Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 72, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 December 1916 — Page 1

Jasper County Democrat.

$2.00 Per Year

FUTURE PUBLIC SALE DATES

The Democrat has printed bills for the following public sales: Monday, December 11, „W. H. Barkley and David Zeigler, on the W. H. Barkley farm, 7 miles northeast of Rensselaer. Big joint stock sale, 61 head of cattle. Wednesday, December 13, Simon Chupp, 7.3-4 miles northwest of Rensselaer. Stock sale, including 10 head of horses and mules, 10 head of cattle, 26 head of hogs. Thursday, December 14, J. M. Yeoman, 6 miles west of Rensselaer, on Mt. Ayr gravel road. General sale, including 15 head of horses, 25 head of cattle, farm tools, etc. Thursday, December 14, W. H. Snedeker, at his farm in Barkley township, ly 2 miles west and 3-4 mile north of Pleasant Grove school house. General sale, including 4 head of mules, 6 head of cattle, farm implements, etc. Tuesday, December 19, Joseph Soheurich, 4 miles north 'and 1y 2 miles east of Rensselaer. General sale, including 10 head of horses and mules, 25 head of cattle, farm tools, etc. Wednesday, December 20, Holser Bros., on the former John Bill farm in Jordan township. General sale, including 11 head of horses, 15 head of cattle, farm implements, etc.

PRICES HERE AND ELSEWHERE

Of More Than Passing Interest to the Economical Buyer. In this era of high prices people ■ are ever alert for an opportunity to save money. That Rensselaer offers as many opportunities to do so as any town in this country -we believe to be a fact. For instance, we noticed a grocer’s advertisement in a Kentland paper last week where he was offering as a “Saturday special’’ a 49-pound sack of hard wheat flour for $2.79, cash. The same day anyone could buy a 49-pound sack of hard wheat flour in Rensselaer for $2.15. This is only one instance out of a great many that might be mentioned. But probably a large number of people took advantage of the “$2.79 Special,’’ not knowing that a “$2.15 regular” existed in a neighboring town. Rensselaer has an opportunity here. Let us take advantage of it.

NEAT CHRISTMAS STATIONERY

A box of correspondence paper or correspondence cards makes a neat and inexpensive holiday gift. The Democrat has a nice line of these goods in its fancy stationery department, several different styles of which are especially for holiday gifts. They are put up in handsome boxes and range in price from 10 cents to 85 cents. Several of these boxes are put up in combination form, pant correspondence paper and envelopes and part correspondence cards and envelopes. We also have correspondence cards and envelopes separately and pound papers with envelopes to match. Be sure and see our line of this class of goods before purchasing elsewhere. ts

COUNTY COMMITTEE MEETING

A meeting of the Democratic precinct committee is called to meet in the east court room in Rensselaer on Wednesday, December 13, at 1 p. m., to close up the business of the recent campaign. Every member is urged to be - present at this meeting. FRANK WELSH, Chm. GEORGE COLLINS, Sec.

®ISTMAS ■ ■— ■ 'I ' ■—' ii

MARION PIERSON SENT TO PRISON

Found Guilty of Misappropriating Government Funds. POSTMASTER AT FORESMAN Taken Before Judge Anderson at Indianapolis Monday and Sentenced to Two Years at Atlanta. Marion Pierson, 32 years old, a young man who has spent the greater part of his life in this vicinity and who has always heretofore borpe a spotless reputation, was sentenced to serve two years in the federal prison at Atlanta, Georgia, by Judge A. B. Anderson at Indianapolis Monday. The charge against Mr. Pierson was failure to remit government funds. Mr. Pierson was postmaster atForesman, in Newton county, and also conducted a general store in connection therewith. It is understood that in the latter business he became in need of funds or account of slow collections and decided to use some of the government’s money to tide him over, but an inspector dropped into the office one day last week and discovered the shortage and Mr. Pierson was promptly arrested.

A dispatch from Indianapolis stated that the shortage was in the neighborhood of SSOO, but a United States marshal, who was in Rensselaer last week, stated that it would aggregate about $1,600, Therefore, it is quite probable some funds were turned back to the postoflice after the original shortage was discovered. Mr. Pierson was married to a Miss Sunderland of Foresman a few years ago, but they have no children. Relatives went to Indianapolis Saturday and made every effort to render him some assistance, but Uncle Sam does not seem to care for the money in a case of this kind and all offers were without avail.

Two other citizens of. this locality also appeared before the federal court Monday. Bert Baker and William Lewark of Roselawn, charged with selling a shipment of ruffed grouse to a Chicago company in violation of a government law, were fined $lO and costs each on their pleas of guilty. The shipment was made two years ago and contained thirty-six birds. Raymond Daugherty, former postmaster at Economy, Indiana, also received a sentence of two years in the federal prison at Atlanta on a charge of embezzlement. He admitted having embezzled $547, all of which, he said, had been made good.

