the continued rains 1 has made the ground too soft in 1 many cases to move the outfits from 1 one field to another. Corn is still looking very well on the higher' ground, but on thousands of acres of the low ground it is entirely ruined and will not make a bushel to the acre. It is extremely doubtful if Jasper county produces as much corn this year as it did last, and we only had about half a crop then.

Dogfish and Carp Taking to the Tall Timber.

Trustee Kolhoff of Jordan tp., was in town Wednesday and said that one of the J. J. Lawler meadows was covered over with water to the depth of about a foot from the overflow of the river and that the dog fish would stand up on their tSITs'“ and bark of evenings, making the nights hideous. At any rate, there are many goodsized fish out in the fields and they may be seen jumping out of the water, but it would be almost as much as one’s life is worth to go out and attempt to catch any of them, for the mosquitos are about the worst ever known here. People in Rensselaer, even, find it difficult to sit on their porches in the evening because of the swarms of mosquitos that infest all parts of town, owing to the continued wet weather.

Wet Weather Finds New Use for Gasoline Engines.

Ex-trustee Wortley of Jordan tp., was in the city Thursday and ordered a gasoline engine to attach to his grain binder so that he can finish cutting his oats. He only had about 8 acres yet to cut, but the ground was so soft that the “bull wheel’’ of the binder, which runs all the machinery thereto, would slide along on the ground instead of turning. Mr. Wortley said that his wheat and oats were very heavy and the wheat required 4 pounds of twine to the acre and oats requiring 5 lbs. to the acre. He had a few stalks of wheat that measured 66 5-8 inches.... in length. A big rain fell out at his place Thursday morning, about three inches, he states, according to open vessels that were setting outside.

Another Undertaker Locating Here.

O. L. Calkins of Momence, 111., was here Tuesday afternoon and rented quarters of Warren Robinson in the Nowels House and will open up undertaking parlors therein about September 1. He gets the former dining room on the second floor and a room in the rear southwest corner on the lower floor, which latter place he will use as a storeroom. Mr. Calkins has been in business until recently at Momence.

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. County Assessor G. L. Thornton i went to Indianapolis on business Wednesday. New suits filed: .No. $459. Petition of Arthur Jenkins for change of name from "Arthur Dean” to’ "Arthur Jenkins.’-’

.Marriage licenses issued: July 27, Charles Albert Stevenson of Fair Oaks, aged 22 August-4 last, occupation section-hand, to Clara Belle Harsha, also of Fair Oaks, aged 21 July 2 last, occupation housekeeper First marriage for each. Married in the clerk's office by' W. l. Spitler, justice of the peace.

Fried Knipper, who lives a few ifiiles northwest of Demotte, was arrested Thursday morning by the Demotte constable and Defective Smith of the C. I. & S. railroad, charged with having broken open a box of shoes that had been shipped to H. C. DeKock, a Demotte merchant, and stolen three pairs therefrom. An investigation by the railroad ocmpany resulted in finding me shoes in Knipper’s possession. Deputy Prosecutor Sands went up to Demotte Thursday and a preliminary hearifig was heard before Squire Greve, Knipper pleading guilty to the offense and was bound over to the circuit court. In default of bond he was brought to Rensselaer Thursday evening and lodged in jail.

Through the assistance of Sheriff McColly, officers from Lake county recovered a Ford automobile at the home of Mark Ott, ly 2 miles northwest of Kniman, last Tuesday, that had been stolen from a Dr. Kelley of Hammond. The machine was driven to Ott’s by a young man named Valentine Schram, who had worked about Kniman recently, and who wanted to sell the car to Ott. Mr. Ott went to Hammond with the officers to tell what he knew of the car, and was released, as it was easily shown that he had no connection whatever with the taking of the car. Young Schram, who it but 19 years of age, and whose parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Schram, reside in Hammond, appeared at the Ott home again Tuesday night driving another car and accompanied by two companions. After learning that the former car had been taken from Otts the three young men pulled out from 'there and it is thought went.to South Bend.

A couple of transcripts in state cases from the north end of the county were filed in the circuit court Thursday. The first was from Squire Van Boozer’s court in Wheatfield tp., and charged Henry L. (“Lafe”) Langdon, aged 60, with attempted rape on one Emma Ellen Jackson, a child under 12 years of age, on July 17 last. This affidavit was filed by Myrtle M. O’Connell. The defendant was arrested and arraigned before Squire Van Doozer. He denied the charge and waived examination. The court bound him over to the circuit court under SSOO bond, which he gave with William McNeil as surety. The other case is against David B. Gleason of Keener tp., aged 37, charging Gleason with the same offense on July 16 last, on the person of May Crawford, wife of Albert Crawford, the affidavit being sworn to by the alleged victim of the attempt. This case was filed before Squire John Greve of Demotte, who, after hearing the evidence, deemed it sufficient to bind defendant over to the circuit court under S3OO bond, which was given with A 1 Knovisky as surety. 1 Both defendants are men with families and long time residents of the north part of Jasper.

Place your want ads in The Demo crat If you want to get results.

THE TWICE-A-WEEK

RENSSELAER, JASPER COUNTY, INDIANA, SATURDAY. JULY 31, 1915

Don’t Want to (five It Up At All.

Engineer Shelhous, of the so-called Lafayette & Northwestern Railroad company, and Perry O'Connor of Round Grove tp., White county, president of the Tippecanoe Construction Company, an interlocking concern with the railroad company, were here Tuesday making a frantic appeal to the ardent subsidy supporters to go ahead and have another election called in Rensselaer and Marion tp. But the “booster” editors of the Republican told them, so the Republican states, that they could do nothing with the present state of feeling here as a result of the evidence brought out in the investigation held before the public utilities' commission at Indianapolis last Saturday, and of course this settles it until the “boosters” see a more favorable prospect ahead. Just what has become of promotor O. L. Brown and Charles M. Stockton. president of the railroad company, who testified that he had put some $5,000 into the companies, The Democrat is unable to s’ate, but on the last two trips of O’Connor et a! they were conspicuous by their absence here.

Johnson County Couple Visiting Their Daughter Here.

Mr and Mrs. J. M. Brown of Franklin, came she first of the week for about ten days’ visit with their daughter, .Mrs. Gus Grant, and family, and will go from here to New York City, where they have two sons engaged in business, and whom they visit about every two years. They will return home via Washington and take in the G. A. R. national encampment the latter part of September, Mr. Brown being an old soldier. Mr. Brown states that it has been quite wet down in Johnson county, but the corn is looking fine except in a few low spots where it has been drowned out. It rained there about every day last week. Wheat thrashing was about finished last week and the average yield was 30 bushels or better to the acre. One farmer with 120 acres reported an average of about 34 bushels, some of it making better than 40 bushels. Wheat was not damaged in quality by the rain. It came in damp to the elevators, in most cases, but they were fixed for drying it put, so it graded well.

College Avenue Road Open From Kannal Avenue South.

The top dressing has been put on the College avenue from Kannal avenue on south and same will be opened for travel this (Saturday) morning. Odell street —which is the name of the street west from the new Work street bridge—connects with Kannal avenue near College avenue, north of W. S. Parks’ residence, on College avenue. The north part of the College avenue road to Washington street will be completed in a few days. No heavy hauling will be permitted on any of this newly repaired road until it has thoroughly settled, Supt. Gray desires The Democrat to say.

Extra Good Program at The Gayety Tonight. The Gayety Airdome is booking the very best of vaudeville talent and for tonight has four people in a musical act who have pleased patrons of the best and highest priced theaters in the country. The program which will be rendered tonight is as follows: Two cornets and two trombones, ip a quartette. Violin solo. Clarinet solo. Vocal quartette. Saxophone quartette. Any who are not pleased with this show are requested to call at the ticket window for a rebate. —Advt.

Will Camp at Edgewater Next Week.

A party of about a dozen young people will go to “Edgewater’’ on the Tippecanoe, near Monticello, Sunday for a week’s outing. Among the number will be Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Wood, Jr., Earl Duvall, Orlie Clouse, Boyd Porter, Don Beam and Michael Wagner of Rensselaer, and Miss Lizzie Lee of Rockville. The names of the other young ladies we were unable to learn, as the boys are non-communicativ'e, but nearly all are out of town girls, we understand.