WILL IT BE SO THIS YEAR?

It is an old adage that the first three days of December rule the weather for the following three months, and if this adage proves true this year we have some fine weather in prospect, for Friday, Saturday and Sunday were fine, bright days with the mercury hovering around 60 degrees above zero each day. Sunday was again especially warm for December and the mercury reached 60 degrees. A warm shower of rain fell Saturday night, but Sunday was pleasant. Monday was cloudy, but warm and rain fell most of the day, accompanied by some lightning, the mercury reaching 60 degrees during the day. The government thermometer at St. Joseph college showed the following maximum and minimum temperatures for the first four days of the month:

Friday—Maximum, 53; minimum, 33. Saturday—Maximum, 54; minimum, 20. Sunday—Maximum, 60; minimum, 37. Monday—Maximum, 60; minimum. 44. One-half inch of rain fell Monday. The sun set bright and clear Monday evening, and yesterday was a fine, bright day, with the temperature at noon standing at 43.

Sale bills printed while you wait at The Democrat office.

THE TWICE-A-WEEK

RENSSELAER, JASPER COUNTY, INDIANA, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1916.

COUNTY AGENT NOW ASSURED

Sentiment Favorable at Meetings Held Monday and Yesterday. It looks now as though Jasper county w’as to have another county agent. The meeting of farmers at the court house Saturday to discuss the matter disclosed an almost unanimous sentiment of the few present in favor of employing such an agent, and the matter was then taken up Monday by the county board of education. Mr. Worth Merritt, a graduate of the agricultural college at Ames, lowa, was here and met many farmers and a few members of the board, and action taken indicates that a county agent will be employed as soon as a suitable man for the place is found. Mr. Merritt expected to meet other farmers and members of the board yesterday and today. A committee has been appointed by the board of education to seek out a man for the place, and this will be done at once. The employment of a county agent means n great deal to the farmers of Jasper county, and it is hoped, now that one is to be employed, that the best possible man for the place can be secured.

DEMENTED MAN RUNS AMUCK

Draws Gun in Hammond Conrt Room and Wounds Three. Mike Inik of Whiting, a “harmless” crank, tolerated by the community although he showed every evidence of being insane, Monday attempted to take the lives of several persons in the superior court at Hammond and succeeded in wounding Judge Charles E. Greenwald, Lew Deßow, a bailiff, and George Robbins, a juror. None were injured fatally. In fact, they were not seriously hurt. At the time of the shooting Inik was armed with four revolvers, a saber, a hammer, a butcher knife, a black jack an iron hook and 165 rounds of ammunition, all of which he had concealed about his person. He also work a suit of galvanized iron armor under his ordinary street clothes, made principally of joints of stovepipe. Several years ago Tnik was injured at the Standard Oil Co. plant and was later awarded a judgment for $1,600. The accident was known to have left him demented and he haunted the courthouse continually, imagining that his case was still in court. He has never cashed the check given by the Standard Oil Co. in these damages.

KURRIE FOR LONGER TERM

Thinks President Should Hold Office for Six or Eight Years. The New York World is conducting an inquiry among business men and railroad presidents, lawyers and manufacturers as to whether there is a sentiment favorable to longer terms for President, and making the successful candidate ineligible for immediate reelection, and lengthening the terms of congressmen from two years to three years. Among the railroad presidents fourteen favored the change and only one opposed it. President H. R. Kurrie of the Mpnon railroad says: “I believe the term of the President should be extended to six or eight years, and that he should not be qualified to succeed himself. Often efforts of the President to accomplish something for the general good are defeated or greatly weakened through a feeling that his motive is political. We have a very striking illustration in the recent effort which led to the enactment of the Adamson law. However sincere the President may have been in his efforts a great many people hold the view that the prompting motive, was political. ‘‘l think this high office should be placed on such a plane as to avoid any question of motive except the welfare of the whole people, and this will be accomplished to a large extent by making him ineligible to succeed himself.

“Any _ extension of the terms of office of the members of the house of representatives is desirable. There is no particular occasion, as things go now, for the disturbance of conditions that we have through election every two years.”

BOX SOCIAL At Rosebud school house Saturday evening, December 9, for the benefit of the school. Ladies please bring boxes.—LURAL ANDERSON. Teacher.

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. Two state accountants came Monday to check up the clerk’s office preparatory to the new clerk taking full charge thereof. The case of the state vs. Jay W. Stockton, taken to White county on change of venue, was heard ou motion to quash at Saturday, and motion overruled. The case is set for trial next Tuesday. 1 have opened my office on Harrison street in the block east of the court house, and am prepared to do Engineering, Surveying and Map work. I have maps of Jasper county, Rensselaer and ditcher’s staffs for sale.—L. A. BOSTWICK. The public meeting at the court house Friday evening, called for the purpose of arranging a program of reception for the homecoming militia, was not sufficiently attended to warrant any action being taken. It is probable another meeting will be called at once, when it is hoped a greater response may be had. New suits filed: No. 8703. Ellis R. Jones and George W. Jones vs. James A. Keister; action to recover commission on sale of defendant’s farm in Jordan township. Complaint in two paragraphs. Demand SSO in first paragraph and $75 in second paragraph.. No. 8704. Isabell V. Price vs. estate of Thomas Price, deceased; action on disallowed claim for $776. No. 8705. Mossman Yarnelle & Co. vs. Ben Price; suit on account. Demand $125.

Several more candidates in the recent election have filed their expense accounts with the clerk, and if any have not already done so they must file by today, December 6, including the treasurers of the county committees. Those filing since our last report, together with the amount of their expenditures follow:

W. w. Reeve, Prohibition candidate for county commissioner, no expenditures. Edgar S. Thornton, Prohibition candidate for county treasurer, $6 to state campaign fund. S. A. Brusnahan, Democratic candidate for county treasurer, $2. .John Bowie. Democratic candidate for recorder, $4.33. Harry Gallagher, Democratic candidate for sheriff, $25.50, most of which was for gasoline. B. D. McColly, Republican candidate for sheriff, s7l, SSO ; of which to county central committee. Charles V. May, Republican candidate for county treasurer, $54.50, of which SSO was to the county committee. tH. W. Marble, Republican candidate for county commissioner, $27, $25 of which was to county committee. D. S. Makeever, Republican candidate for county commissioner, $27.50, sls of which was to county committee. W. L. Wood, Republican candidate for joint representative, $lO5, $65 of which was to “Republican campaign fund.” Mr. Wood does not state whether all of this was to Jasper county or was his total contribution to the three counties comprising the district, or to the state committee.

The county commissioners met in regular session Monday, but little was done except to allow claims. Yesterday ditch and road matters were taken up and several parties were present to bid on the Union township roads. Following is a report of Monday’s proceedings: Milton Roth stone road: contractor Jacob Johnson allowed $2,400. F. J. Slight stone road: contractor George Stalbaum allowed S4OO. Auditor directed to advertise for bids for supplies for county offices for year 1017, letting to be on December 30. Contest of election of Jesse Nichols as clerk dismissed on motion of contestor, Alva D. iHershman. Bond of George Scott, in sum of

$4,000, with Walter V. Porter, Judson J. Hunt, Charles G. Spitler and Sam Roth as sureties approved. Bond of B. D. McOolly, sheriff, in sum of $5,000, with B. J. Moore and Walter V. Porter as sureties, approved. Interest on county funds deposited in the various county depositories was reported for the month of November as follows: First National bank, Rensselaer, $153.44; State bank, Rensselaer, $121.03; Trust & Savings bank, Rensselaer, $119.13; State bank. Remington. $83.20; Bank of Wheatfield, $39,18. Jesse Nichols, retiring superintendent of the county farm filed his report for the quarter. The rejwrt showed receipts of $928.87 and expenses of $822.96, leaving a net balance of $105,91 for the quarter. There were eleven inmates at the poor asylum at the end of the quarter, eight males and three females. The inventory of personal property at the farm gave the total value of same \t $8,210. Included in Ibis inventory are fourteen horses and colts, $i ,- 700; seven cows, one calf, $150; thirty-one hogs, four sows, 26 pigs, $600: 2,300 bushels of corn, 1.950 bushels oats, 4.35 bushels wheat, $4,150; fifteen dozen chickens; 1,100 quarts fruit, ,300 pounds meat, five gallons of lard, ten bushels of potatoes, wood and coal, S3OO. The rest of the amount is made up by the value of farm tools, wagon, etc.

IS GUILTY OF MANSLAUGHTER

William Troschier, Formerly Employed Here, Goes to Prison. Lafayette, December 2. —After deliberating for twenty-one hours, the jury in the case of William Troschier, charged with the murder of Charles Harris, found tho defendant. guilty and returned a verdict this afternoon of voluntary manslaughter. Tho verdict carries with it a term of two to twentyone years in the penitentiary. The jury’s verdict was a compromise, coming after it had been evident that no agreement could be reached on first or second degree murder. Several ballots were taken and the one taken this morning was nine for conviction and three for acquittal. With the reading of the verdict surprise showed plainly on the accused man’s face. “I want a new trial,” he said. “I am not guilty.” Attorneys for Troschier will file a motion for a new trial Monday. Judge Caldwell deferred pronouncing sentence in order that, the defense may have time to file whatever motions they may desire.