HUGH KIRK PUBLIC CHAUFFEUR Motor Troubles ’— Car Washing with M. J. Schroer. PHONE 78

GENERAL AND STATE NEWS

Telegraphic Reports From Many Parts of the Country. SHORT BITS OF THE UNUSUAL Happenings in the Nearby Cities and Towns—Matters of Minor Mention From Many Places. Body of Eastland Victim Returned to Lafayette. Lafayette, Ind., July 28. —The body or Mrs. Oliver W. Rudin, who was drowned on the Eastland ill the Chicago river, was recovered yesterday and arrived here last night, accompanied by the husband, the father and mother. Mr. and Mrs. George Gaylord, and a brother, F. C. Gaylord. The 18-months-old daughter of -Mrs. Rudin was in the care of a nurse at the Rudin home at the time of the Eastland accident.

Indianapolis Trade Boosters Visit Southern Jasper.

A number of Indianapolis trade boosters were up in’ this section of the state Wednesday, but did not get as far north as Rensselaer. They traveled by automobile, and the party was composed of members of the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce and other prominent business men. They visited Pine Village, Oxford, Boswell, Fowler, Earl Park, Kentland, Goodland, Remington, Wolcott, Reynolds, Monticello and Delphi Wednesday, which was the second day of their trip, returning to Indianapolis the same evening.

Auto Bliss Line —Mt. Ayr, Morocco and Rensselaer. Leave Mt. Ayr 8:00 a. m. Arrive Morocco 8:40 a.m. Leave Morocco .... .. ~ 9:00 a. m. Arrive .Mt. Ayr. . . ... ... 9:45 a. m. Leave Mt. Ayr... ...... 9:50 a.m. Arrive Rensselaer .. . . 10:30 a. m. Leave Rensselaer 1:00 p.m. Arrive Mt. Ayr .1:40 p.m. Leave Mt. Ayr ......... 2:45 p. m. Arrive Morocco 3:30 p.m. Leave . 3:50 p. m. Arrive Mt. Ayr 4:30 p.m. Leave Mt. Ayr 4:40 p. m. Arrive Rensselaer ... .. . 5:30 p. m. Leave Rensselaer 7:00 p.m. Arrive Mt. Ayr 7:40 p.m. Will wait for ‘‘Hoosler Limited” if requested. Fare 75c between any two stations.—A. P. HUNTINGTON, Owner; F. A. STANDISH, Driver.

Aging New Wheat Flour.

We have had several inquiries from farmers, asking how long they should store their wheat before bringing it to mill and exchanging it for flour. For the benefit of those that do not know, we wish to say that we have just recently installed the Alsop Process for aging and bleaching flour, and will take new wheat, thrashed dry, at mill the same day it is thrashed and guarantee it to bake up equal to old wheat flour.— IROQUOIS ROLLER MILLS.

New Auto Livery, Feed and Hitch Barn.

Having rented the White livery barn on Van Rensselaer street, north of the Rowles & Parker corner, we wish to inform the public that we will work our teams out of said barn and will also run an auto livery and a feed and hitch barn, handle gasoline, oil, etc., and we invite your patronage.—HAßßY GALLAGHER., phone 294.

Mr. Farmer Are you going to sell a bushel of wheat for SI.OO and buy 28 lbs. of flour, or will you bring it to the mill and exchange it for 38 lbs. of flour? Saving 35c per bushel for you. All flour guaranteed.—lßOQUOlS ROLLER MILLS, Phone 456. Do You Want Lightning Protection? I have been in the lightning rod business for 15 years and during that time have never lost a building by lightning. A five-year guarantee with all rods. If Interested call and see me or phone 568.—FRANK A. BICKNELL, Rensselaer, Ind. ts

Baptist Church. Sunday school, 9:30 a. m.; preaching, 10:45 a. m., by Rev. G. W. Livingston of Wolcott. Everyone invited.

An arm load or old papers for 5 cents.

ENDS LIFE WITH SHOTGUN.