WILL NOT ASK FOR NEW TRIAL

Trosohier Ih Apparently Satisfied With Jury’s Verdict. Yesterday’s Lafayette Journal: It was stated yesterday that a motion for a new trial in the Tro«ehier murder case would not he filed. The attorneys for Troschier —‘Charles A. West and Sam (T. Simms—feel that they have won a victory in having a first dogre*) murder charge reduced to manslaughter, and that a second trial might not end so advantageously. In face of the strong circumstantial evidence against the accused. If a motion for a new trial is not filed within the next few days, Troschier will be sentenced to from two to fourteen years in the state prison at Michigan City.

CITIY'S FALL MATTER OF HOURS

•\ ustro-fierman Armies Closing in On Bucharest. The armies of the Teutonic allies fighting in southwestern Rumania with Bucharest their main objective, have joined hands from the south to the northwest of Bucharest, where coming through the mountainous region, they have reached the town of Tergovistea. Berlin announces that the battle of the Argechu river has come to a final conclusion with the Teutonic allies the victors, and that all along the front they are drawing closer their net toward Bucharest.

With the capture of Tergovistea, and farther south the driving of the Rumanians beyond the railroad junction town of Titu, the forces of the central powers now hold intact all the railway lines running into Bucharest from the west. The Predeal Pass line, running north from the capital into Transylvania, is the only remaining railway connection in western Wallachia partly in Rumanian hands, and with the Teutons now nearly astride this line at Breza and rapidly advancing, this route seems likely to be taken from them. Thus it appears to be only a matter of a few hours until the capital of Rumania will fall into the hands of the Teutonic allies.

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. GARY PAPERS INCREASE RATES Gary, December U.—-Increases in prices for two of Gary's nine newspapers will become effective Monday. Tlie livening Post and the Daily Tribune will be 2 cents. The Evening Times remains at 1 cent, and no increases are to be made by the Sun, Journal and Kornyke Novi Svjet, Republican and Grvek newspapers. ?

DEATH RECALLS A TRAGEDY

Elmira Hart Was Housekeeper of Elian Ray, Accused of Murder. Lafayette, December 4. The death of Elmira Hart, who was found dead in bed yesterday, recalls one of the well-known tragedies in tho history of Tippecanoe county. On May 20, 1909, Elias Ray, one of the wealthiest land owners In this part of the state, is alleged to have struck Conrad Ortman, a farm laborer, with a club and killed him. Ray was arrested and charged with the crime. Ills trial was set for November 19, 1900, and tho judge and attorneys were j n the courtroom ready to begin the trial of the ease, when a telephone call from Mrs. Hart, who was Ray’s housekeeper, told of his death. He had shot himself in the breast with a shotgun. £ - t Mrs. Hart was said to have been a witness to the attack on Ortman.

WEEK'S WEATHER FORECAST

Washington, D. 0., December 2. —Weather predictions for the week, beginning Snifßay, issued by the weather bureau today, are: North Atlantic states: generally fair first half of week; becoming unsettled Tuesday anfl Wednesday and followed by rains. Moderate temperatures until about Friday, becoming considerably colder.

Middle Atlantic states: Fair until Wednesday, becoming unsettled and followed by rains. Moderate temperature until about Friday; considerably colder thereafter. South Atlantic and east gulf states: Generally fair except local rains are probable Wednesday or Thursday. Colder weather after Friday or Saturday. West gulf states: Generally fair weather except that local rains are probable Wednesday or Thursday. Considerably colder after Thursday. Ohio valley and Tennessee: Fair first, half of week, followed by unsettled weather and probably local rains Tuesday or Wednesday; fair thereafter. Considerably colder after Thursday or Friday. Great Lakes region: Fair at boginning of week, followed by Tinsettled weather- and local snows after Tuesday. Considerably colder after Wednesday or Thursday. Plains states and upper and middle Mississippi valleys: The weather will he uncertain, hut snows In northern and rains or snows in southern parts of these districts are likely by middle of week. Considerably colder after Wednesday. Rocky mountain and plateau regions: Rains and snows are probable during first half of week, and again toward its close. Colder after Tuesday. Pacific states: Frequent rains are probable. Considerably colder in the north Pacific states after Tuesday.

LATE BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS

December 3, to Mr. and Mrs. Ed Eilts of Union township, a son. December 5, to Dr. and Mrs. H. R. Kresler of Rensselaer, a daughter.

DATES OF LYCEUM COURSE

Roy Smith, lecturer, December 18. Schildkret, orchestra, January 7. Hagerman, lecturer, February 8. Rob Roys, quartet, March 5.

Vol. XIX, No. 72