Suicide of Former Wheat Held Citizen Last Week Near Knox, Starke County, Louis Funk, a son of B. F.■ Funk, a former well known citizen of Wheatfieiil tp., committed suicide on Wednesday of last week at his home near Knox. Starke county, bv shooting himself through the heart with a shotgun, The Funk family, resided for several years near Wheatfleld, Jasper county, and were highly respected. One sister of deceased. Mrs. Harry Remley, stilt resides in Wheatfield. The following account Of the sad affair is taken from the Starke County Democrat:

Preferring death to long suffering from certain ailments which he believed incurable, Lewis B. Funk, a well known young Center township farmer, shot and instantly killed himself with a shotgun at 3:10 o’clock last Wednesday afternoon. The fatal shooting occurred under an oak tree on the Mahlon J. Hartzler farm, about six miles southwest of this city—which is being farmed by Mr. Funk's mother-in-law, Mrs. Rebecca Colwell and hep son. Cecil Colwell and in plain view of a number of people. Mrs. Colwell and sons, Cecil and Noland, and two farm hands, Jesse Oxley anti Grey O. Lee. wore aII w ceding on ions in th o sa me field in which the tragedy occurred, and the former was working at a distance of only about 300 feet from tier son-in-law when the fatal shot was fired. All of them heard the report of the gun, and looking in Mr. Funk V direction, saw him drop front a kneeling position to the ground. They all l ushed to his side, only to find that the gun had done its work, and the news of the tragedy was then telephoned to County Coroner Thomas C. liite in this city.

Coroner Hite immediately repaired to the Hartzler farm and after a careful examination of the body on the spot of the shooting the .same was removed to the Funk home on the Win. Hammersdey farm, about a mile east on the same road. The coroner's report shows that Mr. Funk met death at his own hands and the contents of two scaled letters, addressed to his wife arid found in his clothes, substantiate this verdict. In these letters the unfortunate man depondently refers to his continued poor health, mentioning particularly his failing Oye sight and the terrible pains in his stomach, and concludes by saying that he “does not want to stiJEer ariy longer.” In tile letters he also bids an affectionate farewell to his wife and babies and leaves a number of suggestions relative to his funeral and the future of his family. In one of the letters he requests that his watch and gun he kept for Loyde, his little 3-year-old son. The evidence of Mrs. Colwell and other witnesses examined at the inquest discloses that Mr. Funk came to the Colwell home at about 9:30 Wednesday morning. He carried his gun under his arm and stated that he was out hunting for a rabbit. All of the witnesses say that he appeared to be laboring under a terrible nervous strain. At about 10 o’clock he accompanied Cecil Colwell on a drive to the river to see about some hay, leaving the gun at the house and both returned in time for dinner. Mrs. Colwell requested him to lie down for a rest, but. instead he picked up his gun and said that he was going after a squirrel. He accompanied the folks to the field and after a brief talk with some of the boys started for the spot where the shooting occurred. The coroner’s findings show that the entire load from a 12guage shell entered his left breast and penetrated the body. The. gun was discharged by placing the stock against a wire fence and pushing the trigger with a forked stick which was found in his hand.

Lewis B. Punk, the youngest son of Benjamin anrl Mary Punk, was born in Ohio, Dee. 3, 188), and died at the age of 33 years, 7 months and 18 days. He came to Starke county with his parents several years ago and lived with them on a farm near Toto until his marriage to Bessie B. Colwell on May 20. 1 908, and then started farming for himself. By hard work and honest endeavor Mr. Punk soon became one of the leading young farmers of the neighborhood and he was held in high esteem by hundreds of friends. In recent years, however, continued poor health brought on many financial reverses, and these conditions, together with his physical suffering, doubtless caused him to dispair. He leaves surviving him the heartbroken wife; three little children: Pansy, age 7, Lucile, age 5, and Loyde, age 3 ; his parents who now reside near Inwood, Irid.; one brother, John Punk, of Plymouth, and five sisters: Mrs. A. W. Mech ling of Montana, Mrs. C. X. Biteman of Lafayette, 0.. Mrs. H. E. Remley of Wheatfield, Ind., and Mrs. Theo. Dierks and Mrs. Beverly Gilbert of San Francisco, Cal. Short funeral services, in charge of Rev. ,1. A. J. Tannehill, were conducted at the home Friday afternoon and interment was made in Round Lake cemetery. The deceased was insured in the Reserve Loan Life Insurance Co. for $2,500, payable to his wife.

Excursion to French Lick.

Special excursion train to French Lick Sunday, August 15. Train to leave Rensselaer 5:30 a. m., returning leave French Lick 7 p. m. Fare $2 for round trip. Fine band on train. —W. H. BEAM, Agent.

Vol, XVIII, No. 35

LANDIS IN WARNING TO FEDERAL JURORS

Tells Them Not to Heed Talk About Eastland. INQUIRY STARTED BY U. S. Members of Jury Visits Scene of Disaster and Inspected the Wrecked Steamer—Secretary Redfield’s Quiz Also Proceeding.

Chicago, July 30/—Judge Kenesaw M. Landis in the United States court iu instructing the federal grand Jury, which started an inquiry into the Eastland disaster, delivered what was considered as a deliberate rebuke to Secretary of Commerce Hedfleld. Judge I-andis directed the jury to make a full investigation into the tragedy and tlx the responsibility on whatever shoulders were found guilty. At the conclusion of his instructions, Judge Landis said. “One word by way of caution. Much publicity lias been given the declarations purporting to emanate from official sources in vindication of the conduct of persons with whose acts you will he concerned. Of course, 3 ou Will not be impressed by any such publication, no matter how high the purported authority may be, just as you will not be Influenced by any publication respecting any other thing or matter involved.”

Taken as Rebuke to Redfield. This was taken in oiflclal circles to he directed at Secretary Hedfleld, who, since his arrival In Chlhago, has given out several interviews upholding all actions of the federal inspectors and controverting charges made against the service. In ids instructions Judge Landis made the scope of the grand jury’s work so broad that it may include an investigation of the department of commerce right up to Secrotury Redlleld’s office.

“It will he for you to inquire whether the navigation laws of the United States have been obeyed and to act according to your determination of that fact. Those laws deal with the construction, equipment, munagemeht and navigation of passenger-carrying craft. “A department of the government is charged with the duty of enforcing obedience to their terms; officials are charged with this duty and clothed with authority for its discharge. You will, therefore, perceive It will be for you to ascertain in so far as it is humanly ascertainable, all the facts of the construction, equipment, management and navigation of the boat. "And in this your inquiry will not be limited to conditions existing at the instant of the occurrence on July 24, but you will familiarize yourselves with the career of this boat and the experiences of her owners, managers and crew, in Its management and navigation. All this is ordered that you may answer the question: ‘Did the occurrence result from any act or acts of omission or commission enjoined by federal law on the, parts either of the owners, managers, crew or other persons having to do with the subject matter, or on the part of any government official or officials charged with the duty of inspecting the same matter’’ ”

Grand Jury Inspects Boat. The grand jury went to the scene of the disaster and inspected the Eastland. Judge Landis named George Roberts, a hotel man of Arlington Heights, as foreman of the grand Jury. Meanwhile the department of commerce quiz, under Secretary Redfleld’s direction, proceeded in the federal building. Secretary Redfleld himself promised a thorough quiz to discover the faults of the steamboat inspection service and the shortcomings of the officers and crew of the Eastland. Two important points were brought out. One was that the captain of a vessel is the officer responsible for any overcrowding. Inspector General George Uhler of the steamboat inspection service gave this testimony. The other was that Inspectors Oakley and Lobdejl, who counted the passengers aboard the Eastland, were not required to make any report to any superior on the number of passengers. Oakley is twenty years old and a junior at Northwestern university. Lieutenant Governor O’Hara brought out by his questions that Oakley and Lobdell could enter into an agreement to overload the boat and leave no record of the occurrence. Secretary Redfleld followed up this line of quizzing by having Oakley testify that he was at all times sworn under oath to do his duty. Frank W. Van Patten and W. A. Collins, steamboat inspectors stationed at Milwaukee, are the official Investigators who must sign the findings. Assisting them were Albert Thurman.

(Continued on page eight)